1 - not 100% sure but I don't think so
2 - yes ! 126 effective steps plus stop and emergency halt
2.1 yes
2.2 yes !
2.3 IB can control functions up to F8 and some newer decoders can have higher functions controlled at the next address
3. http://www.uhlenbrock.de...91C145D-002.apd/P50X.zip
(but note they are moving away from P50X and now concentrating on Loconet)
4. No this is all capable by old IB

Just adding. The old IB has 3 available protocols for computer communication:
1. Serial just like 6050/6051, but with higher speed available. Called P50.
2. Extenstion that protocol; working more or less the same, but available absolute direction, all speed steps etc, plus lots of readings of state etc. Called P50x
3. The LocoNet protocol more or less, but the IB manages timing issues etc. That is, the PC acts as a LocoNet device, can listen to any message and send different kinds as well.

The latter seems the one to be supported in new IBs, and the PC interface for LocoNet, those that have USB.

Modern decoders have much more internal speed steps than 14, so I see little need for more. But if you do, use DCC protocol. It's absolutely no problem to mix the protocols.

If you go for the IB, don't forget to investigaste other LocoNet things; there are several handy things available.

/Lars

I don't have any mfx decoders myself but i am sure I have seen them used with the IB, for example the sounds etc of the catenary maintenance car

Marklin 6090X understand MM27.

Mfx decoders decoders understand also mm27.

But is update 2.0 after almost four year arrived?

Hi Fred,

Can I ask why you are specifically considering an Intellibox? There are plenty of more up-to-date, better alternatives available when you don't have/need loconet.

I have made the same switch as you want to do, going from a 6021 + 6051 to an intellibox. The intellibox was borrowed from a collegue from work for half a year.

It was a good upgrade from the 6051 when used with computer control. It is not the speedsteps (they remained the same for my motorola only decoders) but the absolute direction control that made all the difference. No longer trains that started moving in the wrong direction when under PC control.

But for manual control the IB is not better than a 6021. Especially manual control of switches and signals is not easy, when you have a certain number of them, and no keyboards. You have to memorize the addresses of everything.

For me ecos with its GUI and icons was a major upgrade compared to an intellibox, and hardly more expensive. Loco lists, function icons, graphical programming, ... People with CS, CS2 or Commander will probably agree and say the same thing. I have used my 6021+6051 connected to the ecos sniffer for a while untill the ecos specific computer control protocol was released.

Bert

Hi,
Thanks all for your detailed answers. It's now clear for me.

Tom,
your remark concerning intermediate step is quite interesting for me. I'm going to modify my program to send to the 6051 : Speed N+1, immediately followed by Speed N to get Speed N+0.5, and check if smoothness increases.

Bert,
I thought buying Intellibox for, having read this forum for years, it seems that members using intellibox are quite satisfied.
On the other hand, many problems were related concerning CS1. Of course, that does not mean that ECO is not reliable, but...
Furthermore, I'm using PC control and don't need a large screen or programming possibilities for my controler. Just the possibility to use its knobs for manual control from time to time....

Thanks again

Fred