LioneL Legacy User's Gathering Report

[EIS2]

This thread really had me fooled.  I thought the thread was about the current (April, 2010) York.  The Legacy User's Group hasn't met yet and Will is not in attendance at this York meet so I was really surprised to see a current thread titled "Lionel Legacy User's Gathering Report" with Will's report in it.

How many others were fooled by this thread?

Earl

[SD-40T-2]

I own the legacy command  V1.2  what does this mean for me will i have to update mine when V1.3  becomes available

[laz 57]

Thanks MARTY for the report looks like YUZ GYZ had a nice meeting.  Looking forward to 1.3.

laz57

[MartyE]

Dennis

We would welcome anyone of the magazines to stop by.  I think some get the impression this is an OGR event because the original posts go up over there.  I have made sure to post the invites on the 3 forums I post on and then follow up.  Bob was kind enough to make the original invite sticky as well.  I also made sure Bob knew that the CTT staff was welcome to stop by if nothing else as to say hi.  We know they have a booth to run so we understand if they can't make it.

Please I hope more folks attend in the future.  With the impending release of V1.3 I am sure we'll have some new discussion about that in the spring.  If the range issue is substantially inproved there won't be much in ways of fixes to be had but we could concentrate on features instead.

Unfortunately it sounds to me if the battery charging issue is a dead subject.

[dwiemer]

Thanks guys.  It would be nice if CTT had a special spot that included this and reports from years past.  Thanks again for the information.

Dennis

[dbaker48]

 Thanks Marty and Will !!!  Sure appreciate you efforts !!

[MartyE]

As promised Will Allen has written up the summary for the Legacy User's Gathering...

 

Friday's Lionel Legacy Users Group Meeting started shortly past 8:00 AM and ended by 9:30 AM, and a lot was covered in that 90 minutes.

After introductions, we handed the floor to Fred Standa, Lionel Legacy beta tester and owner/operator of a 2,000 sq. ft. layout in his basement in western Iowa (Fred lives about an hour east of the Omaha/Council Bluffs area). You know Fred as "FRED'S TRAINS" on the OGR Forum.

Lionel CTO Jon Zahornacky could not be at York for this show, and Jon authorized Fred to spill the beans on the new features and the fixes in soon-to-be-released Legacy version 1.3.

Fred's extensive report was augmented by an occasional comment from Mike Reagan.

Here are the highlights of Fred's report:

MAIN OPERATION: ENGINE QUEUE

Cab-2 has an "engine queue" in it. This means that when you have an engine or train that has not reached its target speed and you de-select it (that is, change to another engine or leave the main operating screen), the "engine queue" in 1.3 takes over controlling the engine or train in the background up to, or down to, the target speed you set.

Currently (beta version) the engine queue runs up to 6 engines in the background.

MAIN OPERATION: TRAIN BRAKE CHANGE

The Train Brake operation has been changed in order to accommodate the request for more effects controls, but the standard of operation has been maintained. The Train Brake speed range has been adjusted: Under the new operating scheme, the Train Brake's effect on speed and the laboring sound has been split. Only the lower half of the Train Brake slide impacts speed of the locomotive, while the entire range of motion produces the laboring effect.

MAIN OPERATION: SPECIFIC ENGINE TYPES

Additional types have been added to the Engine Info. To select these additional types you can utilize the "More" button in the "Type" tab. The types are:

- Subway
- Accessory (similar to the "other" category in previous software)
- StationSounds Diner, etc.
- Acela
- Crane Car & Boom Car

Example using StationSounds Diner:

1 - Volume up (speaker icon)
2 - Car announcement (microphone icon)
3 - Sound on (speaker-to-right icon)
4 - Volume down (speaker icon)
5 - Sound off (speaker-to-left icon)
6 - Next stop car announcement (next icon)
7 - Station announcement (tower icon)
8 - Car lights off (black bulb icon)
9 - Car lights on (clear bulb icon)

Acela example:

1 - Volume up (speaker icon)
2 - Car announcement (radio icon)
3 - Engine RPM up (arrow up icon)
4 - Volume doen (speaker icon)
5 - System off (clack circle icon)
6 - Engine RPM down (arrow down icon)
7 - Station announcement (tower icon)
8 - Car lights off (black bulb icon)
9 - Car lights on (clear bulb icon)
10 - L doors open (sliding doors open icon)
11 - Reset
12 - R door open (sliding doors open icon)
13 - L door closed (sliding doors closed icon)
14 - Blank
15 - R door closed (sliding doors closed icon)

Crane & Boom Car example:

1 - Boom up/down (crane boom icon)
2 - Large hook up/down (large hook icon)
3 - Small hook up/down (small hook icon)
4 - Front light toggle (F light icon)
5 - Rear light toggle (R light icon)
6 - Outriggers (outriggers icon)
7 - Crew dialog toggle (radio with bar through it icon)
8 - All sounds on (speaker with bar icon)
9 - All sound on (sepaker without bar icon)

TRAIN BUILDER: CHANGES

Trainlink Suppport has been added. To "train link" a device, press TRAINLINK button. Trainlinked devices are indicated with a "LINK" over the icon that looks like a chain.

This allows graphic representation of items in consist. For example, if you add a crane, you see a crane icon. If you "Trainlink" the crane, it will be accessible at any time by pressing the TRAINLINK button during main operation.

Another example is support for Legacy switchers: If the switcher is lashed up with other Legacy engines, the internal device that governs the switcher's normal "gearing" and therefore its speed will be temporarily reprogrammed while "Trainlinked" so that the switcher runs at the same speed as other Legacy engines in the lashup consist.

MAIN OPERATION: TRAINLINK

To utilize TRAINLINK you must first build a consist that includes items you wish to access with Trainlink. Example: a Legacy ATSF E6 4-4-2 Atlantic engine and a Santa Fe StationSounds Diner. To "Trainlink" items in a consist, you select the item and press TRAINLINK. In the example, highlight the Santa Fe E6 Atlantic on the Legacy handheld remote and press TRAINLINK. A chain link icon appears above the engine. Next highlght the ATSF StaionSounds Diner and press TRAINLINK again. A chain link icon also appears over the diner icon.

In the beta release you can link up to 5 items per train.

MAIN OPERATIONS: IMPROVED RADIO DRIVER

This is the most wanted Lionel Legacy improvement of all, repeated here in Fred's exact words:

"The communication link between the Legacy base and the Cab-2 has been put into a mode that should improve distance and reliability. Example: my layout (50 feet by 40 feet)."

Fred has tested Legacy 1.3 EXTENSIVELY on his very large layout, and he reports vastly improved radio reception between the Legacy base and the Legacy handheld.

All of Fred's tests were with his external Hawking antenna removed, thus using ONLY the Legacy pigtail antenna supplied with the Legacy base.

When it's ready, Legacy 1.3 will be released on the familiar Legacy modules (one for the Legacy base and one for the Legacy handheld remote) and presumably mailed to all registered Legacy users.

So when will Legacy 1.3 be released? Here's a closing note from Jon Zahornacky, Lionel CTO, on that subject:

"I ask your patience, and rest assured that when these improvements are fully ready, we will get them to everyone. My goal this year is, however, QUALITY IS PRIORITY ONE. My best answer is that 1.3 will be released as soon as it is ready."


MIKE REAGAN ANSWERS OTHER QUESTIONS

Following Fred Standa's outstanding and comprehensive report on Legacy 1.3, Mike Reagan bravely took the floor to address the remaining questions posted on this thread at the top:

3. Battery charging issue

While Mike didn't say this exactly, it is unlikely that Lionel will change the battery charging circuitry soon. Speaking as Will Allen and not for Lionel, my advice is to throw away the rechargeables if they die or if your charger ceases to function and to buy AA Lithium batteries. That's what I do, and they last a loooooong time in my Cab-2 Legacy remotes.

4. Planned new Vision Line features

None announced.

5. What can you tell us about the black Legacy modules?

They are black.

7. Status of addressing more than 99 engines

While Mike didn't say this exactly, it doesn't appear to have a high priority.

8. Wheel flange problem

Mike says future engines have been tested successfully with smaller flange wheels. Time will tell when the smaller flange wheels show up on new engines.

9. Random electro-coupler firing problem on some Leagcy engines

Mike reports that extensive testing shows it to be a mechanical issue, not electrical. The problem occurs on some Legacy locomotives, mainly diesels, caused by slightly drooping couplers that sometimes open spontaneously. The fix is to place a small washer (metal or fibre) under the screw that holds the electro-coupler to the snap-off truck.

10. TPC shutting down when running Pulmor motor locos

Mike could not replicate this problem in his test environment but made a suggestion to one person present who had this problem. Contact Mike directly via email if this happens to you.

11. Does Lionel plan on making service manuals and test equipment available to the public?

Frankly, I didn't hear this answer and will let Marty or Chris answer this below.

12. Will Lionel offer the Cab-2 handheld controller alone without the recharging base

No plans to do so at present that I heard. Marty and Chris, did you hear anything different?

Other questions on original list

Questions 1, 2, 6, and 13 were answered by Fred Standa (above).


WE HOPE TO SEE EVERYONE AGAIN AT THE NEXT LIONEL LEGACY USERS GROUP MEETING ON FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2010, SAME TIME, SAME PLACE!

Will

Will Allen
TCA 03-56141

 

Hope you are excited about V1.3 as I am.

 

and the pictures...

Our demo setup including connectivity to TMCC1, SC2, and Legacy.
 

 

Will Allen and myself.  Chris was behind the viewfinder.
  

Fred Standa giving us the run down on V1.3.


  

This guy shows up every meeting and we still don't know who he is.
  

The green lights do come on once in a while.  LOL!