VRR

Lesson learned, and maybe an advice to fellow z21 new users: 1. The installation disc that comes with z21 sets - you could use it as part of your scenery, and if you have tunnels on your layout (I have a lot - I'm trying to build a Russian style Metro) shove it up the longest tunnel but DON'T USE IT to set up TP-link router. 2. DON'T CONNECT TP-link to your desktop or laptop computer/ 3. DON'T CONNECT Tp-link to the Internet. Use the router as is (the Network name will be "Z21_wxyz with "wxyz" being the last 4 digits of the serial number on the bottom of your router and the PIN also from the bottom of the router) OR RESET the router with a needle (the network then will be "TP-link_wxyz" and no password protection). I wonder do ROCO guys think we have to become TCP/IP experts in three sleepless nights like in my case? Thanks again for all your help!

Oops! Nigelcliffe already suggested that and didn't see. OK not "I fixed the problem" - we all together did...

WOW! Great Almighty! I fixed the problem! The problem, as I understood, was in the Time Warner Cable (my ISP) modem. It has the address 192.168.0.1 hence the default Gateway for TP-link is 192.168.0.1 The WAN and LAN can not be in the same subnet - therefore LAN took 192.168.1.100 to 192.168.1.199 address pool. And it can not see my z21. And it can't be changed by me. What I did? I unplugged TP-link from the modem, from my laptop, and reset it. Then connected my Samsung tablet to TP-link network and then connected z21 to TP-link by cable. Hur-rah! Thank you all for teaching me some basics here!

Matt, thanks for your reply. 1. The grey cable is plugged into the modem, not Belkin. 2. I'm not afraid to reset the router because I've already done that (and wiped Roco settings). Now the router's network name is "TP-link" (not "z21") and no password is needed. 3. My Samsung is connected only to TP-link. 4. I don't really need to connect my Samsung to the Internet. 5. Router's IP address of the TP-link is 192.168.1.1, The modem's address is 192.168.0.1 and the laptop's - 192.168.1.102 6. I don't know how to figure out the Samsung's IP address. 7. The bottom of the z21 box only lists the IP address 192.168.0.111 not the MAC address. I have no idea how to figure that out.

Sounds a bit scary to me, not sure I can do it on my own. Maybe I just wait till Sunday and try to exchange the z21. Thank you all for trying to help and Happy New Year!

Done. Laptop 192.168.1.102, TP-link 192.168.1.1, 192.168.0.1 - Arris (modem), 192.168.1.100 - unknown (webpage n/a) and 192.168.0.3 - unknown (webpage n/a). z21 is supposed to have factory default setting 192.168.0.111 but it doesn't respond to that address.

Here are some photos. Sorry if too many

Also the wiring doesn't seem to be a problem: the lights on the base of the LAN socket on z21 and on TP-link are on and sometimes blink.

No, but a have 3 different LAN cables and I tried switching them around. The dealer tried to help me but he never played with z21. He invited me to his house next Sunday (even though he is a mail-order dealer). Said he will exchange the z21 if nothing else helps. The 2 problems are: he is far (2 hours each way) and Sunday afternoon is far - I wanted to play so badly...

Uninstalled and installed the z21-mobile app, reset z21, reset TP-link. Still "offline"

As far as I know Roco only change the transformers for US current when they send the set to the US. The router is the same TP-link TL-WR740N. I will try connecting it again (without Internet)< but doubt it will work: 192.168.0.111 is still dead.

Thank you both for your replies. I was working hours trying to solve the problem at no avail. Good news: my z21 works with MultiMouse. I was able to program the decoder of my new Loco and to run it. Bad news: there's something wrong with the IP address of z21 or with the unit itself. http://192.168.0.111is not available. Z21 maintenance tool (http://www.z21.eu/en/Z21/Downloads) doesn't connect to this IP address. I tried different addresses that I was able to scan with the Angry IP Scanner (0.1, 0.4, 1.1, 1.100, 1.101, 2.101) - no results. I tried different way of connecting the cables (with the Internet and w/o, via new router(TP-link) or my home router (Belkin)) - z21 still shown "offline" on the "z21 mobile" interface. I have very limited computer knowledge and don't know what to do next.

PLEASE HELP! I bought a Model #: 41513 (Starter set with z21) today and spent whole day trying to set it up. The Router is working (all the lights are on or blinking). Track is connected and shows a constant voltage of 7 Volts. Z21mobile app is downloaded. Samsung Tablet is connected to the router via WLAN. z21 unit is connected to the Router via LAN cable provided (green light at the base ofthe plug is on and the yellow light sometimes blinks). The icon of the computer screen with the number on the router is on and sometimes blinks. But! The wireless icon on top right corner of Z21 interface is crossed with red X, in the "info" window it says "z21 mobile OFFLINE" even thought the tablet is connected to the Internet via same router, and the switchboard doesn't respond. Please give me advice!