Hi all,

I have a Marklin 76493 In signal that has Hp0, Hp1, and Hp2 aspects. I am having a devil of a time, however, understanding how to enable Hp2 when using my PC-based automation program (iTrain). This is also a problem using a Marklin Hobby warning signal with 4 aspects. I have been dealing with a very nice individual on the iTrain users forum who is trying to help me out, however we seem to have some language issues and I suspect I am not understanding something fundamental. I hope someone here can clear up my confusion. BTW, although I'm using iTrain, I suspect the issues I'm having would apply to the other apps out there.

First, I programmed the signal using the programming track on my CS3 and MFX. I did not touch the dip switches at all, thus MFX was enabled. I told the CS3 to search for MFX items and it found the 76493 and assigned it address 18. Using my CS3, everything works great. From my iTrain app, I can control Hp0 and Hp1 very nicely using address 18. Not so with Hp1.

This is where I think I'm missing something fundamental about the newer Marklin signals. From this thread below, I believe that two addresses are required, with the second address controlling Hp2.


https://www.marklin-users.net/forum/posts/t39187-764xx-and-763xx-signals

From one of clapcott's posts in the thread:


So, if I understand correctly, if MFX assigns address 18 to my signal, I should be able to control Hp2 on my 76493 (that is set to address 18) by using address 19, no? This is the way it should work?

The problem with the Hobby signal (74380) is I believe more complicated. It is connected to an M84 decoder that is capable of controlling 4 Hobby signals according to the docs. The M84 is MFX capable and the CS3 assigns it an initial address, so if the initial address is 5, then the addresses are 5, 6, 7, and 8. The 74380 connects to one port on the M84 and uses one address only - let's say it's address 5. Again, from the CS3, it works just fine. And, from my iTrain app, I am able to control Vr0, Vr1 using address 5, but not Vr2 and Vr3. If I use the same reasoning for the 7649x signal, I must use a separate address such as 6. But I can't see how to do this given that the 74380 connects to only one port on the M84.

I am a bit lost with this. Can anyone clear up my confusion?

Thank you, John

Hi Tom -

Thanks for the reply. You are right, this is what the product page says, but the 74380 has 4 aspects: Hp0 is all yellow, Hp1 is all green, Hp2 is green/yellow, and Hp4 is dark - lights off. On the CS3's console, it is possible to cycle through all aspects. How this works with one address assigned, I do not know. This is where I am confused.

I should address this question, for anyone wondering: why in the heck am I using Marklin signals on my layout when iTrain is controlling everything? The signals on my layout are indeed cosmetic, but as much as possible I would like the lights on the signals to change color as they should, depending on where a train is and so forth. I'm using the Hobby signals because they are cheap and because I already have two M84 units. I do have one other more expensive signal, the 76493, which has its own decoder. I've considered using Viessmann signals but at this point I'm already too invested in the Hobby/M84 approach.

Cheers, John

Umm - the 74380 is a distance signal mast - Vr vs Hp.

I am curious about the Vr2 display - is this one green and one yellow lamp , or all four lamps on at once (not a true Vr2).

To me it sounds like you have your m84 set to a 8 port mode of operation or individual port mode with toggle
This would allow both Red and Green outputs (of a m84 "port pair") to be on at the same time - or off at the same time

However! my 74380 (4yrs+ old) does not behave this way - when both Red and Green are on on the m84, ALL signal lights are off.
If your item is a newer variant (maybe in line with the 2017 re-release of the profi signals), maybe this is an undocumented feature

Edited by user 08 November 2018 00:15:13(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified