Can I make a TMCC engine "think" it's conventional?

Don't snip the wire, connect the antenna wire to the frame.  That will kill the TMCC carrier signal dead and they'll come up in conventional mode.  If you just unplug the antenna, they will frequently still run, especially models with a plastic shell.

Thanks to both of you!

Mark, I think that disabling the antenna works for "conventional" TMCC but not with Legacy - doing so would also break the connection between the Powermaster and Base-1L.

John, I believe the antenna on the steamer is the handrail? So a thin wire from the handrail to anything metal would do it? Sounds simple enough. I appreciate the help.

Alan

That should do the trick.

just pull the receiver board  

Drew, the "receiver board" is the LCRU or LCRU2, and it does other minor things like drive the motors, operate the headlights, and send the serial data to the RailSounds boards.

One could always disconnect the stud that goes from the command/Legacy base to the outside rail and float the ground pin on the 110 plug for the wall wart.

Doing both of these should make any TMCC or Legacy engine run in conventional mode.

This is where having a Power Master like the original TMCC Version works best.  You don't need the command base.  The TMCC Cab-1 talks to the power master to change track voltage and such, and the engines never see a command signal.

Simple remote control conventional operation.   G

The Legacy Powermaster receives the TMCC track signal, just like any other TMCC device.  That being said, you can not unplug your command base if you want to use the Legacy Powermaster.

No problem, that's the nice thing about a public forum, when we make a mistake, someone is there to set us right.  I use that correction feature all the time, no apology necessary Mark.   If we were all right all the time, there would be no need to ever ask a question.

OP here. No apologies needed! As John says, if we all knew everything already, why have a forum?

I did have a TMCC/TPC setup previously. The old Cab-1 croaked and I decided to upgrade. The Base-1L/Legacy PM is MUCH more responsive to the handheld. It's like replacing a 1995 cell phone with a new one. But yes, the Legacy PM requires the command base in order to function at all. I've been busy with other things and haven't yet tried John's suggestion for disabling engine antennae. Will advise...

Thanks,

Alan

Turning around the original question, can I make a conventional engine think it's TMCC?  Seriously, is the Legacy step control capable of synchronizing the motor speed to allow building a consist of conventional locomotives?

What, me worry? 

No, a conventional engine will never think it's a TMCC engine.  For conventional from the Legacy system, you need a PowerMaster or TPC.  Using either of those, it would be just like using a transformer and varying the power with the handle.

No magic is involved or possible.