ESU ECoS and Märklin CS1

Content → Command Stations → ESU ECoS

The Märklin CS1 is technically the same as ESU ECoS.

The ECoS also manage objects for trains and switches. To perform an action with Rocrail it must be made sure an object exist in the ECoS before any command is send. So at startup Rocrail must compare the objects found in ECoS with the ones in the plan file. If anything is missing it must be added as new objects… (This could take some time with bigger layouts.)

Update the firmware to at least version 1.1.1. Lower versions will not have full functionality and may not be able to switch turnouts.

ecos_pc_protocole.pdf
ecos_pc_interface2.pdf
ECoS PC Protocol Lizenz

Check your setup to find out how the ECoS is configured in the LAN.

Set the IP address or DNS name to match your ECoS.

The default port for the ECoS is 15471.

The ECoS must be connected to the LAN as described in section 20 of the manual. The best way is to provide ECoS with a static IP address; section 20.1.2 of the manual. In this example it is set to 192.168.10.50.
Remark: Sometimes the PC (Win XP, SP3) can't connect the CS1 (ping timeout) via network although the IP address and the wiring is correct. In that case you should start the PC before the CS1 boots.
Check if Rocrail PC can make a connection with ECoS: open the Web interface of the ECoS with an Internet browser http://192.168.10.50

Now we can setup Rocrail. Start the Rocrail server and the Rocrail GUI. Choose File/Rocrail properties tab Controler and add a new controller from type “ecos”. Fill in the IP address (the one in this example) and the port number 15471 (this is a fixed value). Remove the not used controllers, stop the GUI and server, and restart Rocrail server and GUI. (in this sequence)

With the Power On command we can test the communication. Select Control / Power On. The first time nothing happens because Rocrail is in Power Off and ECoS in GO (Power ON). Select it again. The ECoS should swap now to STOP mode. Repeat it and the ECoS swaps to GO and Rocrail shows Power On. If this all function you have all setting for communicating with ECoS correctly set and now you can start adding trains.

Select Tables/Locomotives and create a new loco pushing the New button. The link between ECoS and Rocrail in not by address but by loco ID as has been set in the ECoS. The ID must match exactly with the name for this loco in the ECoS. In this example the “DB BR215”.

In the tab “Interface” you have to setup the decoder addrss. Leave the Interface ID empty!

Programming of decoders is not supported by the Ecos PC interface and due to this not implemented in Rocrail.

Nu kan de eerste loc getest worden. Open Control / Loc Control en start de loc.

Maak een nieuwe wissel aan met Tables/Turnouts. De koppeling tussen de ECoS en de wissel in Rocrail gaat met adres. De ECoS maakt echter gebruik van doorlopende adressen (flat adressing) en Rocrail werkt per decoder. Vul het gewenste protocol in en bij Address het decodernummer en bij port de positie binnen de decoder. Port adressen lopen standaard van 1 to 4. Het Address veld in Rocrail komt dus niet overeen met het adres in de ECoS (behalve voor adres 1 port 1).

Voor het omzetten van de adressen kun je de volgende tabel gebruiken:

Hieronder nog een voorbeeld van een wissel die in de ECoS adres 26 heeft