I have just discovered this item on the Conrad website and would like to know more about it. Translating the brief description does not give much insight on what the product really does.

Has anyone tried this product or know more about it, I would like to hear your thoughts on it.

http://shop.conrad.nl/mo...an-decoders/248629.html#

Looks useful, but I would like to see a wiring diagram to show how it connects to the booster. I can only see three pins - so I can't work out how to wire it up.

Hi,

there exists some info on the internet about the subject. One guy has made his own solution, that apparently does the same as the Conrad circuit: http://home.swipnet.se/perz/mfx_boost.html.

I think there are also other links available on the net, but I could not find them just right now.

The tech stuff behind: mfx is using 2 technologies, as I understand it:
1) For very short periods of time (milliseconds), power is removed from the track by the CS. In these periods, the locomotive is using the power that is stored in its' capacitor on the decoder print.
2) When the tracks are without power, the locomotive decoder will start to send data back on the tracks, with a quite high frequency (higher than the frequency the CS is normally modulating the tracks when sending Motorola format data to the turnouts and locomotives. These data packages are then received by the CS.

In a system, where an old booster is used, such as 6017 or homebuilt boosters (like my Elektor 200W booster), the high frequency signal is blocked in its' way from the track to the CS by the booster. This circuitry allows a back-path for these high frequency signals to bypass the blocking circuirty of the 6017 booster.

EXPERIMENT: Try to place a locomotive on a track connected to the 6017 immediately next to a track connected to the "prog" input of the CS2. You will then see that sometimes mfx works. This is because the radio frequency mfx signals are transmitted by air from the 6017 track to the programming track. IMPORTANT: Never allow electrical contact between the 6017 track and the programming track, as this may damage the output stage of your CS2 programming track irrepairably.

BR,

Rasmus.

Hello,

I have seen elsewhere the connection diagram for a similar product (I can not remember which and where). I can bet however that one wire is connected to the brown "O" terminal of the track, another wire to the red "B" terminal of the track powered by the booster and the last wire is connected to the red "B" terminal of the track powered by the Central Station (or by another booster). Of course the connection is made at the point where the tracks fed as described are insulated.

Now I would like to know if I won my bet.

EDIT: post written while other members were posting on the same subject.

Bye

Renato

Hi,

Once a mfx loco has been registered on the programming track (or a track directly connected to the controller main output), it seems to me that the mfx dialog between loco and controller is no longer useful. Then the mfx ability for a booster appears to be unnecessary?
Did I miss something?

Fred

Which reminds me of this event where we met...
https://www.marklin-user...ault.aspx?g=posts&t=9235

I wonder then if this solution allows for two or more 6017 with boster-link (per 6017 booster) to be connected to the same section of track where the MFX signal will be read from (a 60173 booster section or to the output of a CS or MS Station). Or does this solution only allow for just one 6017 booster section and booster-link to be connected to a CS, MS Station or 60173 booster section.

I have ordered some parts so that I may give this a try, will be some time before the parts arrive and I have the time to get around and trying this concept.

Hello Maxi,

with one booster link you can connect 1 booster to mfx communication. If you want to connect more booster, you need more booster link.

The booster link is doing nothing else than recording the mfx signal coming from booster 6017 section and passing it to CS or booster 60173.

rgds

Stephan

This part I understand perfectly.



This is where I still have the question of can the outputs of more than one booster link be connected to a single CS or booster 60173.

regards
Matthew

That was the impression I was starting to get.

Thanks