Will the new Lionel 6-37147 Cab1L controller and base work with the App?

The cab1-l / base1-l will work with the iPad app!

Thanks Jon, That's great news! What other hardware will I need to connect it and when may it be available?. If you know?. I already have an iPad with your Legacy app loaded.  

Daniel Marlowe

jon will you please explain that the app will not run the train.

Yes looking at the app I see the controls to operate locos. It only has horn, bell, throttle and halt, you also have a roster.  So I guess more advanced features can't be accessed from the app yet but seems like a real fun start. Anyone know when the LCS wifi adapter will be available?. I guess that will be all in need to get it running.  

The sensor track will come in handy to "read" Legacy engines info and be able to trigger events for Legacy locos.  But to just get the APP to run and communicate with the Cab 1L or Legac base the WiFi will be needed.

We had one ( a per-production unit) at the October LUG (Legacy Users Group) meeting at York.  I would have to suspect they should be out early this year.

the reason I keep brining this up is because there is one person at the club that wants the app installed, yet they only run mostly conventional and believe they will be able to run their trains.

Conventional is a whole different story.

You would think you could run conventional with the powermaster as you can with a regular cab1L or 2. But until I see it in action with my own eyes I can only guess. 

Some Answers:

I have no doubt the LCA app can run a TPC or Power Master.  Any issues to operate such will be sorted out before we release our next update to the app.  Conventional operators can indeed run their trains!  Any conventional operation you can think of, including uncoupling in newer Legacy locos (which can uncouple in conventional mode).

We plan to release an update for the iPad app early January.   D/L should be available in a couple of weeks after that from the App Store.  The update is BIG, and will have the accessory controls in place for the TMCC many items we market via Lionel and ElectricRR.

The next item is the WiFi module, which is in production.  To be safe, plan on this being available by March.  The Ser2 module, the IR Sensor - about the same time.  And many more LCS modules on the way!

The best news for running trains:  The Blue Train app for Android is available, see threads on OGR for details.  Lionel has a "Cab-3" iPhone app, soon to be available in the App Store as well, for a small charge.  The Lionel iPhone App had extensive train controls - linked to the Legacy Base for selecting the loco to operate.  We demo'd this app last York.  I will try and get some screen shots when I am back from Vacation (7th) and post them.

Many more cool items coming, and we are publishing our protocols and partnering with folks to expand the LCS system, see Lionel.com/lcs for more!

It does run the train, and actually exposes some unique dialog not accessible from the Cab-1 or Cab-2 in a special sound control pop-up.  With a power control method (ie:TPC) you can run conventional trains perfectly.

You can even recall the last 5 ENG addresses, or last 5 TR addresses, with names and road number call-outs.  Each layout page view remembers the last 5 engines and trains.  The system reads the name and road number from the base, and if using a Base1-L (not 990 set); you can manually add the engine information to the local iPad database for instant recall.

Wow Jon, I think you answered all my questions and gave me much info I was not aware of. Sounds like a there is a lot of fun comming from Lionel to look forward to. I think this shud take model rr industry to the next level and attract many tech savy newbies too! That Cab 3 app sounds neat too hope it is really affordable so I have extra money to purchase more legacy trains in S and O gauge! 

You said a mouthful. Happy New Year Jon!

thanks jon.

so what you are saying is someone could bring an Ipad or Iphone to a layout pull up the app and push something on the Ipad or Iphone and the train will move?  granted you would need the wifi module, but you would not need to touch a cab1, cab1L or a legacy handhelds?  because this is what the person understands, they keep asking me as I have become the clubs Legacy person.

Correct. The LCS iPad app and the LCS "iCab" iPhone app will run trains; as well as the  "BlueTrain" Android app. 

The BlueTrain app is pretty cool, and free as well.  

I'm starting to get a bad feeling.  "Cab3" via smartphones?  I really like the "feel" of my Legacy controller.  I rarely have to look at it to find the controls.  I can do it mostly by feel.

But now we have the Cab3 App.  Why produce and worry about production costs of a controller when you can "make" one out of a smart phone.  No more delays waiting on components.  I see the pluses but I see minuses as well.

Watching folks running trains at York with the smartphone, all they were looking at were the smartphones.  I want to watch the trains.  Without physical controls to feel your way around, you may do less of train watching and more phone watching.

And when a call comes in...  Oh boy!

While I am glad they are moving forward with the folks that want this, I hope they don't entirely abandon the physical remote either.

There are absolutely no plans to discontinue the physical controllers, Cab1-L or the Cab-2!!

That's good news too, I would like to get a Cab 2 controller but there are none available now. Will they be available March too?.There are two on Ebay now, one wacko is asking 1300$ OBO and another is BIN around 600$ I will never pay more than reatail especially when retail is only 399$. The CAB 1L is real affordable I picked mine up for 175$ with shipping on ebay. It has not arrived yet but I should have it next week I will give a review on it when I get it And use it some. I have been controlling most of my Legacy trains with my MTH DCS revL and TMCC old cab1 base. The getting a phone call thing is an interesting thought. I may have to change my voicemail message to "If I am not answering I may be playing with trains"? LOL

Daniel Marlowe, TCA SD, LRRC, MTHRRC.

That is good news!  I love new technology but sometimes just because we can do something, doesn't mean we should.  Looks like both camps will be happy.

What about apps for Windows and Windows phones and an updated Legacy System Utility? I sure would like to be able to print and keep a list of engines from the LSU and have it on my smartphone. Especially with the WiFi coming.

I've done some work developing apps for iPhone's and Androids. the development time can be rather fast we could design apps in weeks just getting them approved by Apple took the most time. Most of the coding is copy and paste and a lot of time up all night typing with three people working. I think Lionel if they see the need they could develop a Windows 8 fairly quickly.