Okey.

Hi Anders,

Yes I have been giving some thought to this and have been wondering exactly "What is the Game"?

Usually a game has a challenge to overcome or a goal to achieve.

One challenge that is immediately apparent is that of being able to hit the SIFA reset regularly (Diesel and Electric). In my opinion external speakers are a must because, until you go to full virtual reality with a display that accurately represents the CabView, you will NOT be constantly looking at the screen and will miss the SIFA message.

If you do have a camera in the cab (from some other supplier with its attendand reciever/monitor), there is nothing to stop placing the monitor associated with it just behind and above of the CS2 - In this case this will be the screen to watche with just an occasional glance at the CS2 to sound a horn or check the timetable.

I , for one, will be using the two knobs, rather than a stylus, for speed and brake. (i.e. not relying on stylus to turn the wheel or pull a lever)
This is a pretty significant step in matching reality. Whereas I used to challenge my niece and nephew to stop a train "nicely" at a platform , without having to reverse, so the passengers could get off on the platform, divorcing braking from the throttle takes this to another level - and may be all that is needed for most modelers added satisfaction.

Generally I would say adding a "score" would be too tacky. However maybe there is a place for a Kids(Game) Mode with rewards(bonus points) and penalties(lost points) for failing to refuel in time. Or... things like sounding the horn when approaching a crossing , or slowing to an appropriate speed (which would have a sensor on the track to match the layout)

Until the issue of "One sensor for all" when setting up a refueling station is resolved, this first incarnation of the virtual reality is really for only one player (one train). It will be interesting to see if and how far Marklin will take this (either themselves or partnering with peripheral providers)

I never said it was a bug - It is working as designed - which has the limitation of only allowing one loco on the route. I see this limitation as an issue for most modelers who want to run multiple trains.


this may be the case with the current hardware but the mFX protocol show a feedback event can be other than 0 or 1



It is not a patent that prevents use perse - it is the not coming to an agreement, financial or reciprical, with the patent owner that, in law, is the show stopper

RailCom is an licensed by of Lenz trademark and supports only in DCC.
In fact it works too.

Back to topic:
I want to see cab control function for DCC too.
If Marklin don´t want it i see this bug s**t...!

Hi Alberto

Can you please elaborate,
What do you mean by "recognize the new decoder"?

I do not have the Main Station but my MSApp for iPhone/iPodTouch does pickup my mFX+ BR218
Nothing in the MSApp shows any reference to decoder type

Hello Alberto,

Do you mean they will not operate your new M37358 BR101 with the MFX+ decoder, or just that they do not display Cab Control ??

On face value this seems a logical direction but I have not seen anything from Marklin on this.

If there was any future option to overlay a video/camera input it might be via a tablet (The CS2 does not have the capability)

One may read something into the pending Android announcement but I wouldn't take it to the bank (this soon)



The SIFA is only active in CabMode.

Good point about the refueling of the resources though. Although it is no different from what a MS offers.

Hi Glen,

Yes I personally believe the current implementation is ".. a one lok , one man game..".
However I can also see that an external tablet (like the iPad) is probably a better solution.

i) It offloads the "peripheral GUI processing" from the CS2 which should be concentrating on doing the track work
ii) is a more likely platform to offer "video in" from the camera in the cab.

I, too, look forward to a MainStation update - The iPod(Touch) MSApp should also be "aware" of the mFX+ capabilities of the loco.

You have cab control by use it with Iphone too with Rocos Z21.

Does the Z21 have resources to manage and SIFA like capabilities ?


Actually....,
If anyone knows of other decoders/controllers with inbuilt (non-PC supplemented) capabilities similar resource/SIFA features, please mention them.
I am aware of the Uhlenbrock Profi-Control which has a despatch capability and distinuished between Throttle/Break(as available in CS2 CabMode) and has a SIFA button that can be enabled