signal problems all over huge layout

Hi, I had this same issue a while back, phoned Lionel tech and he had me send in my Legacy

base and hand held remote for repair.

Some thing inside went bad, fixed my problem.

while talking to him I said if I put my hand over engine it..then he finished off

my sentence with "it works fine"..

give them a call..

You only mention one engine.  Have you tried it with any others?

Do you have the Legacy base plugged directly into an good known grounded outlet?

Do you have the ground wires you mentioned connected to a good earth ground...NOT the transformer ground?

Do you have the wire from the U terminal of the base connected directly to the outside rail of the track?

Do you have access to another Legacy base that you can try.

Also, make SURE your outside rail does NOT go to any earth ground, that will short out the TMCC signal.

our club layout is 42 X 44 feet.  I can go anywhere and not have an issue.  we installed the external larger antenna and now we can go outside and down the hall a hundred feet (just checked) and no issues.

If it is only certain engines and not all in a given location, the problem may be an unshielded coil on a railsounds board.

I went through this a while back.

Two different signals.  The CAB-2 to base signal is 2.4Ghz.  A problem with this shows as the red light on the CAB-2.  The TMCC signal (TrackLink) is 455Khz and a problem with this is what causes the headlight flicker.  The two sides of this signal are the U terminal to the outside rail and through the engine's wheels and the wall wart to the building's wring earth ground (and then through the air to the engine's antenna.)

Chris is right, this is truly a case "apples and oranges". I can go anywhere in my train room and my Cab-1 can communicate with the TMCC base no problem. It is the track signal and the locomotive's ability to pick it up that is so vexing.

Jerry, I recently had a problem were the engine was not communicating with the base. I put my hand over the engine and it ran fine around my entire layout. I added an additional foot of antenna wire into the plastic shell and it's been fine. I'am not saying that it will solve your problem but it can't hurt to try it. I am sure you will get were you won't to go with help from the wonderful people on the OGR. Good luck,    Steve

the op stated legacy and I never mentioned anything else. 

where did TMCC or cab1 get into the picture?

i Shouldn't have mentioned CAB-1 in my 1st reply. As to using "TMCC", it's commonly used as a shorthand for what's properly called Tracklink.   As to Legacy the OP was experiencing a problem with engine response (flashing headlight) not CAB-2 to base signal.

Sorry if I confused you.  Just trying to offer valid suggestions to the OP.

You're right, he didn't come right out and say it, but it is strongly implied to be a track signal issue. When the complaint is it works when he puts his hand over the engine, that is kind of a giveaway.

As for the Cab-1 remark, that was just me. And while the Cab-1 and Cab-2 may communicate with their respective bases on different frequencies, those communications are relatively trouble free, compared to the track signal.

I own a Legacy base and Cab-2, but I've never gotten them to work. I'm beginning to suspect that I got a bad one. Because of that, still use TMCC and Cab-1's. If I'm having bad reception between the remote and the base, first I'll extend the antenna on the remote, and if that doesn't do the job, I check the batteries. When the batteries are good, I leave the antenna down, and my layout is as big as your club's.

hi everyone thanks for all the info.

turns out  that the new legacy base is not working.

tried my brothers on this layout and all engines worked perfect all over the layout on all levels.

what a trip this has been, don't know why I didn't post questions sooner on this sight rather than going to lionel.

thanks again to everyone.

the confusion comes from people who do not understand CAB1, TMCC, LEGACY (not you) but other people who read these forums and are not registered to post, of which there are many.  I try to keep my answers so any one reading will get useful info. 

Please let us know how it things go once they send the base back to you.

Took mine about ten days, but I live out here in Hawaii. Hope your's takes less time.

Good to know that Lionel looks after us with these issues ...

it is going to be awhile as service is closed until Aug 2014.