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Current Central Station 2 Version - 4.1.0 Current Mobile Station 2 Version - 2.5 We know that most of you are far beyond this point but we thought it is necessary to cover the basics of the Central Station 2 (CS2). In the next few newsletters, we will start from the beginning for the first-time digital members and hopefully entice others to see the potential it has. We have noticed that many people use their CS2 for locomotive control only, when it has so much more potential. The following article is a basic overview of the system, but it will cover a few important items in detail also. In the future, there will be more detailed instructions on other aspects of the CS2 while our second article continues with advanced routing setup.

Unpacking Your CS2 When you take your CS2 out of the box, you should follow the instructions to connect it to your layout. The contents of a Märklin 60215 should include two feed wires, a few locomotive cards, instruction booklets, and a spike protector that is installed between the layout and the CS2 along with a cord to connect to a transformer. (Fig. 1)

Fig.1

NEWSLETTER

Vol. 27 – No. 3 November - December 2015

Digital Consultants

Rick Sinclair Curtis Jeung

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There are several ports on the back of the CS2. The following diagram will explain what they are used for. (Fig. 2)

Fig. 2 Layout Connection There are two connections to your layout. One is track power, the other is for the Programming Track. The CS2 will send user command instructions through the track to control the digital accessories (locomotives, cars, signals, turnouts and M83/84). Use the enclosed wire to connect to your layout. There is a plug on one end and spade connectors on the other. The spade connectors will attach to any piece of C-Track. There is a “B” and an “O” on the bottom of the track at the connection points. The RED wire attaches to the “B” tab. The BROWN wire attaches to the “O” tab. (Fig. 3)

Fig.3 There will be another feed wire for a programming track. The purpose of the programming track is to edit the Control Variables (CVs) of a digital accessory.

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A programming track can be integrated into your layout. The CS2 will send the same user commands to the programming track as regular feed track. Basically, when the CS2 is not reading/writing new CV values, the programming section functions like the rest of the layout. If you plan on having a programming section on your layout, the center rail and the track rails MUST be insulated from the rest of the layout. If you do not have this section insulated properly, the CS2 may get confused reading CVs from multiple devices and there is a possibility that if a change is made, it would make that change to every digital accessory on the layout. Use the rail insulators (part # 74030) to insulate the track. Make sure the programming section is long enough for the item that you are editing. You cannot have a locomotive hanging off the programming section onto the rest of the layout. Powering the CS2 For the First Time Once a CS2 is booted up for the first time, it will ask you to set the language. If you would like English, select “en”. (Fig. 4)

Fig. 4 If your CS2 was previously started and is in the German, (German is the default language),

and you wish to set it to English, go to the “setup” screen; touch the wrench icon to enter the edit/configuration mode. Next, click on the right arrowhead next to the question mark (Fig. 5), this will scroll to other edit screens. Look for the word “Ansicht” and touch it. Now you are in the “View” page and you can touch down arrowhead for the drop-down menu to select the language where it says “Sprache”. Set to “en” for English (or whatever language you like) and touch the green arrow.

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Fig. 5 Where you go from here is up to you. I will explain the basics of the different screens below. The “Control” Screen (Fig. 6)

Fig. 6 This is where you will control the locomotive speed and direction as well as the functions (up to 16). Locomotive Inventory Push the button next to the red speed dials or below one of the speedometers (Fig.7) to see the locomotives that are loaded into the system (Fig.8). A new CS2 may or may not have locomotives loaded into it depending on whether it is from a starter set or a separate purchase. Any locomotive in the inventory can be selected by touching it then touching the green check mark. This is also where you will enter new non-MFX locomotives.

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Fig. 7

Fig. 8

The “Setup” Screen Touch the “Setup” tab at the top. From this screen you can save or restore different profiles, update the firmware, download Märklin sound files for locomotives and shutdown or reboot the CS2. (Fig. 9)

Fig. 9 “Daten” is for saving/restoring profiles. A profile is a snapshot of the entire system of routes, turnouts, accessories and locomotives. You can save as may profiles as you like and restore them at any time. One thing to remember is that if you start a new profile, you will have to enter locomotives again. The profile stores locomotive information but it does not transfer that information to other profiles. We use the save/restore to call up different routing patterns for our layout depending on what configuration we would like to run. “Update” is where you will use the Internet or a USB stick to update the software version. The “Audio” section will allow you to download audio files and install them into locomotives with editable sound files. To this date we have not had any experience doing this.

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The “CS2” section is where you can “Reboot” (restart) or “Quit” (power down) the CS2. The “Calibrate” section will allow you to calibrate the pointer to the touch screen. Some units are not calibrated correctly and the pointer is not on the screen where you touch it. This can be tricky to correct if you cannot touch where you need to. The easiest way to correctly touch the “Calibrate” box is to connect a USB mouse to the port in the back of the CS2. This will accurately move the pointer. Once you click on the “Calibrate” button you will get a dialog box asking if you would like to calibrate the touch screen. If you are using a mouse, click on the green arrow. Use the CS2 stylist and follow the instructions from here. There are other screens that can be accessed at the bottom of the “Setup” screen. You will see an “Information”, “Audio” and “Version” page. The “Information” screen tells you various track voltage and temperature. It will also give you information on boosters if connected (Part # 60174). The “Audio” screen will allow you to play downloaded audio files and install them into locomotives with editable sound files. To date we have not had any experience with audio files. The “Version” screen will give you the software version currently installed. I would highly recommend updating your CS2 to the current firmware version. This will allow you to utilize all of the new features that are available. The “Memory” Screen (Fig. 10)

Fig. 10 This is where your routes are turned on/off and configured. There are 56 memory pages with 32 memory slots each. The individual slots are where you enter a locomotive or accessory command. As far as we know there is no limit as to how many commands that you can put into a memory slot. You can enter pauses and even include other routes if needed. The route can be set to send out commands when a sensor detects an “on” or “off” state, and also conditions can be added.

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The “Layout” Screen (Fig. 11)

Fig. 11 Here you can draw your track diagram and control digital accessories like turnouts, signals and layout lighting with the stylist. The “Keyboard” Screen (Fig. 12)

Fig. 12 (Default buttons shown) This page is setup to mimic the analog control boxes. There are several button configurations that can be selected depending on which accessory is controlled. There are 128 pages with 16 positions on each, for a total of 2048 possible digital accessories. These are basic explanations of what is found on the different screens. There are a couple of things you should know at this point, which I will explain below. Updating the Software As I mentioned before, you should always be up to date with your software version. We will be posting the current version at the top of each newsletter for your convenience. Below are instructions to update your CS2 to the current version.

1. Start with the CS2 powered off. Make sure you have it connected to your router with an Ethernet cable.

2. Power up the CS2 and wait for it to boot up.

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3. Before you send any command instructions, touch the “Setup” tab then touch the “Update Network” (or “Internet” depending on which version you have) (Fig 13). The CS2 will begin to look for any new updates.

Fig. 13

4. Click “Start”. The CS2 will download and install any new updates. Please note that the CS2 will always find the file: “5:import_USB (V evergreen : 15.12.2014)” If this is the only file that is in black and not grey (Fig 14), then your CS2 is current.

Fig. 14

The CS2 might take some time to download and install the update. Check the version on the “Version” page to see if it is current. If not, repeat the procedure from step 1. CS2 Updates from Early Versions There are some CS2s out there that are very out of date. Some of these early versions (pre- 3.0) may not be able to update via the Internet. These units must be updated with a USB stick. Here are the USB update instructions: Go to: http://www.maerklin.de/de/service/software-updates/#c2296 You will have to click on the box to see the files. (Fig .15)

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Fig.15 Now download the files: cs2update.tgz and cs2update.img (Fig.16)

Fig. 16 Save these files on a USB stick.

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Insert the USB stick into the CS2 USB port and start the CS2. Before you send any command instructions, touch the “Setup” tab then touch the “Update USB”. For older versions, the “USB” box needs to be selected or the CS2 will look for the Internet and the update will not be successful. The CS2 will begin to look for any new updates on the USB stick. Once this update is finished, re-boot the CS2 and perform an Internet update starting with step 1 above. CS2 Shutdown The purpose of shutting down the CS2 is that it will save any changes that were made since start up. The proper Shutdown procedure is as follows:

1. From the "Setup" screen, press the "Quit" box. (Older versions will have a "Shutdown" box). 2. Allow the system to shut down with the roundhouse image. Once the roundhouse doors close, you can unplug the power supply.

Enjoy your hobbies! Sincerely, Rick Sinclair

Upcoming Appearance: November 21-22 Talbot’s Toyland San Mateo, CA Please watch future newsletters for news about seminars, in-store events and shows where Rick & Curtis will demonstrate Märklin Digital in 2016.

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Automation: Central Station 2

In the last two issues of the Märklin Digital Newsletter, I wrote about concepts concerning feedback sensor placement on your layout (Vol. 27 – No. 1), and instructions on wiring up feedback sensors with the S88/L88 Feedback Modules (Vol. 27 – No. 2). In this issue I will cover how to integrate feedback into your Central Station 2. Application of feedback sensors for automation can be done through the CS’s Memory page alone, but to make it easier to visualize and program your automated routines, you’ll want to add sensor information into the Layout page as well. I will cover both. What I won’t cover in this article will be instructions on installing your solenoid accessories (signal lights, semaphores, turnout switches, etc.) into the Keyboard Section of your CS2.

Central Station 2 > Layout Editor The Layout Editor is where a track plan for the train layout (or sections of the layout) is drawn. It is a secondary control page for all of your items that are listed in the Keyboard section of your CS2. It is beneficial to create track diagrams prior to setting Memory functions, because it offers visual feedback on track operations versus relying on the ambiguous setup of the Keyboard pages. For example: Setting a track route by simply switching your turnouts and accessories along the desired path (red dotted line Fig.1) is more fluid. Whereas, using the Keyboard pages to set your switches requires looking for the appropriate turnouts and accessories. (Fig. 2)

Fig. 1. Desired track route along red dotted line

Fig. 2. Keyboard Accessory Pages

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Layout section overview The layout editor is split into four sections (Fig.3): 1 - Grid Section. 2 – Layout Page Edit. 3 – Track Items Menu. 4 – Programmed Items Menu. The grid section is where items selected from sections 3 & 4 are placed. The icons displayed directly below are the edit buttons for the items placed within the grid (Fig. 4).

Fig. 4. Grid Section Buttons

The left and right sections are item selection lists. The right menu contains a list of all physical objects that can be place on an actual layout (i.e.turnouts, signals, bridge crossovers, etc.) The left section displays objects created within the CS2 (memory sets, transitions to multiple map plans), with the exception of the red icon which can contain the list of solenoid accessories entered into the CS2. The listing of items are displayed in the following figures (Figs. 5).

Fig. 5. Programmed Items (left) & Track Items (right)

Fig. 3 Layout editor sections

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The bottom section is for labeling each viewable track grid (displayed in the pull-down menu in the grid section), scroll buttons to shift the viewed plan one grid block at a time and the normal save and cancel functions found within each editor (Fig 6.).

Track To begin designing the track map, first select an object from the right hand section and place it “in hand” (Fig. 6. Track Items). Just as if the actual piece was being held. The selected item will be outlined in blue. Note: Only one item at a time can be active at one time. A blue outlined item may be selected elsewhere on the page screen. With an item “in hand” you can now select a block in the central grid map by clicking on a grid square. The object will now have been place within that grid block. For runs of straight track, a line can be drawn and the selected track icon will replace the entire line (Fig. 7).

Fig. 7. Drag a line to lay a length of track

Use the rotate tool to adjust for track items that are displayed incorrectly. To rotate, first select the rotate icon in the main section. Next, tap the track piece that you wish to rotate. Subsequent taps will continually rotate the track piece 90 degrees with each tap (Fig. 8).

Turnouts To place a turnout in the track plan, first select the turnout type desired from the track items menu. Options are left turnout, right turnout, double slip switch, and three-way turnout. Next, click on the square to place it in the layout grid. Placing a turnout onto the layout pops up the “Solenoid accessory” window. This window will have a pull-down menu that will list all of the turnouts that have been entered in the Keyboard section of the CS2. If no turnouts have been registered into the CS2 then this list will only display the “Create again” and “Manual mode” items. Adding any turnouts into the keyboard section will automatically list them in this menu list (Fig 9).

Fig. 6. Layout Page Edit

Fig. 8. Rotate Tool

Fig. 9. Solenoid Accessory Menu

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Choosing from the accessory list will place the selected item in the layout grid. Selecting a registered turnout will retain the logged decoder address from the corresponding entry in the Keyboard section. Selecting “Manual mode” can be used for Turnouts without attached decoders. The CS2 will have no control over the actual turnout, because there is no decoder address related to this item. It is better to select turnout items better suited to the track plan, rather than choosing the accurate piece applied on the layout. This advise applies mainly to yards where the turnout display will be opposite of the actual turnout used on a layout (Fig. 10). To accurately operate the turnout, select the information icon (See -Fig. 4 for icon reference) and click the turnout to adjust. A “Configuration of Solenoid Accessories” window will pop up (Fig. 11). Click on the “Type” pull down to reveal the selection list of accessories. Correctly set the turnout type, based on the layout, by clicking on the list. The icon in the layout grid will not change as the CS2 registers the correct turnout type.

Signals and Solenoid Accessories Signal lights, semaphores, and relay controls (K84/M84 outputs) are placed in the layout by first selecting the signal light icon (Fig 4). Clicking on the layout grid will pop open the Solenoid Accessory window. From the pull-down menu, select the appropriate accessory to be placed in the track plan. Clicking on the green check mark will close the window and place the appropriate icon in the grid square.

Uncoupler Tracks The uncoupler icon (Fig. 4) is selected to place an uncoupler track in the layout. Subsequently clicking on the layout grid will open the familiar Solenoid Accessory window with the list of uncoupler tracks that should have been entered in the keyboard section of the CS2. Select the uncoupler accessory that you would like to put in the plan, then click the green check mark to close the window and place the uncoupler icon in the grid.

Fig. 10. Matching Layout to Track

Fig. 11. Setting physical turnout type to layout

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L88/S88 contacts S88 contacts are placed within the Layout as all other elements. However, instead of the “Solenoid accessory” window, the “S88 Contact” window will pop up. In the S88 Contact window, select the correct Device-ID first. The Device-ID will either be Master CS2, or the device ID’s derived from an attached L88. (Fig. 12. – Device ID numbers may vary). After the Device-ID is set, then the proper Module – Contact (“MOD: CONT: ” field) can be entered. There are 16 Contacts per Module, so when logging your contact numbers remember to add 16 for each previous S88 module in the chain. For example, the first contact on the second module will be 17, the first contact on the third module will 33. Verify that the contact number is correct by matching it with the “MOD: ? CONT: ?” titling above this entry box. To verify that the contact entry is correct, the sensor icon will change colors when activated and back to clear when not. (Fig 13.) The S88 contact information can also be entered/edited within the applied S88 information in the same window found in the Memory page. For the purpose of this article, we can disregard the “Refill Station” and “Distance” settings.

Memory Keys Memory keys which store automated routes and functions can be placed and activated within a Layout page. This is handy for having a single activation point which will switch multiple turnouts to route trains to a specific yard line. Memory keys can be placed in a layout similar to solenoid accessories. Simply select the memory function from the Route pull down menu on the Route window (Fig. 14).

Fig. 12. S88 Contact window showing Device-ID selection list

Fig. 13. Sensor icons shown as clear and activated (yellow)

Fig. 14. Route selection list set in memory keys

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Layout Page Switch Layout page switches allow you to change from one layout track plan to another at the touch of a button. Placing a switch icon onto the layout will open the “Reference to track control board” window. Select the layout page to switch to out of the name list of layout pages (Fig 15).

Keyboard Switch Keyboard switches are for accessories that are non-track operation related. These can be station lighting or scenery decorations. They can be switched on or off using relay connections made through K84 or M84s, if they require continuous power switches. Or use K83 or M83s if the accessories only need a momentary power switch. Setting up track plans in layout pages make for an easy to navigate map of the train layout. It can provide quick access to complete route patterns and complex memory functions. It displays an organized structure from the pages of keyboard functions which contain all of a layout’s turnouts, signals, and solenoid accessories. This organization facilitates easier creation of memory functions and a visual map of how to logically create them. In this issue, I have written about the components required to map out track plans. I’ve listed the various tools and how to properly configure their outputs. With layout plans properly displayed, I can begin to show how memory functions can be set up for a well automated layout. Look forward to this in the next newsletter. Cheers! Curtis Jeung

To contact Curtis and Rick for help with your Digital, technical and product related questions: Phone: 650-569-1318 Hours: 6:00am – 9:00pm PST. Monday through Friday. E-mail: digital@marklin.com

Märklin Digital Club · PO Box 510559 · New Berlin WI 53151-0559

Fig. 15. Layout page selection list for layout switches