During a vacation in Germany I had the chance to get some more info from a Märklin Dealer about the new Central Station and the future plans:

1) ESU is now out of the picture, and that is why Märklin dropped the designation "systems" and returned to "Digital".

2) Mobile Station as it looks today is a part of "systems" and will be discontinued. Because it has the name "systems" on it and it has had technical problems as well.

3) The new Mobile Station will be updated from Central Station 2 when necessary.

I don't know any technical details about it, but on the wishlist for improvements there would be:

* 2A power output
* Handling locos with two addresses as one entry in the locolist (for M locos with 4+4 functions on two decoders and 3rd party locos with LokSound decoders etc).
* Controlling accessories, at least in a simplified way (4 or 8 accessories available)

I think this kind of device could be sold in great numbers if the price is right (100-150€) - since buyers of starter sets will soon find out the the new "Delta" has its' limitations. And even if you have a Central Station it is very useful to have a smaller equipment for testing purpose.

The most important thing about a new MS would be to get it to work properly. The number of failures with the first effort was ridiculous. While M were responsible I blame ESU for the poor workmanship so hopefully a new version will give new customers what they need to keep buying Marklin.

David

Yes - there are even some stupid built-in limitations, like the old Delta decoders that had the light-function disabled and lights were connected to the motor outputs...

But the price span between a cheap starter set device (<50€) and a Central Station 2 (6-700€) is big enough to allow a little more sophisticated MS. Most of the beginners don't have the need for all the features of a Central Station. But if you could control a few turnouts from the Mobile Station it would be more useful for very small layouts and temporary layouts, and Märklin would sell more turnout decoders...

Wireless MS would be a great idea.

The new MS should hold more than 10 locomotives.

Indeed. There is no technical reason that they cannot do it.

Infrared is old technology, (has to be pointed at the receiver by 30 to 45 degrees, short distance from the receiver). It should be Radio Frequency (don't have to point it at the receiver, longer distance, set different frequencies).

With the advent of MS2 and CS2 - how can we update our (now old) MS1s

Thanks, Karl Gunnar

Since the fx decoder is just being used for cheaper locos where an mfx decoder is too expensive, it usually means there are no functions available anyway, except for lights and direct control (F4). If there were more functions, there would be an mfx decoder.

Even if you have a different brand of decoder, you can always change the parameters by using REG in the EDIT LOC menu. So if the decoder understands Motorola it can be programmed - including changing the address.

Then if you want the function buttons to correspond to the right functions, you may delete the loco from the list, then choose a loco with the same functions -> change name and address. It's not simple, but it can be done, and I see no reason at all why I would need an update of my MS database...

I think the chance is big that all loks from Marklin will get a mfx decoder.

Reason because the esu mfx decoders are getting cheaper.