First Time Legacy Install

do you have 1.51? 

if not get it here;

http://www.lionel.com/Customer...v15_update/index.cfm

you will need some additional items.

A LEGACY Base and CAB-2 remote running software version 1.3 or higher.

• A computer running the Windows XP operating system Service Pack 3 (SP3) or later, Vista or Windows 7.

• The black "Y" serial data cable included with your LEGACY system, Lionel part 61000RS232.

• An available 9-pin serial port on your computer, or an available USB port and USB-to-serial adapter.

• The LSU software, Lionel part 73-1725-S01 downloaded from the Lionel website.

• An optional 6-37125 LEGACY Writable Utility Module (aka "Black Module").

if you have this then the info is for any new people reading this.

Best advise is to remember is that GARGRAVES track outside rails are insulated from one another. This drove me nuts until I realized it. I found that I HAD to have these rails tied together for my trains to operate properly Others might say this is not needed but it was for me.

LIONEL offers some great videos to help and this forum is full of guys and gals who can and will help you. Gone are the days when you just put your track together , hooked up a transformer and ran trains.

Good luck and enjoy, remember their just trains, I love all m ine,,,,,,,,never saw one I didn't like.

When I click on the above link for v1.5 I get the Lionel Home screen and currently have not been abLe to find the update on the Lionel site.

Lionel is the only site I have ever seen that when you google some Lionel item and click on the link, you always end up at the home screen not at the item you were searching for.  Does anyone know why the Lionel site functions this way?  It is a major inconvenience. 

Conrad

There must be something wrong on your end, when I click on that link I get a "download now" icon, click on that and it immediately starts downloading.

Hook the Legacy wire to the outer rail, run them as separate systems, enjoy life

Do remember if you use the DCS controller to run Legacy engines you will not get any of the Legacy only features, only the basic TMCC features

If you decide to run TMCC with the DCS remote, you'll need a 50-1032 cable from

MTH hooked up between the Cab 2 and the TIU.

You won't be able to access some legacy features but if you set the legacy locomotives to TMCC mode you can run them with the DCS remote.

It's nice to have 2 controllers when visitors come over.

Why do you need to have a Windows operating system?  Does this mean you can't run Legacy if you have a Mac?  (Let's, for the moment, forget about Boot Camp and Parallels.)

- Mike

RickO,  Thanks for the reply.  I first tried to access it on an Ipad and that was the problem.  A desktop machine goes right to it.  The Ipad seems to cause every link to go to the home Lionel screen.

conrad

I just posted what is on Lionels web site.

I will let others explain what it takes for a mac.

The Legacy Software Utility (LSU) software only runs on the windows platform. I have used it on my Mac with Boot Camp and Parallels

The directions he posted are the upgrade directions using the LSU,  nothing to do with running the Legacy system

iPad tends to go to the mobile version , You can try to force the iPad to the main Lionel site, but then it still acts wonky

You won't see the download icons on the iPad since they are flash

Thanks, guys.

"do you have 1.51?"

Don't know, I'll be breaking open the box tonight to go over the installation. I have a new control set I picked up from Vince's and brought home from York, but haven't had occaision to look it over. I have the connection wire to make the connection to the DCS unit, but would rather just run it seperately, so I can access all the Lecacy features.

1.3 and above will work just fine.

1.4 was a very optional install, mainly to support the ZW-L.

1.51 has some cool feature and some new icons and engine setups but you wont have to upgrade to it before using your base

If you are going to run separately you can run the single Legacy base wire from the base to a common post or the outside rail and you are done.

You may want to tell us the basics of the layout, maybe a picture of it and let us know how its wired

Might help us to see any potential problems

Jim if your Legacy is new chances are it's software version is 1.4. I would just hook it up (one wire from the base to the outside rail), turn it on, then turn on your power to the tracks and run your trains. Once you get familiar with Legacy you can upgrade it to version 1.51. It will work fine with the older software until you're comfortable with it. Keep it simple at first is my motto.

Ron

Ron's right, I got my first Legacy at 1.2, and it ran fine.  Features were added as upgrades came along, but get it running first.