@Dave 69 GTEL posted:

I think the voice command feature is nothing more than a voice recognition routine within the LC app which takes voice patterns and matches them to LC commands and transmits them to the bluetooth equipped locomotive.

Bluetooth only allows for connection to one device at a time so multiple locomotive control would have to happen through WIFI. CAB 3 will have WIFI built in.

I'm not familiar with LCS WIFI. But from a discussion I had with a sales associate at the Lionel Store in Concord there is something, I can't remember what, that is better about the WIFI coming out in the CAB 3 than the LCS version.

2 entirely different features

Voice recognition- yes, "a voice recognition routine within the LC app which takes voice patterns and matches them to LC commands and transmits them to the bluetooth equipped locomotive"

Voice Streaming- only applies to Lionchief BT 5.0 equipped engines- but then also not explicitly stated- requires your phone to have a BT 5.0 chipset, and even then, as an example some Android devices don't allow it to work properly. The function is, you speak into the microphone on your third party device and the streamed audio over bluetooth comes out of the engine's speaker. Also allows voice recording of sequences, that then sort of replace the internal crew talk announcements in the app.

@Dave 69 GTEL posted:

I think the voice command feature is nothing more than a voice recognition routine within the LC app which takes voice patterns and matches them to LC commands and transmits them to the bluetooth equipped locomotive.

Correct, it's a simple voice recognition feature, nothing more.

@rplst8 posted:

AFAIK, the Cab3 app has two modes of operation. Cab3B (Bluetooth) and Cab3L (Legacy via WiFi). Cab3L mode requires the Base3 (or the 990 Base and WiFi LCS module) to work. In Cab3B mode, it looks pretty much like the LionChief app with a similar feature set.

So what you saying is that you HAVE to have either a Base3 OR a 990 Base and WiFI LCS module to control any advanced features?  If that is the case, then us newbies are screwed.  I assumed that if you had a newer Legacy engine with BlueTooth, then you could control it IF the CAB3 app were available, you wouldn't need another interface since the BlueTooth effectively IS the interface.   But now that I think about it, if the Cab3B mode looks like the LionChief, why would it even be needed?

@James Brown posted:

But now that I think about it, if the Cab3B mode looks like the LionChief, why would it even be needed?

From what I understand, if someone doesn’t want to buy a Base 3, you could still utilize the Cab3B app with a nice advantage of running 3 trains at once, a plus over the existing LC app. You still wouldn’t have the full potential of a Legacy locomotive like those have with the Cab/Base 2. I have 5 Legacy locomotives I run with the app or universal remote if I want to run more than 1 at a time. I’m looking forward to the Base 3 whenever it gets here next year. I preordered it in May 22.

Gene

@James Brown posted:

So what you saying is that you HAVE to have either a Base3 OR a 990 Base and WiFI LCS module to control any advanced features?

Correct.

If that is the case, then us newbies are screwed.  I assumed that if you had a newer Legacy engine with BlueTooth, then you could control it IF the CAB3 app were available, you wouldn't need another interface since the BlueTooth effectively IS the interface.   But now that I think about it, if the Cab3B mode looks like the LionChief, why would it even be needed?

I don’t think things like MUs (lash-ups), train brake, adjustable momentum, labored chuff/rev, and other features will work without a Legacy Base.

Note this other thread currently running. November 1 -- Questions will be addressed by the person who knows the answers.

"Lionel Legacy Group You Tube Stream Regarding the Base 3 With Dave Olson"

Some great questions and concerns.  Please make sure to post them on the thread in the forum or follow this video to MartyE's YouTube site and post them there.

@Vernon Barry posted:

I have no reason to believe, that over Bluetooth- direct to the engine, CAB3 unlocks more features than current Lionchief app. Maybe it does, but that would imply all this time, the Bluetooth interface had features that just were not accessible because of app limitations.

That is interesting. I would have thought BT vs Legacy was a communications protocol difference and not a feature/functionality  difference and BT vs Legacy would be how the command was sent/received but not what commands could be sent/receive.

@David_NJ posted:

That is interesting. I would have thought BT vs Legacy was a communications protocol difference and not a feature/functionality  difference and BT vs Legacy would be how the command was sent/received but not what commands could be sent/receive.

That's right and Lionel will have a new app to utilize the additional functions with the CAB 3. However I wish they would do an upgraded legacy handheld to go with the CAB 3. It seems to me that they are cheapening it by going with a cell phone app.

@Dave 69 GTEL posted:

It seems to me that they are cheapening it by going with a cell phone app.

That's because they are!   The only continued remote production will be the CAB1L and the Universal remote.

@Dave 69 GTEL posted:

That's right and Lionel will have a new app to utilize the additional functions with the CAB 3.

Only if you buy the Base3.

Someone was saying at our TCA meet and train show of Casey Jones Hi-Railers in Germantown TN today that the Base 3 has again been delayed to 2nd quarter 2024. Has anyone heard anything that confirms this rumor? Apparently a lot of people are stuck with Legacy and Visionline locomotives they can only run conventionally and many have deposits on Base 3s and they're a little irritated with Lionel. I have  preorder in on that thing which I might cancel. My opinion on preordering is that I have never and will never preorder anything from a dealer that requires a deposit unless it's an item that is exclusive with that dealer and then it would have to be something awfully good.

@Dave 69 GTEL posted:

SApparently a lot of people are stuck with Legacy and Visionline locomotives they can only run conventionally

Anyone with Legacy or Visionline can run the engines via Bluetooth using either the free smartphone app or the reasonably priced universal bluetooth remote.

The current expected availability of the Base3 is end of Q1/Q2 of 2024.

@David_NJ posted:

Anyone with Legacy of Visionline can run the engines via Bluetooth using either the free smartphone app or the reasonably priced universal bluetooth remote.

The current expected availability of the Base3 is end of Q1/Q2 of 2024.

On the water in February, delivery in April is the last update Lionel (Dave Olsen) provided.

Not to mention TMCC/Cab1… which are plentiful and very affordable for those without the Cab2.

@Dave 69 GTEL posted:

Someone was saying at our TCA meet and train show of Casey Jones Hi-Railers in Germantown TN today that the Base 3 has again been delayed to 2nd quarter 2024. Has anyone heard anything that confirms this rumor? Apparently a lot of people are stuck with Legacy and Visionline locomotives they can only run conventionally and many have deposits on Base 3s and they're a little irritated with Lionel. I have  preorder in on that thing which I might cancel. My opinion on preordering is that I have never and will never preorder anything from a dealer that requires a deposit unless it's an item that is exclusive with that dealer and then it would have to be something awfully good.

Well, my first comment has to be, who is “someone”??? Do they work for Lionel??? Do they have some verifiable link to the delivery schedule??? My second comment is that Dave Olsen, in the excellent and detailed online meeting he did with Marty E. a couple of weeks ago said that delivery was scheduled for April which IS second quarter 2024, so this appears to be more gossip than news

@Apples55 posted:

Well, my first comment has to be, who is “someone”??? Do they work for Lionel??? Do they have some verifiable link to the delivery schedule??? My second comment is that Dave Olsen, in the excellent and detailed online meeting he did with Marty E. a couple of weeks ago said that delivery was scheduled for April which IS second quarter 2024, so this appears to be more gossip than news

The "someone" is a TCA vendor at the train show. He's at every train show we have but he doesn't work for Lionel and I don't know his name. I don't see any gossip. This is apparently factual. You just confirmed what I just said.

As far as the Lionchief app controlling Legacy and Visionline locomotives through bluetooth, I guess you could if you're satisfied to spend all that money on those locomotives only to run them like they are Lionchief 2.0 plus. There is a tremendous injustice going on. That Base 3 was going to be delivered in December after a 2 year delay and after taking the CAB 2 out of production, leaving only the CAB 1L, which is a joke and the Universal Remote, which is LionChief. CAB 2 was excellent, aside from the battery charging issue. Why didn't they come out with a new WIFI/Bluetooth CAB 3 system with backwards compatibility to the previous systems? Then the Base 3 is delayed until January and now April. Who needs to control 3 trains at once? I have my hands full controlling 2 at once and if I want to get another one going I just enter the engine or train number. So I'm done ranting for now.

Dave, your earlier post said they were stuck running their Legacy engines in conventional mode which isn’t the case.

Those already with a Cab2 are less so counting the days to the Cab3, while those newer to the hobby are the ones waiting. I‘m new but was able to get a Cab2/990 for a not so outrageous price. Still I want the Cab3 to allow me to control a LionChief engine from a single remote.

Anyway, I think your questions and why it’s taken as long as it has is addressed in multiple threads and the video already shared.

@David_NJ posted:

Dave, your earlier post said they were stuck running their Legacy engines in conventional mode which isn’t the case.

Those already with a Cab2 are less so counting the days to the Cab3, while those newer to the hobby are the ones waiting. I‘m new but was able to get a Cab2/990 for a not so outrageous price. Still I want the Cab3 to allow me to control a LionChief engine from a single remote.

Anyway, I think your questions and why it’s taken as long as it has is addressed in multiple threads and the video already shared.

I'm sorry I wasn't more clear. The O gauge hobbyists I was referring to are ones that don't have a CAB 2, which are going for $700+ used on eBay. I think the new product is going to be called a Base 3, not a CAB 3 because it doesn't have a handheld unit. Maybe they will name the cell phone software for it CAB 3, but I might be wrong.

@Dave 69 GTEL posted:

I'm sorry I wasn't more clear. The O gauge hobbyists I was referring to are ones that don't have a CAB 2, which are going for $700+ used on eBay. I think the new product is going to be called a Base 3, not a CAB 3 because it doesn't have a handheld unit. Maybe they will name the cell phone software for it CAB 3, but I might be wrong.

The smart device app for the BASE3 is indeed called the CAB3.

I think Base 3 will be here soon.  As Dave said April of next year.  Here is a little inkling of what's to come from Lionel's Facebook page.  Take a close look in the right of this picture on the counter.

@Dave 69 GTEL posted:

I'm sorry I wasn't more clear. The O gauge hobbyists I was referring to are ones that don't have a CAB 2, which are going for $700+ used on eBay. I think the new product is going to be called a Base 3, not a CAB 3 because it doesn't have a handheld unit. Maybe they will name the cell phone software for it CAB 3, but I might be wrong.

@David_NJ posted:

Those already with a Cab2 are less so counting the days to the Cab3, while those newer to the hobby are the ones waiting. I‘m new but was able to get a Cab2/990 for a not so outrageous price. Still I want the Cab3 to allow me to control a LionChief engine from a single remote.

To your point @Dave 69 GTEL …

The new product is called the Base3. The yet to be released smartphone app is called the Cab3L/Cab3B.

When connected to the Base3 it’s called Cab3L. When connected to a Bluetooth enabled locomotive it’s called Cab3B.

@MartyE posted:

I think Base 3 will be here soon.  As Dave said April of next year.  Here is a little inkling of what's to come from Lionel's Facebook page.  Take a close look in the right of this picture on the counter.

I see they have the design of the Legacy box ready to go. And it's a Base3. I guess the WIFI integration will be a improvement. I hope to be able to use my CAB2 and CAB1 with it. Dave Olsen once told me how you would use an adapter to hook those units up to it at the last LCCA convention but I don't remember what he said. Looks like you got everybody there except Joe Hitchcock. Maybe he's in the Lennie suit. I wonder if they are at the Concord or Nashville Lionel Stores in the picture?

@Dave 69 GTEL posted:

I hope to be able to use my CAB2 and CAB1 with it. Dave Olsen once told me how you would use an adapter to hook those units up to it at the last LCCA convention but I don't remember what he said.

it was Concord. Click the link in my signature and watch the video to answer all your questions.