Quote:quote:Originally posted by Webmaster
<br />Fred, most topics are still "worthy" - but in some "hot" topics that engage all the troops, like this one about a new CS and future Märklin systems/digital - everyone wants to have a view about it, rant about it, or even accuse/defend M product policies - these usually end up in some kind of kindergarten sand throwing battles...
I will be happy the day we are all grown-ups and the gentlemen we think we are... 
[size=2]Here on this thread , I believe there are also two other kinds of contributions :
- the one who is thinking as a customer or user .
- The one who is thinking as a "virtual manager of a manufacture (Marklin)" having plans about the future of the company , how to manage it , etc...etc...
Untill now , I'm trying to present my point of view as a customer/player who buy trains for playing .( as a 3 rails user I have no interest in having DCC or several protocoles inside my station as long as Marklin is proposing me something efficient - which was the case untill 2003 )
Quote:[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:
Originally posted by Webmaster<br />
So the simple solution is really to design the wiring (having insulated wheels) properly and have a clip-on slider as you suggest, which in worst case would have switch to select slider + shorted wheels (Märklin) or non-shorted wheels and slider disabled (Trix). Then run DCC, MM, mfx, Selectrix or whatever decoder protocol you prefer in the MTC-socket that of course is standard in the loco...
I wonder which manufacturer will patent this simple but clever idea first...
(And supply a slider in the box, even if it is the "Trix" brand...)
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Some Marklin models have insulated wheels already . Like you , I have been imagining such arrangement , so I'm quite sure Marklin already had an idea about it ,but
- if using manual switch that involves opening the model , which is not a mark of advance & not very "plug&play"
- If with electronic switch , that involves considering another matter : factory installed decoders vs buy it yourself decoder . Look what has been happening on DCC market untill now ( buy your decoder as a spare part).
I would try to say something else : standardization of process is THE dream of any management on earth , including Marklin management
.They already thought about it , many times , in many directions ( They even had a deep reflection on the merging of Trix & Marklin together already . Merging Trix into Marklin = one brand for two rails and three rails etc..etc..)
I must say something : each time Marklin has tried to get closer to the standards of the rest of MRR world it has been a failure in terms of sales . Also each time they have tried to share common standards , it's never been successful .
Here are two examples :
- In the 80's , as they watch all manufacturers producing more & more plastic , Marklin decided to imitate them . You know the results : it has been a disaster , customers run along , Marklin was close to disappear .
- Recently : some people were complaining about quality problems . 99% of those problems were...electronics problems . It is a " DCC market" Company who was in charge of digital concepts , bringing different concepts , causing breakdown in Marklin digital .This company already had experience on DCC market ,the brand image of Marklin started to become somewhat cloudy .
Many manufactureres would like to be in place of Marklin , producing its own system and controlling its own market . Marklin still has a special place in MRR world. . With a strong brand image .
Most of MRR enhusiast critisizing Marklin about its differences usually are not "three rails enthusiasts" ...
