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Roco Z21


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I've acquired one of these as a first step towards DCC having set out to buy an NCE Powercab (there was a great deal on offer thanks to the Hobbyhorse 25% discount a few weeks back). The wireless thing was the clincher but I've yet to test it, the intention of doing it with the rolling road this weekend was put on hold thanks to storm damage to the railway shed which needed urgent attention. Looking to try it next weekend now.

 

Now have a bit more flexibility after acquiring a used Multimaus so it'll be interesting to compare the two modes of operation with my DCC chipped locos.

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  • RMweb Gold

Also if all connections ok try rebooting the ipad and phone by holding down the home and on off button until the screen goes blank. then switch on normally. We had the 3GS lock up when it downloaded IOS7 and then tried to use the app, the reboot sorted it. There appear to be a few minor gremlins still in the router communication too, my learned friend in such things tells me that's the cause of the occasional lag in response (I just nod and smile)

Edited by PaulRhB
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  • RMweb Gold

It might be the iPhone trying to link somehow blocked the iPad. Certainly we had no problems at Warley after we identified the problems at the previous show. That's really the advantage and weakness of software heavy dcc systems, very adaptable and future proof but a glitch in an update can be a pain!

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  • 1 month later...
  • 1 month later...

Used my Z21 at Heywood MRC exhibition over the past weekend, everything ran exactly as hoped with no problems whatsoever, also the system brought a different topic of conversation between customers and ourselves as well as the usual ones about layout and trains .My  three" layout co-exhibitors" had no experience of the system until the Saturday morning, but found the using of the system easy to understand using the Tablet and smart phone to control, we were able to control upto 5 trains with ease .So much so one of them has decided to purchase a Z21.

 

It was also interesting that an invited layout { Tottington and Holcombe Brook ]which is split into 3 sections} was using the ECoS system with each section being worked by a separate smart phone, therefore any interested purchaser of such systems were lucky to have a comparison on view and working.

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  • RMweb Gold

I mounted mine in a 'Really Useful Box' as it's strong and waterproof during transport. I've also got the Uhlenbrock 8 amp booster in there for the G scale so loads of power too. The only real issue I've had is updates for iOS really need the next update on the Z21 app or you can find occasional lock ups after a few hours.

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  • 1 month later...

Hi All,

 

Interesting theROCO Booster is simply a command station with different connectors. I have two of those from buying two DCC start sets.

 

So I may now see if I can covert one to a booster! I'm not in need of one with only 15 HOe locos in my roster (3 with sound), but it would be nice, just in case... My big layout is prewired to be in two sections any way I might make it usable both with and without a booster. I'm forever in danger of acquiring more locos!

 

Is the cable a straight through cable? And how do I get the box open? I suspect there are screws under the rubber feet?

 

My experiences with the Z21 so far have been good, except for the router which I have already ranted about... I see no reason that they couldn't have implemented Zero Configuration Networking. Then they could have sold without a router and just said "requires Wifi router", Most people I know are already fully wireless at home, here there's an access point in the train room as the printer is there so that would have been ideal.... However I just use the router now, no point in fighting it, but it's not connected to the internet...

 

No how do I delete a point from the track plan? This is on the iPad...

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  • RMweb Gold

No how do I delete a point from the track plan? This is on the iPad...

Select the layout in settings if not already active,

Go to Track Control Centre,

Put your finger on the symbol you want to remove for a second or so until it highlights in a red box.

Select delete from the toolbar at the bottom ;)

Edited by PaulRhB
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Select the layout in settings if not already active,

Go to Track Control Centre,

Put your finger on the symbol you want to remove for a second or so until it highlights in a red box.

Select delete from the toolbar at the bottom ;)

Doh! I keep forgetting about press and hold!

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I've used the D-Link router with my home LAN and found no problems. You need to connect to the WAN port on the D-Link router, so it's a "slave" to your home-LAN. As for supplying the Z21 w/o a router, that's simply not gonna work. People expect a digital system to be "plug and play" (especially from that price range) but as it stands, a novice cannot start with a Z21 OOTB* right now: if you don't have a (reasonably recent) smart phone or tablet, you're out :( If customers had to buy a router too, the "failure rate" of the Z21 would be a significant order of magnitude greater, as most modellers are not IT specialists ;) The Z21 has a fixed IP address, not in the usual range of consumer-range routers. This means the IT-impaired modeller must alter the configuration of their router manually, which may impose other problems on their home network :rolleyes: You don't want that, as manufacturer :P

 

*out of the box

Yes, I perfectly agree that most Z21 customers are not It specialists, which is why ZCN is something that Roco should adopt. As it stands, if this router breaks, you need to find another that works the same way. With ZCN, you could buy any router you like and connect the Z21 to a LAN port and join the network using an iPad/iPhone or Android phone/fondleslab and the two would simply discover each other. This is a standard protocol, that is easy to use. It is how my printer advertises itself (it's actually the access point that does it for it as it's USB only) on my home network.

 

I think this is something that will come, it's actually even more non-techy friendly!

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  • RMweb Gold

I guess they went with tech their experts knew. As it's an off the shelf router I thought you'd be able to configure it to the Z21 on any PC using the numbers they supply. If not I suppose you could get the configuration from their support site as they seem to respond fairly quickly.

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Guys you are missing my point, so let me give you an example of what I mean...

 

My tuner died, so it was down to A large discount chain for a new one.

What I got was an Tuner/Internet Media player, as reception's a bit iffy (dirty great big hill) I thought it was a winner

I connected it via Wifi to my home network, so I can now listen to the radio via my internet connection

In the box was a note to say there was an iPhone/Andriod App for it.

Downloaded it and fired it up, there's a single item: Add device

Press the button, and up comes the Tuner/Media player

 

What could be simpler? There was never any talk of what router to use or any mention of an IP address...

 

ROCO can implement this anytime... Why didn't they?

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  • RMweb Gold

Might be some data frequency type thing in Austria or Germany? Ask them ;)

As I said above it might just be because that's what their designer knew or thought was a good idea ;)

As DM says it works as a plug and play for non tech people and they do seem to respond quickly to feedback and sort glitches so I'm happy so far. Ask them the question and it might help them develop it?

I asked about if consisting was going to be added, they confirmed it would and so it has. I've asked about a bigger booster and they said they've had a lot of requests so will do one later this year they hope, (I needed it a bit faster so added an Uhlenbrock 8amp one that does the job well after consulting the dealer).

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Interesting theROCO Booster is simply a command station with different connectors. I have two of those from buying two DCC start sets.

 

So I may now see if I can covert one to a booster! I'm not in need of one with only 15 HOe locos in my roster (3 with sound), but it would be nice, just in case... My big layout is prewired to be in two sections any way I might make it usable both with and without a booster. I'm forever in danger of acquiring more locos!

 

Is the cable a straight through cable? And how do I get the box open? I suspect there are screws under the rubber feet?

No need to "convert" anything, nor open the box. The command station can be used as a booster by connecting the DCC signal from your command station to the 4-way "booster out" connector. From memory I think it's the outer pair of wires.

 

Beware that Roco boosters have no overload protection when used this way.

 

Andrew

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I finally bit the bullet and bought one of these Z21

 

Now i need to work out how to integrate it into my existing digitrax and cml setup and get traincontroller functioning.

 

Seems the loconet connector has no railsync, so may have to drag it over from the booster socket, looks like a kit bash on the cards

Edited by Kal
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Hi

 

I do not use railcom, so it will be switched off.

 

Searching through the very limited information available, it appears that roco used the uhlenbrock t socket for loconet, which just means they removed rail sync on pins 1 and 6. And used it as a dc power supply to allow more none railsync devices to use that bus.

 

Of course boosters and the BDL168 require railsync on pins 1 and 6 to function. While i could just take the rail outputs and rig up an interface to create my own lnet-b. adaptor, i do not like the idea of putting an 3 amp rated railsync down a telephone cable.

 

So i am guessing that the booster socket, will have a lower rated output and if i can work out which of the pins are the railsync pins, it should be simply a matter of creating and adaptor and changing the dcs200 to a booster setting.

 

I am assuming the z21 will terminate the loconet bus? If not i will have to set the termination in the bdl168 or locobuffer.

 

The z21 has not arrived yet so. Am talking without having one in front of me yet.

Edited by Kal
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  • RMweb Gold

typically, the same week i decide to get the next bit of my driveway blockpaved and have spent my money buying the supplies, getting a skip in sorting out the builder etc a shop on ebay has just listed 4 brand new Z21s for £169 each 'buy it now', gutted as i cant afford both!!

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  • RMweb Gold

i did notice it was white so assumed it was a 'foreign' one, how much functionality do you lose with it other than loconet (which i wouldn't use anyway)

 

edit: its ok ive found some info on the roco site....

 

The Z21 version for experts (black box) makes the switch to Z21 simple:

 

It is completely compatible to previous systems with all multiMAUS models and to the Lokmaus 2 and features three standard multiMAUS ports. This way the whole family can play.

Your locomotives are automatically recognized and report their status over RailCom© to the Z21. That way you can take care of large vehicle fleets with a minimum of effort - and use current status reports in the operation apps.

Software and sound of the ZIMO sound decoders can be comfortably updated with the Z21 with your smartphone. This way your digital locomotives are always at the latest top level at all times.

The Z21 supports a multitude of standard interfaces and connection options - ideal if you want to continually enlarge your layout or want to add new functions to it.

The shipment contains: WLAN(WIFI) router, efficient power supply.

 

 

The z21 version for beginners (white box, little z at z21) has the same features as the Z21 for experts with only a few smaller connection and configuration limitations. Left out are LocoNet, CAN-Bus, the X-Bus port, the Sniffer-Bus, the programming end level and the programmable track port as well as the track current regulator.

 

Simply set up and get going with your smartphone or tablet PC - with a fascinating hobby and a truly unique new driving experience with z21.

 

The z21 starter sets are available at the e-shops of Fleischmann and Roco as well at the specialized dealers.

Edited by big jim
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