Hello
Looking to buy a CS 60212. Wanted to know if it is a good choice for running any Marklin digital engine with factory decoder or any analog engine upgraded wit a marklin decoder. Are there any limitations to run mfx engines? Just looking for basic digital control of the engines I have. Don't need to control anything else then engines or set up routes. Sound is not a priority as well. Can the engine address be changed on a programming track? Sorry if these questions where asked before. Any comments are welcomed. Thanks.

Robert

Edited by user 10 March 2019 22:25:05(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Hi!
Take care which version it has.
If it has software version 1.x then it did not yet get the hardware upgrade from Märklin.
If it has software 2.x then you can upgrade to 2.0.4, the latest version from Märklin.
If it has software 3.x or 4.x then you can always upgrade to the latest version from ESU.

With version 3.x or 4.x it is an ESU ECoS 50000 with a Märklin logo - IMHO a very capable controller. You also get DCC and SX with that version and 4 A booster output.
With version 2.x it is OK, but limited to mfx and MM protocols with only 16 functions per mfx loco and only 9 functions per MM loco entry.
IMHO you should avoid buying one with version 1.x.

The 60212 is the only Märklin controller that supports 28 speed steps for the MM protocol.

Why did you do that test ??

You must have plenty of links to Märklin pages telling you that it will not work.

Per.

Maybe the software of the 2 different CS1s have a different origin ;)

Thank you HO. Didn’t know about the different versions. Very helpful.

Robert

Well, most of post 4 is misleading / wrong, so using that to make a decision would not be a good idea.

Post 3 has all the relevant information.

Per.

I would sooner have an MS2 than a CS1 (60212). The screen implementation of the Cs1 is not very god at all, and I was very disappointed in it when it was first introduced.

The ms2 will allow you to do everything a cs1 will, unless you end up with a very large layout. But if you have alarge layout then a cs1 will not help either as its output is not very high, and the booster implementation was flawed. I don't know if ESU fixed that when they produced the software version 3 and up, but you will only be able to use ESU boosters, if they do work. If you are running that many trains that a cs1 or ms2 cannot handle the load then you are into cs2/3 territory anyway, probably with boosters.

The track box that comes with the ms2 will allow you to use 1 or 2 ms2's plugged straight into it, and by using a CANBus expander you can have more than 2 (I believe up to 10?) ms2s.

You can get a brand new ms2 setup (including track box and 36VA power supply as provided in start sets) for a similar price to just a cs1 (which will still need a power supply, although you could use an old Marklin transformer for this).

Well you told this already once. Because of your statement, I was encouraged to test it at my last MIST. A member has a CS1. He already told me before, it would not function, nevertheless I tried and it failed. I do not know why.

In post #3 you describe detailed the problem of a CS1. Too many possibilities for a controller. And the CS1 at my MIST I do not know its standard. Sorry I only would take it as a gift, even it was about 15 to 20 years ago state of the art. But today it is totally superseded. I think it really can be compared to the development for a software like Windows. Who is still using Windows XP today? Even no longer supported by Microsoft, certainly there are a few people using XP. XP was a good OS.

I guess (but I never did a serious research about it) an influence has the try of Märklin to reorganize the current supply of its MRR. I only know the Märklin-Booster 60173 did require a separation of the ground rail between the booster circuits. The 60174 does it not. There must be an effect to the CS1 as well. It is to far away from me. I think you are much better informed about this desaster by Märklin.

Even two MS1s or a MS1 and a CS1 are communicating on a CAN bus.

It works fine, even without galvanic isolation

Per.

When it comes to programming mfx decoders a lot can be done with a CS1 that can't be done with an MS2.
MS2 cannot even do basic things like dimming the lights, changing the speed curve, changing the function mapping, ...

The screen of the CS1 is its weakness - but it still has more pixels than the screen of an MS2.

What transformer do I need/ can be used with the CS1? Can I connect it directly to the track or do I need a special connector? I’m going to use mainly M track. Thanks.