Post your V1.3 findings here

OK I'm not getting it. Insalled 1.3 Whats the deal with trainlink? How is it any different then just togggeling between the last two addreses on the CAB? What am I missing? AND how do you link them once you have pressed the trainlink button? DUH...sorry!

Trainlink allows easy access to several items, (such as two engines and a few operating cars) It also allows you to set your sounds such as cab talk to an engine than the lead engine

The 1.3 manual covers its pretty well so I would suggest checking it out

thanks. Yes, I guess I will have to re-read it a few more times to figure it out. Is there a video on it anywhere?

I'm having a problem that I dont see posted yet with ver 1.3. An area of the track in a differant room from the base station is not acting right. Engines are at speed entering this section of track and come to a stop. Crank the red knob and away we go for 3 to 4 feet and stop again. This happens over about 16 feet of track and during this time nothing else on the engine works, no bell, no whisle nothing but run some more.
Do I need a high gain antenena in order to cover the dead spots or would it help to run anouther signl wire to the track in that area? at this time I'm just running engines to make sure that I have cleaness etc on all of the corners. There is only one power feed at this time which will be changed.

Does the headlights flicker as well?

Are there parallel tracks there or other large metal objects such as bridges.

Is your base plugged into a properly grounded outlet? If it's into a surge power strip try going directly into the properly grounded wall outlet.

Yes and additional power feed and common might help but the 2 above also need answered. This is not a 1.3 issue more of a signal issue.

Thanks MartyE

This was what I was thinking also. There are 3 pairs of tracks and as I'm still laying track I have not done the correct wiring. Also the 2nd room is barrier wrapped in foil. Does an alumumn skylight tube and an AC unit count as large metal objects.

Gary

Sounds like ground plane issues, and adding an antennae will not fix this, you need to run a ground plane next to the parallel tracks. A ground plane can be as simple as a wire running along the tracks that is connected to a good ground

The antennae would only help the reception between the Cab-2 and the Legacy base

I would suspect the three tracks in proximity to each other. The metal objects are usually things close to the track like tunnels w/ chicken wire, bridges, and metal structures.

The solution is a ground plane wire run between each of the tracks. Basically take a length of wire, it doesn't have to be bare, run it along the length of the offending area between tracks. One end will not be connected. The other end will be connected to a "earth ground", either being a water pipe if copper, the ground receptical on an outlet, or other known earth ground. This should help. If it does you can add scenery over the wire. It doesn't have to be a large gauge wire either.

Thanks everyone

I just finally got my v 1.3 loaded it has helped but I still get the red light with my back to the base I do still use the hawkings antennae. If I turn to my side however it does help but the vast improvement others report does not seem to be there, any ideas? chief

Go back to the original antenna. See if it works better. We did that at the club.
Jim D.

I will try that jim, I know some guys sent their units in and am not sure that mine may not be one, however I wanted to try everything else first, If I use my old tmcc reception is not a problem anywhere however. chief

chief

Where is your base located? Lionel recommends it be above obstacles and physical obstructions. This may not be your case but I thought I'd ask.

Marty it is in the open on top of my control panel. chief

With 1.3, if you are still having remote to base signal issues within 30 to 40 feet of the base on a regularly then I would think you are being interfered with by another source, ie wireless router, etc. or you have another underlying issue. The other possibility is you have a defective base or handheld.

Have you tried another channel?

No router close at all martye, I have dcs on the layout as well, no signal issues and if I hook up my old command base(tmcc) I also have no signal issues. chief

quote:

Originally posted by chief:
No router close at all martye, I have dcs on the layout as well, no signal issues and if I hook up my old command base(tmcc) I also have no signal issues. chief

The Wireless Routers do not have be your wireless router - it can be you neighbors - right now it can see 8 wireless routers at my location/

Wireless / Cordless Phones can use the same frequencies as the Legacy System.

Wireless Video Security Cameras can use the same frequencies as the Legacy System.

You may want to test the different channels on the legacy system to see if you get better reception with another channel.

If there is no improvement - you may want to test the legacy system in a different part of the house using a different power outlet. You will be connected to your layout, but you can still test the communication between the remote and the base.

If there is no improvement, I would contact Lionel and let them know what you are seeing and see what they would recommend at that point.

The communications between the old command base (TMCC) is different from the Legacy system. They use different frequencies and the TMCC is one way (From the Remote to the Base) The Legacy system is two way, From the remote to the base and from the base to the remote. So you cannot compare the two systems in this way.

Thanks brad I live out in the country here in kansas and the closest neighbor is 1/2 miles away and has no router altho I do, however I do have cordless phones. Appreciate the heads up on the difference in bases will do some experimenting and try a different channel as that is one thing I have not tried. Any suggestions which frequency to try first as I am presently at nine. thanks chief

Issue noted with 1.3.

1.2 had a problem with engine smoke units (sometimes) coming on when track was powered up, before engines were started. This seems to have been fixed in 1.3.
Now there is a new problem in 1.3. The engine smoke units always come on after engine start up. This happens regardless of whether the smoke units were on or off when last powered down. Apparently the engine smoke unit settings are not retained in memory as in 1.2.

When using "start up" the smoke units always came on in Legacy. The way around that instead of using start up just push Aux1. The issue with this is you loose the start up dialog.

I recently received my Legacy 1.3 upgrade in the mail, and after installing it, my two legacy locos won't move. I upgraded from Ver 1.2 which came with my system when I bought it about a year ago. TMCC remote and loco's work fine. Legacy remote says Cab and Base at 1.3, lights on base flicker when I command something on Cab 2. Locos light and I can hear the system running in the tender and SD70 but they just won't go. Would appreciate any help.

Wes

See my response in your other thread. You were right in posting in it's own thread as this thread is getting convoluted.

Do I need to upgrade my original LEGACY ver 1 unit before I can install the 1.3 update LIONEL sent me. I never shipped mine in for the first update?

Yes. Send it back to Lionel for the one time upgrade by them. After that all other upgrades are done via the blue modules by you.

Yes, assuming that you do not have one of the silver dot 1.0 versions, it will have to be sent to Lionel before 1.3 can be loaded.

Here is the information you need.
http://www.lionel.com/Customer...ce/LegacyBaseReturn/

New 1.3 Legacy issue?
I have notice during shutdown of some TMCC and Legacy engines, than restarting the rear couplers have released. Has anyone seen this?
Thanks

quote:

Originally posted by J Daddy:
New 1.3 Legacy issue?
I have notice during shutdown of some TMCC and Legacy engines, than restarting the rear couplers have released. Has anyone seen this?
Thanks

I have not. Matter of fact I only actually fired couplers on purpose maybe 3 times since the upgrade.

Thanks Marty, I will keep a close eye... could just be hitting the button...

J Daddy,

I run Legacy and TMCC engines with my CAB-2s extensively on my home layout and we do the same on our club layout where the CAB-2's really get a workout during weekend events.

I have never seen the coupler malfunction you describe.

Austin Bill

quote:

Originally posted by Austin Bill:
J Daddy,

I run Legacy and TMCC engines with my CAB-2s extensively on my home layout and we do the same on our club layout where the CAB-2's really get a workout during weekend events.

I have never seen the coupler malfunction you describe.

Austin Bill

Thanks for the sanity check, I was running my 779 last night and a friends Y6B, when I shut everything down there are good. However when I fire things up and pull out the engines left their cars behind. No sound is recognized/heard so its easy for them to fire under the 'radar'. Seems to happen in the older TMCC engines.

Just wanted to say that I'm very impressed with Lionel's Customer Service. I contacted them by email on Sunday and received my 1.3 upgrade modules and new manual by Tuesday.

I just got my Legacy and have been really enjoying it. One thing that I did not see mentioned was setting the stall on TMCC engines with Pullmor motors. Wow, what a difference! My 502 Lionel Santa Fe Switcher acts so much better and I think that any future article should mention this setting referencing Legacy and TMCC engines with Pullmor motors on using this Legacy feature. I decided to try this after reading the OGR review on the newest Lionel GP with Legacy and Pullmor motor with the writer stating how much throttle it took to get the engine moving. After setting the stall that is no longer a problem. Oh, and I like the record feature.
Now, back off to play some more .

One question that occurs with V1.3:

For some reason, on some of our engines that have a 4 digit road number loaded, the first digit of the four digit number (to the left) randomly drops off - not entirely but it becomes illegible. So we have to re-enter the number. Any idea what causes this to happen?

Thanks!
Steve

Help!

I went to start my legacy the other day and it was hopeless. The Red button was utterly useless. So I changed with new regular batteries. Still nothing.....

Now I'm getting annoyed..

Took it apart (half apart) to access the reset button. Put in the old batteries which were fine, and pressed reset. Back to the charger. Press CTC (red button) YES! LIFE! Well it was short lived because within three seconds it shut off. SO I tried again. YES! LIFE!..... **** and again and again.

Took the batteries out and replaced them with the new conventional ones. Now instead of half life I got nothing. Back to square one. Went through the whole reset process again. YES LIFE! and then nothing. SO now I held the red button (CTC) and the screen light came on, then 1 appeared then 2, then 3, then 456 simultaneously, then 789. YES! LIFE! I let go of CTC. It died. SO I gave up and now I'm here.

This is really frustrating, and I have a meeting of modelers after the New England Tour De Chooch Saturday NGT, OS I don't want to send it out unless I have to... Any ideas?

Ugggggghhhhhhh errrrrrrr BACK TO CAB1 AGAIN. And compared to legacy, what a piece of crap...

Okay Marty this is for you. When are you and Chris, and maybe one or two others of those that are really helpful on this Forum with all their knowledge, going to get together and write a Legacy O Gauge Companion book? Seriously there are so many little tweaks, nuances, and other operating tips that are of great use to the users, that any manufacturer can't cover in a manual, the need is there. I have Legacy and 1 Legacy engine at present and don't use it too often admittedly as I have so many more DCS engines, I for one could really use a book to help me along the way. And let's face it my friend, you guys are are the Deacons of Legacy. Besides then you could promote it here so the sales should be great!

quote:

Originally posted by Will Scopa:
Ugggggghhhhhhh errrrrrrr BACK TO CAB1 AGAIN. And compared to legacy, what a piece of crap...

Well, it has one attribute, it still works!

The Legacy 1.3 manual shows numerous helpful touch screen icons which I have never been able to access on my CAB2.  The MARS on/off icons are on page 82 and the engine marker on/off icons are on page 83, which shows icons described as new with v1.3.  I certainly could have used these latter features with a new Legacy PA1 (6-34568) which has no lead engine markers and a non-blinking MARS light. Has anyone at all ever accessed these icons on their CAB2?  I asked a Lionel service rep that very question and never got an answer.  I get the basic icons and my mu/lashup of the PA1 ABA set seems to work well with the exception of the lights problem.  I have already obtained my RA number and am ready to send the new PA1 lead engine to Ohio for repair.

 

I sure could use some information regarding the mysterious, non-appearing icons in v1.3.  Lionel tech reps have not been able to help me.

Features are locomotive based.  If the locomotive is not capable of the feature the Legacy module won't load it.

Thanks, Marty

 

That answers the question.  Now I wish product descriptions would reflect whether or not the full features of Legacy 1.3 are available with that product.

 

Now, if I could just get Lionel tech support to answer this simple question: Is the 6-34568 PA1  MARS light supposed to blink or not!  And if the lighting board in the front of the loco is not designed to flash the MARS light, can I buy a board that does!  I am told the TMCC version of the same engine does flash the MARS and the Legacy version does not.

 

I have received opinions from other Forum members one way or the other.  Can you help before I send the PA1 into Ohio for repair as I have been advised to do by Lionel?

Wish I had an answer for you.