R2LC vs R4LC

The R4LC is a Lionel receiver used in modular board Legacy (early Legacy)  locomotives.  It is not an ERR product.  The R2LC is found in TMCC locomotives.  Lionel did a few locomotives in TMCC that showed up with a Lionel modified R4LC receiver.  The late (TMCC era) PRR Mikado comes to mind.

ERR is a great product that uses the Lionel R2LC receivers.  You can buy the ERR products and convert locomotives to run in command.  ERR sells the R4LC to use in products.

Hi Marty-

I appreciate the informative response. I see now that the R2LC is what I need.

Thanks again for all your help!

Lionel did a few engines like that.  Just follow the very clear directions in your owners manual.   For very short money you will have a very good TMCC locomotive.

ERR uses the R4LC hardware board, but it is coded as TMCC (C08).  Legacy R4LC have code like S03.   If you order a R2LC from Lionel, you get an R2LC CXX depending on which one you order.  IF you order from ERR it is a R4LC C08.

I know this is confusing a little, but when Lionel shifted to R4LC, ERR used that hardware board to make their equivalent of an R2LC.   G

Being a novice at command control, I ordered the "official" part from Lionel. We will see how it works out.

Thanks to all for your input.

I believe the substantial difference between the R2LC and the R4LC hardware is simply the microprocessor used has more memory for the additional requirement of the Legacy system.  The actual board layout appears to be identical, or very close to identical, and uses most of the same components.  Obviously, the firmware code loaded makes the big difference as previously stated.

a R4LC fixed my reception issues in a brass engine I have where no R2LC would work.  go figure.