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@H1000 posted:

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.

I thank you very much for your reply. I'm unfamiliar with that software. Also I don't know what an SER2 is or what type of connector it would require. I assume you're saying that my laptop would not connect through WIFI and there is no actual CAB 3 app for it?

@MartyE posted:

Here is your go to site...

Lionel Power and Control.

Hi Marty, from someone who never had the opportunity to use a Cab 2, I have a few basic questions. Some of the icons on the H section(keypad) of the Base 3 screen are obvious what they perform for either steam or diesel, but others I’m not sure of. Am I missing anything or is there a simple tutorial on there functions?

Thanks, Gene

@Genemed posted:

Hi Marty, from someone who never had the opportunity to use a Cab 2, I have a few basic questions. Some of the icons on the H section(keypad) of the Base 3 screen are obvious what they perform for either steam or diesel, but others I’m not sure of. Am I missing anything or is there a simple tutorial on there functions?

Thanks, Gene

It's pretty new.  The website is the best option right now.  I'm not sure what you mean by the "H" section.

@Genemed posted:

The H section is where the icons are on the Base 3(main screen) side of the app. For instance, the arrows with a 1 in the middle, the raindrop icon above that, the arrows with the rectangle above and below it? That’s what I’m not sure of.

Gene

Arrow Up is boost, arrow down is brake.  The 1 send the engine to speed step 1 or roll.  The water drop is the sound of loading water into the tender.  The upside down smoke stack is blow down sound.

@Reading RR posted:

Speaking of the Base3SU, Dave could you release the full instruction manual manual if it is ready so we can start reading up on it?  So when you release the B3SU, we can hit the ground running.  Thanks

I believe that the

Power and Control Website  specifically Base3 System Utility

is the only "manual". Once it's released I suspect there will be more added to this site.

Last edited by MartyE
@Terry Luft posted:

I do not have access to a PC. How can I move my roster from my Cab2 to the Base3 ?

The BASE3 includes a black writable module. Find a friend with a Windows computer, the Legacy command base is portable.

Plug the black modue into the Legacy command base and write the entire engine database to it.  Move it to the BASE3 and read the database in.  That's one of the reasons the writable module was supplied.

Received mine today.  Had it installed, on the WiFi, first engine installed (4 digit Class A), new Cab1L installed, and 2 of my three sensor tracks programmed within an hour.  It would have been quicker if I have any familiarity with Legacy.  I only had Cab1 before.

Only issue I had was unrelated to the Base3.  After removing the Cab1 and installing the Cab3, one of my two 180 bricks was dead.  Removed it from the layout, retested it and replaced with a spare 180 brick I held onto.  Now I need to diagnose that power brick to see what’s wrong.

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@Terry Luft posted:

Isn’t there a special cable required to connect the command base to th PC?

@cdswindell posted:

The Base 3 uses a standard micro-usb cable to attach to the PC, unlike the special splitter cable you needed on the base 2 and then a serial to usb cable/dongle for the pc.

While it does include this cable, It was stated later that the BASE 3 Utility program will only work with WI-FI and not a serial connection.  The connection and firmware update procedures listed on the Lionel Control site only list instructions for using Wi-Fi with B3SU program.  This makes it unclear what the USB port is for.

@Terry Luft posted:

The cable I was referring to is the one to connect my old cab2   base to the pc

You will need a 3rd party cable to go from USB com port to a 9 pin com port. Your Lionel Base2 should have the cable from the base unit to the 9 pin connector.

There are several USB cables that will work.  I believe Lionel recommended one from Triplite.  I purchased an equipment from Amazon for about $20 a week ago and it worked fine with Windows 11 operating system.

Base3 arrived today.

My home network has a hidden ID so I needed to manually enter the SSID and password.

After setting network mode to AP, I used the App's WiFi Connection Settings to configure the SSID and password for my home network.  After the base restarted, the App scanned the subnet and found an IP - but it was the wrong IP!  I recognized the IP as one of my servers.  The Base3's scan, which probes a specific port for a response, picked the first device that ACKed on that port.

My IP scanner showed a new device: the Base3's WiFi (manufacturer is Telit Communications s.p.a.) on a dynamically assigned IP.

I had to reset the base to AP mode, and use the App to manually set the IP address to what the scanner found, and restart in network mode.

The App successfully connected.

GunrunnerJohn,

Once you have the engine module in the base 3, and you are on the Cab3 Database Memory page do you use 'restore database' or do you use 'import database from file'?  Never mind John, just did a dry run and the only thing that highlighted was the 'Restore button'.  Also if anyone is having trouble swiping down, and nothing happens, try swiping down and to the right at about 20 degrees or so.  Works every time.

Last edited by Reading RR

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