Speed steps

See here and here. Some additional info here, here, here, here and here.

@Kenjr posted:

I don't understand lionel command system very well. I see reference to 32, 100 and 200 speed steps. Is that determined by the engine,  the cab system or some combination? For example do you have to have a legacy engine with a cab 2 to get 200 speed steps or can a cab 1L get 200 speed steps. Are tmcc engines with speed control only 32 speed steps?

Ken,

I have several Legacy locomotives, these all have a max of 200 speed steps. I also have a number of locomotives that I converted to TMCC, the conversions have 100 speed steps except, the conversions done with the Mini-ll from Electric Railroad. I believe all factory TMCC locomotives have 100 speed steps.

Ray

Thanks for the links. My previous search did not find those links. I'll have to read some of those multiple times to try and understand.

Part of the reason for asking is someone just getting into lionel command engines was trying to decide on cab1L vs cab 2. He only plans a couple of legacy engines. I told him cab2 is better but don't think it's worth 4 times the price in current market. He likes remote vs any smart device so cab3 is out

@Rayin"S" posted:

I have several Legacy locomotives, these all have a max of 200 speed steps. I also have a number of locomotives that I converted to TMCC, the conversions have 100 speed steps except, the conversions done with the Mini-ll from Electric Railroad. I believe all factory TMCC locomotives have 100 speed steps.

Factory TMCC, including those equipped with Odyssey I speed control have 32 speed steps.  The various aftermarket speed control options, ERR, TAS, K-Line, had various number of steps, 100, 128, 256, depending on the specific product.  Legacy has 200 speed steps.

Thanks John. Hopefully my last question is will the cab1L base and remote be able to access all those various speed steps or will you need a cab2 system?

@Kenjr posted:

Thanks John. Hopefully my last question is will the cab1L base and remote be able to access all those various speed steps or will you need a cab2 system?

I believe the Cab 1L is your best option.

Ray

@Kenjr posted:

Thanks John. Hopefully my last question is will the cab1L base and remote be able to access all those various speed steps or will you need a cab2 system?

The CAB2 has features that the CAB1L doesn't duplicate.  For full Legacy features, you'll either want a CAB2 or the upcoming phone app CAB3.  In the future, I'm sure that Lionel will be sticking new features only on the CAB3 to force people that want access to those features to invest in the BASE3/CAB3 infrastructure.  For any existing Legacy engines, the CAB2 will handle everything, the future is still unwritten.