OK so I have “finished” my CS2 as described elsewhere and am looking at the variations of CS3. Now I know this subject has been dealt with before but there is almost too much to sift through.

My layout comprises 15 or so loks, 40 powered turnouts, signals and uncouplers and 10 circuit tracks and a single. S88 .We have a mixture of k83, M83 and M84 and a number of turnouts and signals with built in decoders . My CS2 came as part of an LGB start set so I occasionally run a G gauge shunting frame with four turnouts and uncouplers. It came with Power supply 51095 which I use throughput. I have an MS2. with power supply 66361 etc. Since my incident I have tried getting away with the MS2 but I think its too hard not so much on the loks but dashing backwards and forwards on the layout control.

So for the future I will probably substitute loks but not grow greatly, nor will the layout expand more (Some of you would pass out if you saw the closed in nature of the layout). I am definitely no into computer layout control expansion and have demonstrated recently how fudgy fingered I am getting so no great technical work

So this is my thoughts on a project list:

Purchase a CS 3 60226

Keep the Power supply (subject to testing )although some think its “power may not have helped when thing were going wrong. So I may buy 60042

Buy a link 88 60883 to be powered by my existing 66361

Buy the English version of the CS3 book due shortly.

Your thoughts and experience would be greatly appreciated

I bought a CS3 when I felt my CS2 was getting overwhelmed. I now have the CS2 hooked into the CS3 as an auxiliary controller. I am still sorting this out as the CS3 makes a mess of the layout diagrams on the CS2 when they sync. But overall I am happy with the CS3 which I bought because I already had the Link S88 and don't intend to hook up anything else. If you never intend tp add other controllers the CS3 is fine. The CS3+ offers better expansion options.

Buy a CS3!
I have 60226 and also digital accessories m83, m84 and Universal power supply unit 60822.
I can get a new link 88 60883 too but i decides to wait because this system is for to control automatic which i see waste when i want instead control over my locomotive by self.
I too will get the english version of the CS3 book second generation.
The digital system CS3 works nice but i believe Märklin are slow by upgrade the system.
If you feel to buy a CS3 just do it and i recommended you get the 60226.
60216 are more expensive and allows you to connect 60226 as slave too, but to use two units are waste of time and much more expensive when you have possible to connect computer or and use Märklin app via Iphone/Ipad too.

Hello David

yes, but is more expensive than a 60226 and l88 combo. The l88 can manage up to 99x s88 modules, 33 of them in the old desing version. The CS3+ can manage only 33 modules in the newest version. the ammount should worry only people who have really big layouts, but the fact to keep the old s88 modules is a winning argument for the cheaper combo.

rgds

Stephan

Thank you all for your replies.

I have made conclusions to the issue as follows:

I have ordered and received one 60883 Link S88 and one power supply 60042

I have joined up to MSL Premium which will give me 10% off a chosen purchase and I have made reservation on 60226 CS3 and am like a fart in a trance watching & waiting.

I have spent some time "organising" loks and accessories. The layout developed over the years with somewhat random allocation of turnout etc addresses and using a MS2 is chaotic