Joined: 13/12/2016(UTC) Posts: 147 Location: Silver Spring, MD, USA
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Originally Posted by: siroljuk  Hey I have owned CS3Plus device from the time they got the store to buy. At the very beginning, there was a problem that there was not really a manual in the device's operation. You got help from the forum and from here and there and by searching the Internet. The very beginning of the device did not really work in all its aspects, but over time there have been updates that have improved the performance of the device. Nowadays, the features of the device are quite legible and the device works quite well. It still has bugs and flaws, but at least I have received all the instructions and articles described functions and features to work well. You can say that CS3Plus works at least as well as the latest version of CS2. The digital world of model train is not easy to understand and work with. If you want to use all features of CS3Plus/CS3 you have to know at least something about computers and networking, You have to understand basics of how digital devices are build and how they works.If you want to play with model trains with digital steering and you can just put the cables connected and want to go, then you have to forget these new digital devices and keep in conventional world let's say at least for few of years. I really am sorry to say this but it really is so. I very much hope that the reader of this text will not be ashamed of such a strong opinion. Regards Jukka I could not resist adding my 2 cents, especially since over the past two years I've often beaten my head against the wall trying to understand aspects of digital control. There has been so much useful knowledge from this forum that I'm sure someone with the energy and time could write a wonderful book that thoroughly discusses digital control. Such a book would help people such as myself who have tried to get into digital control and didn't realize how much there is to learn and how difficult it is to find certain types of information. With regard to the CS3/CS3+, I would agree that the CS3+ is the better choice if you have the extra money. I also agree with those who assert that the CS3/CS3+ is not ready - it is not robust and there are many items on it that could use a redesign or patch. I think a good reputable software company would be embarrassed if they released a product such as the CS3/CS3+. But, if you're getting into digital control with Marklin locos and track, and you don't know that much, the CS3/CS3+ is perhaps a reasonable choice - if, that is, Marklin eventually fixes all the problems. When I was first asking about buying one, some people responded that an ESU 50200 was a much better choice and, after using the CS3 and learning more about digital control, I think they might be right. But to someone just getting into digital control, there are so many things to learn, and sticking with Marklin is perhaps easier and safer. From one of the well-respected members of the forum, I got into digital control using PC-based software - I use iTrain (I'm a Mac user and liked iTrain for that, but I know the other software out there is also very good). So now my CS3 mainly sits there, passing info back and forth to the locos and accessories and to iTrain. It does have a nice display, and it performs well in that role - I use it also for configuring locos and so forth, but mainly most of my time is spent using iTrain. The CS3 sort of tries to implement block control, but it doesn't come close to iTrain in its capabilities or user interface. So, if I had known all that beforehand, I might have bought something else. However, like I said, the CS3/CS3+ does a great job of serving as an interface between the train/track and iTrain (even though it seems to reboot at the slightest derailment). So, for someone who enjoys a more manual style of operation and is also trying to get into digital control is a bigger way, I think it is a reasonable purchase (again, trusting that Marklin will eventually fix its problems). I'm not coming to any conclusion or recommendation - other that there is/was so much for me to learn regarding digital control that I'm not unhappy I stuck with Marklin products such as the CS3 or L88 or M83, etc. But now that I know more, I can start using more products from ESU and other companies if the products are more robust, cheaper, and so forth. Perhaps I'm not adventurous enough to have used these other products when I was first starting, or perhaps I just have a preference for Marklin, I don't know. My 2 cents (if it's even worth that much :-), John |
--- John P. Wack Silver Spring, MD |
 3 users liked this useful post by johnpatrickwack
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