Hello

I’m pretty much a novice when it comes to decoders and the setting of “CVs”.
I have not been able to find much documentations on changing settings within Marklin decoders. So whatever information or tips you may have to share would be helpful. Is there a good website or documentation for adjusting CVs and specifically for Marklin Locs?
(I have a selections of Locs with Delta decoders, the early digital ones with adjustable dials on the decoder board, digital decoders with adjustable “CVs”, mfx decoders and some M4 decoders.)

If what I understand is correct, the Marklin motrola decoders don’t have true CVs but what they call “registers or parameters”, and you do not use the normal DCC ways to set the “registers/CVs”.

From reading the ECoS manual I found two interesting points;

1 There seems to be a difference between the Marklin Motrola decoders and the Marklin M4 and mfx decoders.
The M4 and mfx decoders need to be programed via “graphic method”.
18.2 and 18.5 and 18.8 and 18.8.4


2 While using the “graphic method”, Locs with an M4 or mfx decoder need to be on the main track via POM and not on the programing track. This has the benefit of being able to see/hear your changes as one adjusts them, i.e., “live”




Once the ECoS controller “reads” a new M4 or mfx Loco, it also reads its profile and saves this info in the ECoS controller. Then if I want to change any “registers/CVs” of that Loc I should place it on the main track and only change these via the “graphic method”. But in the manual of the Loc it includes the CV Parameters for the “CVs” that can be changed.

This is from the Marklin 37105 manual, page 24.



I have not been able to find a list of what all these Motor, Drive and sound settings adjust.





Yes some are obvious but others are not, i.e., what are the regulation parameters for under the motor settings? It would also be helpful to understand how to best set these settings, for example Sound Modus 1 and Sound Modus 2 seem to adjust the “chugging” sound of the steam engine as it speeds up, how should I adjust them to get a result that I am looking for? Forward trim and Reverse Trim, I believe they slow down or increase the overall speed setting, what is the best way to use them, It makes sense to use the Reverse Trim to have the general speed slower while going backwards, but why the forward trim? It would be good to understand what all these setting are for and how to adjust them.


Lastly, if a Marklin M4/or mfx Loc runs and all the function work and some of the parameters can be adjusted but others not is the decoder broken?
My 37105 runs and the sounds work, but it runs real slow and I can't seem to increase it's speed but I can adjust the sound volume.
Any suggestions on how to increase the speed again?

Thanks,
Kai

Hi Peder

Here is the part of the manual where I read that it must be do via POM.


It states that it is automatically preset and can not be changed.

I'll need to re read the chapter.
You seem to have some experience with programming Marklin Locs, can you tell me what the "Regulation Parameters" are that I posted at the beginning of this post?
Is there a list? Or any how to tips?

Thanks,

Kai

Thanks NZrailfan for the comments.
Yes, I have only found a few basic settings to adjust on the M4 decoders. At this time that seems to be enough for me, the speed settings, volume and adjusting a few individual sounds. I don't think that I'll be purchasing a CS3 just to get more programming capabilities of the decoders.


I'm still trying to figure out the "motor settings", how they influence the drive characteristics, would you have any input on this?

This is the screen for the function mapping.

There is a row for each function key. The "+" buttons in the headline allow to select the intensity of the outputs (e.g. the brightness of lamps).