Hi all, just purchased a 6021 controller and 6002- 52VA transformer cheap. Just wondering, as I have also a mobile station, can these be interconnected and used simultaneously? Many thanks.

The 63810 Mobile Station adapter will provide attachment to a Loconet bus.
One 63810 is needed for each Mobile Station (requires power, uses the same power brick that cam with the MS)
Many 63810 can be used on the same loconet provided they are configured with a unique address

In order to utilise a 6021, it must also be connected to the loconet.
Uhlenbrock offer their 63820 "6021-Infrared and LocoNet adapter"

Summary -
Minimim requirement:
1 x 63810 (for 1 MS) PLUS 1 x 63820
Options:
UHL 64820 is a package of 63810 + and IRIS (Infrared remote)

Considerations:
The above will work "out of the box", however to utilise more than one MS , multiple 63810s are required and the address CV must be configured to be unique.
In order to do this, having a friend with an Intellibox will help.
Likewise , The 63810 has a feature where any loco address can be seconded to switch accessories (using the left function buttons) to set this up you need to program the CVs

Limitation.
The MS is not able to "listen" to what goes on on the loconet and will not show/display the speed of a loco that has been set by another throttle

Added Value,
Once you have established the loconet infrastructure , a large number of other useful options open up to you.
- LISSY
- TrackControl devices
- PC monitoring of 6021 Loco and accessory activity (something that cannot be done with the 605x)
- .....

Thanks for the comments and suggestions. You don't think there is a cheaper way of doing it?

Probably Lutz's suggestion would be way more expensive than the first one. As to whether you should sell the MS, that is dependant on what you are trying to achieve.

The other option is to wait for the release of the MS2, whenever that is, as you can control solenoid devices with it.

I'd stick with the 6021, maybe add a 6040 keyboard for controlling solenoids. I have seen far less hassle caused by the old digital controllers than people have with the new CS/MS units, and they're cheaper too.

My MS died for no apparent reason after about 18 months. One minute it worked, turned the power back on about an hour later and nothing. I replaced it with a 6022 and 6035, given that most of my locos only have headlights the lack of functions and using Motorola I is not a problem. If I see a 6036 for sensible money I'll gain the ability to use my 49960 Messwagen fully (that didn't work with the MS anyway).

Yeah, I found it abit awkward to use in the sense of not a 100% peace of mind with it at any one time while the trains where running. I find the 6021 alot better and more controlled.

Same with one of mine, although it was 6 months between sessions. I think the booster section has died, as I can still use it as a slave controller with the CS1.

My question was whether or not I could use the MS in conjuction with the 6021 controller, so I could decide if I should sell or keep the MS. As you have to buy another connector (40 Euro approx ) part and there is not a cheaper option. I am trying to achieve a better, less painful way of controlling my layout which I found with the MS. I now find the 6021 much, much better- so I have achieved an outcome of selling the MS!!!

Or, as another option to what Matt suggests (if you are looking to save cash), is to get a 6051 PC interface, connect that to your PC's serial interface (hopefully it has one), and use some of the free software packages to do the things Matt talks about - keyboard and additional throttles (which you can do). In addition, you can set up S88 decoders for track contact detection, set up routes, and even have the computer control your layout. Most of the throttles in these packages also give you access to at least 8 functions.

Free packages include LocComander (the developer - fvri - is a member of this forum), Rocrail and ControlGUI.

I've never seen the need for a big colour screen in a controller to be honest. The 6021-era units tell you what loco you've selected and what functions you have switched on, which is all you really need. If anything they're easier to use as you don't have as many menus to navigate, plus there's none of this business about registering non-mfx locos with the controller, you simply dial in the address and drive away.

The main problem with the 6021, as Clapcott will tell you, is that the output transistors can fail. As they are fairly common Darlingtons, replacements are easy to come by.

The main reason why I brought a CS1 to replace my 6021, was because it had everything built into one box (well it did eventually) - controller, keyboard, interface, memory. I didn't have to go out and spend mega $$$$ for all those other items. Of course now with them being obsolete, they will be able to obtained off ebay fairly cheaply.

Yes you will need the required number of K83 (also known as 6083 or 60830 in the marklin catalogs). There are also many other manufacturers that sell them complete or as kits for you to assemble for less cost.