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@Jeff2035 posted:

Oops. I posted on the other thread that your device may need to use Bluetooth5.

I believe Dave Olsen sad that was necessary for voice streaming.

I fired it up on an old Samsung Note 4, that certainly doesn't have BT5, works fine.  There are other interface issues, but it connected and ran two engines at the same time, big improvement over the LC app.

John,

This same question was asked of Mike Phillips (GM of Lionel) during the LCCA convention.  His response was to send the information to TalkToUS@LIONEL.COM  They have set up a clearing house to monitor the emails for the Cab3 (and controls) related questions, etc. From what I understand, these are collected and responded to as appropriate, with any new issues/finding that may be of general interested posted on their dedicated controls related website - https://control.lionel.com

I just went to their new site.  There is lots of information there.

@DaveGG posted:

John,

This same question was asked of Mike Phillips (GM of Lionel) during the LCCA convention.  His response was to send the information to TalkToUS@LIONEL.COM  They have set up a clearing house to monitor the emails for the Cab3 (and controls) related questions, etc. From what I understand, these are collected and responded to as appropriate, with any new issues/finding that may be of general interested posted on their dedicated controls related website - https://control.lionel.com

I just went to their new site.  There is lots of information there.

Correct. Please email the call center. I set them up with a bug tracker that reports to me. It's better to get it all from a single source, otherwise I'd be checking forums, Facebook, emails, and bat signals . Please include device information, including OS version, as that's critical in tracking things down.

We have a good list of the things that are needing worked on. There will be periodic updates over the coming months as we nail things down. Basic functionality is there. Just some clean up and a few new features yet to implement.

It appears the Cab3 App has had some tweaks. I only use it for Bluetooth engines. No Base 3 at this time.

Anyway after deleting and reinstalling it a few dozen times since its release all the buttons show up and don’t stick and I am able to swipe in both axes on my iPad Gen7.

I can still only run one engine at a time, even identical engines so double heading is out. My Universal Remote does in fact see two identical engines as one so thats what will be used for my F3 pairs.

Pete

Last edited by Norton
@Norton posted:

It appears the Cab3 App has had some tweaks. I only use it for Bluetooth engines. No Base 3 at this time.

Anyway after deleting and reinstalling it a few dozen times since its release all the buttons show up and don’t stick and I am able to swipe in both axes on my iPad Gen7.

I can still only run one engine at a time, even identical engines so double heading is out. My Universal Remote does in fact see two identical engines as one so thats what will be used for my F3 pairs.

Pete

The build number is in the bottom left hand corner.

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On the CAB3 app, it wasn't obvious or intuitive that you needed to swipe the left-most window down to reach the "Base Details" screen. From there, the "WIFI Connection Setting" is clearly marked, BUT...after entering the SSID and Password, there is no immediate indication that the information was entered correctly. You then have to go "Back" for the system to acquire an IP address. If it doesn't, it is not clear whether or not the SSID or Password was incorrect or some other problem is occurring.  

As @MartyE mentions in another post, double clicking on the speed digits brings up the useful Big Red dial. But that wasn't intuitive or obvious either.

I wonder if micro-font or some ingenious overlay screen can be eventually implemented in the user interface to highlight the hidden screen features of the CAB3 app...(for those of us that don't always read or remember every detail in the manual )

@Bruce Brown posted:

As @MartyE mentions in another post, double clicking on the speed digits brings up the useful Big Red dial. But that wasn't intuitive or obvious either.

I wonder if micro-font or some ingenious overlay screen can be eventually implemented in the user interface to highlight the hidden screen features of the CAB3 app...(for those of us that don't always read or remember every detail in the manual )

I will again say that the Power and Control website is a great resource of information.  I understand the desire to jump right in and try to navigate around yourself but a lot of this information is available there.  I certainly do not mind helping but I picked up a lot of what I know from the on-line guide.  Unfortunately I imagine any overlay would be impractical given the various screen sizes and devices.  Maybe a chart to start (that rhymed) that can be put near your layout might be a better solution.

I encourage everyone to be patient, watch some pretty good videos Sean's Trains are putting out, and keep an eye on the forum.  People here are willing to help but this is new to all of us so some things may take time to try and answer.






Cab3 Main Screen Elements
  • A – Wi-Fi connection; red when not connected to a base and green when connected. Tap to reestablish connection
  • B – TMCC ID; Displays ID number of engine currently controlled. Tap to open Engine Roster
  • C – Engine name and number; Displays engine type/road number and number
  • D – Engine image; Displays generic image if no image assigned. Some Bluetooth-equipped engines will have image auto-populate. Tap to take your own picture of engine.
  • E – Speed Step Counter; Displays target speed step. 200 for Legacy, 32 for others. Double-tap to open big red knob.
  • F – Warning Sound Controller; slide up for bell, down for horn/whistle. Quillible (Legacy engines) with how far up or down you slide.
  • G – Throttle slider; hold handle and slide to increase or decrease speed
  • H – Keypad; 0-9 default. Icons change depending on connected type.
  • I – Aux Buttons; Each with various functions. Refer to locomotive user manuals
  • J – Train Brake; Tap to open train brake slider
  • K – Direction; Forward and Reverse.
  • L- System Halt – stops all engines currently running on either the Base3 tab or the Bluetooth tab. Press and hold for 3 seconds.
Last edited by MartyE
@Bruce Brown posted:

Marty,

The above graphic and listed screen elements are even more confusing! As an example, they don't show or explain that hidden under area 6 are the sub-screens for Base Details and Engine Configuration.

The website breaks out the different screens and tells you how to access them. for instance on the the Base3 Details and Firmware, the instructions explain to swipe up or down depending on which menu you are accessing.

To your point the "Keypad" section is coming soon.  That would be beneficial to get up on the site.

I've already suggested via the "TalkToUS" that an indication that swiping will bring you to a different screen even if a small arrow would be beneficial.

Last edited by MartyE
@MartyE posted:
I've already suggested via the "TalkToUS" that an indication that swiping will bring you to a different screen even if a small arrow would be beneficial.

Actually, if that arrow did the swipe action, that would be even better.  Swiping over the operating controls doesn't always yield the result you want.   Why have a swipe when you can just press a button to change screens?

Maybe we can make a sticky post with the current "grievances" with the Cab3 app. This way people can check there before making posts everywhere (like what I'm doing)  @Sean's Train Depot your 2 videos were super helpful. I think I found a bug but I'd like someone to confirm it - I am a Legacy notice.

Tried creating a train in the Cab3 today with a 2023 VL Big Boy & the UP Vision Caboose that had just come out. I could not get the engine to appear as an option when building the train until I re-addressed it into a 2 digit ID. Originally had it as 4014 but when I changed it to just "14" it showed up

Can anyone else recreate?

@Rollsington posted:

Maybe we can make a sticky post with the current "grievances" with the Cab3 app. This way people can check there before making posts everywhere (like what I'm doing)  @Sean's Train Depot your 2 videos were super helpful. I think I found a bug but I'd like someone to confirm it - I am a Legacy notice.

Tried creating a train in the Cab3 today with a 2023 VL Big Boy & the UP Vision Caboose that had just come out. I could not get the engine to appear as an option when building the train until I re-addressed it into a 2 digit ID. Originally had it as 4014 but when I changed it to just "14" it showed up

Can anyone else recreate?

I suspect since you were trying to build a train with a 4 digit and a 2 digit was the issue.  Whether that is a valid combination currently I don't know but a note on the Power and Control website seems to indicate 4 digit trains using 4 digit engine is on the future list.  I would suspect once you match 2 digit with 2 digit it would work.

Last edited by MartyE

So far I feel it's been a good experience.  I think loading data from the Cab 2 to cab 3 helps. I can use it on my phone,pad or firefly 7 (with Google added to obtain the app). I have no 4 digit number addresses to use to date.  Just now have to come up with new connection for dcs to talk to base since there is no nine pin connector on cab 3 like 2.

@dk122trains posted:

So far I feel it's been a good experience.  I think loading data from the Cab 2 to cab 3 helps. I can use it on my phone,pad or firefly 7 (with Google added to obtain the app). I have no 4 digit number addresses to use to date.  Just now have to come up with new connection for dcs to talk to base since there is no nine pin connector on cab 3 like 2.

You can use the Lionel SER2 for that.

So regarding the swipe up/down issue, speaking for iOS only, Lionel is not honoring the Apple design guidelines, which is fine as long as all gestures are discoverable, but the ones we are talking about in this thread ARE NOT.  I was working with the Base3/Cab3 app all weekend, and this drove me nuts. (Also there is a really bad bug...entering engine ID 02 caused the app to crash repeatedly for me).  Anyway, what I would recommend on iOS is to use the iOS UITabBarController instead of the roll-your-own tab interface Lionel did at the top of the screen.  Essentialy ditch that and move the Bluetooh and Base 3 tabs to a normal tab bar controller at the bottom of the screen, and there will also be room for the functions presently accessed via swipe up/down.  I used the Apple Music app for my primitive mock up below, but hoepfully you get the idea.

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Last edited by skantner

I'm a glutton for punishment ... with a desire to have a tablet sized between the phone and iPad, I purchased an Amazon Fire 7" tablet.  FireOS is an Android fork without the Google Play Store, but there are guides available describing how to download and install the necessary components (patience is needed here).  Once the Google Play Store software was installed, I downloaded the Cab3 App.  It connected immediately with the Base3 in AP mode.  Surprise! - I expected issues with the underlying FireOS.  Connecting to my hidden network eventually succeeded.

A major annoyance configuring network settings in both the Android and iOS apps is swiping down rarely opens the Base Details page.  I also found that changes made to the WiFi Configuration Settings page may not work unless the Cab3 App is uninstalled (which deletes the App's data), then reinstalled and new settings made in the fresh install (this also seems to be the case with the iOS version).   More experimenting to come ...

You find this on the Power and Control Website but since I believe these were recently added I thought it would be worth while posting...

Legacy Steam and Steam Switcher

Cab3 Legacy Steam Stopped
Cab3 Legacy Steam Stopped
Cab3 Legacy Steam Moving
Cab3 Legacy Steam Moving

Other control screens include the Speed Screen and the Lighting Menu. The Speed Screen can be accessed by swiping from right to left on the keypad. The Lighting Menu is accessed by holding down the Aux2 button.

Cab3 Legacy Steam Speed
Cab3 Legacy Steam Speed
Cab3 Legacy Steam Lighting
Cab3 Legacy Steam Lighting

Legacy Diesel & Diesel Switcher

Cab3 Legacy Diesel Stopped
Cab3 Legacy Diesel Stopped
Cab3 Legacy Diesel Moving
Cab3 Legacy Diesel Moving

Other control screens include the Speed Screen and the Lighting Menu. The Speed Screen can be accessed by swiping from right to left on the keypad. The Lighting Menu is accessed by holding down the Aux2 button.

Cab3 Legacy Diesel Speed
Cab3 Legacy Diesel Speed
Cab3 Legacy Diesel Lighting
Cab3 Legacy Diesel Lighting

Legacy Electric

Cab3 Legacy Electric Stopped
Cab3 Legacy Electric Stopped
Cab3 Legacy Electric Moving
Cab3 Legacy Electric Moving

Other control screens include the Speed Screen and the Lighting Menu. The Speed Screen can be accessed by swiping from right to left on the keypad. The Lighting Menu is accessed by holding down the Aux2 button.

Cab3 Legacy Electric Speed
Cab3 Legacy Electric Speed
Cab3 Legacy Diesel Lighting
Cab3 Legacy Electric Lighting

Preset Dialog

When connected to a Legacy engine, swipe from left to right to enter the Preset Dialog Menu. These preset dialog options change whether the locomotive is moving or stopped. These same dialog options apply to Legacy Steam, Diesel, and Electric.

Note the icon on the far right of each button; either a radio or a tower. The radio indicates that the dialog is initiated by the locomotive’s crew characters (CrewTalk). The tower indicates that the dialog is initiated by the Tower character (TowerCom).

Cab3 Legacy Loco Preset Dialog Stopped
Cab3 Legacy Loco Preset Dialog Stopped
Cab3 Legacy Loco Preset Dialog Moving
Cab3 Legacy Loco Preset Dialog Moving

Legacy Subway

Cab3 Legacy Subway Stopped
Cab3 Legacy Subway Stopped
Cab3 Legacy Subway Moving
Cab3 Legacy Subway Moving

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