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Lionel's signal booster

T taylorraOGR Forum Member

  I have reached the point where I think I may have reached the practical limit of directly connected TMCC devices wired to the DAT/COM output from my Command base.  I also have a Legacy set which I plan to use in conjunction with my TMCC setup.

I had tried to purchase a signal booster from Dale Manquin, but was too late. I now have the following questions.

1;  Is Lionel actually in the process of introducing their own booster?  If so, is there any projection of when it might be available?

2:  Is their any speculation as to whether this booster will work with both TMCC, and Legacy?  What about in a combined system?

 

3:  I am having so much trouble with an unreliable SCII that I am considering adding an other ASC to replace the SCII, but

 I am concerned about adding more load on the signal output from the Command base.

 

          What do you guys think?

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cjackcjackOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

I had unreliable SC2s until I connected the U terminal, (the outside rail) to the COM terminal on the SC2. And also placed a wire connected to the AC ground pin, (also pin#5 on the db9 connector on the Legacy base) and laid it across the top of the SC2. Now they work flawlessly. It's just like an engine as to the signal issues.

R RalphOGR Forum Member

Hi

check the forum for posts on boosters..... I had need for them and a company called 

B & B sells them. They are slightly different from Dale M.'s in look, but other than that they work fine. Its an R232 signal booster, I'm never sure the link actually works when I post them, but here it is.  You should also think about a serial splitter  that usually sell on ebay on the cheap to help separate the boosting. A lot has to do with how you have your 'power center' set up. The DB9 link is also attached.

 

Hope this helps

Ralph

 

http://www.bb-elec.com/Product...S-232-Repeaters.aspx

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/280706...id=p3984.m1423.l2649

 

RailsoundsRailsoundsOGR Forum Member
The Lionel LCS SER2 module will serve as a serial signal booster. It can be used stand-alone or in conjunction with other Layout Control System products. It also can be used to inject TMCC or LEGACY commands back into your system from an external computer, so it offers additional functionality besides the serial boost. Delivery is anticipated in Q1 of 2014.
 
The SER2 will work with a 990 Legacy Base and can also be connected to a Base-1L. It can't be directly connected to an original TMCC base. And it is compatible with both TMCC and Legacy commands.
 
see www.lionel.com/lcs for more.
 
Originally Posted by taylorra:

 

1;  Is Lionel actually in the process of introducing their own booster?  If so, is there any projection of when it might be available?

2:  Is their any speculation as to whether this booster will work with both TMCC, and Legacy?  What about in a combined system?

 

3:  I am having so much trouble with an unreliable SCII that I am considering adding an other ASC to replace the SCII, but

 I am concerned about adding more load on the signal output from the Command base.

 

Last edited by Railsounds
Randy P.Randy P.OGR Forum Member
Could one of you guys help me understand this?  I want to send commands to my Legacy base via a serial cable connected to an Arduino microcontroller.  The Legacy base has a 9-pin RS232-style connector on it.  Will the Legacy base "listen" for commands on this connector, and inject them onto my layout?
 
If so, can you please clarify what I would need the new SER2 for?
 
I do understand that TMCC1 and Legacy serial command sets are different, by the way.  I figure I can start by sending TMCC commands to my Legacy base and locos, and then "graduate" to the more complex Legacy commands.  But the wiring and hardware would be the same, wouldn't it?
 
Thanks for your patience with this novice ;-)
 
Randy
 
Originally Posted by Railsounds:
The Lionel LCS SER2 module...can be used to inject TMCC or LEGACY commands back into your system from an external computer, so it offers additional functionality besides the serial boost. Delivery is anticipated in Q1 of 2014.
 
The SER2 will work with a 990 Legacy Base and can also be connected to a Base-1L. It can't be directly connected to an original TMCC base. And it is compatible with both TMCC and Legacy commands.
 
see www.lionel.com/lcs for more.
 
Originally Posted by taylorra:

 

1;  Is Lionel actually in the process of introducing their own booster?  If so, is there any projection of when it might be available?

2:  Is their any speculation as to whether this booster will work with both TMCC, and Legacy?  What about in a combined system?

 

3:  I am having so much trouble with an unreliable SCII that I am considering adding an other ASC to replace the SCII, but

 I am concerned about adding more load on the signal output from the Command base.

 

 

Randy P.Randy P.OGR Forum Member
Thanks for the reply, John.  I'm trying to buy the parts I need to start testing an Arduino sending commands to my locomotives, but all I have is a Legacy base, and the SER2 isn't due to be released until July.
 
Until then, if I limit my commands to the simpler TMCC serial commands, do you know if I can send those commands directly from an Arduino (via an RS232/TTL converter board) to the DB9 connector in my Legacy base?  Or do I actually have to buy a TMCC CAB-1 command base and plug into it (and also obviously only send TMCC commands)?
 
I.e. is it the Legacy-specific serial commands that require the SER2, or simply plugging into a Legacy DB9 connector for any type of commands?
 
I'll understand if you aren't clear on this, since the SER2 hasn't been released yet and the Legacy-specific protocols have only recently been released -- I wonder if *anyone* has succeeded in sending Legacy protocols from a computer or microcontroller yet?
 
Thanks!
 
Randy
 
 
Originally Posted by gunrunnerjohn:

You must have the WiFi or SER2 module to "translate" the commands, you can't use the Legacy interface commands without one of those products.  There's no technical reason for this restriction, it's just the way Lionel configured the system.

 

 

gunrunnerjohngunrunnerjohnOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Yes, you can send the TMCC commands through the serial port, that works just fine.  It's how the MTH TIU communicates with TMCC locomotives when you connect the command base to the TIU with the serial cable.  It's just the 9-bit Legacy stuff that requires the extra piece to enable the decode of those commands.

 

I'm guessing folks like Jon Z. at Lionel have been successful at transmitting commands.   Also, a number of folks have beta WiFi module units they are testing, so there are people that can actually exercise the Legacy serial commands.

 

Last edited by gunrunnerjohn
Randy P.Randy P.OGR Forum Member
Ha ha, you lost me with the MTH/TIU references ;-)  But I'm glad to know I can send the simple TMCC commands directly to my Legacy base.
 
Thanks for the clarification - much appreciated!
 
Randy
 
Originally Posted by gunrunnerjohn:

Yes, you can send the TMCC commands through the serial port, that works just fine.  It's how the MTH TIU communicates with TMCC locomotives when you connect the command base to the TIU with the serial cable.  It's just the 9-bit Legacy stuff that requires the extra piece to enable the decode of those commands.

 

I'm guessing folks like Jon Z. at Lionel have been successful at transmitting commands.   Also, a number of folks have beta WiFi module units they are testing, so there are people that can actually exercise the Legacy serial commands.

 

 

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