Hi,
I am planning to build a digital HO system and feel somewhat insecure with the compatibility of various components. Right now I consider to add a Marklin 6050 Interface to my collection but am not sure whether it is compatible with Microsoft Windows XP. Could someone please answer this for me?
Thank you very much in advance.
Franz

Hi Franz, welcome to the forum. I had a 6051 interface for a year or so before I sold it to buy a Central Station. I can confirm that the 6051 works fine with Windows XP SP2. I tried with the evaluation versions of Windigipet, Train Controller and Windigital, using WinXP SP2, with no issues at all. You just need to make sure that your PC has a serial interface with a DB9 connector.

I think all that came with the 6050 was a demo disk - a floppy of marklins version of Windigipet or WinDigital and a cable to connect the interface to a serial port on the computer. Be sure to get the cable it might end up costing a lot more than a normal RS232 cable.

I would NOT spent money on a 6050. It is severly limited compared to other PC connection solutions. Eg:
- No bidirectional support (reporting of speed/switch position from digi system to pc, only S88 connections are reported to the PC)
- No absolute direction support

Get a IB, CS, Ecos or something else instead!

Bert

agree the 6050 is now 20 year old technology, there are much better options now. An Intellibox is probably the best that has any documented computer interface.

The 6050 is a serial device and is there very generic in terms of what operating systems will work with it. It will work with everything from the Commodore 64 to a Cray.

The other thing I would add to DasBert's post is that the 6050 is limited to one serial speed, I think it is 2400bps. The IB can operate up to 19.2kbps, and maybe 33k, which is much faster. Maybe someone with the correct numbers can confirm this.

Hi Franz,

If I would go digital today I would also look for something else than the M6050. The ECos or the CS would be a good option. Although both systems are not officially supported yet by most software train control systems(Eg. Train & Co with Train Controller etc.) they will be soon! Don't blame me if they already offically do today! I don't fully agree that the 6050 wouldn't be sufficient enough to control automatically a layout. Of coarse everything is relative! What is a big layout? and thus the limits for the 6050. Not only the hardware plays a role but also the software that controls it must be good! With my program LocCommander(operates on Windows XP) that only supports the M6050(thus serial communication), I can easily control my layout that contains more than 40 turnouts, 20 signals and monitors more than 20 block sections(8 S88). I have defined in LocCommander a scenario(route for one or more trains) that controls 4 trains. I can't image a layout that needs to switch a lot of turnouts and signals at the same time....

http://users.telenet.be/loccomm...ages/LocCommander090.jpg

I will support the Ecos in LocCommander if the PC Interface protocol is made public! If have tried to get but without any results ESU currently only gives it to certain people. Same story for Marklin and its CS (Central system)...

Thus, for me the M6050 is more than OK and will still do for a moderate layout! But of coarse technology doesn't stand still and the new features Ecos and CS offer are very attractive for digital model road control.

Br,
Frank

Franz,

Contrary to most of the comments here I think the 6050 does have a use, particularily if you already have a 6021. So it does become simply a matter of price v timing.

-The baud rate is a red herring and as good as irrelavent for all but the most complex and overpopulated layout.
-The comment about not being able to deterime the direction is true but I do not think a show stopper.

So, presuming you do already have a 6021 ... (and are not looking for another controller in the near to medium future)
The real question is 'what do you want to do ?'

- as a simple direct controller offering additional throttles and access to all 256 accessory addresses without having to buy 16 keyboards - It is an excellent choice
- as a sequencer/schedular of events - it is on a par with anything else
- as an artificial intelligence - well! who is doing the programming?

I say go for it ! (if the price is right! The 71euro (current ebay.de option) is over the top, th 49USd (ebay.com) would be my realistic max but not with annother 10USD for shipping) )

DT,
Thanks for introducing this site. Interesting indeed. I'll take a good look. I have the 6021 though. And personally I don't like the CS or things that looks like a gameboy. So the IB is the only alternative.
I may as well just take the 6050 for the shake of having it.

Eric

Hi,
I would like to thank for all the interesting commentaries on the 6050 Interface. My conclusion is to forgo the purchase of it and go with a more modern system.

Thanks master,

I WAS just browsing the same page you recommended, what a small time frame.

Eric