New Legacy #990 base not found

The same thing happened to me this morning. A brand new Legacy 990 cannot find the base after a few weeks of operation--(just enough time to find out that the Challenger locomotive I bought a year earlier didn't work properly after waiting for the 990 to get back in stock.)

I would also be interested in finding out how to fix it...or it will have to join the Challenger in the repair shop.

Does the base have power? Same thing happened to me last week. My base power supply was bad, Lionel has shipped me another one. I waited a year to get it and it lasted about 15 minutes. At least they got a new PS shipped out the same day I called about it, got good service from Lionel.

I found my answer, and it may be the answer you are looking for, too. On page 75 of the v1.52 Legacy 990 manual there is an explanation of how to reload the software on the Cab-2 remote by using the Cab-2 blue module that came with the system. The following page explains how to reload the software to the base using a slightly different method and the other blue module. (The modules have labels on them, so be sure to use the right one for the base and the right one for the remote.)

Reprogramming the remote did not help, but reprogramming the base did. All the settings remained as they were in the remote once the remote found the base. Everything is working now as it should--except the Challenger. Follow the instructions in the manual to see if that fixes your problem.

to correct your statement the remote only stores a recording if you made one.

everything is stored in the base.

rtr12:  what did your power supply do ? Mine has all the lights and seems to be charging the cab 2


TOKELLY:    tried the reprogramming... I got the yellow led to flash on the base and that was it

fuzzie,

Set the channel on the base to 9. Get's it away from other wifi interference. A little slow counting the blinks, but it's worth it.

Make sure the base and antenna is not blocked by anything metallic. Check that the outlet that you a plugging the base power supply into is properly grounded.

Ok  Moonman ,Tried all that .Base is on 9 ,grounded properly , no wifi  . Turn cab2 on an it says Base not found....scan.......retry and that's all it will do. It won't change screens ,scroll,info, number buttons are also blank. It seems like it's locked up.tried the reset button,reloading cab2 module....same thing. All was fine the other day.

This is a possibility, but slim, Could you remove the antenna from the base and look inside the antenna's connector. There should be a wire dead center, like cable for DISH or Cable TV.

If you had possibly removed the antenna and re-installed, it might have been damaged, bent and then non existent, so no signal..

Just want to make sure we isolate that as a possibility.

Ok, two hail marys before you call Lionel. Remove the batteries in the Cab2 handheld.

Wait a few seconds, and replace them. Try again to get screens and signal.

I have an older unit that did this to me and removing the power restored it.

You could also try some regular AA batteries in case the batteries have a low charge.

If no joy, call Lionel and they will walk you through a few tests and give you an RA if it's not working.

If you have lights and it's charging, it's probably not the base PS. Mine did that for about 15 minutes then died, lights out, nothing at base. Checked the barrel plug on the PS and nothing there either. Waited a while, tried again still nothing. Next day, called Lionel, they sent me a new PS. Hasn't arrived yet, hopefully Tues or Wed I will have it.

Called Lionel , they said ship it to us. Didn't want to wait for Lionel, (waited long enough) so I took it to my LHS , They said the base and the cab2 were messed up, didn't know the reason, but they replaced both. All is good for now.  Thank God for my LHS, They're a little drive.  BUT THEY CARE!!!