Re: New CAB1L

["Ira Schneider" <ira_schneider@iname.com>]

The descriptions in the Lionel catalog leave much to be desired.

The way I interpret the descriptions, the CAB-1L is essentially a CAB-1 handheld
which transmits the same signals as a CAB-2 (i.e. it talks directly to the Legacy
Command Base).  If this is correct, we could replace our CAB-1s with these new
CAB-1Ls and remove the TMCC Command Base from our layout.  Of course, they
specified that availability will be in 2013 and didn't specify the price, so we have
no idea how expensive this might be.  However, we should keep this in mind for
a possible future migration to these handhelds.

I notice that the pictures in the catalog don't show an external antenna at the top
of the unit.  That could just be an oversight (notice the Legacy Command
Base doesn't show the antenna either) or they could have moved the antenna
inside the unit, like they did for the CAB-2 handheld.  When I was testing the
new power cart I noticed that the CAB-1 handheld can be operated at a longer
distance from the command base than the CAB-2.  I wonder if the internal
antenna makes that difference and what the range will be for the new CAB-1L handhelds.

The BASE-1L appears to be a new version of the TMCC Command Base which
responds to signals from the CAB-2 or CAB-1L handhelds.  The description
doesn't say whether or not this unit will respond to command from a CAB-1
handheld.  This unit sounds like it is a way to introduce limited Legacy functionality
for people who have TMCC command systems.  It doesn't sound like this unit
would be useful to us.

The Legacy PowerMaster sounds like a TMCC PowerMaster which respnds
to the CAB-2 or CAB-1L handhelds.  The discription of this unit also
doesn't specify whether or not it will respond to the CAB-1 handhelds.
Again, this sounds like it is intended for people who have TMCC command
systems and want to slowly move towards Legacy functionality.  Since it only
handles 180 watts, this unit would not be useful to us.  However, there is one
feature of this unit which would be very useful to us: you can reset the
internal "circuit breaker" via the handheld.  If a train derails and the
Legacy PowerMaster detects the high current before either the transformer
or the circuit breaker in the power panel on the power cart, you would be
able to restore the power from the handheld instead of walking to the power
cart and resetting a circuit breaker.

We should probably look at the CAB-1Ls when they become available.


Ira