Lionel Cab 1L remote

To make it work you need a base. Either a Base1L, Legacy Base, or the yet to be released Base3. Just one wire needed from the base to the outside rail.

Pete

@Norton posted:

To make it work you need a base. Either a Base1L, Legacy Base, or the yet to be released Base3. Just one wire needed from the base to the outside rail.

Pete

Pete thank you for your information. How do I wire multiple tracks off the legacy base? Then how does he control from the remote?

Thanks again, Joe

As Pete stated you need a base. Just NOT the earlier Cab 1 TMCC base.  It all depends on what you mean by multiple tracks. In a command only environment a one wire hookup from the base to an outside rail is all that’s needed to send commands throughout the layout. You still need to wire everything as far as voltage to the rails.

If you are also running conventional it gets a little more complicated. You will need a Powermaster for each conventional loop that’s involved if that’s what your running.  The remote will be used. But it will be controlling track voltage to run the trains. Where in command you will have the fixed voltage at the rails and sending commands to the engine.

None of this stuff is cheap to buy. Best describe exactly what you want to accomplish. That way you will only buy what you actually need.

As Dave says its just one wire from the base to the outside rail. Typically all outside rails are connected. If you want to make blocks you isolate the center rail but keep the outside rails all connected.

Pete

@Dave_C posted:

... you need a base. Just NOT the earlier Cab 1 TMCC base. ...

Not sure what you mean by this.  Please explain.

@Mallard4468 posted:

Not sure what you mean by this.  Please explain.

The Cab1L will not communicate with a TMCC Base aka CAB1 Base. Cab 1L is Legacy not TMCC so only communicates with Legacy Bases.

Pete

@Norton posted:

The Cab1L will not communicate with a TMCC Base aka CAB1 Base. Cab 1L is Legacy not TMCC so only communicates with Legacy Bases.

Pete

Oh yeah, now I remember.  The packaging on the 1L is pretty confusing too.

Might be controversial, but perhaps your friend should wait until say this fall, maybe October, when the Base3 is sorted out, and Base1L goes down in price.

--Or---

Your friend immediately sells the Cab1L and buys a Cab1/Base1.

For the record, I run my Lionel engines using 2xCab1/Base1, have Cab1L/Base1L for sale, and have an order in for a Base3, with the idea that the Base1 is the backup. Never bought Cab2/Base2.

1. As everyone has stated, he will need one of the three aforementioned bases in order for the remote to work.

2. As far as multiple tracks are concerned, it depends on whether they are all physically and electrically connected to one another. Assuming they are, then only the "one wire" connection is needed from the base to any outside rail and that should be sufficient for a strong command control signal to be sent out. Different story if the multiple tracks are not connected.

3. Again, I'm assuming your friend will be running TMCC or Legacy engines with his remote. If he is going to be running conventional engines, then a Powermaster will be required as was previously stated. Once the new base and one wire are hooked up, in order to run TMCC or Legacy engines from the remote, the engines first have to be programmed into the remote (similar to a DCS setup). There is a procedure for how you do that and is set forth in the engine's manual and the base's manual. Each TMCC or Legacy generally has a Program/Run switch somewhere on the bottom and it's "basically" a process of putting the switch in the program mode, putting the engine on the track and powering everything up and entering your engine information and then putting the switch back to Run mode in order to run your train.

Lionel (as well as this Forum) have videos on how to do this - here's one that may help.

Bing Videos

Lionel still sells the Cab 1L (Legacy) handheld controller, but stopped making the accompanying base quite awhile ago. They also discontinued the Cab2 system (handheld and base) quite awhile ago. Unfortunately, the Cab 1L remote won't operate with anything but the Cab 1L base or the Cab 2 base, so, without paying a fortune to buy one of these bases on the used market, you won't be able to use the Cab 1L remote.

However, the Base 3 is coming out, probably within the next month or so, and it will work as a base for the Cab 1L remote. The Base 3 isn't cheap, though. As IllinoisCentral noted, when the Base 3 comes out, it's possible the price of the Cab 1L base will come down on the used market and be a more affordable option.

@breezinup posted:

However, the new Cab 3 is coming out, probably within the next month or so, and it will work as a base for the Cab 1L remote. The Cab 3 isn't cheap, though.

The CAB3 is downloadable now for free, it's the BASE3 that's expensive.

My mistake. I meant the new Base 3 (the piece of hardware) that is coming out in the next month or so, which will be able to be used as a base for the Cab 1L. I changed it.

@breezinup posted:

My mistake. I meant the new Base 3 (the piece of hardware) that is coming out in the next month or so, which will be able to be used as a base for the Cab 1L. I changed it.

No problem, I was just poking a little fun at you.

Let me ask it in a different way, if he wants to run multiple sperate loops of track with the Cab 1L is that possible if so how to I program it for him? If not what does he need to be able to do it? Thanks again for all your great feedback you guys are the best.

The cab-1L doesn't need programming.  Just a 1L base or Legacy base or Base 3 to communicate with the cab-1L and make sure the outside rail is wired to the base output and continuous electrically throughout the layout.  It's that simple.

By seperate loops. I’m guessing NO connections with loops as far as switches. If you are running command only. The outside rail of each loop has to be connected to a Legacy base. Only 1 base is needed.

If you are running conventional on any of the loops. You will need a Legacy Powermaster for each loop. Each one you will assign a unique ID to address it.

All the manuals are available for viewing on Lionel support. As well as many how to hook up videos. Not that questions can’t be answered here. Like I said. The stuff required is not  inexpensive. It’s best to come up with a game plan and get only what you need.

Just one addendum to Dave C’s comment above, the PowerMaster has a simple switch on it that gives one the ability to run - on an independent loop - either in Command or Conventional mode. It’s that simple, because I have a PM (6-37146) and am able to run either modes, depending on whether I want to run a command equipped engine or one of my older conventional ones.

Just one final question how many engines can he run at once with the Cab 1L remote? Thanks again everyone.

If you are running command. There are 99 engine addresses available that can be assigned to engines.

So he can run up to 99 engines all at once?

"So he can run up to 99 engines all at once?"

If he has the room on the layout, yes.  Realistically, no one wants to try to control more than a few locos (2-3) at once unless they are on isolated loops with no potential for collisions.

Actually. I believe it’s 98 with Legacy. Address 99 will run every Legacy engine sitting on powered track. Hit engine 99 and they all start at once and all will follow the command given. All Legacy engines should run at the same speed.