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Offline clapcott  
#1 Posted : 20 December 2014 06:34:09(UTC)
clapcott

New Zealand   
Joined: 12/12/2005(UTC)
Posts: 2,433
Location: Wellington, New_Zealand
While playing with the CS2(PC) and its simulator a few tidbits of information are starting to appear about the L88

Presentation
The L88 can be seen as a Device in CS2->Setup->(servive)->Devices and it is here you provide/view the ID of a L88 unit
Notes: You may also give it a name , but unfortunately it is the ID and not the name that is used in configuration
UserPostedImage

The L88 is then available for selection in any of the panels that would normally have S88 configuration. Up until now the "Device ID" has been limited to "Master CS2" or a slave CS2.
CS2 Layout example
UserPostedImage

Lines/Buses
We now see that the device presents 4 "buses".
Bus 0 = the internal 16 physical ports of the L88 (these are configures as 16 sensor port or a 8x8=64 sensor matrix)
Bus 1-3 = would logically appear to relate to the 3 connectors expected (2x RJ45 and 1x old-style S88) <- "To be verified" see post on 26Mar below
(The Product Database website "artist impression" image shows no hint of a label on the box. The image in the 2014/5 yearbook is a little hard to read but it would appear to show the legacy S88 6 pin connector as being called Bus 3)
26Mar2015 update - see post below for impage

Port IDs
Over the life of the CS2 the number of S88s supported has risen to 64 , offering 1024 ports (16 x 64).
Looking at the CS2 screens for the L88, we see support for 512 ports (32 x 16) per external Buses 1,2,3
Note: interestingly the simulator tool only reaches 496 ( ie 31 modules - I suspect they started counting at 0)
26Mar2015 update - with the manual release there remains an insistence that only 31 devices are supported per bus

The port numbering of an L88 is defined as follows
Bus 1 = 1001-1512
Bus 2 = 2001-2512
Bus 3 = 3001-3512

To be verified - when device is GA: Confirmed from manual
It looks as though the modules position on the bus will continue to dictate the port - no module addressing
e.g. the 3rd module on Bus 2 would reflect ports 2033-2048
Note: there is also no distinction of port type (S88AC v S88DC - or the hoped for MFX awareness)

Bus 0 - relates to the internal 16 ports.
To Be Ascertained = How the L88 is configured for Single v Matrix mode : There is no "assistance/wizzard" currently available in the CS2 panels to indicate any soft parameters other than the ID of the box itself.
26Mar2015 update - the above statement is incorrect : the configuration panels are under Setup->Info but were not found at the time or original post

However, the Port IDs available on Bus 0 are seen to be ...
1-16 - if in single mode ports
101-164 - if in matrix mode ports.

CS2 Memory Examples
Uses advanced selection to choose L88, bus and port
UserPostedImage

Edited by user 01 April 2015 08:05:05(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Peter
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Offline H0  
#2 Posted : 20 December 2014 08:43:20(UTC)
H0


Joined: 16/02/2004(UTC)
Posts: 15,249
Location: DE-NW
Hi!
The L88 was initially announced for December 2013. Now delivery is expected for February 2015.
Maybe we'll see CS2 version 3.9 by the time L88 really ships.

As usually new features are showing in German only and the help screen is blank. Might be different with the next release.
Regards
Tom
---
"In all of the gauges, we particularly emphasize a high level of quality, the best possible fidelity to the prototype, and absolute precision. You will see that in all of our products." (from Märklin New Items Brochure 2015, page 1) ROFLBTCUTS
UserPostedImage
Offline clapcott  
#3 Posted : 20 December 2014 21:43:09(UTC)
clapcott

New Zealand   
Joined: 12/12/2005(UTC)
Posts: 2,433
Location: Wellington, New_Zealand
Hi Tom,

Yes, I think it can be taken as read that Maerklin are not good at ...
- product delivery scheduling
- breadth of support (e.g. language, help)
... and as such continue to bleed goodwill.

However, I am looking forward to the future and wish to plan for not only what might be achievable but how. To this end any nugget of information adds perspective. In an ideal world planing would be well supported by documentation in advance of product availability, but this is not an ideal world and we need to move on and not bog ourselves down - Maerklin already has first claim on that.

While the non availability of the S88/60880 in dealer outlets has exacerbated the actual need for a follow-on product, and no doubt caused thousands of Euros of lost revenue for Maerklin, the L88(LinkS88/60883) and the S88DC(60882) hint at some additional functionality that I would like to understand and potentially make use of. I cannot believe I am alone in this!

There are a couple of gaps in the current solutions that Marklin might have recognised, beyond marketing positioning, and that the L88 and S88DC might address
- MS environment - Is crying out for an accessory keyboard - the L88 in smart mode could do this.
- The S88DC(60882) could not only detect occupancy by the presence of current, but also the Lok-ID (mFX) within that signal.

The L88 matrix mode is a "nice" feature - but I have to ask who would use it?
- In the current world where the big layouts already have touch screen tablets and PCs, my take is that this is a prime candidate for the MS layout.
If I do set the L88 to matrix mode does it have to be 8x8(64 push buttons) with no track sensors or can it be segmented?
- i.e. do I need to plan for another S88(60881) immediately anyway
And can it run in smart mode,
- where a button can be configured to specifically send a magnet(turnout/signal) command without the need of the CS2's memory function.

While I, personally, continue to enjoy a mixed environment with either bespoke electronics or a Loconet backend providing some nice features not available in the Marklin stable, there is always the option for change to a solution to leverage "simpler" or "less time consuming" components. And the cheaper these are to integrate, the more track I might buy.

Edited by user 30 December 2014 02:24:49(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Peter
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Offline clapcott  
#4 Posted : 25 March 2015 20:24:25(UTC)
clapcott

New Zealand   
Joined: 12/12/2005(UTC)
Posts: 2,433
Location: Wellington, New_Zealand
The 60881 and 60882 are showing "green" on parts of the Marklin site.
(i.e. The product database but not the "Shop")

The 60883 is not yet, which is a bit supprising given both the 60881/2 state "The L88 (60883) is required for connecting this unit to the CS2!"
Peter
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Offline clapcott  
#5 Posted : 26 March 2015 09:58:10(UTC)
clapcott

New Zealand   
Joined: 12/12/2005(UTC)
Posts: 2,433
Location: Wellington, New_Zealand
The 60883 Delivery status has gone from red to yellow on Marklin site

Manual as been posted
Code:
http://medienpdb.maerklin.de/product_files/1/pdf/60883_betrieb.pdf


Note Bus numbering
UserPostedImage

The S88-Link Configuration panels were there in the similator all along and noone else mentioned it.
UserPostedImage
Peter
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Offline sjlauritsen  
#6 Posted : 26 March 2015 19:01:22(UTC)
sjlauritsen

Denmark   
Joined: 18/08/2007(UTC)
Posts: 1,081
Location: Denmark
On page 5, the manual says that only the power supply 66361 (or 66201) may be used. They even show a drawing on how to connect it. On page 6 it says that the 66361 may only be used with the mysterious 60822 supply unit, just like the m83 and m84. I am still puzzled about this.

My assumption is that the L88 is meant to be used with the 66361+60822, but some how they got it mixed up. I base this assumption on the text from some of the other manuals where it says that the 60822 powers: m83, m84 and k84 (which is probably L88, but they worte k84 by mistake).

I would also assume that the 60822 is some kind of interference device, and really only needed because of law. Of course no one can know until it arrives and we can take it apart.
Søren from Denmark
Blog: https://railway.zone/ | Danish Model Railway Forum: https://baneforum.dk/
Offline clapcott  
#7 Posted : 28 March 2015 11:29:19(UTC)
clapcott

New Zealand   
Joined: 12/12/2005(UTC)
Posts: 2,433
Location: Wellington, New_Zealand
60882 manual available

197585/0115/Kd1Sh

Code:
http://medienpdb.maerklin.de/product_files/1/pdf/60882_betrieb.pdf
Peter
Offline clapcott  
#8 Posted : 01 April 2015 07:38:18(UTC)
clapcott

New Zealand   
Joined: 12/12/2005(UTC)
Posts: 2,433
Location: Wellington, New_Zealand
60881 manual available

197573/1214/Ha2Sh

Code:
http://medienpdb.maerklin.de/product_files/1/pdf/60881_betrieb.pdf


Peter
Offline Steamer01  
#9 Posted : 08 April 2015 14:10:49(UTC)
Steamer01

Netherlands   
Joined: 16/09/2009(UTC)
Posts: 151
Location: The Netherlands
I have the Link S 88 number 60883 and 6 x 60881. I all connected it to the terminal and now I am testing the new things. It all works fine with the master CS2, but in a slave CS2 you cannot see the triggering of the routes for the colouring dots with yellow and green don't appear. The routes however are switching.

Steamer01
CS3 60216 + 8 x 60174 + 1 x 60175
www.rensenmodelbaanwereld.com
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Offline clapcott  
#10 Posted : 08 April 2015 21:58:41(UTC)
clapcott

New Zealand   
Joined: 12/12/2005(UTC)
Posts: 2,433
Location: Wellington, New_Zealand
Steamer01,

For the record, can you please report the versions of both CS2s, and L88
Peter
Offline Steamer01  
#11 Posted : 10 April 2015 16:02:27(UTC)
Steamer01

Netherlands   
Joined: 16/09/2009(UTC)
Posts: 151
Location: The Netherlands
Originally Posted by: clapcott Go to Quoted Post
Steamer01,

For the record, can you please report the versions of both CS2s, and L88


I have CS 60213 (Slave; hardware 3.1/ serialnumber 4081) and 60214 (Master; hardware 3.4/ serialnumber 9332). Both CS2 have software version 3.8.1.(11). I have the 8 boosters 60174 all connected to the terminals. The new Link-S-88 decoder with the number 60883 (v 1.0) is also connected to the terminal and so is the slave Master 2.
When I switch the lamps with the route symbol (that is not connected to the S-decoder) than the colours appear in the lay-out, but when I switch a route over the S-Link-88 than the coloured dots don't appear in the slave but the are visible in the master.

With the old S-decoders it all works fine.

Steamer01
CS3 60216 + 8 x 60174 + 1 x 60175
www.rensenmodelbaanwereld.com
thanks 1 user liked this useful post by Steamer01
Offline clapcott  
#12 Posted : 11 April 2015 23:34:23(UTC)
clapcott

New Zealand   
Joined: 12/12/2005(UTC)
Posts: 2,433
Location: Wellington, New_Zealand
Steamer01

On the Slave CS2 does the Setup->Information panel provide a view of the configuration for the new L88 ? Or is this only on the master ?

If it is there, what settings do you have configured for the number of S88s on each of the Busses ?

Peter
Offline Steamer01  
#13 Posted : 12 April 2015 17:39:59(UTC)
Steamer01

Netherlands   
Joined: 16/09/2009(UTC)
Posts: 151
Location: The Netherlands
Originally Posted by: clapcott Go to Quoted Post
Steamer01

On the Slave CS2 does the Setup->Information panel provide a view of the configuration for the new L88 ? Or is this only on the master ?

If it is there, what settings do you have configured for the number of S88s on each of the Busses ?




You can only make the set-up in the master. There I have configured that there are 3 S88s on bus one; and also 3 S88s on bus two.

The problem can be solved by making an extra route that is switching direct by the Link-S-88. In that route you have to configure the link to the real route that is switching by the master CS2. In that situation the colouring dots appear. They will apear too when you switch a route that is not combined with the link_S-88. When it is told to switch by the Master CS2 the routes colour dots appear. The coloured dots will also apear when you use the old S-88 decoders connected direct to the master.

Steamer01.
CS3 60216 + 8 x 60174 + 1 x 60175
www.rensenmodelbaanwereld.com
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