Lionel LCS Sensor Track Issue

To me it sounds as if it is setup to "do nothing" program wise.  If you have reprogrammed it to do a particular action and it says it's taking it, it sounds as it might have an issue.  Has anything changed on the PID bus?  Any additional LCS components added?

There was an issue where depending on some of the cable lengths, some noise on the line would cause a recording issue but I haven't heard about an action not being performed.  The solution was a small plug that Lionel will send you.  I call it a terminator but it's more of a cap to suppress the noise.  If nothing has been added or change though I doubt that is your issue.  I would double check the connections and if that fails, maybe a cal to CS.  Perhaps Rudt (Railsounds) might have some suggestions.  He has helped many of us with Sensor Track issues.

Thanks Marty, I was hoping you would get back to me.....it does seem it is in "do nothing" mode since the green light lights up then the red program lights, no whistle effect, whenever the legacy trains roll over the sensor. Nothing new has been added to the layout and it did work perfectly for the past year.  I programmed it as follows from left to right:  greem program button till it blinks, then Acc button on  cab2 where I enter 01 then set....then Aux 1 button followed by 2.....which should enable whistle when train passses over sensor from left to right.

BTW I also followed The instructions to check the sensor by hitting the Acc button on cab2 then aux1 then 0 and the green program light lights up, indicating to me that the sensor track sees the Cab2

Guess a phone call to Lionel is in order......

-Pete

I don't know if you want to but High Rail App by Brian Coyner will allow you do change the action via a iPad or iPhone without the magic button pushes.  Not sure if you even have the WiFi connected.  I no longer use the Cab 2 to change my Sensor Tracks, it's all done via Brian's App.  Also eTrain Console also has this ability.  A PC based tool.

But I'd have to check but your programming sounds correct.  Have you tried other actions?  Such as now arriving and now departing just to see if they take?  Can you create a recording with the sensor track that the engine will trigger?

Thanks Marty, no wifi hooked up yet......I did try other actions and other legacy trains with no success.  I just dashed off an email to Lionel Customer Service (Talk to Us).  Gonna see if they hopefully have a solution....If no joy there, I will try to contact Rudy since I believe I troubleshot the heck out of this.

-Pete

Please let us know what the outcome is.

No problem, Marty.....this does seem to be an issue of first impression.

-Pete

Addendum:

Did further testing.....I had a backup Cab 2 with base.  After hooking up new Cab2 the sensor track worked perfectly, that is, the whistle blew when the train passed through the sensor track

To confirm my theory, I hooked up the old Cab2 base .........no joy.....sensor track did not work.

Reinstalled the backup Cab2 with backup base......Cab2 worked.

Unless anyone has any other thoughts....it appears that although the Old Cab2 is able to control my legacy trains it is not able to communicate with the sensor track via the cable hookup to the sensor track.

-Pete

I would try reloading the system software to the original base.  Perhaps something got corrupted.

MartyE posted:

I would try reloading the system software to the original base.  Perhaps something got corrupted.

Good idea.....I will try reloading 1.53 again and see if the Old Cab2 likes it!

-Pete

At minimum I would try the base first.  I don't suspect the Cab2 remote has much to do with this issue.

Customer service will be able to help.

Thanks Marty.....Bingo on the base reload of 1.53. Everything appears to be working as it should on both Cab2's and bases.

Well, this was an interesting and educational morning!

-Pete

You did the hard work.  I'd keep an eye on it.  You gotta wonder what corrupted it.