Lionel’s New Bluetooth • Demo • Video • 2018 Vol. One • Thoughts

Gary

Scanned through it here at work and will watch in full tonight.  Looks good though of what I got to see.  Nice Job!

Hi Gary,   Great video and that is a beautiful engine. It really works well at low speeds.    I love the Bluetooth, and have worked with the Momentum setting on the tools screen to fine tune my Five Star General's start speed, which  also included lowering the throttle setting on my transformer.  The Speed limit on the tools screen sets a max speed which is nice if you have visitors or kids running the engine.  

WOW great, You make it very clear & easy on how to operate it with blue tooth. Thanks

Awesome, Gary. Love your videos!

Excellent video! 

Don't have a Bluetooth-enabled loco yet but will refer back to this when I do.

Thanks.

Another excellent instructional video, Gary!  I bought the LC Polar Express set with Bluetooth last month, and it all works great!  As easy as pie!

Looks like the smoothness and advantages of bluetooth loco control are now coming on strong.

Hi Gary

Watched the entire video.  Very nice. 

Nice video and layout GARY!!! 

I just wish Lionel would use a better speaker so the crew and tower talk doesn't sound like guys talking with walnut in their mouths.  Always reminds me of the chipmunks.

laz57, They want to make it authentic sounding.  I recall when I started my working years I was on the radio maintenance dept for a power company.  Sometimes guys complained that it didn't sound good.  I thought it never sounded good, and had trouble understanding anyone.  This was back in the mid '70s, so when Gary's Pere Marquette was riding the rails, I would think it would sound worse.     This is a tongue in cheek reply.  

I was very hesitant about the Lionchief App.  The Mickeys Christmas set had left a bad taste in my mouth for the 4-4-0 general kits.  But i'm glad I took a leak of faith about the new 5 Star General Set with blue tooth.  The app gives a whole other dimension and control that makes it that much more fun.  The whistle/bell tone control is the best!

"LionChief Plus locomotives and most of the new Lionel Legacy locomotives."

If I'm not mistaken, all new Lionel locos will come with Bluetooth capability, LionChief, LionChief Plus and Legacy.  Thanks for the video.

Thanks OGR Members for watching and commenting on this video.

Tuesday January 23, 2018 • Lionel will be posting their first catalog for 2018, with a live catalog show.  I am looking forward to this show to see what they are going to be doing with Bluetooth.

I feel that Lionel’s Bluetooth can become a game changer for the hobby.  This locomotive is my 5th LionChief Plus on my layout.

Bluetooth is great for my grandchildren because of the momentum / speed control.  I set the momentum / speed control and this keeps the locomotive on the train table and off the floor.

If you have not watch the video, please take a look. I would like to hear from you.

Thanks: Gary

trainroomgary posted:

Thanks OGR Members for watching and commenting on this video.

Tuesday January 23, 2018 • Lionel will be posting their first catalog for 2018, with a live catalog show.  I am looking forward to this show to see what they are going to be doing with Bluetooth.

I feel that Lionel’s Bluetooth can become a game changer for the hobby.  This locomotive is my 5th LionChief Plus on my layout.

Bluetooth is great for my grandchildren because of the momentum / speed control.  I set the momentum / speed control and this keeps the locomotive on the train table and off the floor.

If you have not watch the video, please take a look. I would like to hear from you.

Thanks: Gary

I couldn't agree with you more Gary.  The LionChief remote system was the main reason I got back into model railroading, specially now having kids of my own.  I was very hesitant with the LionChief App as I am not big on controlling things from a smart phone or tablet.  But the fact that you got a very user friendly system, in addition to some cool features, like whistle and bell tone control, i'm super excited to see where the line goes from here.

John, I was very impressed with the simplicity of the app.  I tried the speed and momentum controls!  That is handy to avoid a mishap.  It is slick it all works without a controller like Legacy and DCS.

Mark Boyce posted:

John, I was very impressed with the simplicity of the app.  I tried the speed and momentum controls!  That is handy to avoid a mishap.  It is slick it all works without a controller like Legacy and DCS.

The Legacy control system was a huge turn off for me.  The need to do all that programming and that remote with soo many buttons.  It felt like I needed a pilots license to rail with a Legacy Controller

Lionchief is simple, easy to use, and attractive to look at.  And now with the app, its that much better.  The kids and I love it.

John,

I have a Legacy system, and have only tried to program 3 engines.  It is quite a bit tricky, I think.  But I haven't done much with it.  I have been viewing and reviewing a TM video on how to use it.  I don't have any kids at home, and we don't have any grandchildren, so I can take my time with it.  

I just added the KATY Mikado and boy is it fun,  it is a Lionchief plus Bluetooth and it is the easiest way to run a train, either with the lionchief remote or with the Bluetooth app.

After running the train for 15 minutes with the lionchief remote,   I decided to try the Bluetooth app and did so without using the instructions, it is very easy to figure out and use.  I like the setup very easy to use.

I also have the Legacy system (that I bought last year and really like)  and MTH DCS system (I bought it when first came out, 2008 I think, still works hasn't been upgraded) and Lionel has a a real winner with the Bluetooth system.

I just ordered a Lionel Lines Berkshire with Bluetooth and am looking forward to see what Lionel comes up with in the next catalog.

You're really going to live the new Bluetooth Berkshire!  They did an awesome job with its smoke output!

New Bershire is great,  excellent slow speeds and smoke, tried bluetooth app, noticed lag in response and several times when a lower speed was selected it sped up first, im sticking to remote for operating and blue only for setup or changes. Overall tho Big Thumbs up on loco in general, or as i put it... 4 Tails 

Wil any Legacy engine operate on Bluetooth or must it be labeled "Bluetooth"? (And therefore a new engine).

Wally

Cho Cho Wally posted:

Wil any Legacy engine operate on Bluetooth or must it be labeled "Bluetooth"? (And therefore a new engine).

Wally

Must have the Bluetooth symbol. Almost all Legacy engines since 2017 volume 2 catalog on. 

Just finished watching the Lionel Live on Facebook,

The Ryan & Dave Show.

I now have five LionChief Plus Locomotives on my layout. Like to add one more this year. The top of my list is the New Milwaukee Road Switcher.  Item #6-85063.

Do you have any plans to add a LionChief Locomotive or maybe a Legacy with Bluetooth?

Take care: Gary