Random Horn triggers and short engine stalls with the Lionel Universal Remote

Couple of things

1 I have seen legacy locomotives blow their whistle/horn when a Bluetooth device disconnects (app or UR) so long story short that remote just doesn’t stay connected.

I’ll have to look for it but there was was a thread a while back on different models of the UR. If you look at some of the identifying numbers on the back of the remote like FCC ID you may find that they are different indicating a different Bluetooth or RF module was used.

https://ogrforum.com/...-out-what-s-going-on

I've abandoned the Universal remote and BT in general for my operations.  My TMCC/Legacy/DCS systems work perfectly for all my locomotives everywhere on the layout, so I see no reason to subject myself to the vagaries of BT operation and the frustrations that come with it.

My layout, including the yard extension it about a total of 38 feet long, and there's nowhere I can stand and get reliable running with a BT locomotive over the entire layout.  The only way to use BT here is to follow the engine around and keep within 10-12 feet of it.  That's not "remote control", that's silly.

I have a Universal remote for testing and for any repairs that come in without a remote, but it lays dormant near the workbench 99.9% of the time.

Thanks, John. I just knew I could always depend on an honest, and straightforward answer from you. I had a hunch that I was "beating a dead horse" with these orange Universal remotes. It wasn't making any sense no matter how I juggled the remotes and engines around. Some combinations worked, and some didn't. And, like you said- as long as we get consistent and reliable performance from the CAB1 or CAB2 remotes, why bother?  I'll admit that sometimes I'm just too lazy to turn the Legacy on, and punch in the engine number/s of whatever engines I want to run.   I stuck P-touch labels with the engine names on the orange UR's, and it was a lot easier to just turn them on, press 1,2, or 3, and turn the wheel. Of course without all the Legacy features. Easier, but NOT RELIABLE.

Thanks for verifying my hunch, and saving my sanity!! (or whatever is left)

I got rid of any of the LC or LC+ stuff I had, I will only consider LC+ 2.0 from this day forward.  That way it's unimportant if it runs with BT, because I don't use it.  FWIW, the Legacy locomotives I have with BT have the same issues, so it's a universal issue with the current generation of BT.  However all of these engines run great with Legacy/TMCC.

Now, the fanboys are going to sprout up and offer up the fact that Lionel is upgrading the BT on current engines and their upcoming BASE3.  That may be true, but that doesn't solve the problem of all the existing engines that have the crappy short range board in them.