OVERVIEW OF Z21

[@westwonic]

As you said, no need to remember any locomor point numbers, it's all done visually ! Marvelous piece of kit.

[@westwonic]

I drew my track layout schematic in the Z21 some time ago, and had no idea about this routing feature. What a game changer, especially with so many points to change within the sidings and platform areas. Thanks so much for the advice.

[@piccadillymodelrailways]

Hi Nick you are very welcome, so glad you found it helpful

[@FarlandHowe]

I’ve used the Z21 for 5 years now and can’t imagine how anyone can manage without one. Honestly.

[@piccadillymodelrailways]

Exactly I think its the best out there no questions asked.

[@piccadillymodelrailways]

Anthony Dodge The Model Train Outsider thank you. They might rate below but I love it, trying to get hold of another for my future OO layout. Heard 3-4 people have experienced issues with Ecos, one even switching to Z21. At the end of the day ‘you pay your money, take your choice’. Thank you as always for commenting.

[@nigelcarter9503]

John, a good description of the Z21.

[@cw315]

very glad you made this, actually going to being getting one of these myself in the very near future, the Z21 start that is, also congrats on the big 1000

[@piccadillymodelrailways]

TheMasterNerd Oh good, so glad it was helpful. I did have the white one a while ago. I only switched because I needed to lower the voltage which couldn’t be done on the start. Its brilliant and you will love it.

[@piccadillymodelrailways]

TheMasterNerd thx for the congrats Ive literally only just hit it. So big thanks for your support.

[@cw315]

@@piccadillymodelrailways it looks good and the fact you dont need a proper controller is great. I think its about time I switch.

[@cw315]

@@piccadillymodelrailways No problem, a solid channel, as for milestones I hit 200 just yesterday.

[@mick9885]

Nice looking Layout there + nice to meet you yesterday 👍

[@piccadillymodelrailways]

Mick Sanger thanks Mick and great to meet you too.

[@wheezypalacemodels7726]

Looks great bit of kit John..nice one, Chris

[@piccadillymodelrailways]

Wheezy Palace N gauge it most definitely is Chris. No remembering addresses or sound functions which are different from varying manufacturers. Or spending 5 minutes typing in addresses one at a time. Its all done at the touch of screen. Simples... lol

[@Oorail]

The numbers at 4:08 are the bit value for the CV. The CV is a type of key-value store. Looks like a 8-bit value so each one is either a 1 or 0. The one with the 7 under it is the 8th bit, the one with 0 under it is the first bit. So if you wanted to set the CV value to 2, you would set the bits as 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0. A value of 3 would be 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1.

[@piccadillymodelrailways]

Bless you thanks, clearly binary but its been many many years since I did that at school, me as a kid. So glad year 6 don’t do that yet. Lol soon though Im guessing. If the Z21 sets the CV do you think I need touch the binary?

[@Oorail]

@@piccadillymodelrailways I think you can probably safely leave it alone. It looks like you can set it in decimal above it? So might be there for troubleshooting / advanced use.

[@alexsavins8264]

Very informative thank you John

[@normanrowe2831]

Hello, super interesting! I’ll have to look into the Z-21. Off topic a bit. In regards your iPad screen not rotating. You probably accidentally hit the side button. That locks the screen rotation. I do it all the time. You just have to go into settings and undo the lock. Okay...see ya next time.

[@piccadillymodelrailways]

Norman Rowe yes its definitely worth a look. Yes I think you’re right about the ipad screen rotation. Didnt want to get into that in the video. Thankz for commenting

[@ingor.522]

At Central Europe the Märklin Company using AC poered middle point contacts between their rails often called as 3 rail system. They produced together with the motorola phone company an own digital system of what incompatible to later updates of newer motorola systems. The mfx digital protocoll was a result of the before from Märklin together with Motorola invented own digital system. So Motorola is identifying the Märklin 3 rail AC system, whis is very different to DCC. Some of the Märklin Customers are using DCC, too so Roco/Fleischmann decided to give them an option by using the Z21 as Command Station to work in both digital systems. By the way all other from Märklin provided Gauges of track except H0 are using DCC only. In H0 the from Märklin owned Trix Company using DCC in H0 Gauge, too, without the middle point contacts between the rails, like any other international 2 rail system.

[@piccadillymodelrailways]

Thank you for your comment

[@ingor.522]

@@piccadillymodelrailways Me I am using the z21 Start Command Station without the WLAN (WiFi) Router but I use cable connected Multimouse Handheld Throttles (the red one from Roco, the dark grey one from Fleischmann (GFN) or the newer light grey z21 Multimouse from both unioned companies of Roco and GFN). Important are the firmware onto the Multimouse Handheld Throttles. • The Version V1.05 allows to use the older Digital System, where the as Master connected Multimouse and the Booster 10764 (Roco Part No.) works together as Command Station. • The Version V2.0 disallow to use the old Roco/GFN Booster 10764 as Command Station and requires in minimum a z21 Start or z21 Command Station or even cable connected to the big Z21 Command Station. The older Roco/GFN Digital System with the Master Multimouse and the Roco/GFN Booster 10764 had not the possibility to read out any programned CVs onto Decoders and made Decoder programming a little more complicated and difficult, without done own notifications of programming steps, you were be in need to reset the Decoder more often back onto factory setting and beginning the programming again. The new z21 Start, z21 and Z21 Family of Command Stations can read out CVs and making this Digital System more better and more Comfortable. Please note the output track Voltage is normally 21 Volts but can be reduced only at the big Z21 Command Station using a PC or Laptop and the from Roco/GFN available Maintenance tool. If the provided around 2 Amps are too low in their Amperage than you would be in need to use a bigger Power Supply of 54 VA than you can use the full 3.2 A.

[@film49uk]

interesting way to run a layout ....

[@piccadillymodelrailways]

PAUL POWER Absolutely, but we each choose the control method that suits us. I personally dont want to be tied with wires. The ipad frees me up to be anywhere around the layout and take control with me. The wifi link too is excellent. Never any dropout.

[@film49uk]

@@piccadillymodelrailways the freedom to be able to control the layout from any where is a big plus indeed

[@WarwickRoadAndy]

John, how are you connecting the Z21 to the bus wire and power?

[@piccadillymodelrailways]

Hi, thanks for the question. On the black Z21 there are two track outputs main and programming tracks. For both I use the detachable terminal blocks so I can disconnecting easily if necessary. Secondly hope Im understanding correctly Z21 has european plugs which also use 230-240v, so I use adapters with European to uk. Hope that helps

[@TRAMJUNCTION7147HG]

All very technical John, but I think I will stick to my Analogue dc. lol

[@piccadillymodelrailways]

TRAM JUCTION MODEL RAILWAY ha ha ha that did make me chuckle Geoff. Its each to our own and we operate what is good for us. Im so grateful we are not all the same. Thanks Geoff for taking the time to comment.

[@kirkdalerovers2179]

Hi I like this video

[@piccadillymodelrailways]

kinglouie221005 thanks glad it was helpful

[@kirkdalerovers2179]

Piccadilly Model Railway By John Warner your one of the best youtubers I ever seen before

[@piccadillymodelrailways]

kinglouie221005 Ahhh so kind, thank you.