Lionel . . . Keep the orange !!

I'm with Marty.  There is nothing complex here.

You need a serial cable, a USB to serial adapter if your PC does not have a serial port, the LSU software running on a Windows PC or a MAC emulating Windows, the 1.51 upgrade files, and 1 black module.

You won't see a difference in Odyssey performance unless you have the Legacy base & CAB-2.  Even the original Odyssey control system works better with it.

Companion books and user group meetings suggest otherwise, Marty.

I have yet to need assistance from an after-purchase how-to guru; and, I'm close to being 58 and I've never participated in any kind of user-group... trying to figure out how one on my new possessions works.

You guys into technology/working with technology, should be well versed; and, are probably quite familiar/comfortable with the how things work...

Outsiders(us non-techs) the kind of people who hate to read often poorly written, plodding instruction manuals; well, we're a different critter altogether. Simply put - the simpler the better, is our motto.

Of the cables you just mentioned, I only know what a USB cable is.

BTW, it's not that we're not intelligent enough to grasp this stuff(at least for me); it's just a dull/boring, eyes-glossed-over pain...

What I'd like to see:

I buy a new engine, put it on my layout, turn on the command/track power, turn on the remote - the system automatically adds what's just recently been seated on the rails; a built-in, unique to that particular locomotive, identification tag(in the locomotive) gives the command system all the information it needs, to successfully run  the locomotive; also, an automatic diagnostic check is conducted within seconds and then... your off and running.

NO PROGRAMMING OF ANY KIND, BY ME!

I don't need the guru's help or any self help group; all I need to do is... have the money to pay for the product.

That works for me.

Rick

I will suggest to install a com i/o board instead, far more reliable. This is a PCI-e one but they have also PCI

Hey Eliot, I'll bring my modules over whenever you want.  We'll run some trains and update your system.  Shoot me an email.

Doug

On behalf of Elliot and all of us Doug...

A BIG THANK YOU!

Seriously Elliot, I can't say I agree with your argument but dude you still rock!

"I wonder why 90 % of peoples are using Windows."

Oh PC-Quebec, tell me you didn't go there...the old installed-base-of-boat-anchors argument?  really?

look at recent history:  in the last year the mac market outgrew the PC market by 7x and has outgrown the PC market for 6 straight years.  # 1 desktop in US and # 1 notebook in US.

Because it ships on almost every machine, its not by choice, and when something starts at $999 first thought is to shop around (for most people).

"as I don't live in US". 

I know, therefore I will state again. Not market share, market GROWTH.  What's happening NOW, not an accumulation of ancient, misguided history.  

PS. easy to get a rise out of someone who uses "PC" in his handle. 

Pc-Quebec you'll never come out on top with your argument I have had the same one several times and it just doesn't matter they will not give in. I agree with you completely. I like PCs because I can decide what parts I want and what manufacturer I want them from. I don't have to take an over priced computer designed by somebody that thinks he knows what I want or my customers want. A PC (whatever kind it is) is a tool that I use the way I want to use it. My company like yours has lots of PCs running free of errors and working for years doing the same work most people do for hundreds less than a Mac. I know I'll be flamed now as well as you. Oh well.

  Ron

Mac User "signing the petition" for a Mac version of the LSU software.

They know what society really wants,this is why Apple,Inc is worth over $620 billion dollars with $110+ billion in cold hard cash.

I think the orange modules should be included with all new engines.  Is a PITA to remove the CAB2 base from the layout, hook it up to the computer and then create an engine module for the new engine.  Then hook it all back up on the layout.  We are paying $400+ for the engines and to save a couple of bucks is getting annoying.  I was disappointed when they removed the road/engine specific dialog from Railsounds about a year ago to save some money. 

The Cab2 is using WiFi to communicate with the remote.  If we can connect to it over Wifi to update the remote and base that would be cool and to upload engine specific info the orange modules contained. 

My vote is no to the not having an orange module.  This would be a good voting option on the forum to see what people think.  Maybe after Nov 1 someone can put out a poll for this.

Thanks, Marty

Great to see you at York and thanks, once again, for doing such a great job at the Lugnut breakfast.

I really hate Windows and, in fact, had to do the 250 flop on my Windows laptop.

Amazing how many pieces you can break a Windows laptop into when a 250 pound man jumps on it from a bar stool.

Of course, a friend will upgrade me, however I do feel it is not a very good idea from Lionel's perspective when someone has as many locos as I do and you have to call someone over to your house to upgrade your system because you run a MAC.

Gee whiz.

Poor John Zahornacky. Now I have to harangue him.

Eliot

Now I remember why I decided to stay strictly conventional.

This morning's news reported that the adult brain shrinks about 1.5 % per year, but those who keep their minds active ( solving problems running Windows) experience less shrinkage. And, those stay physically  exercised (crawling under the layout to rescue a Legacy engine that lost its mind) have even less brain shrinkage.

Just sayin'.

lol, and what about the brain damage with all the head bump under the layout ? 

Diet...become more agile. Personal trainer. I have one foot access holes on my layout. I cannot gain a pound.

Only the OGR Forum is scientifically proven to expand your mind and keep you emotionally stable. If you don't believe me, ask Allan Miller or Rich Melvin. Rich also recommends Willie Nelson's Greatest Hits to calm your mind and promote stem cell growth.

Scrappy

Well that makes since, since the biggest difference between Windoze and MacIntoys is that Macs were designed to take away all the thinking for you.   

It's commonly known in the IT industry that the majority of computer problems are due to PEBOK practices.

What is PEBOK?

Problem
Exists

Between

Operator and
Keyboard 

As Albert Einstein said, "No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it."  

Hmm...I'm no so sure about that.  I believe I've heard him mention Willie from time to time, but "calm" and "promote" weren't part of the dialog.  

I believe that Rich meant 'Promote steam cell growth'. 

"Macs were designed to take away all the thinking for you"

john, you are very nearly correct.  what macs do is take away the thinking about things that have nothing to do with why you want a computer.  remember, most home users (not the kind of users PC-Q and Ron support) want a computer that just works.  they don't have the knowledge or skills to mod hardware or wrestle with the arcane madness that is windows.  they just want to use their computers.  I play golf with a retired AF officer who makes a nice post retirement income going around and rescuing home users whose hardware has failed or who have gotten tangled up in windows.  of course, on those rare times he gets a call from a mac user, he checks with me.  YOU guys WANT to get inside and muck around.  

(as an aside, based entirely on what i have read, it would seem to me that any home windows user that upgrades to windows 8 is going to be in for a rude surprise...your thoughts?)

"I believe that Rich meant 'Promote steam cell growth'."

oh, very good!