Hello to all,

I am Nick and i am situated in Athens, Greece

This is my project

I have created several CS3+ events and I would like to run these events at a specific time of the day, for instance:

I would like to run an event that switches on some of the lights at 06:00 in the morning (event's duration is +/- 1 hour)

I would like to run an event that plays sounds from my central station at 06:10 in the morning (event's duration is +/- 3 minutes)

I would like to run an event that starts the first loco at low speed, then medium speed, at 06:13 in the morning (event's duration is +/- 1 hour)

I would like to run another event that starts the second loco at low speed, then medium speed, at 06:14 in the morning (event's duration is +/- 1 hour)

Additionally I have recorded events for noon, afternoon and night, so my CS3+ runs at a specific time of the day.

Note: All events have been created, and tested, no risk whatsoever for crashes.

Hope this is easy

Thanks

Nick

I agree with Jean. I can't recall any method of setting the real time or date in the CS3, and there does not seem to be a NTP (Network Time Protocol) setting either. Without this capability it would be impossible for the CS3 to know what time it was to run the events properly.

As Jean has noted the only way to do this is to use a PC/MAC with suitable model railway software like Rocrail or WinDigiPet.

Hello Nick!
This is not possible with CS3 because it has not a clock.
You can do it with a CS2, it has a clock.

Once I asked Märklin why does not include the clock as CS2 in CS3.
they told me that in a future....

This future is since 2017...

Hi Nick
To connect a CS3 to your PC (Windows 10 in my case) is easy:
- you need a CAT5 cable (normal or cross-over does not matter)
- you may connect directly your PC to your CS3 see below how.
- depending on your firewall (I use Windows Defender, included in Windows), you may have to declare the address and the name of the external device (CS3)

How to connect directly a PC to a CS3?
In the CS3
CS3 IP Manuel
IP 192.168.000.023
IP Mask 255.255.255.000
IP-Gateway 192.168.000.001
DNS Server 192.168.000.001
CS3 CAN Broadcast
Address 192.168.000.255

In Rocrail
Rocrail /rocrail/properties/Command Station  Adresse 192.168.000.023

In the PC
IP 192.168.000.101
IP Mask 255.255.255.000
Default Gateway 192.168.000.001

Notes:
- in the used IP addresses the front part 192.168... is imposed by regulations and standards
- when using a Router or WiFi Router, you must set the CS3 in AUTO mode (DHCP) whereby it will ask the router for an address that you then use to set the other devices (PC, Rocrail. The drawback is then that on next boot, the assigned addresses may be different (especially when many users on the router) which will force you to redo the configuration.
- in case of difficulties, you may want to disable you firewall during the test BUT do it only while internet is blocked (so that no virus can enter your system). This allows you to verify if the cause is the firewall blocking the non-declared communications

Cheers
Jean

Events have delays and you can start after a given time. Not sure just how long a delay can be set. Not sure if doing this without you being there is a good idea. Locos and coaches can derail at times and need to be sorted fairly quickly. No matter how well you set things up problems can happen.

That might work. You could try just giving some delays for an hour and see what happens. However as I said if a coach derails a loco can drag it round the layout causing a lot of problems.
Nice idea though to wake up with the 8am train leaving the staion.

Yep, this offers a range of implementations from a straight timer, to a CRON scheduler with the added ability for a UI for status/control