TMCC Cab-1

[turntable1]

 I have a Cab-1 controller, installed new batterys, one engine will start up, the other started once, does not start up right away, have to keep pushing many buttons before anything will start, should be able to push the number three button, and they should start up, after putting in the engine ID number, the top part of the anttena is broken off of the rest of the anttena, I was wondering if that could be my problem? Othewise I do not know what to do, to fix the problem, any help I would appeicate, thanks  Ed

 

[chuck]

The antenna is strictly used to communicate bewteen the CAB-1 and the Command Base (or a PowerMaster if you have one).  If one loco is working fine, the issue is not the antenna.  The more likely culprit is the antenna in the second loco has problems (size/posiiton) or the feed wire for the antenna is broken/damaged.  You MIGHT have a tuning issue with the command base.  Check to make sure you have a good earth ground for the command base (three prong plug for the wall wart power supply).

[turntable1]

the one loco works fine once you get it to start, make take up to five minutes of pushing buttons, before it will start. was thinking of replacing the cab-1 with a new one. Thanks for the information, Ed

 

[Dave Connolly]

 With all the button pushing you are doing. Does the red light on the command base blink with every push of a button ?  I run DCS as well as TMCC.  One thing I learned with these new electronic wonders. It helps to have spares or access to them. Most troubleshooting seems to have to be done by ruling things out by trying another like component. You can't tell by looking if anythings wrong. I have 2 Cab 1's. The one that came with the command base has always seemed to work better than the extra I bought.

[nblum]

As Chuck says, it could be that the command base or cab-1 is "detuned." This is something that a sophisticated Lionel service station might be able to evaluate.

Possible causes include "trauma" or aging, as many command bases and cab-1's have been banged around pretty good for 10 years by now.

As Chuck states, first order of business in any TMCC trouble shooting is making sure you have a functionally grounded outlet to plug the power supply of the command base into (the wall wart transformer with the three pronged plug).  Sometimes these wall warts go bad too, but usually it's an ungrounded outlet, wherein the command base functionally has no antenna. 

The only easy way to tell for sure whether it's the cab-1, the command base or the loco that's out of whack is to (1) verify that you've got a grounded outlet and (2) replace each device with a known functioning one.  Perhaps one of your train buddies has a cab-1,command base and command base power supply you can borrow? 

[chuck]

Check your batteries.  The CAB-1 is pretty good at stretching these out, but they will eventually get weak enough to stop functioning.

http://www.lionel.com/ForTheHobbyist/GeneralTipsAndFAQs/index.cfm

Scroll down to the TMCC problem solving guide. 

[trainbrain]

Try reprogramming everything.

[Roger Bielen]

Try holding your hand just above the problem engine and giving it a signal, if it works you're getting a weak signal to that engine and need to check the antenna in the engine.  First check for loss wires, it is sometimes possible to increase the antenna with inserting a piece of aluminum duct tape under/over the existing antenna, be careful not to ground it out.  Another problem could be the ground network on the layout, a quick check is to lay a ground wire along the track connected directly to the "U".  If it solves the problem run another ground line under that section of track.

Good luck.

[turntable1]

Chuck, I tried the problem solving guide, and set numbers for the loco's, they both work now, Thanks to every one for their advice, I feel like I have a new toy, it's great.  Thanks again, Ed

 

[nblum]

Sometimes I forget.....The first thing to do when a single TMCC loco stops working properly is a full re-program, as suggested above.  Locos sometimes go loco due to corrupted information in memory after a derailment or other transient. Reprogramming usually takes care of it.  Sometimes a simple rest works. Glad one of the suggestions worked. 

[Anonymous]

Another question about CAB-1 - Can they interfere with the remote of a garage door opener?  Mine has quit working for some reason - even though everything for the TMCC is off and unplugged. 

Lisa

[chuck]

CAB-1 operates in the CB frequency range.  Do you live near a military installation?

http://www.aaaremotes.com/racoupki.html

[Anonymous]

No military close by.  The Cab-1 works - just the remote for the garage door opener won't.

[chuck]

If you unplug the Command Base and pull the batteries from the CAB-1, there will be no possible interference issues with the door opener (not that there should be anyway). 

Check the batteries in the door opener remote and make sure the dip switches in the remote that have your code key match the switch settings on the receiver in the garage.  There is a chance that the receiver in the garage has failed or its antenna has become disconnected.   I accidently yanked our antenna off when moving some stuff up in the rafters above the door opener.  The antenna is just a small piece of wire and doesn't look terribly impressive but the unit won't work if it's disconnected.  If this is a newer model blue tooth unit, you will probably need to consult the owners manual on reset/re-alignment procedures.  If the remote and the receiver get out of sync, they need to ID each other as a "trusted" source.

[GregM]

No military close by.  The Cab-1 works - just the remote for the garage door opener won't.

 

I would check the battery in the garage door remote. 

[Buckeye Riveter]

No military close by.  The Cab-1 works - just the remote for the garage door opener won't.

Lisa, I sorta have the same problem.  I have a emergancy on/off remote control switch that is usually sold to turn on/off outdoor Christmas lights.  Somebody's garage door opener will make it operate.  I have on occassion gone into the train room and everything is on, or I will be running the trains and everything goes off. 

[Anonymous]

Well, I changed the battery in the door remote, didn't help.  Double checked the codes on the opener and the remote - all were still the same.  Finally I changed the codes on both and Ta-Dah - it's working again.  Go figure!!!  Now just have to re-sync the one in my Jeep.  Next time I push some weird combination of buttons on the Cab-1, it may happen again!

Thanks for all the suggestions. 

Buckeye - can't believe we have something in common besides our ages!!

   Lisa