NEWSLETTER VOLUME 23 - NO. 4 July- August 2011 Dr. Tom Catherall, Editor

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1 NEWSLETTER VOLUME 23 - NO. 4 July- August 2011 Dr. Tom Catherall, Editor New CS2 System Available Upgrades are regularly available for the CS2. Version is the most current software at the time of this Newsletter s printing. At the present time the upgrade is only available by direct download. It is not yet on the web upgrade list. Direct downloads are done by connecting the Central Station by Ethernet cable to a server that is on the Internet. New upgrades add locos to the database, keep the CS2 current for new hardware, fix bugs, and add new features like Function Mapping discussed in this Newsletter. Cable Users of the new Central Stations have asked for the part number of the power input cable. This cable has a 4-pin DIN plug on the CS2 end a transformer plug on the other end. Part number Infrared 6070/6071 Some digital operators who have older equipment such as the 6070 and 6071 Infrared controller have wanted to connect these devices with the Connect 6021 unit. It is possible to connect any of the old devices to the 6021 and then connect the 6021 to the CS2, but to get items like the 6070/6071 to work you need to set all the switches on the back of the 6021 to OFF. Help with ipad/ipod/iphone Apps One of our Digital Club members, Chris Shelton, has developed a YouTube video explaining how to connect the ipad App. You can find it at: Registering mfx on the Programming Track When you get a new mfx locomotive and place it on your layout to register on the CS2, DO NOT USE THE PROGRAMMING TRACK. If you try to register a new loco on the programming track it will cause the loco to hang up and cannot be controlled with its address or with an mfx controller. You can register it on the layout track plug without any problems. It is only the programming track that causes this reaction. You can let the loco register on a Mobile Station without any problems and then register it on a programming track. It seems to be only the placing of a new mfx out of the box loco on the programming track that is the problem. REMEDY: If this happens to you, the loco has to be registered on one of the old Central Stations (60212) or one of the old Mobile Stations (60652). Just allow the loco to normally register as an mfx loco on one of these controllers. Then it can be used on any controller on any track.

2 After receiving calls from a number of customers who had tried to register mfx locos on programming tracks I did some experimenting. This is what my research has found: FACT 1: This happens only with some out of the box brand new locos. FACT 2: If put on the layout track first, it will register and not have the problem if registered later on the programming track. FACT 3: Once registered, if erased from the CS2 and then put on the programming track or any track, it registers. FACT 4: When registering mfx on programming tracks first, they hang up. FACT 5: If hung up it will not register on layout track or MS2 or respond to its address with It Appears dead. FACT 6: If hung up, registering on CS1 will clear it up, then it will register on any CS2 track like noted in FACT 3. This got me thinking, why only out of the box brand new?? -What is the last thing they do at the factory before putting it in the box? -Is it the light test, which I think is done with an analog transformer? -Is it the track test, which I think is done with a 6021 and the loco s address? Illustration 1 Testing new locomotives with 6021 More testing and findings... FACT 7: After analog transformer operation the loco will register on the the programming track. FACT 8: After running on 6021 by its address it hangs up, if after, an attempt is made to register the loco on a programming track....back to FACT 6. 2

3 This experiment was repeated several times with the same results. Conclusion: Some of newer decoders seem to be tested with the 6021 prior to packaging and will hang up if put on a programming track for their first registration. Function Mapping on the CS2 What is Function Mapping? Digital decoders that are used to control locomotives have a memory filled with controllable variables that keep a record of the characteristics of how that loco behaves. The controllable variables or CVs keep a record of the locos address, speed characteristics, function assignments and many other characteristics. If you have a CV table for a decoder you can put specific values (like the address) into a specific CV (like CV1) and the decoder will always react to that information. If you want to change the address, then change the value in CV1. The same is true of all the characteristics of the decoder. If you don t like the maximum speed of the loco, change the value in CV5. Changing function assignments so they control specific lights, sounds or auxiliary outputs can be complicated so function mapping was created as a feature of the Central Station, which graphically makes it easy to assign a unique characteristic into a specific function. The user graphically assigns functions and the Central Station will put the appropriate values into the appropriate CVs. Function mapping even allows the user to tweak the function. Some can be momentary and others constant. For example, a light should be constant, and a horn should be momentary. Some can be given a time limit when turned on so, horns can be on for a specific time period. Functions can also be activated when the loco is in forward or reverse. This allows you to turn off the taillights when a lead locomotive is in a multi unit lash up. Lights can also be tweaked so they flash, strobe, zoom, gyro, mars, etc. The Central Station did this convenient form of function mapping but it was not found on the first versions of the CS2 system software. The CS2 allowed for extensive editing of the CVs but it did not allow for the convenience of function mapping until now. System software 1.40 and later have all allowed for function mapping. System 1.5x fixed some bugs and also allowed for the ipad and Märklin Catalog Apps. and now system is available and improves function mapping. How to do it Function mapping can only be done with mfx-equipped locomotives. DCC and FX equipped locos have CVs and can be mapped, but they have to be done the old fashioned way. This means you have to look up the information on the decoders CV table to know what CV controls which function, etc. MFX equipped locos will have this work done for them by the Central Station. If you are not sure a loco is FX or MFX, remember MFX will not appear on the system s database. Also a list of FX locos was in The Digital Newsletter July/August After the loco has registered on the Central Station s screen select the wrench for the loco you want to edit (see Illustration 2). That will take you to the blue edit screen (see Illustration 3). This edit screen will let you change speeds, breaking and volume. It will also let you change names, addresses, and icons for the loco. It also allows you to change icons for the functions, but not their function number or special effects of the function. You need to go to function mapping to do that. Another important selection on the edit screen is the RST button. This is the reset for the loco s decoder and is the same as putting value 08 into CV 8. It will reset the loco to the factory settings. To get to function mapping, first click on the CV access button on the left. This will start the process of reading all the data stored in the loco s decoder into the Central Station. This process has 3

4 Illustration 2 Control Screen Illustration 3 Blue Edit Screen 4

5 been discussed in a previous Newsletter. The data is grouped into sections like Root, Motor, legacy, etc. (see Illustration 4) When it is finished, you can begin function mapping. Click on any function icon and it will take you to the screen seen in Illustration 5. Notice in this example the headlight icon was selected and has been entered in the Test box. Also notice the addition of the + and _ boxes at the bottom of the screen. Illustration 4 CV Screen Illustration 5 5

6 Clicking on the _ box will eliminate that function on the blue edit screen. If you then click on the box next to it with the arrow inputting to the loco, it will erase the function on the loco s decoder leaving that function (Function 0) empty ready for adding a different function. Clicking on a blank space where no function icon appears like shown in Illustration 6 will put the frame in the test box and then you can choose an icon from the pull down menu to the left of the test box and select what function you want and click on the + box to add that function. Illustration 6 shows sound 2 to be the function (this is the same as the whistle icon at the bottom of the list to the right). Mode of Operations can be selected for this sound. A Switching Function clicks the function Illustration 6 on and off like with a headlight or interior lighting. Some horns and bells are also clicked on and off. Momentary function gives the function a brief on cycle. The Duration Function allows you to select the length of time the function will cycle On. There are about 70 function icons from which to select. They vary from different lighting possibilities to coupling sounds, horns, bells, pantograph motion up and down as well as pantograph sounds. Motor sounds, coal shoveling, grate shaking, steam escape and auxiliary motor sounds are also available as icons. The pull down menu in the center as shown in Illustration 7 shows the possible function for that assignment and icon. They include various lights and outputs, which might include cab lights, inspection lights over wheels, etc. ABD is the breaking and acceleration delay (which might be turned on and off when switching in a yard), break sounds, running sounds, and up to 16 other sounds as shown in Illustration 8. After selecting the function you can fix its direction with the arrow to the right of the pull down menu. You can choose between forward, reverse, or both directions for the function to be active. If you select a light, notice your choice of Standard or Dimmer for its brightness. If you select Effect you can change how the light acts. Choices are shown in Illustration 9. Its fun to experiment with 6

7 Illustration 7 Illustration 8 these, like making red tail lights flash as a warning when the loco is in reverse. If you mess things up, don t worry, just go to the RST button in the blue edit screen and reset the decoder. 7

8 Remember, to change function locations: 1 Go to the blue edit screen by pressing the wrench. 2. Click on the CV access button. 3. Select an icon position to edit. 4. Either + or _ that icon. 5. If adding ( + ) then: a. Select an icon b. Select a function c. Select the functions characteristics (timing, direction, effects) 6. Download the changes to the loco. 7. Try it. Illustration 9 If you wanted to change functions 3 and 4, first erase one of them (erase 3) then add the parts of function 4 into space 3. Then erase 4 and put the parts of 3 into space 4. You may not have to erase, just overwriting one with another by adding ( + ) may do the trick. märklin DIGITAL P.O. Box New Berlin, WI