Marklin digital CS 2 controller

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As I said in the GRail show thread, My Pendlebury stand was right next to the Marklin/LGB stand. Luck or what!
Whilst ogling the new Franzburg loco and one or two other rather nice items, I also had time to talk to the Marklin representative about the new unit. He was a very decent bloke and was happy to discuss all aspects of the unit although, obviously, he considered it the bees knees.

So I thought I would report back my findings as I am sure a few will be interested in its features and limitations.

centralstation_big2.jpg
 
Disclaimer. ;)
I don't own one and these. Notes are offered with my best intentions to give a fair review but are only based on my several conversations with the Marklin Rep.

First impression was that it looked a bit 'retro'. old fashioned even. and its quite large. The two red wheels do indeed allow you to control two locos at the same time. The screen is an actual screen and the speedo circles show the speed the loco is meant to be going at.
The symbols down each side are the function buttons - horn, lights, announcements etc.and the switches either side operate these.
The reddish symbols below the circles are the loco symbols.

So this unit is a controller - but, it is also the 'base station'.

It needs to be wired to the mains and to the track - so its not very portable.

Depending on the power supply (not included) its output is 5 amps maximum. It will work with some other makes of Booster, particularly Massoth. The guy confirmed that Marklin are still working with Massoth on various projects which would explain why Massoth have 27 pin decoders available.
 
Using your tablet you can mimic the base station screen. The symbols are quite small and the Marklin guy was using a pen as a pointer and prod-er.
On a smart phone you will get half the screen for one loco.

The base station is an indoors item, so you will need a tablet or phone outside with you. I know some people like to do everything on their phone but for those that don't there is NOT a controller available. So your going to need Wifi that works all round your garden - I wonder if this could be a problem!
 
So, what is new. what does it do that other systems dont.

The new MFX decoders communicate both ways, they tell the control station about themselves. If you put a loco on the track it automatically loads into the roster ( maximum 16) on the CS2 from where it is selected to run. All the F functions are also loaded so the screen displays the correct symbol (for bell, whistle, coal shoveling, or what ever) next to the relevant switches. So you don't need to remember which function is allocated to which number.

Non Marklin decoders (other than the new Massoth MFX) wont load all this information but it can be manually added.

This is pretty neat but it is not an industry standard. Marklin expect customers to be largely brand loyal.

As far as I can see this is the main step forward with the new system. Clever but limited to Marklin.
 
So what cant it do.

It wont run an analogue loco. Most current systems will run one analogue loco by messing around with the digital signal to fool the loco that a DC current is flowing.This often makes the motor buzz and it is generally accepted that its not good for the motor in the long term. Piko specifically say dont do it. LGB say its fine, but their motors are possibly tougher.

It wont run an older 'serial' decoder. All Marklin decoders, from year one (about 30 years ago) are 'parallel' so all Marklin decoders will work. So Marklin claim that this systen is backwardly compatible, but that's only with their kit.
 
It is apparently NMRA compatible in as far as the NMRA goes. The two way communications is beyond that.
 
The MFX decoders have a 27 pin interface to easily fit to Marklin locos. If you are competent you can get a socket for the pins and then hard wire the decoder to non Marklin locos. This requires stripping out the old wiring and any manufacturers board and rewiring the whole thing.
Marklin wont of course recommend this and dont market the socket adapter themselves although a suitable plug is available from electronics suppliers.
 
The CS2 is making the operation of digital easier but is also taking control away from the enthusiast. The circular speedo shows the speed. Not the speed step - this is hidden.
it is dead easy to change the address of a loco but other CVs are some what harder. The CS2 will adjust CVs if you tinker but a big warning that you may be about to do irreversible damage comes up all the time. Blinking annoying that. The way Marklin are going is plug and play which is commendable if everyone else plays ball, which at the moment they are not.
When I talked about adjusting chuff rates and acceleration/deceleration profiles his eyes glazed over - your obviously not intended to tune the chip. Indeed some chips (not only Marklin) are now locked and need the relevant code setting in certain CVs to unlock them.


Talking about speed steps - the MFX decoder tells the CS2 what its (real life) top speed is and the circular speedo graphic adjusts its calibration so that maximum is that top speed. Neat toy but again, only with Marklin kit.
 
My personal view on the CS2 is;-

It is certainly has some clever bits to it. The two way communication obviously has benefits

It does not have a controller - you need to use a phone or tablet. That would annoy me especially if the phone kept timing out.It is awkward to hold a phone and operate a slider on the screen one handed.

The F keys are allocated individual logos so you know where all the sounds are.

It is not made to an industry standard. Great if you only want to run Marklin stock, not so good if you want a bit of everything.
The 27 pin socket is a Marklin only fit.

Your going to need WiFi all round the garden.

Its 5 amp maximum so you may well need a booster
 
and another thing. You can see the direction of points by a graphic, if you remember what the address code is. You can set up routes to change a series of points like the Massoth system.
There seems to be a possibility to create layout diagrams showing points and routes but the guy semed hesitant to delve into this. Whether it was in development or beyond his comfort zone I dont know.

The software is upgradeable by connecting to your computer with a USB and accessing the Marklin site.

It may do consisting but I never got that far.
 
I think I have been pretty accurate in this report but obviously it was all new and the opportunity to play was very limited.
Your welcome to ask questions, I may have forgotten something, or more likely - have not got a clue.
If anyone thinks I have got something wrong, please correct me.
 
Very interesting.

All of the new Marklin decoders are multiprotocol I think (correct ?) so no one will be forced to upgrade from DCC.

ESU already support the 28/27 pin interface, as do Massoth, so it is not just Marklin. Markin themselves make an adapter for the older 10 pin interface to the new 28/27 pin. I think it would be quite easy to make an adapter.

I don't like using a tablet/phone outside in bright sunlight, I can't read the screen.

It is a pity Railcom for DCC hasn't been more popular to give DCC two way comms as the mfx has.
 
Cliff George said:
Very interesting.

All of the new Marklin decoders are multiprotocol I think (correct ?) so no one will be forced to upgrade from DCC.
Click to expand...

Correct. Even the old Motorola is supported. NMRA is fully supported - Marklin have just moved forwards, which someone would eventually.
 
Marklin also offer a mobile station that links to the CS2. It seems to be a more hand-held device. However, not having seen one in operation I'm not certain whether they must be tethered or have wireless operation. If the latter, they might be better than using a tablet or phone as the controller outdoors.
 
That sound interesting but when I asked about a controller I was told that you use the phone or tablet.

Looking at their website it appears that the Mobile Station is from the older system. it should connect to the CS2 but wont support the two way information from the decoders which is the main new function of the new system. It also looks like it needs to be tethered.
 
I have used this Marklin 60215 Central Station for about 3 years now with my Marklin HO locos.
It has proved to be a reliable unit, but I was surprised to see Marklin pushing it for use with LGB this year.

I would not regard the unit as robust enough for outdoor use even in fine weather, it is very much designed for indoor layouts.
The plug in hand controllers 60653 do support the bi directional MfX protocol. They are only on a cable connection though, but extension cables are available.

One of the limitations when using the Central Station in DCC mode is that there are only 16 functions. That may not be an issue for LGB, but an increasing number of DCC sound decoders now have 20 plus functions.

Overall, it is a nice controller, but I wouldn't have considered using it to run my LGB.

If I can help further please ask. Just out of interest, did you get the name of the Marklin rep?

Best regards
Ashley
 
As some have stated..
The interface is 27/28 pin, not 21. - The two numbers refer to the number of pin-locations, against the number of pins. One is blanked to key the interface. In theory, you can't put it in backwards.
Unless you push very hard! ;) :D :(

You CAN use an 'ordinary' XLS decoder with the marklin G1 interface. - I will be detailing this when I finalise and upload a fitting guide for the new Jubilee Rhatia loco.

Slightly off-topic for the CS2, but relevant to the path Marklin/LGB/Massoth are going I feel.
 
Just remembered another interesting 'toy' on the CS2. Fun but hardly 'needed'.
The MFX chip in the GE4/4 III's (and I suppose the Allegra's) has the usual station announcement sound. But, the MFX has a different one for each station and they are in order. Each time you play the announcement it moves on one to the next station. So, providing you are on the right line, each announcement corresponds to each consecutive station. Now, if you start running backwards, the announcement sequence will automatically reverse.

Neat - but a bit of a gimmick may be!
 
Perhaps Marklin wouldn't need the scrolling announcements if they supported all 29 DCC functions? Then you could use the appropriate announcement whichever order stations were visited in!
 
I had a bit of a demonstration as I asked about the V100 and some specific central station questions.
They were running it wirelessly - to use the tablet - via a gadget (I assume router or wireless access point) that plugged in the bag and was available from Maplins.
To have wireless control then you have to have a tablet or phone.
The demonstration I had was showing off the creation of a track layout, where touchscreen control on the tablet was shifting points etc. I didn't think to ask until I was driving home but I suspect that the track symbols will only be LGB (and I like the PIKO mid range curves, and curved points).
I raised the question of "limited control" suitable for children / ham fisted adults as with the LGB loco controller, especially in relation to points. "Never been asked about that" was the reply, and answer given was to set point decoders say at no 4000+ so children would get tired of pressing say 1, 2, 3 and nothing happening.
My initial feelings that it was nice and glossy with the train pictures and speedo dials but very "brand specific" and limiting if you wanted to tinker with things.

I was told that the V100 sounds are from a real V100 and not a generic diesel. It has 28 speed steps (the Rugen has 14 because of old circuit boards within it).
Chris
 
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