legacy cable question

I need more info. What cable, how connected to what, and what tmcc controllers? But I think you need what they call a Power Master Bridge...

http://www.lionel.com/media/se...s/57616724279250.pdf

#996 PowerMaster Bridge6-24279 | Price: $54.99

Layouts using the Lionel PowerMaster (6-24130) can transition to full CAB-2 operation with the new #996 PowerMaster Bridge. The PowerMaster Bridge allows you to replace your TMCC CAB-1 with a LEGACY CAB-2 to vary voltage, change locomotive direction, adjust speed, and control sounds remotely.

It is the cable that comes with the legacy set and it is labeled one r-232 plug goes to the legacy base one goes to the tmcc base and the third 232 connector says serial com which should go to the cable coming off of your cab-1 base to operate your tmcc controllers such as the bpc or asc.

It appears you may well be right chuck I checked out your link and I did not think I needed one will do some more research thanks

I'm not totally clear on all the peripherals, here is another thread on it.
http://ogaugerr.infopop.cc/eve...802914327#8802914327

Powermasters do in fact need the bridge all other tmcc controllers do not. There is a thread that isn't to old that has to do with the legacy base not being able to drive more than about 3 extra devices. If you don't have any powermasters that may be your problem.
Ron

Good call on that. I didn't think to ask how many ASC, TPC etc. This is the link to the other thread.

http://ogaugerr.infopop.cc/eve...572912227#2572912227

The bottom line is that the Legacy base is not as capable of driving as many loads out of the serial port as the older TMCC base was/is. A booster amp is needed to restore it's driver capability, and Lionel does not supply it. A fellow here Dale M. who can be reached at his email is willing to make them. See the thread and if it makes sense to your setup.

looking in the legacy manual at theback it shows using tmcc1 base and this cable butit does not work

quote:

Lionel LEGACY Control System and TMCC Dual set-up
Some operators may wish to continue using their TMCC CAB-1 remotes along with their
CAB-2 to control Power-Masters and all other Lionel products, even "Lionel LEGACY Control
System Equipped" Engines.

This is saying that you can use the Y wire supplied with the LEGACY Control System to use your Cab 1 to run Power-Masters and all other Lionel products.

quote:

It is possible for operators with CAB-1 to control any Engine or Train while other operators
with CAB-2 control any other Engine or Train. Switches and Routes can still be thrown, but
remember the limits of TMCC and CAB-1. A TMCC CAB-1 can only throw Routes 1-9 and
control Trains 1-9. The higher addresses (10-99) must be reached with a CAB-2.
The "Y" cord that comes with your Lionel LEGACY Control System makes it possible to
continue using your CAB-1 alongside your new Lionel LEGACY Control System. Set it up like
the diagram below. The "Y" cord also allows for RS232 (DB9) connection to your computer
for future applications.

This is also saying that you can use the Y wire supplied with the LEGACY Control System to use your Cab 1 to run Power-Masters and all other Lionel products with limits.

quote:

Power-Master Bridge
A separate component called the #994 Power-Master Bridge (#6-24279) is required to
operate a Lionel Power-Master with the Lionel LEGACY Control System CAB-2 and Command
Base/Charger.

This is saying that you need the Power-Master Bridge to run your Power-Masters form your LEGACY Control System Cab 2 all TMCC Engines will work With OUT the TMCC Command Base from the Cab 2 .

Chief page 8 shows the proper way to hook up the tmcc base to the legacy base. If you hook it up backwards it will not work. Also make sure you only hook up ONE wire to the track and that comes from the legacy base. I think when I got mine I hooked it up backwards and it didn't work.
Ron

Powermasters need the bridge to operate under the legacy system because the powermasters don't communicate with the tmcc or legacy base directly. They communicate directly with the cab1 and can be used to operate a layout in conventional mode without even having a tmcc base. I use mine on a Christmas layout in conventional mode and with the cab1 I can run the train and blow the whistle while my tmcc base sits on my permanent layout turned off. The powermaster bridge takes the commands from the legacy base and converts them into a cab1 signal and transmits it by radio frequency to the powermasters. They will work without being hooked to the track.
Ron

I checked out the wiring of the cable Lionel supplied and only the Legacy base is available to drive devices with a serial wire hookup such as the TPCs, etc. So the limit of 3 TPCs applies whether the cab1 is connected with the Lionel cable or not.
I see that it was your thread last December that I referred you to. Sorry I didn't catch that. But it seemed then that your problem was trying to drive more devices with the Legacy than it was able. Is that still the case now that you see connecting the cab1 is no help at all for that purpose?

Contact me regarding my new Booster products. I have two versions - Booster only and Booster with additional RS-232 direct feedthrough. The Booster will supply 70 mA at 3.5V output; a Legacy Base will supply only 7 mA output at 3.5V.

See a full description and photos.