Hi everyone, I haven't logged in or posted for a long time but I've recently started giving my Märklin lots more attention again. In the course of this I've realised that I need to digitise one loco and replace a couple of decoders in others. I'm quite familiar with carrying out the work, programming, etc but could use some recommendations for a good basic all round multi protocol decoder that isn't too expensive. They will be replacing 60760 decoders from kits mainly and I need something basic (motor and front lights) and reliable that doesn't break the bank. I used to get lokpilot (v3 I think) and Uhlenbrock (not sure which model) but I haven't bought any for the best part of a decade now. I have an MS2 (old and un-updated) which I use mainly but have the option of using a Roco Z21/Multimaus outfit as well, also analogue use sometimes but I'm wary since this killed one 60760 the other day (I was using a white trafo). I'm probably going to buy a few old locos on ebay and keep for this analogue teppichbahning.
So...any recommendations would be most welcome...I'd rather not pure DCC decoders even if I might actually use that protocol, it's better to keep Märklin locos totally compatible I think. Preferably easily available in post brexit UK, I used to buy from Germany all the time but I'm not so sure it's worth it now.

It is still worth buying from Germany, but choose your dealer carefully. Not all dealers take the MWsT off when selling to the UK. You are likely to find that at the discounted price available from dealers in Europe your items are likely to work out cheaper than buying from a UK dealer, even after paying VAT and postage.

For decoders you have essentially two suppliers, ESU and Marklin. Some people also like Zimo but I haven't tried them.

For ESU, there are the Lokpilot 5 range for non-sound, and Loksound 5 if you want sound. To load sound into a Loksound decoder you will need a Lokprogrammer and software, but you can request a specific project to be loaded by your dealer when ordering the decoder.

For Marklin the current decoders are the mld/3 range for non-sound, and msd/3 range for sound decoders. To load a sound file you will need a Marklin 60971 programmer and software.

The non sound decoders from both companies are around 30-40 Euros, and the sound decoders around 100-130 Euros. If the decoders are more expensive than this they are probably for larger scales.

The software for both programmers is Windows specific, although people report success running the ESU software on Linux and Mac using virtual machines like Wine.

I would also recommend getting a 'decoder tester', which is a board that the decoder plugs into to load software (not needed for this purpose with the Marklin programmer) and test decoder functionality. Both ESU and Marklin offer one of these. The ESU one has a range of connectors that will handle pretty well every decoder connector interface on the market today. I am not sure what the Marklin one has beyond the 21MTC connector as I haven't investigated it as I have an ESU one.

The ESU decoders have a reasonably active support group (https://groups.io/g/Loksound) with some pretty knowledgeable people who are happy to assist, including, periodically, the North American ESU rep.

Personally I would recommend the ESU decoders, as being more open with their information, which makes them more flexible in my eyes. I believe the Marklin ones could be as flexible if they were as open with information.

If you use the 21MTC mounting for the decoders then either brand of decoder can be plugged into the loco. It also allows you to start off with a non-sound decoder, and later on if you wish to add sound it makes it an easy upgrade to change the decoder and add a speaker.

Thanks for all the info, I definitely don't want sound here...these are locos like DHG700, SNCF Y50 and an S Bahn 111. I have a few factory mfx sound locos that keep me happy in that respect and would buy new Märklin locos with sound if I wanted something new. This is just reliably keeping the wheels turning and headlights on basically.

So should I be looking at the latest lokpilot (v5) and maybe Uhlenbrock and Zimo alternatives?

I don't really want to pay more than £30 per decoder if possible, preferably closer to £20...obviously postage rates and things will vary but if I were to buy 3 or 4 at once it might be worth importing...I believe there's some sort of limit before import taxes...£135 possibly, I haven't kept up to date with the rules.

Yes, £135. Beware some dealers automatically remove taxes from your order e.g. MSL. From experience it's a bit trickier than it used to be but often times still cheaper than most UK dealers.
You can find a lot of details and experiences ordering from europe post brexit in this thread.

I'm having a little look on the MSL website now, the MLD3 looks pretty good but there are lots of options!

I used to mainly use either 8pin harnesses or hard wire decoders but the 21pin option seems a good idea.

I do have a spare Hornby TTS sound decoder for a BR Cl.43 knocking about, that would be a strange noise interesting coming from a little Märklin Y50. 🤭

I had expected that this 3047 BR44 ebay purchase would have to be digitised, but it arrived this morning and seems to have a decoder already, along with a smoke unit and telex!



I think it might be a lokpilot, I seem to recall they were insulated and had a little sticker on.

Moving on nearly two years since this thread, I've been playing trains pretty solidly and have some plans now to re-overhaul the DHG700 yet again (I eventually fitted abother spare 60760)...this time it's getting a 21pin Lokpilot 5 in the little harness/pcb they sell along with the ESU remote couplings they make.

Secondly I have a 3031 BR81 from ebay that will get the Märklin 21pin MLD3 (it has lost it's telex in a previous life though which I didn't realise from the ebay pics).

The weirdly misbehaving Uhlenbrock eventually went in the Roco 2L BR 212 that I robbed the factory decoder for the Märklin 111 from and seems ok.

Also the BR44 I mentioned above turned out to have an ESU Loksound fitted! Turned out to be a huge bargain that one!

I'll do a thread about my multipurpose layout soon which now has multiple sections (C tracks and M tracks plus one section/loop isolated so it can be wired for 3L AC or digital, and 2L DCC or digital).