Lionel TMCC TowerCom Multi-Annoucements?

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

Hi, Everyone,

Please, I would like to know if anyone knows how to get " TowerCom", using only the CAB-1 Remote Controller and with the engine standing still idling, to make more than TWO announcements?

The accompanying instruction booklet only tells of one way, to get only one announcement. I’ve found a second announcement by accident.

I’ve been told that, when the engine is moving, at different speeds, TowerCom can make various different announcements, but also can make some other, than just two announcements, while the engine is standing still idling.

I know TMCC is an older operating system, other than Legacy which is more sophisticated, but the sound chip is programed for more ‘SPEECH’, as I have been told by someone who knows, but won’t share his secret.

All he told me was to find the correct combination(s) using the CAB-1 controller.

Thank you in advance,

Ralph

2

Great question. Will wait and see who can give a good answer.

3

RailSounds upgrades over the years added TowerCom. First version had a single announcement. Then a second Announcement was added (usually the Standby and Take the green pair). RailSounds 5 and Legacy added intelligible CrewTalk (original sounded like poorly squelshed radio traffic). These are different than TowerCom. You can repeatedly hit the TowerCom keys to fire off additional playback but I don’t think you can select a specific phrase. There are some sequences used in conjunction with cars like talking caboose or talking passenger cars. The initial sequence causes the other cars to send out play back commands along with playing back the sound effects. To trigger initial TowerCom, press AUX 1 then 7. this triggers standby if you hit 7 again, you get the clear command. AUX 1 brake 7 should trigger clear command as well. Aux-1 2 will fire off CrewTalk.

4

Thank You, Your Honor and Chuck,

For your replies.

Chuck the unit I have was made in 2002, a Lionel U30C diesel of which I’m able to:
Press ‘2’ and I get ‘Unintelligible’ ‘Crew Talk.’
Press ‘7’ and ‘TC’ says; “Chessie 3312 you are clear, (or cleared), outbound.”
Press ‘AUX’, ‘1’ and ‘TC’ says; “Chessie 3312, please standby.”
Both as you mention, but I don’t get; “Take the green pair.”
Also, I did not know about pressing ‘AUX’, ‘1’, ‘BREAK’ ‘7’ to also get the “Clear” command.
I appreciate any and all help from you kind and willing forum members.

Thank You All,

Sincerely,

Ralph

5

Depends on which Railsounds you have. I had a Santa Fe F-3 with Railsounds 2 that had just one Tower com annoucment. My Mikado has Railsounds 5 and it has 5 announcements when the engine is sitting and 6 while running.

Hope this helps.

6

Doofus,

Thank you for your reply and yes, you are helping me.

Just, as you mention about your newer Railsounds 5 having more TowerCom announcements both at idle and running, than the first Railsounds. Your experience is, somewhat, similar to mine with my Lionel TMCC diesel engine made in 2002.

When I, by accident, pressed ‘AUX 1’ & ‘7’ my TowerCom said: “Chessie 3312, please, standby.” According to the accompanying instruction booklet: “For TowerCom to make a, (ANY), announcement it states to press the ‘7’ button/key” and TowerCom then says; “Chessie 3312 you are clear, (or cleared), outbound.” THAT IS ALL THAT IS MENTIONED OF TOWERCOM ANNOUNCEMENT(S)-PERIOD! Nothing more.

But, I was curious, so, I called Lionel’s Technical Supprot Service Dept. and I spoke with one of their Technicians and I told him of what the accompanying instruction booklet states and what is said by TowerCom, as per instructions, and what else TowerCom said, when I hit the buttons/keys by accident, he chuckled and asked me of my engines ‘Lionel item number’ and after he checked on his list, he told me that my engine was made in 2002 and it contains a newer/later sound board with many more announcements for when idling and when running and if using a CAB-1 Controller, regardless of what the instruction book does, or doesn’t state, if I hit the right combination(s), I’ll be able to get more and different announcements when the engine is at idle and while it’s running, as the sound board is designed for future engines with newer/later, more functions and other features, as Lionel is always thinking ahead.

I’m, still, unable to hit the right combination(s) and that’s why I initially generated my original post.

And now I know some more of the Lionel produ

7

The only loco I have with RS 5 is the S-2 Electric. The extended sound sequence triggers are covered on pages 14 and 15 of the owners manual (which you can download from Lionel’s web site). The RailSounds Processor now used motion of the loco as a modifier for sound clips. The following is an excerpt from this material:

With the RailSounds 5.0 sound system, CrewTalk dialog and TowerCom announcements feature a variety of brief radio conversations between the engineer and dispatcher. All dialog is intelligible, and each comment is followed by at least one automatic response. CrewTalk dialog is an engineer initiated radio conversation with the dispatcher. TowerCom announcements are a dispatcher-initiated radio conversation with the engineer. Be sure to listen for the different combinations of words and phrases that comprise these exchanges.

With the RailSounds 5.0 sound system, CrewTalk dialog and TowerCom announcements feature a variety of brief radio conversations between the engineer and dispatcher. All dialog is intelligible, and each comment is followed by at least one automatic response. CrewTalk dialog is an engineer-initiated radio conversation with the dispatcher. TowerCom announcements are a dispatcher-initiated radio conversation with the engineer. Be sure to listen for the different combinations of words and phrases that comprise these exchanges. Refer to Table 1 below for the dialog commands. The dialog in the table provides examples of the conversations you can trigger. The actual dialog will vary.

Locomotive Commands Example dialog

Loco stopped

AUX1, 2 Crew: Can we go?

Tower: No, please standby

AUX1, 7 Tower: Stand by for clearance.

Crew: Roger.

2 &n

8

Chuck,

I, thank you for your patience and info.

When my loco. comes back from Lionel, I will try as you informed me with my CAB-1 controller.

You posted about downloading from Lionel’s web.site instruction pages and it will mention which controller is used.

Thank You,

Ralph

9

It doesn’t matter. I get the same results if I use the CAB-1/TMCC base as I do if I use the CAB-2/Legacy base.

10

Chuck,

The dialog did not come up on the screen, as it now did, before I answered your post, but now I see you really went above and beyond to inform me and I really appreciate what you did for me.

Thanks for the info. of using either CAB-1, or 2.

I can’t wait to play with the engine and it’s features, as you described, which are various and really neat.

Again, Thank You,

Sincerely,

Ralph

11

Chuck, thank you for the very informative info regarding Railsounds 5. I’ll have to give these commands a try.

Carpe Diem!

12

Mine only does the Good To GO signal. Not the Pleas Hold one. It makes me mad.

13

TrainsRock,

My engine is a Lionel U30C, C. & O.- Chessie System, diesel #3312, made in 2002, with TMCC, RailSounds and a CAB-1 controller. For my diesel, while it is standing still, at idle, I only press: ‘AUX 1’, then ‘7.’ and in about four seconds TowerCom says: “Chessie three-three-twelve, please standby.”

As, per the accompanying instruction booklet, with the engine at idle, If I only press: ‘7’, then in about four seconds TowerCom, only, says; “Chessie three-three-twelve, you are clear, (or maybe cleared), outbound.”

That is the only two TowerCom announcements I get using those combinations while the engine is, standing stil,l at idle.

I have not checked the unit while in motion, at various speeds, yet.

To get other announcements I have to play around, but so far I have not gotten any other announcements. Then, my engine had to go into the shop for repairs and I have not been able to play with these combos., yet.

I was told by a Lionel tech. that I’m able to get more and various announcements by hitting the correct combination of buttons/keys using the CAB 1 controller, but he did not tell me which ones. He told me to play around with the unit, to get more sayings, both at idle ( engines motor is running, but engine is standing still) and while the engine is moving and at different speeds, I’ll be able to get more and different announcements.

He, also said that the accompanying instruction booklet does NOT state most of what, he told me and of what I just mentioned in this post. The Lionel Tech. is correct about the accompanying instruction booklet, which only states about pressing key ‘7’ for-A-TowerCom announcement.

I asked him about the various, different announcements that he ment