Ready For Legacy (...I Think!...)

Hook the common wire from the Legacy base to the outside rail and you are pretty much done.

I would wait for the full blown 990 base myself

Legacy is basically TMCC on steroids, the same simple one wire hookup to the common on your layout and away you go.

There are  some setup things like handheld to base channel selection, nothing I felt was too complicated.

 I feel I went from TMCC to Legacy and had no real issues, and got familiar with the extra controls fairly fast.

Legacy just contains tons of extra features. Plenty of knowledgable folks to help you here on the forum with any questions along the way.

Thanks folks. Appreciate the info. 

Are the 990s on the horizon or not even close? Anyone have any idea? 

I suspect only Lionel might know, and they may not even be that sure of the schedule.

That is what it sounds like John. 

Question for the group - I see the Legacy expansion remote/base is available from multiple dealers. Is there any reason I can't use that vs the 990 set? The catalog descriptions make it seem like it doesn't matter but maybe I missed something...plus, it is easy to get.

It's a Remote and charger only.  No command electronics in the base.  It will not work.  You need a 990 for the command electronics.

Thanks Marty. Guess it seemed to good to be true! 

I'll probably end of getting a Cab1L to start and go from there. With that said, I'll be running this on a Legacy equipped modular club layout on occasion. Is there a way the Cab1L can work with the 990 base or no? I'm told the base will have to change to another channel. Will that prohibit other operators or can the 990 remote/base coexist with the Cab1L. Thanks for the answers...been around DCS a while but Legacy is a new ballgame for me. Doesn't sound terribly different from TMCC in terms of set up and operation. 

Hi SJC,

The CAB-1L handset will work perfectly alongside Legacy/CAB-2 units. But you can't use a CAB-2 handset with a CAB-1L base.

Normally you would just take your handset to use if your club is using Legacy. You may need to change channel on your handset in order to work with your club's system, but you'd have to do that if you were using a CAB-2 too. Just remember to change it back to your preferred channel when you get back home. 

Several dealers are saying that they expect the Legacy systems to be available in a week or so. 

What about the quality issue that were asked by SJC? I too am looking for the 990 system but I am concerned about it not working and having to send it to Lionel for repairs that may cost me lost time and may be some money.

The quality situation exists with any new product. You hear more from the problem unit owner's than the rest with no issues. The 990 set is a nice product

The charging issue was the biggest that I could tell from reading posts on the forum. The others are random and a very small percentage. It doesn't affect the operation, so you use external rechargeable batteries or a lot of alkaline and turn the charger off.

2-3 weeks now and one way shipping. No big deal. Just ask N.Q.D.Y. .

Wait for the 990 or get a pre-owned unit.

I'm using the CAB-1L/BASE-1L combo to control my Lionel and K-Line engines (primarily geared locomotives at the moment), and like it very much.  Very simple to use and it has all the basic command-type features I want or need, although admittedly not all the extra features provided by the full Legacy system, which I also have.

I originally had a number of issues popup out of the box with the full Legacy system when I purchased it.  Those issues have now been corrected by the folks at Lionel who basically gutted my Legacy items and repaired/upgraded everything.

At the present time, I have TMCC/Legacy and DCS operating concurrently on my layout, and both play together very well.  No problems even worth mentioning.

All, 

Thanks for the replies - much appreciated. Like I said, this is new territory for me. Doesn't sound so bad as I though it might be. I'll probably go ahead and order the engine and Cab1L to start next week - just don't want to sell a few other favorite pieces in order to pay for it!

So if I take the Cab1L to the club, assuming the club Legacy base and my remote is set to channel 1 for example, I just punch in my engine address and go? 

Cool, thx. I come from MTH world and their DCS. I have owned many of their O/HO scale engines in the last few years and I have run two DCS systems and their commander system with zero problems. I am just getting into buying Lionel product and I am hearing many complaints but I do hear and I understand what you mean Moonman. I am not brand loyal, I just want quality product. I am looking for a full 990 legacy system too.

That's right.    

Just don't try to use the same engine address that somebody else is using though. This can cause confusion to both the operators and the electronics. 

If you buy a CAB-1L/BASE-1L set, you can use the CAB-1L with the Legacy base, and the BASE-1L is handy as a spare in case you ever have issues with the Legacy base.

gunrunnerjohn,

   Having pre-ordered the new Legacy I will be hitting you up for your technical knowledge as I add the Legacy to my DCS layout.  Hope the new legacy arrives in the next couple weeks, I am due to deconstruct the Christmas layout pretty soon.

PCRR/Dave

The Legacy should slip right in, most of the time it's just connect the wire to the outside track, plug in the powerpack, and start running trains.

gunrunnerjohn,

    Now you and I both don't have that kind of luck and you know it, God gave us our engineering talents, to fix thing he has decided to challenge us with, we will see what happens when the legacy arrives. Might want to stand by!

PCRR/Dave

I have faith.

According to Mike once the Legacy 990 becomes available again it will STAY available.  It is a situation of electronic parts such as chips being updated and the ones that are required for the 990 being no longer available.  As he said he looks forward to picking up the phone and placing an order that will be filled as opposed to talking to someone in Germany at 6 AM trying to track down parts.  

All that being said no date yet as top how soon they will be in stock.