Big magazine 2/14 - LGB digital operation

Loco

Loco

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The latest edition of the LGB Big magazine has an article about the new LGB digital decoder which also includes a short description of the Märklin Central Station for G-scale use.
In future Big magazines they will explore the capability of the Märklin Central station combined with the new LGB decoder. This will for sure include the mfx functionality, where locomotives automatically are identified on the Märklin Central Station and do not need to have a dedicated locomotive adress. The 60215 Märklin Central Station is 5A and can be used together with smartphones and tablets, but without a real wireless controller.

There is also an article about digital operation where the good old LGB 55006 MTSIII digial unit is described. In this article the new LGB switch decoder (55525) is listed with a price tag of €95, which is about €25 more than the Massoth switch decoder. I know which version I will buy in the future based on both a price and a functionality point of view. The Massoth switch decoder has a "+" output which the LGB decoder doesn't have, which can be used to control Böhler switch motors.

Also the latest "Märklin TV" no. 65, which can be accessed from the lgb.de site, shows of a lot of bells and whistles with the Märklin Central Station.
 
Loco said:
(snip)The 60215 Märklin Central Station is 5A and can be used together with smartphones and tablets, but without a real wireless controller. (snip)
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Not sure I understand. Do you mean there is no provision for attaching an LGB or Massoth (DiMax) wireless receiver? Or will it not work at all with LGB 5501x controllers or Massoth handsets?
 
whatlep said:
Not sure I understand. Do you mean there is no provision for attaching an LGB or Massoth (DiMax) wireless receiver? Or will it not work at all with LGB 5501x controllers or Massoth handsets?
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No LGB or DiMAX input, but a lot of other connections. Two possible future solutions here, they either add a port for LGB / Massoth or they make their own wireless controller and use Märklin feedback units etc. My guess is that they will go for the second option, that way the Central Station will be the same for all scales only with different amp ratings.

If you scroll down this page you can see a picture of the back of the unit with all the available connections: http://www.maerklin.de/de/produkte/modellbahnsteuerung/digital.html
 
Stainzmeister said:
It seems the old LGB MTS system along with its wireless options will be completely phased out Peter.

There are many G scale layouts using MTS/Massoth with Dimax units out there though.
I certainly won't be changing all my decoders and control system to the new Marklin version - that would only make economic sense if I was just starting out.......

If the new Marklin central station will work with old LGB decoders (55021 and 55027) and will work LGB/Massoth points decoders, then there would be an option to buy one when the need arose. :)
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It certainly looks like LGB under ownership by Märklin is waving good-bye to Massoth and is focusing on developing and adapting to their own Märklin Digital system.

I don't really know the Märklin Digital system well, but in the 60215 manual it states that "Basically, the decoders can be used in mixed operation. You can decide by address which protocol will be assigned to the latter and which protocol will be supported by the decoder". The digital protocols supported by the system is mfx and DCC.

Update:
Here's a link to the Märklin digital system architechture, an as you can see no wireless except for mobile phone/phablet/tablet:
http://mediencms.maerklin.de/media.php/de/produkte/Systemarchitektur%202013.pdf

It looks like a good system with a lot of connection possibilities and backward compatibility.

For information, I am not trying to push this system, just sharing news. I have decided to go for the Massoth digital central station + accessories + one or more PCs/tablets/phones. Deal breaker is utilizing existing Massoth digital components. If starting from scratch, the decision may have been different.
 
Thanks for the info Stainzmeister & Loco.

I've found an English version of the 60215 central station manual in English here: http://www.rocousa.com/MARKLIN/60215_cs_gb.pdf

Can't say I'll be bothering with Marklin's creation. I'll be sticking with LGB MTS3 plus Massoth handsets/ track bus bits. If the central station goes "kerbang" and LGB's central station is no longer around, it'll either be a Piko or Lenz replacement.
 
I have just received my copy of the LGB Big magazine. The article on the Central Station - "Into the future" mentions that the existing LGB controllers (55015 and 55016) , booster 55090 and existing transformers and power packs can all be used with the Central Station.
 
I may have mis-interpreted that note, but thought it applied to the MTS3 Central Station since the picture next to the note shows that Central Station. If the controllers can be used with the Märklin Central Station, how are they plugged in? Also, the next article shows how art. no. 60200 is used to connect the 55095 to the MTS3 Central Station, also mentioned in the same note.
 
The second paragraph of "In to the future" states 'Connection options were created that made it possible to use the booster 55090 as well as controllers 55015 and 55016 with Central Station 60215' The article does not mention how they are connected to the 60215.
 
I agree.

Did you also note in an other article that you can also use the Central Station to control a massoth automatic uncoupler?
 
No, I didn't. I haven't received this issue nor the one before, so I am reading or rather browsing the pdf-files in german (which is not my language, well nor is english so there you go...) which means I don't understand all of the text.

On which page did you find the information about the Massoth uncoupler?
 
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