Hello everyone!

Hi,

This is my first ever post here, since I m new to this forum and brand new to this hobby too.

I recently bought the digital starter set 29074. I have to say that my first contact with Marklin was very disappointing.

I followed exactly the manual instructions included in the set for setting up the steam loco, but nothing seemed to work right.

First of all, the controller cannot recognize automatically the loco. It keeps saying no mfx loco found. Only thing that can be found is a dcc-0 loco, as the controller names it, with an era V-VI symbol, that runs only in full speed and does not go reverse.

The only way to be able to control the loco is to disable all protocols except mm2, and register the loco manually, from the database with product number 29161 (it's a br74). Even doing this, sometimes you have to manually push the loco to start moving. Additionally, when you set the speed too slow and the loco stops, you need to push it again with your finger to start moving again, even if you set the speed higher.

I bought another loco 36614, and I have almost the same behavior. The controller cannot find automatically the loco with mfx. It works fine only if you choose manually the loco from the database of the mobile station 2 (6057 black version). This time, fortunately, it is no necessary to choose only mm2 as a protocol, it works with the default option enabled in mobile station, that is all protocols enabled. It also doesn't have movement and pushing problems like the previous steam loco described above.

The strange thing is, that almost nothing of the above happens, if you try to control the locos with central station the store I made the purchase has. The steam loco br 74, registers automatically with mfx, but still you have to enter its address manually or it won't move. Even sometimes it needs a bit of pushing forward by finger, before it starts to move. I sent the steam loco back to my dealer for testing already, but isn't that strange? Anyone came up with same situation before?

What is wrong ? Bad loco? Bad ms2? Bad control box?

As far as I can tell, my mobile station 2 uses the latest software v2.5.

It's a pitty for a starter, to get a starter set and have all these problems. Not working as it should discourages newbies like me to go on with the hobby.

Any thoughts or suggestions are welcomed.

The CS2 has 3A power supply, the MS2 only 1,9A.

If I may, it would be better to use plain English for everyone's sake.

If I may, it would be better to use plain English for everyone's sake.

Having to look up a list of abbreviations when reading posts does not seem very efficient.

Thank you.

Silvano

P.S. A new starter set should have CLEAN tracks. How do they become dirty in the box?????

How is it that brand new tracks are dirty (or oxidized, if you like)?

I mean they are in a CLOSED box, never used, so should they not remain nice and clean and ready for play?

How is it that brand new tracks are dirty (or oxidized, if you like)?

I mean they are in a CLOSED box, never used, so should they not remain nice and clean and ready for play?

chemical gasolin

Gasoline?

Any solvent will do the job.
Of course one must be careful that the solvent does not attack the plastic roadbed

Maybe you guys could use a little car polish sparingly on the rails. That would clean and polish them also leaving behind a light polish film whim may reduce oxidation. There is no substitute for using your set every day of course. i live in an area similar to Gibraltar so I have the same problem as ray [ including those bloody roof problems. I think I will have to start polishing all my metal rolling stock.
[ bloody big SIGH ]

When I first moved to Kerikeri I thoroughly cleaned all my rails and [ yes here it comes. a bad idea so one should do this ] wiped a minimal smear of oil on the rails. [ I basically barely dampened my finger with the oil and wiped it along the rails ] I have had no real problems but i do have to run my fingernail along the rails every now and again to remove the buildup of black stuff. [ no tunnels ]

I didn't touch my set up for nearly ten years while I spent the time with my Norton Commandos, became involved with bands again, and became an orphan.

I agree also with those who said to take the whole set back to the dealer and get them to make it run properly. You would not buy a new car, and accept having to push it to get it going would you.????

Dereck

Hi Luis,

Here we have the dreaded "Levante" or Easterly wind which brings very hot and humid conditions. It can probably get hotter in Jerez, but the air will be drier.

I agree that Digital is more sensitive to dirty tracks than analogue. There are probably several reasons for this, but one thing I know for sure is that in digital operation I run my trains more slowly than in analogue, making it more likely that they will stall on a dirty patch.

in digital operation I run my trains more slowly than in analogue, making it more likely that they will stall on a dirty patch.

I got confused. Isn't that suppose to work the opposite way?

Just like the vinyl paneling in cars is made from hydrocarbons, and exudes fumes that deposit on the inside of the windscreen creating a film that you have to periodically clean off, or else you have problems looking through the windscreen when driving into the sun, you need to initially clean the tracks of the film that comes off the polystyrene.

[This sounds VERY interesting. I have always had this problem but could never figure out why!!! Thank you.]



"Now IIRC (see list of definitions already pointed to)

Are you serious? You really expect readers to have a dictionary handy to read posts?

Having to look up a list of abbreviations when reading posts does not seem very efficient.

With that, I will end my contribution to this sub-issue, which in fact has nothing to do with the actual topic: "Digital starter set problems!"