For anyone who is interested -

I went back down to the basement and did some more troubleshooting. I changed the wifi channel on the LCS unit (from 1 to 5; no idea why I chose 5).  Now connects as before (green link icon) but now amber light on base is blinking and iCAB app seems to be working (for now).  So perhaps WiFi interference was the problem (?) and just because the link icon is green must not mean the connection is necessarily robust.

 I experienced a problem where a gaming WiFi router with channel bonding jammed Legacy base to CAB2 communications (on the 2.4Ghz band) and degraded the LCS WiFi.  We used WiFi sniffers to  diagnose the problem and found the high-power router dominated most of the middle of the WiFi channel spectrum.   The jamming was worst during a show when hundreds of cell phones were trying to connect to the router.  Removing the router solved that problem.  

The Legacy base has nine channels.  CH1 is below most commonly used 2.4GHz signals and CH9 is above most signals.  I use CH9 on the base and set the LCS WiFi to CH1.  When you have several WiFi routers co-located (as at a layout control panel), expect interference and set the channels of the devices accordingly.   I haven't run my train cam (2.4Ghz) for a while.  That transmitter, which is near the WiFi CH1 frequency,  may force a change of the LCS WiFi channel.

If you're having issues connecting, one tool is the LCS WiFi Monitor.

LCS WiFi Monitor LE

Thanks for the replies. I had it working for about 15 min and then it dropped the connection again.  Back to the original problem.  I will try this - "use CH9 on the base and set the LCS WiFi to CH1." to see if things improve.  Otherwise I am worried I might have a defective unit.

Base to the WiFi unit is hard wired via the PDI buss connection.  I suspect changing the channels on either will have any effect.

Okay gentlemen I have read your info.  My connection is green at both ends but will not load the Roster engine information to the wifi aps not recognizing any engines stored in my base. Receiving error code 5. Any suggestions.  Lionel service had no suggestions except to let the ap developers know.  Supposed to have called me back but that has been over a week.  Harry

Select an engine on the CAB2 and spin the knob.  The red light on every LCS box should flash as you spin the know.  That's a quick check to see if you're actually physically connected properly to the LCS boxes.

I waited for months for a reply from Lionel and still no answer.

I can't exactly be certain but I have the sense it is not the WiFi connection but rather the communication between the base and the LCS unit that is the problem for me.

I checked the WiFi channels with a WiFi sniffer, although I cannot run the LCS WiFi Monitor program.  All seems clear.

I also don't understand this phenomenon where I shut everything down, wait for 12+ hours (vs.. 2-3 min), and then it works again once I power everything up, but only for a few minutes until I lose the connection again.

For now, I have given up on trying to use the LCS WiFi and am sticking with my CAB2

Gunnerjohn all lights flashing.

@DrTrainDad posted:

Hi -

I hope that someone has encountered this problem and can help...

I just purchased a LCS WiFi unit to use with my Legacy Base (v1.60 / v1.61 software) and Lionel iCab on an iPhone (iOS 13.6).

1. Connect all wires

2. Set to "Base"

3. Set to "Access Point" (not home network)

4. Powered on

5. iPhone finds LCS access point and connects

6. Launch iCAB app

7. iCAB app connects to LCS wifi (chain logo goes from red to green)

8. LCS green LED blinks every 2 seconds

9. LCS red LED is not lit

10. Command base yellow light is not lit

11. App says "Downloading data from base"

12. This goes on forever (> 3min; phone goes to sleep), so I hit "Cancel"

13. I get an error message that says could not download data "error 5"

14. It keeps trying to "download data" but never does

I tried checking all wire connections, powering off, powering / connecting in a different order.

The phone is sitting on top of the LCS box

I unplugged my DCS WiFi in case it might be interfering.

Same result.

Am I doing something wrong or do you think I have a defective unit?

Thanks to anyone who can help.

- mark

Please make sure that your Wi-Fi module is the first in the line up of your LCS blue boxes.  

Any chance you guys may be having DHCP lease issues? I don't have any gamers in the house but still I find we need at least three routers to serve enough IP addresses. I left one unplugged by accident recently and several devices would lose network connectivity even with wireless connected.

Is the LCS WiFi box set to "Base" as opposed to "No Base"?

I think it less likely to be a problem in the wired connection between LCS WiFi and Legacy command base. Obviously I can't prove it, but I can suggest a way to troubleshoot if the problem is the wired connection:

1. Borrow/purchase an LCS2 or BPC2 device with an additional LCS cable
2. Daisy-chain this off your LCS WiFi
3. Set the ID on the LCS2/BPC2 and confirm you can operate it using the CAB2 remote. (listen for the relay click to confirm activation)
4. Try triggering it from the iPhone/iPad.

If the Cab2 can consistently trigger the LCS2 or BPC2  at the same time when the iPad/iPhone is NOT working, this strongly suggests your problem is NOT in the physical wired connection between LCS WiFi and Legacy command base.

EDIT: When I wrote LCS2 above, I meant to say "ASC2"

Seems to be multiple problems discussed in this thread. Rudy if the Wi-Fi unit is set to "no base", will the iCab it be able to read from the base?

@Railsounds posted:

I think it less likely to be a problem in the wired connection between LCS WiFi and Legacy command base. Obviously I can't prove it, but I can suggest a way to troubleshoot if the problem is the wired connection:

If you spin the knob on the remote and all the activity lights on the LCS modules flicker in tune, that would seem to indicate the wired connection is fine, at least to me.  That's how I check to see if all is well, if the row of CSM2 boxes at the end of my LCS chain all show activity, I assume the link is good.  Am I assuming facts not in evidence?

All lights blink when I spin the knob on the remote.  I had no issues before trying to use the LCS wifi.  My MTH DCS wifi works great.  I have a LCS2 and one sensor track all worked fine.  i use base on the wifi.  I have not changed the channel.  Lionel base and remote all current. I followed the instructions and there is nothing in them that says the wifi unit should be first in the chain.  Gunnerjohn's test shows everything is connected ok.  Solid green light on wifi unit and sofware chain is green but apparently not communicating with base since Roster not populated.  What does the error code 5 actually mean?   

From P.4 of the LCS WiFi manual. "It is recommended that the LCS WiFi module occupy the first connection in the LCS chain of LCS products."

So Far after making the wifi first the roster populated, but LCS Ser2 has a constant red light but the sensor track is green which the pdi goes to the sensor track from Ser2?  Thanks for the p4 reference I guess it is not a recommendation but a must.

@MartyE posted:

Rudy if the Wi-Fi unit is set to "no base", will the iCab it be able to read from the base?

No, it would not. Back in the day, the intended use case for "no base" is literally a layout that does NOT have a Legacy base. For example a conventional, transformer-controlled layout, but using an iPad instead of a mechanical switch panel to operate turnouts, but NOT LOCOMOTIVES. Or a G-scale layout, again, with an iPad to control switches or accessories, but not the trains.

In such cases, the operator would buy an LCS Wifi, and one or more BPC2 or ASC-2 modules, the LCS starter cable and power supply, and enough LCS cables to connect the modules. No command base would be present. Locomotive control would NOT be possible from the iPad.

The iCab app would be of NO use in this scenario. Only the iPad LCS App would be applicable in this scenario.

Disclaimer: its possible that things could have changed since I left Lionel. I'm happy to be corrected if anyone has a different information.