New Lionel Base3 transition thoughts for my layout

Truthfully, I'd grab a beer, pull up a chair, and turn on the TV.  I doubt you want to be one of the first adopters of this technology.  The chances of them getting it "all right" in the first couple of iterations is really small, like non-existent!  There's really nothing on the horizon you can't do with your existing Legacy control system, don't be in such a hurry to be Guinea pig!

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Truthfully, I'd grab a beer, pull up a chair, and turn on the TV.  I doubt you want to be one of the first adopters of this technology.  The chances of them getting it "all right" in the first couple of iterations is really small, like non-existent!  There's really nothing on the horizon you can't do with your existing Legacy control system, don't be in such a hurry to be Guinea pig!

I'm diving in.  No guts, no glory.  But then again I have a LUG meeting to prep for so....

@MartyE posted:

I'm diving in.  No guts, no glory.  But then again I have a LUG meeting to prep for so....

Better you than me Marty, but I will be carefully listening at the LUG meeting to see what you find!

That’s a good Question, I’m a player, however it’s not going to be available for almost a year. I’m sure there’s going to be a lot of discussion of this new Control system, positive and negative, but, I think the positives will Win. The present Legacy system has been around 16 years, so look at it like this, $450 divided by 16 = $28 a year, and Lionel repairs it free, that’s a great deal in itself. So, early order price, $440, a little Class “101” on how to use the system, and then the fun begins. We should be Optimistic about this control system as it’s going to make our hobby much more fun. How many of you guys have an Amazon Alexa?, turn on the lights, turn on the TV, Turn on the Trains??? I look at the glass optimistically and see it’s Half Full, rather than it’s Half empty. I think Lionel keeps moving the Goal Post, that’s a company I have a lot of confidence in, Thank you Lionel Team. Happy Decision Making Everyone

@leapinlarry posted:

We should be Optimistic about this control system as it’s going to make our hobby much more fun. How many of you guys have an Amazon Alexa?, turn on the lights, turn on the TV, Turn on the Trains??? I look at the glass optimistically and see it’s Half Full, rather than it’s Half empty. I think Lionel keeps moving the Goal Post, that’s a company I have a lot of confidence in, Thank you Lionel Team. Happy Decision Making Everyone

Larry,

Keep up the optimism.  But, your impression of Cab-3 is off slightly.  It's not a new control system.  There's precious little pushing forward here.  Instead it's a whole lot of consolidating the past.

To be fair though the smartphone app (Cab-3 remote) does have potential for real innovation.  I truly hope it comes.  The first app never went anywhere significant after the initial release.   The second one has done quite a bit better but is still not moving forward at anywhere near the same clip as 99.9% of all successful smartphone apps.

Does it need to? No.  But it's a wonderful canvas to add value and push the hobby forward.  Significant progress has to be expected, and needs to be planned and executed successfully, for that to happen.

A weak outcome like that seen by the first one would be hard to overcome.  Plodding along like the second one is now doing will not help progress either.

Third time's the charm? Yes, let's hope so.

Mike

From what I have seen and after watching the videos. this cab 3 looks like it does, for now at least the same as my 990 system does (except the four digit addressing). it just puts the lcs pdi ports and wifi along with the 990 all in one neat package.

yes it now has the ability to run lionchief and lionchief plus/2.0 plus engines from the remotes. those are engines I don't buy though so that is not a must have for me. glad they are doing it though.

my biggest concern is two fold. one being the way forward to control the trains and accessories is going phone/app based.

while this will allow more customization to the control screens. I never thought I would be saying this,but I just prefer the tactile feel of a handheld remote. especially for speed control.

second concern is if new control features/icons are added to the cab3 app. this could limit the cab2 too not be able the get all the new functions or cab3 features.

plus now that the cab2 is being discontinued this will now drive up the market price of existing cab2 remotes if one desires to have more than one or two remotes.at least in the short term.

one last question is lionel making one last batch of 990 or 993 with cab2 remotes? most online retailers say they are on backorder. if so does this mean they are awaiting the last run of remotes  or is this it for the physical cab2?

I am at some point going to get the new cab3 base,but as john said let lionel work out all the bugs first and then I will get one. for now I am going to at least try to get two more cab2 remotes for my collection.

Since the BASE3 is not being delivered for a year, one can only hope that they will have something to sell in the meantime.  It's not good business to not have a control system to sell your high end product, that does put a crimp in sales.

Up until recently the #993 expansion set was still available, and perhaps still is.  I know the #990 command system has been MIA for a number of months except for some high priced eBay deals.

Actually, I'm amazed to see this one at a more "reasonable" price point on eBay, 40 minutes remaining...

The other couple are in the $550 and up range.

So are there different versions of the 990 system? Were there upgrades as time went on? I say this because, if one finds one at a show should he bite, or wait for Lionel's (hopefully) next shipment of 990s to our dealers?

There is only one type of #990 system, it consists of the #992 command base and the #991 CAB2 remote.  There is also the #993 expansion set that consists of the #991 CAB2 Remote and the #994 Legacy Charger.  Obviously, you need at one #992 command base, and you can have as many CAB2 remotes as you like.  The #994 is strictly a charging cradle for the #991 CAB2 remote.

OK Thanks again John for your help.

FWIW, that #990 system on eBay that I posted went for over $600 when the last 30 minutes expired, they're really selling at a premium!

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

FWIW, that #990 system on eBay that I posted went for over $600 when the last 30 minutes expired, they're really selling at a premium!

But....if you haven't had Legacy before....and aren't interested in Lionchief locos or apps.

Your gonna spend $600 on the base 3 and cab1L and be unable to access every Legacy specific feature aside from the quillable whistle.

I'd rather pay $600 for the cab2, but I'll see what Madockwando has to say

@Jeff B. Haertlein posted:

I say this because, if one finds one at a show should he bite, or wait for Lionel's (hopefully) next shipment of 990s to our dealers?

There will be no next shipment. Lionel has discontinued the 990.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

FWIW, that #990 system on eBay that I posted went for over $600 when the last 30 minutes expired, they're really selling at a premium!

Another one is at $760 with over a day left.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

FWIW, that #990 system on eBay that I posted went for over $600 when the last 30 minutes expired, they're really selling at a premium!

Just like when the TIU/Remote package was discontinued. Prices went nuts on the used market. Same thing is happening to the Legacy 990.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Since the BASE3 is not being delivered for a year, one can only hope that they will have something to sell in the meantime.  It's not good business to not have a control system to sell your high end product, that does put a crimp in sales.

That is what I find totally mind blowing........

Should we start a "wish" thread for CAB3.  A few extras should be do-able in software.   Thread has been started....

I like the new cab3 but I won’t be ordering one this time. I’m certainly not going to obsolete my current legacy base, cab2 and cab1L from my layout just to stay on top of new items coming out. My current system allows me to do anything I can imagine with all my trains. Lionel certainly does need to continue going forward as the are now doing so to expand their customer base that hasn’t even received their first train set yet.

I do not see an antenna attached to the new Base3 unit.

Has anyone heard an explanation? On my Legacy base, since mounted on the side of my layout, I have an extension antenna connected via a cable and have the actual antenna sitting between a couple of buildings: