Lionel Universal Remote • Video • Product Review & Demo

Hi Gary. Looks pretty simple . When you use the new remote can you still use the other remote with the same engine. Put another way can both remotes talk to the same engine?

I'm guessing the remote talks directly to the engine? (no command base needed) and how's the range? is there a constant voltage on the track?

I wonder if other engine receivers & channels  will be available to upgrade  down the road.   There goes the DCS signal and TMCC problems down the drain... (hopefully)

Thanks   

Hi Gregg / On my layout at the same time than I am using the Universal Remote, I am also running TMCC, MTH-DCS, traditional locos, and LionChief Plus Remote.  There is no interference from these remote systems.

However, you can not have both the original LionChief Plus remote on the same time as the Universal remote, if the Universal Remote is sharing the same loco selector on the Universal Remote. You can use other LionChief Plus  Remotes, (Blue in color)

No command base needed. Each loco is on 2.4 GHz and the chip in the receiver and transmitter lock them together.

I also fly radio controlled airplanes, in the old days we had to fly on separate channels.  Now we are all on 2.4 GHz.  The plane and transmitter will lock onto a channel within 2.4 GHz and sometimes even change during the flight, always staying lock together.

Their is no range issues with the Universal Remote or the LionChief Plus remotes. I can walk up the stairs from my Man Cave and go about 50 feet into the back yard and still be in range,

Yes: It is simple and a lot of fun. Check out this video from my channel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72_RH1wwp2w

Hope this helps. Gary

Nice job Gary.  Your stuff is always good.  I just got one last week.  I need practice with it.  Seem to have problems switching between engines to control speed.  I have three LCP's, two on the same track.  My Santa Fe FT is slightly slower than the CSX, which is on the same track.  I have to vary the speed on one of them every ten minutes or so.  In your next review, can you show us how to do this in the most economical way using the new universal remote?  Could just be me not being used to it....

Jerry

JerryG posted:

Nice job Gary.  Your stuff is always good.  I just got one last week.  I need practice with it.  Seem to have problems switching between engines to control speed.  I have three LCP's, two on the same track.  My Santa Fe FT is slightly slower than the CSX, which is on the same track.  I have to vary the speed on one of them every ten minutes or so.  In your next review, can you show us how to do this in the most economical way using the new universal remote?  Could just be me not being used to it....

Jerry

Hi Jerry: Thanks for the kind words and watching my videos.  

I only make one video a month, I already have February's video done. I will try to address this issue in March for a second look at the Universal Remote. Lionel Chief Plus does have a speed control, you should be able to keep good separation. It is my understanding that LionChief does not have a speed control.  On Lionel Legacy & TMCC, they call the speed control Odyssey.

If you are on a small layout, try making the length of the rolling stock, the same on both trains. Maybe one train is heavier, causing them to catch up.

Hope this helps: Gary / Thanks for watching & commenting.

Mario's Trains has a sale going on right now. I just picked up one of these w/ free shipping! Best price I've found for this!

JerryG posted:

Nice job Gary.  Your stuff is always good.  I just got one last week.  I need practice with it.  Seem to have problems switching between engines to control speed.  I have three LCP's, two on the same track.  My Santa Fe FT is slightly slower than the CSX, which is on the same track.  I have to vary the speed on one of them every ten minutes or so.  In your next review, can you show us how to do this in the most economical way using the new universal remote?  Could just be me not being used to it....

Jerry

Jerry, If I understand you right your question is to do with using the remote to adjust the speed of multiple engines, switching between them.  Now as a disclaimer, I haven't tested this out to see how well it works, but I'm going off the instructions in the manual.  The remote is designed to keep the engines moving at whatever speed they were last set to, until you intentionally change the speeds.  Heres how it works;  Say  you have engine #1 with the dial at the 2 O'clock position, and engine #2 at the 2 O'clock position.  You are controlling engine #2 and increase it's speed up to 4 O'clock on the throttle.  Now you want to raise the speed of engine #1 as well.  To do this you need to press the '1' button to switch control to the #1 engine.  Note that the throttle dial is still at the 4 O'clock position right now.  

To change the speed of engine #1 you first have to lower the throttle down to match whatever speed the engine is moving at, in this case, 2 O'clock.  Once the dial has been turned to the speed the engine was moving at, it will function normally to control the engine's speed and direction.  

if engine #1 was set to a higher setting than #2, you would have to raise the dial up to that speed before gaining control of the engine.  Whatever the difference in speeds, the trick is to turn the dial to the point the engine was last set to, and once you do that, it will act normally.  

JGL

Thanks John.  That's what the directions say, so I probably need practice.  It also says that when I do match the speed, the red light at the top will blink.  At that point, I can change the speed.  Your examples were clear and concise.  I will give it at whirl...

Jerry

Are these remotes limited to alkaline batteries like the TMCC cabs were?

Thanks

Brendan

Brendan posted:

Are these remotes limited to alkaline batteries like the TMCC cabs were?

Thanks

Brendan

Hi Brendan: From page 4 of the Owner's Manual for the Universal Remote / 78-3071-250  11/16

Use only Alkaline AAA batteries.  Use only new batteries. Never mix new and used batteries or use different types together.

Hope this helps and

trainroomgary posted:

Hi Brendan: From page 4 of the Owner's Manual for the Universal Remote / 78-3071-250  11/16

Use only Alkaline AAA batteries.  Use only new batteries. Never mix new and used batteries or use different types together.

Hope this helps and

Thanks.  I hope they are not too power hungry.

Brendan

For what it's worth, while the manuals for all my LC engines have called for only alkaline batteries, I have used several remotes with NiMH rechargeable with no trouble at all.  I used Duracell branded, "pre-Charged" batteries, but any NiMH Low Self-Discharge type battery should work fine.  it's worth noting that a set of quality, low self-discharge NiMH batteries should last about twice as long as alkaline batteries in these remotes, and you can charge them 500+ times.  

Having taken one of these remotes apart, there is nothing in the design that would prevent NiMH rechargeable batteries from working just as well as alkalines.  I think the rechargeable may even be a better choice for the remote, and for most products where there is a chance that dead batteries might be left in the device.  Alkalines tend to leak, especially when they are discharged beyond useful life, ex leaving them in the remote after they are dead and forgetting about it.  NiMH don't typically leak from being dead, though they can from over charging... and even then they tend to leak gas, not corrosive fluid.  

JGL

Great job Gary.  Working doing repairs for Charles Ro, people would send engines back but no remote.  This new remote is well received.  By me.  I am going to save your post and when people ask how to work it, I do not have to tell them to read the book.  I will direct them to your post.  Again, well done.  Many train guys do not like to read but do like a good video.

Nice video, Gary!

I agree with all above.  A good review and coverage of the features of the Universal Remote.  I might have missed it but did you tell how to delete an engine from a particular button?

Also Gary meet Rudy, Lionel's Director of Audio and all around good guy!

This is a Quick Start Video but if you want to clear a locomotive from one of the selections. Turn on the power your Universal Remote.  Press and hold the Engine Selection Button you wish to clear.

Once the button begins flashing rapidly, release it. Repeat this process with any other Engine Selection Buttons you want to clear.

Re-watch these frames in the video, 1:43 to 3:57

Check out illustration below or the YT video description.

Gary

JohnGaltLine posted:

For what it's worth, while the manuals for all my LC engines have called for only alkaline batteries, I have used several remotes with NiMH rechargeable with no trouble at all.  I used Duracell branded, "pre-Charged" batteries, but any NiMH Low Self-Discharge type battery should work fine.  it's worth noting that a set of quality, low self-discharge NiMH batteries should last about twice as long as alkaline batteries in these remotes, and you can charge them 500+ times.  

Having taken one of these remotes apart, there is nothing in the design that would prevent NiMH rechargeable batteries from working just as well as alkalines.  I think the rechargeable may even be a better choice for the remote, and for most products where there is a chance that dead batteries might be left in the device.  Alkalines tend to leak, especially when they are discharged beyond useful life, ex leaving them in the remote after they are dead and forgetting about it.  NiMH don't typically leak from being dead, though they can from over charging... and even then they tend to leak gas, not corrosive fluid.  

JGL

Thanks.  I use the Panasonic Eneloop in my other battery powered items and they hold their charge well between uses.

Hi,

The universal remote is a great idea but please correct me if I'm wrong. I heard that it is not compatible with some Lionchief/Lionchief+ engines. For now, my specific concern is the Lionchief Polar Express locomotive. I've heard and read it is, it is not. What are the options if the original Polar Express remote breaks? Can a new one be purchased or does it need to be repaired?

Thank you,

Joe 

I believe it's compatible with all LC+ locomotives, but not some of the early LC locomotives.  Jon Z. has suggested that firmware upgrades may include more of the early LC stuff, we'll have to wait and see if that comes to pass.

ironman1 posted:

Hi,

The universal remote is a great idea but please correct me if I'm wrong. I heard that it is not compatible with some Lionchief/Lionchief+ engines. For now, my specific concern is the Lionchief Polar Express locomotive. I've heard and read it is, it is not. What are the options if the original Polar Express remote breaks? Can a new one be purchased or does it need to be repaired?

Thank you,

Joe 

There is a complete list of which engines are and are not compatible with the current (original) release of the Universal remote that can be found Here: https://ogrforum.com/t...e-compatability-list

Unfortunately the Polar Express is on the NO list at this time, however I would expect it to be one of the first to be added if/when an update to the remote is offered.  Furthermore, the new version of the Polar Express in the 2017 catalog will be compatible with the remote if it ships with Bluetooth capability as listed in the catalog.  

As for acquiring a remote if yours breaks, you should be able to purchase one from Lionel Service, but failing that they are readily available from sellers on the big auction site, though a little pricy in my opinion.  

JGL

As I suspected, thanks Guys! Not that I see my remote breaking any time soon, but accidents happen. The primary user is my 2 year old Grandson and although he is quite good at controlling the train I can image in his excitement he could drop it or throw it eventually. So an accident may be in the future.

There is an update about the Universal Remote

Click here to learn more.....   

I will have more information later this week.  I want to run some more tests.

Gary