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garben		#1 Posted : 23 April 2023 01:01:16(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 23/01/2013(UTC) Posts: 161 Location: New York		To the iTrain users out there.. I'm currently in the trial period of the software and I am enjoying learning about it. My main question is, before I invest any more time or money, what is the real benefit of the software of just using the CS3 for routes and automation? Looking forward to your opinions. Thanks
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PerR		#2 Posted : 23 April 2023 10:33:56(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 19/05/2014(UTC) Posts: 64 Location: Sjælland, Kirke-Hyllinge		Originally Posted by: garben To the iTrain users out there.. I'm currently in the trial period of the software and I am enjoying learning about it. My main question is, before I invest any more time or money, what is the real benefit of the software of just using the CS3 for routes and automation? Looking forward to your opinions. Thanks One of the benefits of iTrain (or WinDigiPet or Traincontroller), is that the computer can calculate the position of the train, based on time and speed curve of the train (locomotive). In that way, the computer can send commands to a train to stop it before a semaphore, without the need of a braking module. I am also using a CS3, and the CS3 can do a lot of good things, but if you have a bigger layout, then it is better to add a computer program like iTrain to get more advanceret automation. I have a 20 m2 layout at home running CS3 and iTrain and in the modeltrain club, we have a 80 m2 layout also running CS3 and iTrain. I have been watching a lot of very useful YouTube videos about iTrain made by Bob Fuller, and I will recommend these. See the following link: https://www.youtube.com/...7TA5_HYGhu_XOAEMZ5DJhbVX Best regards Per

3 users liked this useful post by PerR		roberts, 1borna, Bigdaddynz
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JohnjeanB		#3 Posted : 23 April 2023 12:28:15(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 04/02/2011(UTC) Posts: 3,563 Location: Paris, France		Hi @Norbert and @Per: iTrain is probably a good system. Sorry to be like a fly in the ointment BUT there is Rocrail to be considered. Rocrail does all that ITrain and other do and probably more - it does not cost much as iTrain 119€ (Lite) or 349€ (Full) but you can test it without restrictions (Price) nor time limit and support the team when you like and the amount you like (e.g. 12€ per year). I shouldn't be saying this but if you don't contribute, there are no consequences. - there is nothing to pay for next release - its developpers (Rob Versluis & team) are so reactive that a new version is released daily. No, you don't have to re-install that often but only when you want to report a problem to the forum. I am just a normal user of Rocrail like many and here is a flavor of you you can do (you probably can do even better) My layout drives 26 locos present more than 70 turnouts/DSSs one turntable, one Faller Car System layout. It uses one CS3 with one 5A power supply (60101). Before, it was using a CS2 60215 from Märklin. Here is the Faller Car System operation It has 11 switches, 4 vehicles, 11 stops, 4 parking stops. It manages "normal" vehicles and includes a ROLA system (boarding trucks on the train Rola system Rocrail is really one of the best train management systems and is very inexpensive. Great forum in English, German, Dutch, Italian, French Accomodates more than 20 different central stations Speaks more than 20 different languages Provides an interactive support: stuck on a function? Just press the HELP key and the corresponding support page in your language will be display (must be on-line). Can have either the server and the viewer on same machine or different ones with possibly multiple viewers Can have multiple central stations (I have two, one for trains and one for the turntable. Here is my Rocrail Interface You could do it with multiple pages, different colours, etc Sorry for the fly in the ointment (I am not in any way connected to Rocrail but a simple enthusiast) Jean
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amartinezv		#4 Posted : 24 April 2023 04:33:07(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 25/08/2004(UTC) Posts: 332 Location: Madrid,		Hello everyone, the use of a software to control the trains gives you an unimaginable amount of possibilities, I use the Train Controller, which works perfectly, and you can do what you can imagine even in different ways, I pass one of the last videos I've done on my layout. best regards
		Antonio Martínez marklin, IB, era 3, Train controller www.raildigital.es/davidruso
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garben		#5 Posted : 24 April 2023 19:37:45(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 23/01/2013(UTC) Posts: 161 Location: New York		Originally Posted by: PerR Originally Posted by: garben To the iTrain users out there.. I'm currently in the trial period of the software and I am enjoying learning about it. My main question is, before I invest any more time or money, what is the real benefit of the software of just using the CS3 for routes and automation? Looking forward to your opinions. Thanks One of the benefits of iTrain (or WinDigiPet or Traincontroller), is that the computer can calculate the position of the train, based on time and speed curve of the train (locomotive). In that way, the computer can send commands to a train to stop it before a semaphore, without the need of a braking module. I am also using a CS3, and the CS3 can do a lot of good things, but if you have a bigger layout, then it is better to add a computer program like iTrain to get more advanceret automation. I have a 20 m2 layout at home running CS3 and iTrain and in the modeltrain club, we have a 80 m2 layout also running CS3 and iTrain. I have been watching a lot of very useful YouTube videos about iTrain made by Bob Fuller, and I will recommend these. See the following link: https://www.youtube.com/...7TA5_HYGhu_XOAEMZ5DJhbVX Best regards Per \ Thanks for the info Per. I've watched a few of Mr. Fullers videos and I'm sure they will be very helpul. Amazing of how many there are!
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garben		#6 Posted : 24 April 2023 19:42:31(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 23/01/2013(UTC) Posts: 161 Location: New York		Originally Posted by: JohnjeanB Hi @Norbert and @Per: iTrain is probably a good system. Sorry to be like a fly in the ointment BUT there is Rocrail to be considered. Rocrail does all that ITrain and other do and probably more - it does not cost much as iTrain 119€ (Lite) or 349€ (Full) but you can test it without restrictions (Price) nor time limit and support the team when you like and the amount you like (e.g. 12€ per year). I shouldn't be saying this but if you don't contribute, there are no consequences. - there is nothing to pay for next release - its developpers (Rob Versluis & team) are so reactive that a new version is released daily. No, you don't have to re-install that often but only when you want to report a problem to the forum. I am just a normal user of Rocrail like many and here is a flavor of you you can do (you probably can do even better) My layout drives 26 locos present more than 70 turnouts/DSSs one turntable, one Faller Car System layout. It uses one CS3 with one 5A power supply (60101). Before, it was using a CS2 60215 from Märklin. Here is the Faller Car System operation It has 11 switches, 4 vehicles, 11 stops, 4 parking stops. It manages "normal" vehicles and includes a ROLA system (boarding trucks on the train Rola system Rocrail is really one of the best train management systems and is very inexpensive. Great forum in English, German, Dutch, Italian, French Accomodates more than 20 different central stations Speaks more than 20 different languages Provides an interactive support: stuck on a function? Just press the HELP key and the corresponding support page in your language will be display (must be on-line). Can have either the server and the viewer on same machine or different ones with possibly multiple viewers Can have multiple central stations (I have two, one for trains and one for the turntable. Here is my Rocrail Interface You could do it with multiple pages, different colours, etc Sorry for the fly in the ointment (I am not in any way connected to Rocrail but a simple enthusiast) Jean Very impressive and love the videos. I will certainly give Rocrail a look in addition to iTrain, I now can see how software can offer much more that the CS3 alone. Thank you for your input!
		Marklin HO, CS3+, Train Controller 10 Gold, Any era. Like Swiss Locomotives.
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garben		#7 Posted : 24 April 2023 19:46:51(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 23/01/2013(UTC) Posts: 161 Location: New York		Originally Posted by: amartinezv Hello everyone, the use of a software to control the trains gives you an unimaginable amount of possibilities, I use the Train Controller, which works perfectly, and you can do what you can imagine even in different ways, I pass one of the last videos I've done on my layout. best regards Very cool Antonio and thanks for sharing. I'll add Train Controller to my list of software to evaluate. When it come down to it, it will be the one that I find most user friendly as I'm not very technical oriented. Thanks again!
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garben		#8 Posted : 24 April 2023 20:50:35(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 23/01/2013(UTC) Posts: 161 Location: New York		Originally Posted by: amartinezv Hello everyone, the use of a software to control the trains gives you an unimaginable amount of possibilities, I use the Train Controller, which works perfectly, and you can do what you can imagine even in different ways, I pass one of the last videos I've done on my layout. best regards Antonio, do you know if Train Controller records the running time of locomotives and has an area where you can have a maintenance schedule? Norbert
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amartinezv		#9 Posted : 25 April 2023 10:52:06(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 25/08/2004(UTC) Posts: 332 Location: Madrid,		Originally Posted by: garben Originally Posted by: amartinezv Hello everyone, the use of a software to control the trains gives you an unimaginable amount of possibilities, I use the Train Controller, which works perfectly, and you can do what you can imagine even in different ways, I pass one of the last videos I've done on my layout. best regards Antonio, do you know if Train Controller records the running time of locomotives and has an area where you can have a maintenance schedule? Norbert Hello, good morning, Yes, the Train Controller records the hours of operation of each locomotive, and you can set the maintenance periods for each locomotive, when it reaches the specified number of hours, a message appears. It is very useful. Best regards
		Antonio Martínez marklin, IB, era 3, Train controller www.raildigital.es/davidruso
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garben		#10 Posted : 25 April 2023 16:36:57(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 23/01/2013(UTC) Posts: 161 Location: New York		Hello, good morning, Yes, the Train Controller records the hours of operation of each locomotive, and you can set the maintenance periods for each locomotive, when it reaches the specified number of hours, a message appears. It is very useful. Best regards Great! What version do you have, Bronze, Silver or Gold? And would you know if all the levels include the ability to record hours of operation and set maintenance?
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amartinezv		#11 Posted : 26 April 2023 10:19:56(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 25/08/2004(UTC) Posts: 332 Location: Madrid,		Originally Posted by: garben Great! What version do you have, Bronze, Silver or Gold? And would you know if all the levels include the ability to record hours of operation and set maintenance? I have the version 7 Gold, is enough for me, I believe this feature is included in all versions, i.e. Bronze and Silver. If I am not mistaken it was already available in version 5 as well. It is part of the Train Controller core. Best regards
		Antonio Martínez marklin, IB, era 3, Train controller www.raildigital.es/davidruso
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BenP		#12 Posted : 26 April 2023 16:06:50(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 04/02/2021(UTC) Posts: 480 Location: USA		Early last year I transferred from CS3 to PC control, which gives more management flexibility and a vastly better interface. The CS3 box became the (pricey) communication hub between track and PC, and I decided to use Rocrail software. Picking software is not obvious, but most seem to do what you want from PC control. Trial periods sound good, but getting going takes too much effort, so select any one that is Marklin ready. I find Rocrail community support quite amazing (and I pay the modest yearly fee). Members solved some vexing issues that challenge newbies and more experienced alike. The Rocrail interface could do with an overhaul, especially the annoying behavior that minor control windows block access to the main control window until they are closed. Also, I find alternative (phone, tablet) access works great with PC software, using VNC. Disappointingly, my CS3 failed after 18months (weird internal short), but i found that i get everything to work with my old intellibox and PC USB cable connect. The PC does the heavy lifting of layout control. I added two old Delta controllers as layout boosters that control 16 k83 and k84s (intellibox for track only); no power challenges when running. I will have the CS3 repaired (in Germany!) if not too pricey, but may otherwise wait for a new Marklin model (CS4, no word on that). Ben
		Digital M track layout with vintage rolling stock and accessories controlled by CS3+Rocrail; small Z scale layout. https://youtube.com/play...0kgVYbh0CeDTF-bYXoD_2-V9


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JohnjeanB		#13 Posted : 26 April 2023 18:04:24(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 04/02/2011(UTC) Posts: 3,563 Location: Paris, France		Originally Posted by: BenP Disappointingly, my CS3 failed after 18months ( Hi Ben Haven't the Märklin CS3 a 2 years warranty? see here the Märklin webpage on warranty (only in German though) https://www.maerklin.de/de/servi...tionen/maerklin-garantie Here is the translation of one paragraph This manufacturer's guarantee is valid for a period of 24 months from the date on which the product was purchased from an official Märklin dealer, at most 60 months from the deletion of the item from the catalog range; for MHI products, the period is 60 months from the date of purchase from the official Märklin specialist dealer, no longer than 72 months after deletion from the catalog range. Either the fully completed guarantee certificate or the receipt is suitable as proof. Receipts from any other commercial or private reseller are not suitable for this. You can check whether the dealer of your choice is actually an official specialist dealer in the dealer search on our websites for Märklin, Trix and LGB. You can find these addresses for other countries at www.maerklin.com. Märklin repaired free of charge an Insider loco that was approx 4 years. Cheers Jean
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BenP		#14 Posted : 26 April 2023 18:58:55(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 04/02/2021(UTC) Posts: 480 Location: USA		Originally Posted by: JohnjeanB Originally Posted by: BenP Disappointingly, my CS3 failed after 18months ( Hi Ben Haven't the Märklin CS3 a 2 years warranty? see here the Märklin webpage on warranty (only in German though) https://www.maerklin.de/de/servi...tionen/maerklin-garantie Märklin repaired free of charge an Insider loco that was approx 4 years. Cheers Jean Bonjour Jean- Will mail cs3 this week, and then pray for working return (in a few months). Ben
		Digital M track layout with vintage rolling stock and accessories controlled by CS3+Rocrail; small Z scale layout. https://youtube.com/play...0kgVYbh0CeDTF-bYXoD_2-V9


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