So... give you an update on the cab-1. I just bought an original one in the white box and from what I see inside of it, the crystal socket is a white socket that hold the crystal. When I went to try it out, it would not respond to the base. All buttons work, just no base response.
First thing I did was look at the crystal socket as it is different with no plastic shelf underneath to keep it firmly in place. I bent the 2 pins slightly downward so they make contact with the metal tabs inside the socket. Works as if it was brand new which it is, just 25 years later, this cab-1 runs my trains!
I have another original cab-1 in the white box and when I opened it, the crystal socket is gray with a small shelf underneath so the crystal stays firmly in place.
I would think Lionel saw an issue there and replaced the original ones that had a white socket with a gray one and had an extra piece to hold the crystal in place.
This gets me thinking that the cab-1 that will not respond to the base could be not a broken trace but the crystal itself is not touching the metal tabs. Going to re-open that problematic one, bend the pins down a little and try it again.
P.S. I am not abandoning my cab-1s as they have been reliable now for 25 years but I do use a cab-2!!
