Lionel Cab 2 Update issues USB to Serial connection issues

My only suggestion is to try a different USB<->Serial adapter, some work, and some don't.

I just went to Best Buy and bought a brand new cable and same result. Three different PC's and now three different cables. My 990 CAB-2 unit is hosed and cannot upgrade, it sucks! Thanks for getting back to me John.

Will I see you at York in October?

Take care!

It may be that COM4 isn't actually your connection to the base, as the Status still says "connecting." Try changing to a different port in the "configure" tab and see if you get a sucessful connection.

If you have a sucessful connection, you should be able to read the engine data in the application. Also make sure the "Legacy base" port is connected to the base

Yea, I tried that. I used COM 1, 2 (3 in use) 4, 5 and 6 (reboot PC after each change). Then gave up. From my same PC and same cable I can connect to my MTH DCS TIU and do what ever I want without issue. I just came back from Best Buy and bought a plain, vanilla with no status lights USB to serial DB-9 cable and still no go. I give up. I did some searching and there is a guy that sells pre-programmed memory modules for base and remote. Hopefully he is still around and has them for sale. Thanks Michael.

I can load a module with 1.74 and update the firmware of the remote for you at the museum next weekend, my base writes modules perfectly fine.

I would suggest connecting it up one more time and see if you can write a cab module to the black module. If that is sucessful, it's possible your base has a defect where it cannot read data from the base's storage.

Loading firmware into the remote doesn't affect engine data, since engine data is stored in the base. I think the remote only stores data related to remote functionality (like screen brightness/contrast, vibration, velocity throttle, etc).

By the way, what firmware is the base and remote running right now? Because if the firmware for both the base and remote is 1.3 or higher, you won't loose engine data with the firmware update. Version 1.2 will cause data to be lost with a firmware update.

I think it's version 1.2. It was a brand new unit bought at an auction house (not ebay). It came with unopened batteries, all blue and white memory modules. And unused cables, all in new plastic wrapping. Everything works great. I only have one engine data in remote, for testing unit. I just want to update with latest firmware. I paid allot of money ($800.00) as Lionel does not make this anymore and did not want to buy the new CAB-3 as I only have a few Lionel TMCC/Legacy engines and one Vision Line Big Boy. I run 90% MTH DCS. The Lionel 990 is commanding ungodly amounts of money right now....

You won't have to bring a memory module to update my remote. A guy has reached out to me and I am buying two memory modules for base and remote with latest firmware. Thanks Michael!

This is a long shot but if I remember correctly the first update had to be done at Lionel

This info is included with the readme notes when you download the BASE2 update:

If you are currently running LEGACY 1.1 or earlier, contact customer service before attempting to upgrade.
If you are currently running LEGACY 1.2, your engine roster and other settings will be erased during the upgrade and must be re-entered.
If you are currently running LEGACY 1.3 or later, the 1.74 upgrade will not erase your settings. However, we still recommend using the LSU software to back up your LEGACY database before upgrading.

The BASE2 I donated to a club years ago had Version 1.1 installed. As I recall this version didn't allow the BASE2 to write to the black module so it was not possible to create upgrade modules for the BASE2 or the CAB2. Lionel sent us two version 1.3 blue modules to upgrade the BASE and the CAB.

A BASE2 with version 1.0 has to be returned to Lionel for the update, I believe this was to repair a problem with the charging circuit for the CAB2. Lionel would mark the Base with a silver dot on the bottom when this service was done.

@H1000 posted:

This info is included with the readme notes when you download the BASE2 update:

If you are currently running LEGACY 1.1 or earlier, contact customer service before attempting to upgrade.
If you are currently running LEGACY 1.2, your engine roster and other settings will be erased during the upgrade and must be re-entered.
If you are currently running LEGACY 1.3 or later, the 1.74 upgrade will not erase your settings. However, we still recommend using the LSU software to back up your LEGACY database before upgrading.

The BASE2 I donated to a club years ago had Version 1.1 installed. As I recall this version didn't allow the BASE2 to write to the black module so it was not possible to create upgrade modules for the BASE2 or the CAB2. Lionel sent us two version 1.3 blue modules to upgrade the BASE and the CAB.

A BASE2 with version 1.0 has to be returned to Lionel for the update, I believe this was to repair a problem with the charging circuit for the CAB2. Lionel would mark the Base with a silver dot on the bottom when this service was done.

I never saw a 1.1 version, but the 1.2 version couldn't write modules either, so you needed to source the later version modules externally.  Are you saying that a 1.1 version could accept later modules without going back to Lionel?

Thank you all for getting back to me. I am on version 1.2. So that I understand this more clearly, ver. 1.0 or 1.2 cannot be upgraded with "black" memory module? It has to be sent in to Lionel, or a authorized Lionel repair center since I am sure Lionel will no longer support this, since CAB3 came out. I found a guy that is shipping me two modules with 1.74.

Thank you all!

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

I never saw a 1.1 version, but the 1.2 version couldn't write modules either, so you needed to source the later version modules externally.  Are you saying that a 1.1 version could accept later modules without going back to Lionel?

Yes, our BASE2 had 1.1 on it and included 1.1 blue modules in the box.  Lionel had us verify that it had the "silver dot" on the bottom and they sent us a pair of 1.3 Upgrade modules.  It's been quite a while ago since we did that and I'd think that by today there aren't many (if any) version 1.1 BASE2 units out there.

@H1000 posted:

Yes, our BASE2 had 1.1 on it and included 1.1 blue modules in the box.  Lionel had us verify that it had the "silver dot" on the bottom and they sent us a pair of 1.3 Upgrade modules.  It's been quite a while ago since we did that and I'd think that by today there aren't many (if any) version 1.1 BASE2 units out there.

Yes, the infamous silver dot.  I ran across a 1.0 last year that had to go back, and Rod just had one that was at 1.0 and Lionel updated it.

@TRAIN COLLECTOR 2 posted:

Thank you all for getting back to me. I am on version 1.2. So that I understand this more clearly, ver. 1.0 or 1.2 cannot be upgraded with "black" memory module? It has to be sent in to Lionel, or a authorized Lionel repair center since I am sure Lionel will no longer support this, since CAB3 came out. I found a guy that is shipping me two modules with 1.74.

Thank you all!

If your on 1.2 you can’t make a black module, but you can upgrade with a black module assuming it’s already been programmed.

Sounds like you got modules coming that will work, if you need a 1.6 base module shoot me an email.

All, I received my pre-programmed memory modules and was able to get my Base and Remote updated with the latest firmware versions. A big shout out to John Will (Forum Member) whom I bought the memory modules from at a good price. Thanks John!