Hi Mark, welcome to the forum.
The 6021 is a great controller and very reliable. It is older and can control 4 extra functions which might not work all your sounds and features (there are ways around this but it's not convenient). You will need to add a 6040 keyboard if you want to control switches digitally with decoders. You could also work the switches with simple push buttons.

The 60653 is the new Mobile Station and might be a better bet in terms of cost and features. You will need to track box to connect to the track. You can add a second controller as well with the same track box.

The Central Station is the Cadillac of controllers with the appropriate price. You could use your iPad and do much more. If you start with a 60653 Mobile Station you will be able to connect it easily to the Central Station if you choose to upgrade later. You also have the option of getting an ECOS controller which is less expensive but has it's own set of pro's and con's.

I hope this helps and I'm sure other members will add even more information.

Cheers
Darren

Hi Mark,

Welcome to the forum.

Hi have the control unit 6021 with 1 control 80f, 2 keyboards, 2 memory and 1 interface and I bought on eBay at a good price the Mobile Station MS1 in order to control more sound functions.

Everything is OK for me, with no need to invest a lot of money on the expensive Central Station.

Cheers

Renato

Hi Mark - good to have you on board - try getting the start set with the MS2, great way to start as Dave has mentioned, with turnouts already fitted with mechs and decoders, a goodly amount of track and coaches..I followed his advice almost 8 months ago, and haven't looked back!...mind you the financial manager keeps on looking back....to see where all the dollars are going!!
Joe

Yes, azackly.
An MS2 can be connected to the sniffer port of the ECoS just like the CS2 or any other suitable controller (sniffer supports MM and DCC).

I've read that the MS2 software can only be updated by connecting to a CS2. Presumably this is something that won't work with an ECOS?

Why I like the CS2 is it is made by Marklin. Future items from Marklin will match their controllers (or I will personally exterminate them!!)) ECOS will always have to match what Marklin do if they want to stay in the three rail world and in the future who knows if they will wish to do this.
Both are good units and if cash is a problem then ECOS is cheaper which is the main selling point.
With me it is probably a loyalty thing in that I need Marklin for my locos and track etc but I dont need ESU for anything so even if it costs more I will buy Marklin provided the product is good and my CS2 now out of warranty so more than three years old has never let me down.

As far as I know Nev does not have a CS2 as the first one he got did not work. I Dont blame him for then buying ECOS as I would have done the same probably but the same thing could have happened with an ECOS or any other equipment.

My advice in my last post was to get a MS2 to start with then take it from there.

dave

the ECoS has various motor variations regardless of the manufacturer, the ECoS than automatically programs the motor output etc. etc by ticking the appropriete box.
For instance you have a 5 pole highefficiency motor (60901) it works fine but you tick the same box for a 60904 and it doesn't work.
Also what works fine with an ECoS (DCC) may not work with a MS1 (Motorola).
Although you have all these options I found you still have to sometimes do you your own twigging with the associated CV's.

You may also find some digital command stations don't have all the options you may wish for and when it comes to Marklin the loco decoders are basically programmed before they get to you whereas ESU decoders most of them you have to program your self and it is an easy task with a lokprogrammer but an extra cost is added to your budget.

I would say the digital command station have pretty much the same outcome the only difference occurs with decoders, e.g. locos decoders or sound decoders.

Sound decoders from ESU differ from the sound effect from loco to loco, for instance I have a loco with s factory build in decoder from ESU in a Roco loco and the sound is terrific, ESU engineering locos e.g. Diesel & Electric have a wonderful sound and some people commented it is too loud what I can't say about some steam sound decoders from ESU and again the sound changes dramatically when you fit a bigger speaker into the loco rather than a speaker which is supplied with every sound decoder.

In the end it is important what you are happy with and buy purchasing a command station it does what most command stations do, they work fine or they fail, the same with locos.
this is why, I feel it is important to get an idea what members do think of their valued investment and hopefully it gives you a clear indication how to make up your mind so we can have another happy member on our list.

Another point I like to make, Marklin doesn't sell many locos these days without a decoder and therefore if anything goes wrong with your loco you've purchased, you send the whole loco back to Marklin and this would also apply to the ESU manufactured locos.
The moment you change a loco or add digital components to a loco your guarantee is automatically cancelled.
ESU will only change or exchange your decoder and will have nothing to do with your Marklin loco.
What ever the fault may be with your Marklin loco, Marklin will fix it,
My present scenario is: I have a Marklin loco with an ESU 21 pin decoder V4 and an Adapterplate 51698 (additional functions Aux3 & Aux4).
The 21 pin decoder V4 works fine with an Adapterplate 51967 and with both decoders I have a Roco digital NEM coupling attached. it works fine with the adapter plate 51967 but with an Adapterplate 51698 it doesn't.
Now I will get my decoders back free of any charge because they are still under warranty.
What I don't get is an answer why this happened in the first place.
Because the loco is from Marklin ( they will not take responsibilities for a fitted ESU decoder, ESU will not take responsibilities for a Roco digital NEM coupling.
Most of you most probably will never encounter such a problem but I have demonstrated by mixing up different digital components it may leave you out in the cold and you never find out why it is, you can't install different gadgets unless a.) there is a bug in the system, b.) the bug gets fixed with out any notice or there is a bug and they don't know about it.

My end result is: Marklin CS2 may have bugs and will fix them.
Esu may also have bugs in their ECoS but with ESU there is an additional lokprogrammer which also could have bugs and you may fix one bug and create another one between the 2 components and ESU doesn''t give you any guarantee for any of their products anything you download from an ESU site is at your own risk.
One one hand ESU recommends to upgrade your digital equipment and on the other hand doesn't take any responsiblilities when you do so.
I don't know how this is ironed out in practice.




John