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Offline SMC1957  
#1 Posted : 11 September 2025 15:37:00(UTC)
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SMC1957

Spain   
Joined: 04/09/2025(UTC)
Posts: 4
Location: Huelva
Hi all,

Quick question from someone planning a comeback into the hobby for retirement.

I have old locos ( 30 years) some Delta and some analogue. I am in the planning stages. I know I can connect my Mac to a CS2from a Starter set I will buy to build Martinstown via a Scnitte from CDB thanks to Martti’s help. For Rocrail playing around purposes.

My quick question is if I jump right in and buy the ESU CS, will I be able to connect the Mac and use it and therefore should not need the schnitzel?

Many thanks. Please understand I am 70 and not very tech savvy ( yet?)

Santiago
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Offline patnaik  
#2 Posted : 12 September 2025 00:24:32(UTC)
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patnaik

United States   
Joined: 22/08/2020(UTC)
Posts: 45
Location: Maryland, Silver Spring
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Offline patnaik  
#3 Posted : 12 September 2025 00:31:41(UTC)
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patnaik

United States   
Joined: 22/08/2020(UTC)
Posts: 45
Location: Maryland, Silver Spring
Sorry. Here is the link to Rocrail. <https://wiki.rocrail.net/doku.php?id=ecos-en>. The page is a bit confusing, though. I find Rocrail confusing in general compared to JMRI.

Gopal
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Offline SMC1957  
#4 Posted : 12 September 2025 07:47:39(UTC)
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SMC1957

Spain   
Joined: 04/09/2025(UTC)
Posts: 4
Location: Huelva
Originally Posted by: patnaik Go to Quoted Post
Sorry. Here is the link to Rocrail. <https://wiki.rocrail.net/doku.php?id=ecos-en>. The page is a bit confusing, though. I find Rocrail confusing in general compared to JMRI.

Gopal


Thank you Gopal, my understanding is that JMRI needs me to do a lot of tinkering. Maybe too much for someone my age coming back after 30 years and trying to undertsand all. the changes that have popped up in the meantime

Santiago
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Offline SMC1957  
#5 Posted : 12 September 2025 08:38:14(UTC)
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SMC1957

Spain   
Joined: 04/09/2025(UTC)
Posts: 4
Location: Huelva
Originally Posted by: SMC1957 Go to Quoted Post
Originally Posted by: patnaik Go to Quoted Post
Sorry. Here is the link to Rocrail. <https://wiki.rocrail.net/doku.php?id=ecos-en>. The page is a bit confusing, though. I find Rocrail confusing in general compared to JMRI.

Gopal


Thank you Gopal, my understanding is that JMRI needs me to do a lot of tinkering. Maybe too much for someone my age coming back after 30 years and trying to undertsand all. the changes that have popped up in the meantime

Santiago


Another quick question. If I decide to limit myself to Martii´s setup ( MS2 and CDB Schnitte Can connection), Can I control automatically a shadow station? The wuestion really is, can I add a K83 or similar to my layout WITHOUT investing in a Central Station ( CS2 or ECOS)?

Santiago
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Online JohnjeanB  
#6 Posted : 12 September 2025 11:09:46(UTC)
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JohnjeanB

France   
Joined: 04/02/2011(UTC)
Posts: 3,629
Location: Paris, France
Hi Santiago
Welcome to this great forum
The answer is yes. You may use CC Schnitte and the logic to drive the shadow station may be in Rocrail or its equivalent on a PC, IOS device, etc
Here is a Rocrail solution to connect sensors directly to the PC (w/o a CS)
https://wiki.rocrail.net/doku.php?id=cc-schnitte-en

Having said this, I use a CS3 to connect my layout to Rocrail. The reasons are:
- enough power to drive my entire layout (27 locos) with a 60101 power supply
- programming / setting parameters on my locos
- compatibility with all future Märklin developments

Cheers
Jean
My layout videos
latest vid
marshalling yard
My Layout
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Offline SMC1957  
#7 Posted : 12 September 2025 13:03:58(UTC)
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SMC1957

Spain   
Joined: 04/09/2025(UTC)
Posts: 4
Location: Huelva
Originally Posted by: JohnjeanB Go to Quoted Post
Hi Santiago
Welcome to this great forum
The answer is yes. You may use CC Schnitte and the logic to drive the shadow station may be in Rocrail or its equivalent on a PC, IOS device, etc
Here is a Rocrail solution to connect sensors directly to the PC (w/o a CS)
https://wiki.rocrail.net/doku.php?id=cc-schnitte-en

Having said this, I use a CS3 to connect my layout to Rocrail. The reasons are:
- enough power to drive my entire layout (27 locos) with a 60101 power supply
- programming / setting parameters on my locos
- compatibility with all future Märklin developments

Cheers
Jean


Many thanks Jean:

I have watched your layout before this question. Great stuff! and brotherly jealous...

I fully understand your approach. But I think maybe I will go via the CC Schnitte for the moment. Reasons are ( I would welcomes your further thoughts):
1.- Cost: at 145 Euros vs 650 euros for a CS3
2.- Locos: I have 6, in their boxes for over 30 years, and I have a lot of maintenance to do. Most are Delta decoders. Some never had a decoder. SO before I even start thinking about setting parameters, I have a long long way to go.
3.- COmpatibility going forward for sure is a consideration. But by the time I finish my modest layout ( based on Martinstown), maybe I will find that some new version is available.

Kind regards
Santiago
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Offline patnaik  
#8 Posted : 12 September 2025 16:05:43(UTC)
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patnaik

United States   
Joined: 22/08/2020(UTC)
Posts: 45
Location: Maryland, Silver Spring
I have experimented with the combination of MS2, homemade CC Schnitte, and Rocrail. It is definitely workable. My reason was exactly the same as yours: cost. My setup with used MS2, homemade wireless adapter, and Rocrail license (optional) was less than $100 USD. I do not have a CS3 or ECOS.

Added bonus is compatibility: the MS2 will work with the old Marklin decoders as well as newer MFX and DCC decoders.

You should be able to use the MS2 as a controller with a CS3 in the future.

Gopal
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