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Offline PeFu  
#1 Posted : 09 January 2021 15:18:05(UTC)
PeFu

Sweden   
Joined: 30/08/2002(UTC)
Posts: 1,208
I’ve had some issues using the combo of CS2, TrainController and Mfx engines in the past. I have followed the recommendations given in the specific TrainController forum. Now, when I’m into a ”hard-core” testing period after finalising all tracks, I get the same error message as fellow member dickinsonj reported in an earlier topic, i.e. ”Mfx locomotive Lok-1 :The readout of the settings was not successful." Clicking on the message box, I also get a 2nd message box, you can se both messages in the pictures below.

Crying

As I also recently updated the CS2, and (so far) only have 4 Mfx engines, I deleted all engines from the CS and TrainController, rebooted everything, registrered the engines again, and everything worked fine. For a while...

Confused

The message boxes (as below) started to appear again. This had never caused any interruption for me in the past, but suddenly TrainController perceived that two Mxf engines had one and the same address. But TrainController started the wrong engine only!

Confused Confused

All my four Mfx engines have Märklin original decoders only, i.e. no ESU M4 decoders etc. Two of my Mfx engines also understands DCC, the other two - an RBe 4/4 Roter Pfeil (Märklin 37868) and a C 5/6 Elefant (Märklin 39250) only knows MM2. As I still can access light, motor sound, horn and smoke (C 5/6) functions using MM2, I have now decided to disable the Mfx protocol in the CS2, and only look for DCC enabled engines and decoders from now.

Finally, I must add that I’m overall happy with my system - The CS2 and the two boosters (Märklin 60175). But not the Mfx stuff!

BigGrin

B8B88445-E211-4EF2-BFBD-7D6B8C3DA097.jpeg

E4B2E4EF-5BBE-4964-8F07-7AC077A117A6.jpeg

Andreasburg-Mattiasberg Bahn is inspired by Swiss railways |Forum Thread |Track Plan |Youtube | C and K track | CS2 | TrainController Gold V10
Offline DaleSchultz  
#2 Posted : 09 January 2021 15:45:27(UTC)
DaleSchultz

United States   
Joined: 10/02/2006(UTC)
Posts: 3,997
grim.

And people get uptight when I say mfx adds no real value to the hobby.
Dale
Intellibox + own software, K-Track
My current layout: https://cabin-layout.mixmox.com
Arrival and Departure signs: https://remotesign.mixmox.com
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Offline 5HorizonsRR  
#3 Posted : 09 January 2021 19:13:53(UTC)
5HorizonsRR

United States   
Joined: 05/12/2004(UTC)
Posts: 2,862
Location: CA, USA
Funny- I have trouble with it on my ecos as well. If I started all over (meaning I didn't have a huge fleet of motorola locomotives), I'd have gone DCC from the get-go. If anything for cheaper components of equal quality...
SBB Era 2-5
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Offline foumaro  
#4 Posted : 09 January 2021 20:34:52(UTC)
foumaro

Greece   
Joined: 08/12/2004(UTC)
Posts: 4,420
Location: Attiki Athens Greece
I had these icons on my cs2 again and again with three locomotives,marklin 37974 br34,marklin 37193 br 17 and marklin 37843 br 50.If i insisted to leave the locomotives on the tracks the cs2 rebooted after 5 minutes.I sold the 37843,i changed the decoder of 37974 with marklin 60975 and waiting for an esu decoder for marklin 37193.Note that all of them working perfect with my 6021.
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Offline H0  
#5 Posted : 10 January 2021 17:09:18(UTC)
H0


Joined: 16/02/2004(UTC)
Posts: 15,254
Location: DE-NW
Originally Posted by: PeFu Go to Quoted Post
Finally, I must add that I’m overall happy with my system - The CS2 and the two boosters (Märklin 60175). But not the Mfx stuff!
Many years ago I came to the conclusion that I have to disable mfx to get reliable and predictable operation at home.
I admit that mfx has advantages at club meetings though.

mfx = most(ly) frustrating experience LOL

Regards
Tom
---
"In all of the gauges, we particularly emphasize a high level of quality, the best possible fidelity to the prototype, and absolute precision. You will see that in all of our products." (from Märklin New Items Brochure 2015, page 1) ROFLBTCUTS
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Offline JohnjeanB  
#6 Posted : 10 January 2021 17:28:52(UTC)
JohnjeanB

France   
Joined: 04/02/2011(UTC)
Posts: 3,083
Location: Paris, France
Hi
Yes MFX has its drawbacks during registration and may refuse to complete it. In this situation you need another MFX control unit (CS1, CS2, MS2 and its track box) to register the loco with a different number and then bring back your loco to your first central unit (to start registration anew). In the past this has always solved my problems whereas the "Search for lost MFX locos" never worked for me with a CS2.

IMO MFX is a good system BUT when registering a new loco, the power must be OFF before installing the loco on the rails, rails must be clean and wiring OK.

This avoids"sputtering" during the registration phase which may end up in a locked situation.

To minimize this I do the registration of a new loco on the programming track (very clean data signal both ways) while all other locos are on the main track (usually 31 to 32 MFX Sound locos).
I have also an MS1 with its power and special feed rail but this not always unlocks the situation.
Cheers
Jean
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Offline David Dewar  
#7 Posted : 10 January 2021 18:05:29(UTC)
David Dewar

Scotland   
Joined: 01/02/2004(UTC)
Posts: 7,332
Location: Scotland
As Jean says put the loco on the programming track and it will register. Also new turnouts will also register. Any Marklin loco I buy registered out of the box and of it goes.
Take care I like Marklin and will defend the worlds greatest model rail manufacturer.
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Offline H0  
#8 Posted : 11 January 2021 10:08:54(UTC)
H0


Joined: 16/02/2004(UTC)
Posts: 15,254
Location: DE-NW
Originally Posted by: PeFu Go to Quoted Post
This had never caused any interruption for me in the past, but suddenly TrainController perceived that two Mxf engines had one and the same address.
The error message on your screenshot indicates that you have at least one mfx decoder where no serial number was set at the factory. 0x7fffffff is the factory default for unset serial numbers.
The mfx address is assigned by serial number. The serial number should be unique by design, but if you happen to have two locos with an unset serial number, they will both be given the same address.

I had two locos with unset serial numbers, causing various problems. I returned both decoders to Märklin and received replacements.

Originally Posted by: David Dewar Go to Quoted Post
Any Marklin loco I buy registered out of the box and of it goes.
The fun starts when a loco that is registered and is parked on the remotest corner of the layout will no longer respond to mfx. This does not happen with MM or DCC.

Two locos with the same serial number can keep you busy for hours and hours.
Regards
Tom
---
"In all of the gauges, we particularly emphasize a high level of quality, the best possible fidelity to the prototype, and absolute precision. You will see that in all of our products." (from Märklin New Items Brochure 2015, page 1) ROFLBTCUTS
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Offline ocram63_uk  
#9 Posted : 11 January 2021 11:53:16(UTC)
ocram63_uk

United Kingdom   
Joined: 07/01/2015(UTC)
Posts: 704
Location: England, Suffolk
can you disable MFX at all ? I would like to do it but am not sure it is possible on 39XXX locos
Offline PeFu  
#10 Posted : 11 January 2021 11:53:26(UTC)
PeFu

Sweden   
Joined: 30/08/2002(UTC)
Posts: 1,208
Originally Posted by: David Dewar Go to Quoted Post
As Jean says put the loco on the programming track and it will register. Also new turnouts will also register. Any Marklin loco I buy registered out of the box and of it goes.


I have always followed that procedure, off it goes... but after a period, the problems occurs. Happy now, using DCC and MM2 only. Added the 39520 ”Köfferli” on DCC in TrainController, took only a minute to add the functions I want to use.

Cool

Andreasburg-Mattiasberg Bahn is inspired by Swiss railways |Forum Thread |Track Plan |Youtube | C and K track | CS2 | TrainController Gold V10
Offline H0  
#11 Posted : 11 January 2021 12:12:18(UTC)
H0


Joined: 16/02/2004(UTC)
Posts: 15,254
Location: DE-NW
Originally Posted by: ocram63_uk Go to Quoted Post
can you disable MFX at all ? I would like to do it but am not sure it is possible on 39XXX locos
At least not with all locos. Maybe it is possible with some of them.

You can disable mfx in the controller. The only solution if you have some locos that do not allow disabling mfx if you do not want to replace all those decoders.

Regards
Tom
---
"In all of the gauges, we particularly emphasize a high level of quality, the best possible fidelity to the prototype, and absolute precision. You will see that in all of our products." (from Märklin New Items Brochure 2015, page 1) ROFLBTCUTS
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Offline ocram63_uk  
#12 Posted : 11 January 2021 12:22:12(UTC)
ocram63_uk

United Kingdom   
Joined: 07/01/2015(UTC)
Posts: 704
Location: England, Suffolk
Thank you Tom, I'll try.
If the decoder is an ESU that came with the C-Sine motor how do you check that it is set as required by the C-Sine ?
Offline LoeM  
#13 Posted : 11 January 2021 15:57:13(UTC)
LoeM

Netherlands   
Joined: 18/02/2017(UTC)
Posts: 69
Location: Zuid-Holland
I changed to DCC only with a DCC system. Most of my - elder- trains already had multiprotocol decoders. Had to replace Marklin decoders from a few locos. Mixing 2 digital systems means troubles often. Programming and driving is very very easy.
Offline rbw993  
#14 Posted : 11 January 2021 16:59:24(UTC)
rbw993

United States   
Joined: 19/08/2008(UTC)
Posts: 954
Originally Posted by: H0 Go to Quoted Post
The error message on your screenshot indicates that you have at least one mfx decoder where no serial number was set at the factory. 0x7fffffff is the factory default for unset serial numbers.
The mfx address is assigned by serial number. The serial number should be unique by design, but if you happen to have two locos with an unset serial number, they will both be given the same address.

I had two locos with unset serial numbers, causing various problems. I returned both decoders to Märklin and received replacements.

The fun starts when a loco that is registered and is parked on the remotest corner of the layout will no longer respond to mfx. This does not happen with MM or DCC.

Two locos with the same serial number can keep you busy for hours and hours.


How do I determine which loco(s) has the unset serial number? DO I have to check the CV's in each loco.

I've gotten this message followed by a shutdown.

Thanks,
Roger


Offline H0  
#15 Posted : 11 January 2021 17:22:26(UTC)
H0


Joined: 16/02/2004(UTC)
Posts: 15,254
Location: DE-NW
Originally Posted by: rbw993 Go to Quoted Post
How do I determine which loco(s) has the unset serial number? DO I have to check the CV's in each loco.
Maybe you can backup/export the settings and then scan the loco list for the uid. Maybe someone else can say whether this goes.
You can see the uid in the CV screen of the CS2, but this can take some time if you have no idea which loco has this problem.

Regards
Tom
---
"In all of the gauges, we particularly emphasize a high level of quality, the best possible fidelity to the prototype, and absolute precision. You will see that in all of our products." (from Märklin New Items Brochure 2015, page 1) ROFLBTCUTS
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Offline kiwiAlan  
#16 Posted : 11 January 2021 19:56:40(UTC)
kiwiAlan

United Kingdom   
Joined: 23/07/2014(UTC)
Posts: 8,082
Location: ENGLAND, Didcot
Originally Posted by: rbw993 Go to Quoted Post
Originally Posted by: H0 Go to Quoted Post
The error message on your screenshot indicates that you have at least one mfx decoder where no serial number was set at the factory. 0x7fffffff is the factory default for unset serial numbers.
The mfx address is assigned by serial number. The serial number should be unique by design, but if you happen to have two locos with an unset serial number, they will both be given the same address.

I had two locos with unset serial numbers, causing various problems. I returned both decoders to Märklin and received replacements.

The fun starts when a loco that is registered and is parked on the remotest corner of the layout will no longer respond to mfx. This does not happen with MM or DCC.

Two locos with the same serial number can keep you busy for hours and hours.


How do I determine which loco(s) has the unset serial number? DO I have to check the CV's in each loco.

I've gotten this message followed by a shutdown.

Thanks,
Roger




I suspect you have some other problem, my suspicion is a fault within the cs whereby it can't read the mfx login from the locos sometimes. From your description it seems to happen to different locos at random times, so the only common item becomes the cs unless you have another oddity.

I do know of people who had problems with noisy motors in locos screwing up the data going to locos in the early days of marklin digital, so anything around the layout that could be creating electrical noise on the track is a possibility (you don't have a ham radio operator nearby firing up a transmitter?). Even some other household appliance could be a possibility (anyone operating a vacuum cleaner or some other appliance at the time the problem happens?).

Offline JohnjeanB  
#17 Posted : 12 January 2021 15:36:06(UTC)
JohnjeanB

France   
Joined: 04/02/2011(UTC)
Posts: 3,083
Location: Paris, France
Hi
In the same line of thoughts as Alan, one of the Locos may be distorting the signal (the loco answerback signal is much weaker than the ones coming from a CS2 or CS3.
This also can be the case of any decoder hooked to the digital signal
Cheers
Jean
Offline David Dewar  
#18 Posted : 12 January 2021 17:59:56(UTC)
David Dewar

Scotland   
Joined: 01/02/2004(UTC)
Posts: 7,332
Location: Scotland
Anybody close where the locos can be tried without any traincontroller etc. If the same problem then not the CS2 which has a fault.
Take care I like Marklin and will defend the worlds greatest model rail manufacturer.
Offline rbw993  
#19 Posted : 12 January 2021 22:12:30(UTC)
rbw993

United States   
Joined: 19/08/2008(UTC)
Posts: 954
I checked with the US Marklin Digital guys and they have never heard of or seen the error message.
Offline applor  
#20 Posted : 13 January 2021 05:20:56(UTC)
applor

Australia   
Joined: 21/05/2004(UTC)
Posts: 1,653
Location: Brisbane, Queensland
Originally Posted by: PeFu Go to Quoted Post
Originally Posted by: David Dewar Go to Quoted Post
As Jean says put the loco on the programming track and it will register. Also new turnouts will also register. Any Marklin loco I buy registered out of the box and of it goes.


I have always followed that procedure, off it goes... but after a period, the problems occurs. Happy now, using DCC and MM2 only. Added the 39520 ”Köfferli” on DCC in TrainController, took only a minute to add the functions I want to use.

Cool



And you disconnected the main track as well, so only the short programming track is connected?

I also had issues later on with my CS2 and MFX after having a large number of locos registered but since then using only the programming track with the main disconnected and it works without problem.
On one or two occasions I have had to disable MFX on an ESU decoder and re-enable it again to solve problems with the loco not even trying to register.
modelling era IIIa (1951-1955) Germany
Offline PeFu  
#21 Posted : 13 January 2021 08:41:12(UTC)
PeFu

Sweden   
Joined: 30/08/2002(UTC)
Posts: 1,208
Originally Posted by: applor Go to Quoted Post
Originally Posted by: PeFu Go to Quoted Post
Originally Posted by: David Dewar Go to Quoted Post
As Jean says put the loco on the programming track and it will register. Also new turnouts will also register. Any Marklin loco I buy registered out of the box and of it goes.


I have always followed that procedure, off it goes... but after a period, the problems occurs. Happy now, using DCC and MM2 only. Added the 39520 ”Köfferli” on DCC in TrainController, took only a minute to add the functions I want to use.

Cool



And you disconnected the main track as well, so only the short programming track is connected?


Yep.

This seems to be a matter triggered by the PC and CS2 combo. However, as mentioned above, this is not a big issue for me as only two Mfx engines are not DCC enabled. Everything else on the layout is flawless.

Smile
Andreasburg-Mattiasberg Bahn is inspired by Swiss railways |Forum Thread |Track Plan |Youtube | C and K track | CS2 | TrainController Gold V10
Offline JohnjeanB  
#22 Posted : 13 January 2021 11:23:39(UTC)
JohnjeanB

France   
Joined: 04/02/2011(UTC)
Posts: 3,083
Location: Paris, France
Hi
Far from being a specialist. Here is what I have learned about MFX

MFX reconnects with locos based on the info the CS has and what each decoder has.
So it is best to leave all locos on the main circuit with the digital power while programming new locos on the programming track.
The reason: it avoids the new loco being given a number already assigned to another loco but it provides a clean return answer back signal (from the new loco) to the CS.
Yes a loco can also register from the main track but when there is a large number of users (locos, decoders, etc) the answer back signal becomes very weak (low impedence).
Cheers
Jean
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Offline H0  
#23 Posted : 13 January 2021 11:46:38(UTC)
H0


Joined: 16/02/2004(UTC)
Posts: 15,254
Location: DE-NW
Originally Posted by: JohnjeanB Go to Quoted Post
The reason: it avoids the new loco being given a number already assigned to another loco
Implausible reason: the CS associates addresses with the serial numbers of the decoders. No duplicate addresses, even if the other locos are not "connected" to the CS.

Regards
Tom
---
"In all of the gauges, we particularly emphasize a high level of quality, the best possible fidelity to the prototype, and absolute precision. You will see that in all of our products." (from Märklin New Items Brochure 2015, page 1) ROFLBTCUTS
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Offline kiwiAlan  
#24 Posted : 13 January 2021 13:19:04(UTC)
kiwiAlan

United Kingdom   
Joined: 23/07/2014(UTC)
Posts: 8,082
Location: ENGLAND, Didcot
Originally Posted by: H0 Go to Quoted Post
Originally Posted by: JohnjeanB Go to Quoted Post
The reason: it avoids the new loco being given a number already assigned to another loco
Implausible reason: the CS associates addresses with the serial numbers of the decoders. No duplicate addresses, even if the other locos are not "connected" to the CS.



Agreed.
Offline eduard71  
#25 Posted : 13 January 2021 14:05:00(UTC)
eduard71

Chile   
Joined: 27/02/2008(UTC)
Posts: 294
Location: Santiago
Hello,

I read this topic and it is rare to me. I have more than 40 MFX locomotives, old (ESU) and new generation MFX decoders (marklin) and I remember getting only one time a message like that but then the locomotive registered without any problem. I actually have a CS2 and a CS3 with more than 150 locomotives using different protocols (DCC, Motorla MFX) and I have never had problem related to mixing protocols or MFX like the one you show. Only from time to time I have lost some MFX and with the search function I have find them. In my case I love MFX protocol.


Regards

Eduardo
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Offline ocram63_uk  
#26 Posted : 13 January 2021 14:39:46(UTC)
ocram63_uk

United Kingdom   
Joined: 07/01/2015(UTC)
Posts: 704
Location: England, Suffolk
If I want to remove the 'old' ex fabrica ESU MFX decoder and put in a new one, i.e. v.5 LokPilot DCC, how do you program it by using CVs ?
Offline JohnjeanB  
#27 Posted : 13 January 2021 16:16:08(UTC)
JohnjeanB

France   
Joined: 04/02/2011(UTC)
Posts: 3,083
Location: Paris, France
Hi
Originally Posted by: H0 Go to Quoted Post
Implausible reason: the CS associates addresses with the serial numbers of the decoders. No duplicate addresses, even if the other locos are not "connected" to the CS.

I disagree
Here is an extract of the list of my MFX loco numbers.
See in the red frame the numbers assigned by the Märklin MFX system (Rocrail uses them to drive the locos

MFX numbers.jpg

It is plain to see that they are consecutive (i.e.: addresses are attributed from a low number, stored in both the CS and in the decoder. The decoder stores also the CS number and restart the registration for a different unit. This is based on past experience using 2 CS2 (60215) and now a CS3 in turn to drive my layout
I just experienced an overlap on my new CS3 which has not registered all the other locos and so simply commenced a new list from the beginning thus reusing an existing (logic by this was to my dismay.

Cheers
Jean



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bph
Offline JohnjeanB  
#28 Posted : 13 January 2021 16:35:05(UTC)
JohnjeanB

France   
Joined: 04/02/2011(UTC)
Posts: 3,083
Location: Paris, France
Hi

Originally Posted by: ocram63_uk Go to Quoted Post
If I want to remove the 'old' ex fabrica ESU MFX decoder and put in a new one, i.e. v.5 LokPilot DCC, how do you program it by using CVs ?

51211_LokPilot_5_ESUKG_EN_Betriebsanleitung_Auflage-4_eBook_01.pdf (2,188kb) downloaded 25 time(s).


You will find CVs on page 76 of the attached manual

Cheers
Jean
Offline H0  
#29 Posted : 14 January 2021 09:20:12(UTC)
H0


Joined: 16/02/2004(UTC)
Posts: 15,254
Location: DE-NW
Originally Posted by: JohnjeanB Go to Quoted Post
Hi
Originally Posted by: H0 Go to Quoted Post
Implausible reason: the CS associates addresses with the serial numbers of the decoders. No duplicate addresses, even if the other locos are not "connected" to the CS.

I disagree
Here is an extract of the list of my MFX loco numbers.
See in the red frame the numbers assigned by the Märklin MFX system (Rocrail uses them to drive the locos
Let's agree to disagree.
Yes, mfx addresses are assigned as consecutive numbers.
I use my CS2 for my test track only, so there is typically only one loco on the track. Still new mfx locos are assigned new and free mfx addresses, even if no other loco is connected with the track. Previously assigned mfx addresses are remembered by the CS and will not be given to new locos.

Maybe Rocrail is part of the problem: if a loco is deleted on the CS, but not in Rocrail, then the CS may re-assign that address - and Rocrail may end up with a duplicate address which is not a duplicate for the CS.

I still find your reasoning implausible. It never happened to me. But I do not use Rocrail.
Regards
Tom
---
"In all of the gauges, we particularly emphasize a high level of quality, the best possible fidelity to the prototype, and absolute precision. You will see that in all of our products." (from Märklin New Items Brochure 2015, page 1) ROFLBTCUTS
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Offline JohnjeanB  
#30 Posted : 14 January 2021 14:55:00(UTC)
JohnjeanB

France   
Joined: 04/02/2011(UTC)
Posts: 3,083
Location: Paris, France
Hi
Originally Posted by: H0 Go to Quoted Post
Maybe Rocrail is part of the problem: if a loco is deleted on the CS, but not in Rocrail, then the CS may re-assign that address - and Rocrail may end up with a duplicate address which is not a duplicate for the CS.


No Rocrail is a slave to the CS3: it is not part in decision-making of MFX number assignment and if Rocrail locomotive table is not updated it drives the wrong loco.
So the less changes there are in assigning those numbers, the better.

On my loco list not only the numbers are consecutive but also reflect the order I purchased (was given the loco as present).
So when I swap my CS2, the other tries to keep the assigned numbers PROVIDED all locos are there both on the track and in the MFX table.
This was not the case with my new CS3 (not connected to all locos so it re-used an exiting address when I connected a new LokSound 5 micro.

Long story short: it works very well but registration is clearly a weak point (easy to mess-up)
Jean

Offline H0  
#31 Posted : 14 January 2021 15:09:03(UTC)
H0


Joined: 16/02/2004(UTC)
Posts: 15,254
Location: DE-NW
Originally Posted by: JohnjeanB Go to Quoted Post
So when I swap my CS2, the other tries to keep the assigned numbers PROVIDED all locos are there both on the track and in the MFX table.
This was not the case with my new CS3 (not connected to all locos so it re-used an exiting address when I connected a new LokSound 5 micro.

Long story short: it works very well but registration is clearly a weak point (easy to mess-up)
In my experience this problem does not exist with just one controller.

It seems in your case you transferred the loco list from CS2 to CS3, but CS3 re-assigned the mfx addresses. That's normal when there is a new mfx master on the layout.

Still I don't see this happening for people with just one CS. Neither happening with two or more CSs if loco lists are not transferred/shared between the devices.
Regards
Tom
---
"In all of the gauges, we particularly emphasize a high level of quality, the best possible fidelity to the prototype, and absolute precision. You will see that in all of our products." (from Märklin New Items Brochure 2015, page 1) ROFLBTCUTS
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Offline JohnjeanB  
#32 Posted : 14 January 2021 15:21:04(UTC)
JohnjeanB

France   
Joined: 04/02/2011(UTC)
Posts: 3,083
Location: Paris, France
Originally Posted by: H0 Go to Quoted Post
It seems in your case you transferred the loco list from CS2 to CS3, but CS3 re-assigned the mfx addresses.

No each CS2 or CS3 does what it wants with the list and the only interference possible is to delete locos from the list.
All the rest is locked
Jean

Offline river6109  
#33 Posted : 14 January 2021 22:08:01(UTC)
river6109

Australia   
Joined: 22/01/2009(UTC)
Posts: 14,635
Location: On 1965 Märklin Boulevard just around from Roco Square
Originally Posted by: ocram63_uk Go to Quoted Post
Thank you Tom, I'll try.
If the decoder is an ESU that came with the C-Sine motor how do you check that it is set as required by the C-Sine ?


you can't set it with a large C-sine motor but you can change them with the small C-motor (you can do this with a lokprogrammer = motor section)

John

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Offline H0  
#34 Posted : 15 January 2021 08:35:32(UTC)
H0


Joined: 16/02/2004(UTC)
Posts: 15,254
Location: DE-NW
Originally Posted by: river6109 Go to Quoted Post
Originally Posted by: ocram63_uk Go to Quoted Post
Thank you Tom, I'll try.
If the decoder is an ESU that came with the C-Sine motor how do you check that it is set as required by the C-Sine ?

you can't set it with a large C-sine motor but you can change them with the small C-motor (you can do this with a lokprogrammer = motor section)
The size of the motor does not matter: you can set it for Märklin mfx locos with large C-Sine motor just as you do it for Märklin mfx locos with small C-Sine motor.
The LokProgrammer usually cannot handle factory-installed mfx decoders in locos with a C-Sine motor. The decoder can be programmed when installed in a "normal" locos.

Regards
Tom
---
"In all of the gauges, we particularly emphasize a high level of quality, the best possible fidelity to the prototype, and absolute precision. You will see that in all of our products." (from Märklin New Items Brochure 2015, page 1) ROFLBTCUTS
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Offline ocram63_uk  
#35 Posted : 16 January 2021 10:47:51(UTC)
ocram63_uk

United Kingdom   
Joined: 07/01/2015(UTC)
Posts: 704
Location: England, Suffolk
I have a 39680, which mounts an ESU decoder.
It would be nice to know which LokPilot version it is.
Furthermore have all LokPilot decoders been compatible with C-Sine motors ?
Offline river6109  
#36 Posted : 16 January 2021 15:26:07(UTC)
river6109

Australia   
Joined: 22/01/2009(UTC)
Posts: 14,635
Location: On 1965 Märklin Boulevard just around from Roco Square
Originally Posted by: ocram63_uk Go to Quoted Post
I have a 39680, which mounts an ESU decoder.
It would be nice to know which LokPilot version it is.
Furthermore have all LokPilot decoders been compatible with C-Sine motors ?


there has never been a decoder which accommodated the large C-sine motor, from my re-collection soft drive C-Cine motors from V 3.5 upwards

John
https://www.youtube.com/river6109
https://www.youtube.com/6109river
5 years in Destruction mode
50 years in Repairing mode
Offline H0  
#37 Posted : 18 January 2021 08:00:42(UTC)
H0


Joined: 16/02/2004(UTC)
Posts: 15,254
Location: DE-NW
Originally Posted by: river6109 Go to Quoted Post
there has never been a decoder which accommodated the large C-sine motor, from my re-collection soft drive C-Cine motors from V 3.5 upwards
There has never been a decoder which accommodated any C Sine motor. The 21MTC connector reserves 6 pins for motor connections with C Sine motors in mind, but no decoder ever supported it.
mfx decoders require a motor driver board to support C Sine motors. Such boards exist for compact C Sine and large C Sine. Then almost any modern decoder for NEM 660 can be used.
The mfx locos with large C Sine were amongst the first C Sine models with mfx, so this was supported right from the start.

Originally Posted by: ocram63_uk Go to Quoted Post
I have a 39680, which mounts an ESU decoder.
It would be nice to know which LokPilot version it is.
Check the manual for ESU "LokPilot mfx" AKA "V3 M4". That's the only mfx decoder that was around in 2006.
Regards
Tom
---
"In all of the gauges, we particularly emphasize a high level of quality, the best possible fidelity to the prototype, and absolute precision. You will see that in all of our products." (from Märklin New Items Brochure 2015, page 1) ROFLBTCUTS
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Offline Martin T  
#38 Posted : 21 January 2021 21:31:35(UTC)
Martin T

Sweden   
Joined: 02/01/2006(UTC)
Posts: 872
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Originally Posted by: David Dewar Go to Quoted Post
As Jean says put the loco on the programming track and it will register. Also new turnouts will also register. Any Marklin loco I buy registered out of the box and of it goes.


Hi!

Registration on programming track stopped working with an update of CS2 I made few years back.
No assosery or locomotive has ever since then been possible for me to find on programming track,
What version of CS2 are you running`?
Regards / Martin T
Click your way over to me in Marbrodal in Sweden: http://www.xn--mrklintg-0zaq.se/index_e.html
Offline kiwiAlan  
#39 Posted : 21 January 2021 21:51:47(UTC)
kiwiAlan

United Kingdom   
Joined: 23/07/2014(UTC)
Posts: 8,082
Location: ENGLAND, Didcot
Originally Posted by: Martin T Go to Quoted Post
Originally Posted by: David Dewar Go to Quoted Post
As Jean says put the loco on the programming track and it will register. Also new turnouts will also register. Any Marklin loco I buy registered out of the box and of it goes.


Hi!

Registration on programming track stopped working with an update of CS2 I made few years back.
No assosery or locomotive has ever since then been possible for me to find on programming track,
What version of CS2 are you running`?


from your description over here it is more than a few years back, it is many years back. Why haven't you kept up the updates? Confused

Offline hxmiesa  
#40 Posted : 21 January 2021 21:59:38(UTC)
hxmiesa

Spain   
Joined: 15/12/2005(UTC)
Posts: 3,519
Location: Spain
Originally Posted by: Martin T Go to Quoted Post
Registration on programming track stopped working with an update of CS2 I made few years back.
No assosery or locomotive has ever since then been possible for me to find on programming track,
What version of CS2 are you running`?

Heyyyy, you´re back?! ;-)
(Although I see you regularly on YT)
Best regards
Henrik Hoexbroe ("The Dane In Spain")
http://hoexbroe.tripod.com
thanks 1 user liked this useful post by hxmiesa
Offline ocram63_uk  
#41 Posted : 24 January 2021 11:40:04(UTC)
ocram63_uk

United Kingdom   
Joined: 07/01/2015(UTC)
Posts: 704
Location: England, Suffolk
From what I have roughly uderstood on how mfx works, I think that every decoder is like NICs on computer, i.e. the address is similar to a MAC address, so it is impossible to have 2 decoders alike.

When I tested compatibility with JMRI I noticed that while some locomotives didn't exist on my ECOS DB they were still listed in JMRI.
So two things may be the cause of this, one JMRI has a bug, two ECOS has a bug when deleting locomotives. Stopped using JMRI as it is Java based and on my comupter I'm not installing it, maybe on a VM but still am not sure.

From what I read, TOm's post #34, I can remove the mfx decoder from my 39680, disable mfx protocol on the ECOS, put the decoder on ESU's decoder tester and check which CVs are set and how.
I need to download the LokPilot v.3 manual first :-)
thanks 1 user liked this useful post by ocram63_uk
H0
Offline JohnjeanB  
#42 Posted : 24 January 2021 14:37:33(UTC)
JohnjeanB

France   
Joined: 04/02/2011(UTC)
Posts: 3,083
Location: Paris, France
Hi
MFX decoder have an electronic unique serial number indeed but this has nothing to do with the MFX operating number assigned by a CS:
* the numbers are assigned depending on the other MFX locos already registered on the CS
* the numbers are assigned from a small number (5, 4 or 5 I don't remember) but then they are consecutive
* if you have 2 CS with different set of MFX registered trains, then the same locos will be assigned a DIFFERENT number on each CS

Cheers
Jean
Offline H0  
#43 Posted : 25 January 2021 10:42:52(UTC)
H0


Joined: 16/02/2004(UTC)
Posts: 15,254
Location: DE-NW
Originally Posted by: JohnjeanB Go to Quoted Post
MFX decoder have an electronic unique serial number indeed but this has nothing to do with the MFX operating number assigned by a CS
Each CS stores the serial number of the decoder and the local mfx address it assigned to that decoder.
The mfx address is not mathematically derived from the serial number, but the serial number is still used as an index to the address table.
AIUI the serial number has something to do with the mfx address that gets assigned. And duplicate serial numbers lead to undesired effects (which I experienced on my layout).

Originally Posted by: ocram63_uk Go to Quoted Post
From what I have roughly uderstood on how mfx works, I think that every decoder is like NICs on computer, i.e. the address is similar to a MAC address, so it is impossible to have 2 decoders alike.
Yes, AIUI the proceedings of mfx address assignment are similar to DHCP. Computer networks work by IP addresses, but DHCP uses the MAC address of the NIC to automatically assign the IP address.
Duplicate IP addresses generate problems, duplicate MAC addresses generate problems.
Regards
Tom
---
"In all of the gauges, we particularly emphasize a high level of quality, the best possible fidelity to the prototype, and absolute precision. You will see that in all of our products." (from Märklin New Items Brochure 2015, page 1) ROFLBTCUTS
UserPostedImage
Offline ocram63_uk  
#44 Posted : 25 January 2021 12:13:41(UTC)
ocram63_uk

United Kingdom   
Joined: 07/01/2015(UTC)
Posts: 704
Location: England, Suffolk
Anyway, I removed the decoder form the 39680 and placed it on the ESU's 53900 decoder tester. Obviously it would not let me read CVs even if I set the ECOS in DCC mode only.
So I re-enabled M4, Motorola and DCC and detection worked fine.
I managed to tweak the decoder via the 53900, using the graphical interface, and have reinstalled it in the loco.
The loco on the roller stand seems to be behaving better than it did when I tweaked it with the decoder in the loco on the programming track.
So who knows ? Maybe I got it to work how I wanted it to and don't have to sell the loco anymore ?
Offline Goofy  
#45 Posted : 30 January 2021 15:37:38(UTC)
Goofy


Joined: 12/08/2006(UTC)
Posts: 8,993
Originally Posted by: PeFu Go to Quoted Post
I’ve had some issues using the combo of CS2, TrainController and Mfx engines in the past. I have followed the recommendations given in the specific TrainController forum. Now, when I’m into a ”hard-core” testing period after finalising all tracks, I get the same error message as fellow member dickinsonj reported in an earlier topic, i.e. ”Mfx locomotive Lok-1 :The readout of the settings was not successful." Clicking on the message box, I also get a 2nd message box, you can se both messages in the pictures below.

Crying

As I also recently updated the CS2, and (so far) only have 4 Mfx engines, I deleted all engines from the CS and TrainController, rebooted everything, registrered the engines again, and everything worked fine. For a while...

Confused

The message boxes (as below) started to appear again. This had never caused any interruption for me in the past, but suddenly TrainController perceived that two Mxf engines had one and the same address. But TrainController started the wrong engine only!

Confused Confused

All my four Mfx engines have Märklin original decoders only, i.e. no ESU M4 decoders etc. Two of my Mfx engines also understands DCC, the other two - an RBe 4/4 Roter Pfeil (Märklin 37868) and a C 5/6 Elefant (Märklin 39250) only knows MM2. As I still can access light, motor sound, horn and smoke (C 5/6) functions using MM2, I have now decided to disable the Mfx protocol in the CS2, and only look for DCC enabled engines and decoders from now.

Finally, I must add that I’m overall happy with my system - The CS2 and the two boosters (Märklin 60175). But not the Mfx stuff!

BigGrin

B8B88445-E211-4EF2-BFBD-7D6B8C3DA097.jpeg

E4B2E4EF-5BBE-4964-8F07-7AC077A117A6.jpeg



I too do have problem with the CS3 but in this case it´s DCC and a Märklin loco by use only DCC protocol and in the system too.
It read decoder but when i start to drive Märklin loco it start strange behavior like lighting effect.
Märklin loco with the DCC works normal with another digital system.
So there is no fault with the decoder, but Märklin CS3 instead.
It is possible your CS2 do have some bug in the program.
Did you tried to upgrade to latest version for the CS2?
When i use mfx protocol enable in the system CS3 my Märklin loco works normal.

H0
DCC = Digital Command Control
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