New Cab 2 Base Questions Signal Issues

@Jerryrails posted:

I sent my 990 Cab-2 remote and base back to Lionel. The base and my remotes were operating perfectly other than one remote that needed repair. I sent the base back with the remote that needed repair. I have substituted a new Cab-2 base and signals are now not successfully transmitted to the trains by the remote that has been functioning perfectly. Some trains start but do not function. Cab-2 remote generates a "re-try" message when I try to do anything. Do the trains need to be reinstalled for the new Cab-2 base to have signal functionality?

Thanks in advance

Jerry

Well, the facts:

The entire train database of all your IDs is in the base, not the remote. So settings like TMCC VS Legacy and specific types, but all IDs in a new blank database revert to TMCC which is universally compatible with any TMCC or Legacy engine for basics. Again, when you got a new base, you got a new blank database.

Part 2- the error message you are getting is between the REMOTE and the BASE. "Cab-2 remote generates a "re-try" message when I try to do anything". So that is the 2.4 GHz antenna on the base and your internal remote antenna, and them both being on compatible firmware version and the correct channel.

Lionel legacy firmware page https://www.lionelsupport.com/legacy-control-software

Base is still 1.60 is the highest, where 1.61 through 1.72 are "compatible" CAB2 version with that base version.

I would:

#1 ensure the small antenna on the base was tight and working

#2 know what channel both are on.

#3 know what firmware version the base and the remote are at.

#4 rebuild your database of trains and IDs because you lost it all.

Vernon,

Thanks, so much, for your reply. I was afraid of this. It is easier for me to wait until the repaired base comes back from Lionel.

Yikes !!

Jerry

@Jerryrails posted:

Vernon,

Thanks, so much, for your reply. I was afraid of this. It is easier for me to wait until the repaired base comes back from Lionel.

Yikes !!

Jerry

Not really. You need to solve "the problem". You want to run trains right now, you have a base. More importantly, for whatever reason, you need to fix this software version or other problem with this base to run trains. It's not lost work to add whatever trains you want to run right now into this base. Again, this is your backup plan if your base died right?

Again, solve the problem.

What version are both your remote and this base on right now? (Remote will display when you first turn on) - caveat- provided it can talk to the base on the correct channel. So chicken and the egg- solve the channel problem first, and in doing so, figure out the version if there is a problem.

I have made sure the Cab-2 base and the remote are on the same channel. The trains seem to run fine now as long as I am twelve feet or less from the base. Any further and communication is poor. With the Cab-2 base that has been returned to Lionel there were never signal/communication issues. The room is large (approximately 30' x 20' but the older base had no signal issues. Can I extend the range with an antennae boost?

@Jerryrails,

Check out this post:

     Better antennas for the Legacy command base? (8/16/13) | Wes Drummond

But, this is just a band-aid for you.  The fact that your other base doesn't need it strongly suggests so.

When the other one comes back send this one in for its range problem.

Mike

You can try to change the channel. This is why Lionel put more than one channel on the Legacy system. Some channels will work better in your home than others

Hum? Great Question, I’m saying that your cab 2 and base need to be on the same frequency, 1 thru 9, (mine is on channel 8). Also, the latest updates to my knowledge are Cab V1.72 Base V1.60… Be sure your antenna is tight. Be sure your base has the wire connected to the outside rail of your track. Another important feature is to plug your base into the receptacle directly, not an extension cord… I changed out my Lionel Antenna with a Hawking Omni Directional 7 dBi Antenna, with and extension that goes up to my top level. Some folks suggest placing the base near the center of the layout. My Friend Dr. Jack Fisher has a splitter with two antennas in his basement for better command signal?  
Now, you need to see what your Cab 2 upgrades show? If you can, place a picture of your Cab2 lit up. Thank you, good luck. (If your Cab 2 shows 3.0 or less, Lionel needs to do your upgrade) Happy Railroading Everyone  

If you look behind the Lionel water tower on my top level, you can see the Hawking black antenna….

@leapinlarry posted:

Now, you need to see what your Cab 2 upgrades show? If you can, place a picture of your Cab2 lit up. Thank you, good luck. (If your Cab 2 shows 3.0 or less, Lionel needs to do your upgrade) Happy Railroading Everyone

Actually Larry, only the base 1.0 or 1.1 needs to go back to Lionel to be able to upgrade it.  1.2 can only be upgraded using an already written blue or black module.  Version 1.3 or later can both write black modules using the LSU and be updated to any later version.

@Gunrunner John, wow, I forgot that, thanks for the reminder and hopefully the rest of my thoughts were correct. I am looking forward to getting the Cab 3 App base as it is, in my thinking, going to be a stronger base signal for our layouts. Thanks for chiming in. Happy Railroading Everyone

@leapinlarry posted:

@Gunrunner John, wow, I forgot that, thanks for the reminder and hopefully the rest of my thoughts were correct. I am looking forward to getting the Cab 3 App base as it is, in my thinking, going to be a stronger base signal for our layouts. Thanks for chiming in. Happy Railroading Everyone

I never try to verify all thoughts, just selected ones.

Many thanks to all of you folks for the advice ! Working on it !!

Question, have you solved the mystery? I would like to know how you resolved the signal issue. Thank you