How to get Zimo MS decoders working reliably on ESU ECoS with M4/mfx enabled

[John YouChoos]

In the UK, most digital systems use the DCC protocol to talk between command station and decoder. However, it isn't the only protocol - Marklin's M4 (also known as mfx) is another protocol, supported of course by Marklin's own systems, but also a small number of other brands.  ESU's ECoS command station supports it, as do the ESU V5 LokSound decoders, and more recently, Zimo's MS sound decoders.

 

However, mfx is relatively new, and the recent adoption by ESU and Zimo means that there are bound to be some teething issues while these manufacturers get to grip with it.

 

At YouChoos, we have had reported numerous issues with Zimo MS decoders running on an ECoS setup, and the problem turns out to be some incompatibility on the mfx protocol, which ECoS decides to use in preference to DCC if it determines that a decoder is capable of talking mfx - a fair enough order of preference since the mfx protocol is quite a bit richer than DCC.

 

The solution (at least until everyone gets a consistent implementation of mfx support), is to either disable mfx on the Zimo MS decoder (CV#112=191) or disable mfx/M4 support in the ECoS.  Either approach seems to resolve the issues, so you can then use Zimo MS decoders quite happily on the ECoS communicating using good old DCC.

 

Here is the screen on the ECoS where you can switch off mfx/M4 support:

 

 

More information can be found here:

 

https://www.youchoos.co.uk/Index-QuickHelps.php?L1=ECOSMFX

 

Hope that's useful to other ECoS owners who want to try out the Zimo MS decoders.

 

John

 

[Vecchio]

Thanks for the information, 

I wonder why some companies cannot stick to a standard and always try to produce something which is may be a bit better, but not compatible to the well established standards. And as a long time zimo user I think to remember that this is not the first time. My private opinion is that this is something which didn't happen by coincidence but has been cooked in some marketing department. 

 

Vecchio, believing in standardisation. In my non model railway related life I am a member to 24 BSI standardisation committees and several European and International ones. 

 

[zr2498]

Some more ifo if using the M4/mfx protocol

 

https://www.marklin-users.net/forum/posts/t48469-Changing-CV-parameters-with-ECoS

 

 

[Michael Hodgson]

On 24/08/2022 at 13:56, Vecchio said:

 

Vecchio, believing in standardisation. In my non model railway related life I am a member to 24 BSI standardisation committees and several European and International ones. 

 

Wouldn't it be better to have just one standard Standardisation Committee?

Oh silly me, that would cost you a lot of your livelihood!  😁

[giz]

4 minutes ago, Michael Hodgson said:

Wouldn't it be better to have just one standard Standardisation Committee?

Oh silly me, that would cost you a lot of your livelihood!  😁

Most, if not all, committee members don't get paid and even expenses are rare.

 

[Vecchio]

Thanks giz, you nailed it. 

There is also another problem. At the end of the medieval times a brilliant scientist could cover every aspect of science. Today we have much more information available and therefore we have to split things into small sections. Leonardo could do everything from developing flying machines, designing defence structures and war machines, painting the mona Lisa or even medical science. 

Today, because of specialisation, we know a lot about a certain subject, but we do not have any more the universal picture of the whole thing, as they had during the Renaissance period.