Lionel Base3

Honestly, if you have to ask this question, you're probably not missing much.

What do you run now, that would be one piece of information that would be required to give a full answer.

Thats a big order to fill.  You would be better off going to the Lionel's You tube channel and watching Dave Olsen explain the base 3 for over 1 1/2 hours.  Not only would you get your bullets, you will get almost a complete run down of everything.  It's like the 3rd or 4th item down on the list.   

@SD60M posted:

Will someone list...perhaps in bullet format...the main advantages to using the new Lionel Base 3?

What do I gain by spending the $500 to purchase it?

Patience please.

• Its far cheaper than a used 990 Legacy set (Cab 2, Base 2)
• If it breaks, Lionel can fix it
• It controls every train Lionel has ever built. Except for the 1950s radio control set, you might have to wait for Base 4 to do that

@cbojanower posted:

• It controls every train Lionel has ever built. Except for the 1950s radio control set, you might have to wait for Base 4 to do that

I don't know, that might be a deal breaker!

Thank you gentlemen...though you seem a little incredulous that anyone would be so dumb as to ask such a question.  That's okay.

Seems a guy like me would need the Base 3 only after the 990 set dies.

All the best!

That was the answer we needed, what equipment do you have now.

Since you have the Legacy system, if you only run TMCC/Legacy, I'd wait until there some significant benefits to upgrading to the BASE3.  I have Legacy, I'm waiting to see if there's a real benefit discovered for spending the $450 for the BASE3.

Should be interesting to see what happens to the market value of the 990 Legacy set.  I only imagine that quite a few Base3 buyers already have 990 sets that they will retire.

I think the Base2 will be retired, but not the remotes.  Many will want to hang on to the CAB2 remote.   That is where I think the value is.  The CAB1L is OK, but I like the screen on my CAB2.  Until it dies and can't be repaired, I will hang on to it. 

Advantages?  CAB3 base with the CAB3 app offers a single interface vs.  Legacy remote, Lionchief remote variants and bluetooth apps I have now.   Bluetooth app vs CAB3 app may be splitting hairs...   Wifi Interface built in, LCS wifi not needed.  Last, but hopefully not least, support.   

Can the updates  for the Base 2 still be downloaded? I inherited a Base 2 from a friend who passed away. I don't have a layout at home yet so I didn't do any of the software updates.

@VHubbard posted:

I think the Base2 will be retired, but not the remotes.  Many will want to hang on to the CAB2 remote.   That is where I think the value is.  The CAB1L is OK, but I like the screen on my CAB2.  Until it dies and can't be repaired, I will hang on to it.

This.  Without a CAB2, you're using your phone or a CAB1L which is a significant downgrade from the CAB2.

I'm keeping my 990 set and I bought an extra CAB2.

Note that Val said the remotes wouldn't be retired, and the CAB2 is fully functional with the BASE3.  I have three CAB2's, and if I ever get a BASE3 you can be sure they will be used with it.

I was actually able to play with the Cab3 base, Cab3 App with Bluetooth and Cab3 App with Cab3 base (I phone version) while at the LCCA convention this past week (courtesy of Lionel).

It does take some getting used to.

I, like many others, will use my Legacy 990 handheld most of the time.

Couple of things I noticed were:

4 digit addressing for the newer engines.

Interface (via internet) showing the visual of the actual engine I was running.

You really should turn off the Bluetooth on the engine or someone (anyone) could hijack the controls using their phone. As I was corrected, if being controlled via Bluetooth, only one Bluetooth connection, but other controllers, (Cab1L, Cab2, etc.), can push signals to the engine.  Same type of thing when using the Cab2 990 base happens.

(Same as with the 990 base), more than one person can operate the same engine using the Cab1L, Cab2 in any combination. Plus, now add the Cab3 App (using the Cab3 base) to the mix.

Lionel has setup a dedicated website for the Cab3. I have not had a chance to explore this yet.

The engines allow only one Bluetooth pairing, but will still respond to a Cab1, Cab2 or App that causes the base to send a track signal command.

Thanks for the correction.  I updated my earlier post with the correct information.

I just got notice my Base3 shipped. I should have it in a couple days.

Rambles, once you figure it out, let us know what you thing.

I will be receiving mine tomorrow. My reasons for getting one include:

• 4 digit addressing for new and future engines
• better wireless support (than LCS WiFi board)
• integrated control of Legacy, TMCC, and LionChief engines
• Cab 3 iPhone app support
• better LCS support (no splitter cable, separate power supply)
• current software focus of Lionel

I will report back, if folks are interested.

— Dave

Checking, it appears the base3 is no longer listed on Trainworld?

Does anybody know what happened?

I have one of the first pre-orders on there site.

@vrf201 posted:

Checking, it appears the base3 is no longer listed on Trainworld?

Does anybody know what happened?

I have one of the first pre-orders on there site.

You’re right, it was there last night. I preordered my Base 3 in May 2022 and received an invoice this morning and shipping confirmation 90 minutes later.

Gene

@vrf201 posted:

Checking, it appears the base3 is no longer listed on Trainworld?

Does anybody know what happened?

I have one of the first pre-orders on there site.

Did you try calling Train World?

@vrf201 posted:

Checking, it appears the base3 is no longer listed on Trainworld?

Does anybody know what happened?

I have one of the first pre-orders on there site.

I googled Lionel 2208010 and the train world link and that link worked. I posted here and it doesn't???

https://www.trainworld.com/lio...10-lionel-base3.html

UPDATE: The page was cached in my browser, the link provided by google is broken.

@MartyE posted:

Did you try calling Train World?

No, but I'll give that a try. Thanks!

@vrf201 posted:

No, but I'll give that a try. Thanks!

You could also do an @TrainWorld.com to alert them to this thread.

I also received notice and a tracking number from TrainWorld that the CAB3 is being shipped. I ordered it 2 years ago.

Trainworld may have run out of them.  A search on their site for 2208010 or BASE3 doesn't yield any results.

Received mine today.  Was disappointed no manual was included, but I found one here

I just got charged by Trainworld for my Base3 and it appears a shipping label has been created. No word on delivery at present.

Just an FYI- Hennings Trains in Lansdale, PA was unloading their shipment of Base 3’s yesterday while I was at the store. They have a few available, after pre- orders, at $449.00 each.

@Burl posted:

Received mine today.  Was disappointed no manual was included, but I found one here

Here is your go to site...

Lionel Power and Control.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Trainworld may have run out of them.  A search on their site for 2208010 or BASE3 doesn't yield any results.

They may have, but I find that trainworld removes newly arrived items from their website for about 24 hours. I assume they are fulfilling pre-orders then they post what they have left.

Thanks to all that responded.

Just finished with Trainworld, the order is in the processing stage getting ready to ship !

@vrf201 posted:

Thanks to all that responded.

Just finished with Trainworld, the order is in the processing stage getting ready to ship !

Trainworld JUST sent me my tracking number. If you dont have it yet, you should have it really soon.

Its like Christmas!!!!!

Just got my Train World preorder changed to processing. I placed the preorder at the beginning of June, so maybe it bodes well for folks later on the preorder train...?

I preordered June 2023 and just got an email from Train World. "Order Being Processed", "Shipping as soon as possible". Who knows what that means. BUT, make sure the cc you used way back when is still good. My cc had been cancelled and re-issued due to fraud. Had to call TW and give them a new cc.

Mike

Got my UPS notification, it’ll be here tomorrow. Excitingly, I just installed the ground wire to my direct lockon. This will be a whole new way of operating my layout, I never had the opportunity of using a Cab 2 or 1L, just Bluetooth.

Gene

Eh, figured I'd throw in my experience as well... Ordered from Trainworld nearly 2 years ago, and finally got an invoice and tracking number in my email this morning. As luck would have it, I JUST had to remove all of the tracks in my office for remodeling, so who knows when I'll actually get to test it out, lol. This will mark the first time I've ever not been 20+ years behind the technology curve where train control is concerned (I'm using a TMCC system from the late 90s).

Now if MTH would just finally drop the DCS 2 system that I also ordered a couple of years back.

I will finally have a Base 3 this Friday. I just dowloaded the new CAB 3 app to my phone. I updated my CAB 2 firmware to 1.74 so the CAB 2 would work with the Base 3. Is there any app or software for a PC to run a Base 3?

@Dave 69 GTEL posted:

I will finally have a Base 3 this Friday. I just dowloaded the new CAB 3 app to my phone. I updated my CAB 2 firmware to 1.74 so the CAB 2 would work with the Base 3. Is there any app or software for a PC to run a Base 3?

I suspect you could still use eTrain to run engines from a desktop/laptop computer. You'd need to plug your computer into an SER2 connected to the PDI bus of the BASE3.

Received mine today from Charles Ro.

I hope to have time this weekend to set it up.