yet another Legacy issue? Final disposition bottom of pg 2

[mdainsd]

Hey all. I have a had yet another problem crop up. when powering up, the little red light that indicates commands (not the red one that indicates bad communications) flashes rapidly. No commands can be issued while this is going on. I found that rolling the boost/break button towards boost cancels the flashing and commands can be issued.of course, who wants to figure out where you have to hold that control to try and have a little fun operating this expensive stuff. I finally threw the handheld across the room and broke both touch screens, that is how aggravated I have become with this substandard system. Im thankful I havent offed my postwar collection, as that is what I will be operating (again) Until such time as Lionel seriously addresses the issues of this system I will not endorse it. Now how to recover the thousands of dollars I have spent on this system....

[chuck]

 

Now how to recover the thousands of dollars I have spent on this system....

 

Base station and remote retail for $299?

[mdainsd]

i know that, its the many locomotives bought over that last year,

[laz 57]

WOW, MDAINSD,

  I have had my LEGACY system for about a year now and never threw it yet.  Patience is a virtue.  I have had some problems that were bad, but once I got the upgrade were ok.  The biggest problem that I have now is the loss of communication between handheld and base.  But even with that all I did was raise handheld so base could find.  I agree that certain issues need to be resolved but smashing your Cab2..... I don't know?

laz57

[chuck]

i know that, its the many locomotives bought over that last year,

Which has what to do with the Legacy remote? 

Did you contact Lionel tech support?  My first CAB-1 arrived DOA back in 1997.  I called Lionel and they sent me a replacement in two days and an RMA sticker to send back the broken one.  No charge.

[mdainsd]

Laz, I hear ya, patience, is indeed a virtue. One I was a bit short of at the time, i take full responsibility for that LOL. It jut sucks that when you get home from a long hard trying day you have to screw around with something forever to get a little quiet enjoyment from your hobby.

[laz 57]

MDAINSD,

  Yep I have done my time too, in my MANCAVE, all I wanted to do was have some fun and watch the trains go round and round?  But when starting em up, and it didn't matter if it was Lionel or MTH, all of a sudden it becomes a nitemare.  Couplers come open, engines have NO sound, or any other of a wide variety of things.  But sometimes you as well as I get frustrated.  The best thing that I have done was shut done everything go upstairs drink a beer and say, I look at it tomorrow.  I know we all want answers now but I have learned that my trains will still be there tomorrow.  Hope you can get past this?  Because running those trains, is believe it or not, very theraputic?

laz57

[mdainsd]

Laz, again, i agree with you. Get past it? if its the legacy system I dont know. but since the "meltdown' earlier I've been running PW stuff and having a blast. Ive got F3s from 1948 running as we speak and as always they are gracefully circling the layout.

[laz 57]

MDAINSD,

  At least your having fun with those postwar babies.  The whole idea of this hobby is to have fun.  That's what I do.  Keep em runnin.

PS.  I was out in SD the summer of '86, helping to build my SISTER and BIL house in ESCONDIDO.  Nice place, had a great summer there.  Went to see a few Padres games and wild animal parks.  Great town, they even got OL MILWAKEE beer there that year and saved my summer.

laz57

[mdainsd]

come out again. there is a great o gauge "toy train"layout at the model train museum, plus the good weather.

[laz 57]

Might have to do that in a few years from now.  Do you know DOUGDAGRUMP from the train club?  Sounds like the 3 of us would have fun?

laz57

[laz 57]

I have 3 more years till I'm 55 , then I can retire so keep your calander open.

laz57

[mdainsd]

I'll keep my calendar open! I dont think I know dougagrmp but who knows. im more active in the live steam club here. no electronics LOL!

[baberuth73]

Meltdown? I once had a small N scale Layout. I also had an axe. One day the two met in my backyard. The axe won and I went back to my O gauge roots (post war, of course) and have never regretted doing so.

[mdainsd]

baberuth, now that is what a real meltdown is! Glad you came out for the better for it. Ive had turning points before in my train hobby, switching scales, switching eras. this will just be one more. Ive spent the morning removing anything from my layout that is tmcc or legacy and either packed them away in their boxes or put them up on the shelves. They have had their last operating sessions with me. The wreckage of the cab2 stuff is resting where it belongs, in the garbage can. Ive been running PW all morning while I stow away the rest and even unpacked a box or two of it that hadn't seen the light of day in years, its like Christmas in February.

[Pennsylvania Station]

mdainsd

I finally threw the handheld across the room and broke both touch screens, that is how aggravated I have become with this substandard system.

 

Hey !!!  Before you throw it out for the garbage man, I'll dash right over and take it off your hands!!!!

Seriously!!! [phone]

 I'm certain whatever problems you're having can be remedied,  and you'll be up and running your TMCC / Legacy equipment, again.

 

 

[Pennsylvania Station]

 

mdainsd

I dont think I know doug da grump  but who knows.  im more active in the live steam club here. no electronics LOL!

 

Of course you do! 

EVERYBODY knows Doug   (... top photo, sitting down on the left, blue shirt, white hair and glasses).

 He runs every Friday on the 3-Railers layout at the San Diego Model Railroad Museum in Balboa Park.

He's best known for his "Holiday Trains".

[mdainsd]

Ive probably seen him as I like to get down to the museum from time to time. I really enjoy just hanging back and watch the trains. Ive never interacted with the members.

[Pennsylvania Station]

mdainsd

I've probably seen him as I like to get down to the museum from time to time. I really enjoy just hanging back and watch the trains. Ive never interacted with the members.

 

I take it you're not a member of the 3 Railers, then?

Not a problem.  As a guest, you can bring your trains to run and, perhaps, get a few pointers on the problems you're having with Legacy.

 And I was serious about dashing over and picking up your Legacy controller before you dump it in the trash can !!!  

Call me !!  [phone]

 

[mdainsd]

You guessed right, i am not a member. i have so little time to devote to clubs that the little I have i spend with the live steamers. Its fun and good for your soul to climb on your steam engine and operate it through the park, and not one tiny bit of electronics is involved!!! Im sure you are serious about dashing over to grab the stuff, but then you would be robbing me of the one true enjoyment I will ever get from that system... watching it go into the compactor section in the back of the garbage truck Thursday morning.

[Pennsylvania Station]

mdainsd

Im sure you are serious about dashing over to grab the stuff, but then you would be robbing me of the one true enjoyment I will ever get from that system... watching it go into the compactor section in the back of the garbage truck Thursday morning.

 

Several 3 Railers members belong to the Chula Vista Live Steamers. Unfortunately, I haven't had an opportunity to check out your layout, but I will, soon.  Looks like LOTS of fun !!!

 I hope you're kidding about your intentions with your Legacy unit.  If not, can you provide me with the street location where you place your garbage containers ?   And maybe place a yellow ribbon hanging out of the top so I'll know which one is yours ?

Seriously, I'll relieve you of your burden!!   Tell you what, donate your Legacy set to the 3 Railers or the AGTTA  for a tax deduction!!    Of course, if you don't need the deduction, you can dontate it to ME !! 

Suggestion:  Your next Live Steamers meeting is Wednesday the 25 of February. Pack up and bring  your Legacy unit to the meeting, and perhaps we can come to an "agreement" of some sort!

 

[magicman710]

So... let me get this right...

You purchased the Legacy System for its more realistic operation and better interface as well as controlling much better locomotives, correct?

You did have Lionel install the new update last year, correct?

You purchased several Legacy locomotives to operate with the Legacy System, correct?

And, just because of one small issue, that could have been occuring for an infinite of reasons, decide to throw your controller accross the room, and break the 2 touch screens, instead of either reading the troubleshooting section of the manual or contacting Lionel Tech or asking on this forum, correct?

After a person kindly asks to repair it and possibly give it back to you so you can enjoy your trains again, you tell him you would rather see it crushed in the back of a garbage truck, correct?

[Pennsylvania Station]

magicman710

After a person kindly asks to repair it and possibly give it back to you so you can enjoy your trains again, you tell him you would rather see it crushed in the back of a garbage truck, correct?

 

Hopefully, he won't take that drastic step !!!

No doubt the controller will still function properly, and only the screens need replacement.

Or, even if the screens are cracked, it may not be that noticeable.

I'd like to simulate or recreate the problem he was experiencing, since, if  it was a defective unit, it is still under warranty and could be repaired.

 I sure hope he calls me!

 

[Pennsylvania Station]

 Well.... it's Thursday (garbage collection day for Matt), and I never received a phone call in response to my help in resolving his problem with his Lionel Legacy difficulties.

 I sure hope he didn't take the drastic action that he posted previously... (disposing it in the garbage container).

 

Matt....   

I contacted Lionel's CTO (Chief Technology Officer  - Jon Z.), in your behalf.

Hopefully, you've received assistance with your Legacy difficulties, and trust you will post an update to resolving your problems.

 It's quite possible that others are/were experiencing the same problem you experienced, and posting those anomalies on this forum can help in diagnosing and discovering a remedy.

Keep in touch.

[mdainsd]

Thanks for the assistance, its Mark by the way.

First off, I read magicmans post and he seems think that I slighted you. That certainly was not my intention and if I did I apologize.

It didnt go out in the trash as threatened because:

1) Monday was Ceasar Chavez day and usually Holidays distrupt the collection days.

2) I was advised that htis is not environmentally sound, that electronic items should be handled differently than day to day refuse.

I did give Lionel a call. The first call took just over an hour to get through. I will say though, that at least they let you know where you are in the que, rather than one wondering 45 minutes into it if you are just holding on a dead line. Anyrate, the gentleman I spoke to said he had never heard of this particular problem, and that someone would contact be within the hour. No call came back.

 

I called again and went through a similar wait. This time I was greeted by a gentleman named Raime, and Im sure I spelled that wrong. He was very polite and checked, while I waited, why no one had called back. We talked a bit about the different problems this thing was having and had a laugh that he hadnt heard of the throwing it against the wall problem either. He offered to issue a RMA so that Lionel could look at it. Im still waitng for that, but we are on different sides of the country. I'll say again, this guy was very courteous and helpful. 

 Thats where it stands now. 

 

Im still having fun with the PW stuff.

[Pennsylvania Station]

 Mark....  (sorry for the misnomer)

 Thanks for the update!!

 Please keep us informed as to the RMA, and if Lionel can diagnose the particular problem you were encountering.

 It's quite possible that other Legacy users are experiencing the same problem, and it is only through users, such as yourself, that Lionel becomes aware of it and makes some attempt to duplicate and correct the problem.

I have yet to acquire a Legacy system, though it has been my intention to do so, at some point.  However, I'm hoping to hear an announcement from Lionel that they have, in fact, corrected the "loss of signal" to the command unit
(... i.e. weak transmission signal")  since the "send back your unit for the 1.2 upgrade" from last September.

 It's been almost half a year since this upgrade was performed, and the "loss of signal" which occurred after the upgrade has yet to addressed by Lionel.

 Yes, they are aware of the problem, but after 6 months, Lionel has not been forthcoming in announcing what, if any, progress has been made to eliminate it.

Lionel needs to speak up, and let present and future Legacy customers know what is being done to correct the problem.

Please keep everyone on the Forum informed about your situation.

 Why ????  ...... Because others (like me) who are potential customers for this product want to know if/when Legacy has finally become a bulletproof  remote control command system to run our Lionel model trains.

Again, thanks for taking the time for the latest update !!!

 

P.S.
Sure would like to see your layout, sometime !!

.

[mdainsd]

A package arrived today from Lionel. In it of course was the Legacy system, that I had sent in for evaluation. There was a letter with it, that said that I had been shipped an entire, brand new system (with upgrades). That was a pleasant suprise (shock?). When i sent it in I told them of the problems and I also admitted that I threw a childish fit and broke the cab-2. I had asked for an estimate to repair it, as I understood just who's fault the damage was. The entire system was replaced free of cost to me. I would say that Lionel went the extra mile (and then some) to try and make me a happy customer again. While I complained about the problems I have had with it, on this forum, I think the same effort should be made by me to express how impressed I am with their idea of customer service. AWESOME JOB. Will I ever power it up and mess with those trains? Im not sure right now. I never want to have a repeat of my meltdown when this is supposed to be a relaxing hobby :-) Right now I dont feel like entering all that information for all those units back into the hand held, who knows maybe I'll get bored one evening and do just that. The other thing is I have rediscovered pre-war standard gauge and am having a blast with it. But, most importantly, THANKs goes out to Lionel

[Anonymous]

You might want to at least power it on... when we sent our units back for the original upgrade we didn't lose what we sent in (at least I didn't), maybe, just maybe, they transferred your data as well...

[Anonymous]

PA Station - I just reread your reply to Mark. Question for you:

1. Define 'bullet-proof' - I've had my Legacy System since last March and I sent it in for the upgrade and I haven't had the 'loss of signal' issue that so many are complaining about.
2. Seriously, if you are seriously considering it, buy it. It is far superior to ANYTHING on the market today.

[mdainsd]

lionroar88

You might want to at least power it on... when we sent our units back for the original upgrade we didn't lose what we sent in (at least I didn't), maybe, just maybe, they transferred your data as well...

that is a good idea. i wouldn't expect them to do that, but who knows. Thanks