I recently bought one Marklin Digital starter set with the objective of developing it into a nice layout with all the bells and whistles of automated signalling, turnouts, etc. However, I soon realised, trying to install a light in one of the passanger cars that:-
confusion on the different types of decoders for locos, passanger cars, turnouts, signalls, etc. I found very little explanation on Marklin site in english or and compatibility of decoders from other sources like esu, Lenz, etc.
The relatively high cost of these decoders.

is it possible to solder components for a decoder. I am good at doing such electronic projects? If so, resources on DIY kits will be welcome.

Guatam

When it comes to using decoders in locomotives and possibly railcars, your best bet is to buy a ready made decoder.

If you are wanting to save some money on the overall cost of the building of a layout then you could possibly build your own feedback modules,boosters and accessory decoders or purchase them as kits and assemble them yourself.

The following is a selection of manufacturers that offer kits for various parts of the digital control.

http://www.ldt-infocenter.com
http://www.conrad.com
http://www.viessmann-modell.com
http://home.planet.nl/~boe03727/wtechn5.html
http://www.digital-bahn.de/eigenbau.htm
http://users.pandora.be/deloof


Before building or ordering kits you should first ask yourself which direction you want to go with the digital control. With the Marklin Systems and other central control systems expected to come on to the market shortly which allows for bidirectional communication between the control unit and the locomotives, boosters which are available on the market right now as kits do not allow for bidirectional communication.

When choosing a decoder for a locomotive or out right purchasing locomotives, one thing to keep in mind is that the mfx protocol decoders seems to not run as smooth when controlled by a central unit which only handles 14 speed steps as opposed to a decoder which was specifically designed for a central unit with only handles 14 speed steps. I am hoping that this will change in the future. Bottom line is that decoders from various manufacturers will perform differently depending on what the protocol is available on the rails and what protocols the central unit is capable of transmitting.

For lighting cars why not take the power from the decoder in the loco via current connecting couplers.
Saves buying an extra decoder and no need for another slider on the track.

David

Disaggree, sorry.
Motorola is one protocol, mfx is another. Motorola protocol has an extended version ('new'). And Märklin/systems uses a combination of mfx and Motorola. Märklin digital uses Motorola.

Back to the question: I also suggest buying ready made deocoders for the locos, and DIY for other items.

/Lars

Hello!

I'm not sure if this will help, but this site has schematics and ways to modify your decoders:

http://www.pallund.dk/index.html

Mikko

No

Dear Davy and Lars, This is the real confusion I have figuring our mfx, motorola protocol, etc. Difference between Marklin Delta and Digital. More than definitions, what is of practical concern is compatiility between the control unit, the decoder and the Loco motor, presuming all run on 3-track AC. Can you guide to any link where all these are adequately explained for a novice. I have read the digital corner of this website.

The CS doesnot understand DCC. That is one sure thing.

Hi Gautam, welcome to the forum, you cannot control any kind of turnout with the mobile station, only trains, and only 10.
The mobile station is the throttle, booster and command station, but a little one. Designed i think to be more than a handheld for the central station that a control unit itself.
To have the capability of running trains and therefore be included on starter set is just to make you taste a little of new mfx and make you go for the central station, good marketing if you ask me, it is surely working for me!!!!

Hello Guatam,
all digital systems can be described as having the components you mention, and some more. However, the Mobile Station includes all three: Command station, throttle and booster. The connection box only has a rectifier for incomming power, and a connection point for all cables. When two Mobile Stations are connected together, one is the master and has all three tasks, and the other is a slave, where only the trottle part is active.

Lets look at the track signal. It carries power, and one or several protocols in mix. The pure protocols are DCC, Motorola, mfx, and minor as FMZ, Selectrix... DCC and Motorola have variations internally as well.

Several command station allow for sedning mixes:
Märklin 6021 and others: Motorola only.
Märklin Mobile Station + CS: Motorola+mfx
Uhlenbrock Intellibox: Motorola+DCC+Selectrix
Uhlenbrock Daisy: Motorola+DCC
Fleischmann Twin Center: DCC+FMZ+Selectrix
Trix/systems: DCC+Selectrix
and others.

It's also very common for decoders to understand at least two languages, as
Motorola+DCC (several, called Digital2 by Uhlenbrock/Viessmann...)
Motorola+mfx (all Märklin mfx locos)
DCC+Selectrix (some Trix)
DCC+FMZ (Fleischmann Twin)

/Lars

The latest Marklin CS is still in the early stages and more pieces to the puzzel is still yet to come. Sometime down the road I am sure that a selection of software and electronic modules will be available both commercially and from hobbiest to allow controlling of the various parts of the CS equipment or to allow bypassing the CS station all together and allow the user free reign on how to design the command center to their liking.

But for now it is a waiting, learning and for the ambitious trial and error stage.