I just finished an installation of the new Zimo MX699 decoder I bought from TrainLi in an old LGB 2080 steam loco. The addition of the on board super caps is great. On my test track I cover one rail with about 1 foot of electrical tape. At speed step 6 it crossed without any problem. The lights flicker a little but the sound and motion do not loose a beat. I then took it out on my layout with another LGB 2080 with a MX695 and was very pleased with the difference though dirty uncleaned track. The pin version should plug right into the new LGB/Marklin socket. I will try one of those next and report back.
Any idea of what is different on the 699 vs. the 695??
Greg
+ Stay-Alive - The MX699 includes three Super Caps with 3 F (formerly called "gold cap") on-board, representing an effective energy storage for passing over dirty or not live track pieces together uninterrupted sound at full volume, for 1 - 5 sec, depending on power consumption, AND, If required, virtually any size energy storage can also be connected externally.
+ Two fan outputs (MX695 has one) allow independent operation of two synchronized smoke generators (suitable for very inexpensive types, no need for additional electronic components).
+ The "V" type now has 15 function outputs (MX695 has "only" 14), and, as in the prior MX695V, additionally 4 servo connections (complete with 5V supply); the latter feature is also present in the "S" version.
+ The adjustable low voltage function is on the MX699KV and LV, with more smoothly and precisely defined plus by coding ("Mouse Piano") can be selected: 1.5 V - 6.5 V - 14 V - 19 V; in addition there are the fixed voltage 5 V and 10 V outputs (also present in the "S" types).
+ The MX699LS and .LV types are suitable for immediate use in the new 2 x 14 pin Märklin LGB interface (they have pins for the SUSI-like train bus directly on the board).
What is not in the MX699 and MX696 is the eternal volume control which is needed for DC users and digital users that can not write to CV 266 like the MTS users. DCC users can change the volume via CV 266.
Interesting, I never have had a need for keep alive caps on any decoder, but I’m all stainless.
Can’t you use the shift function in the MX series to write to the higher CVs withouth going over 128? Or is MTS even more limited?
Greg
p.s. learning my new Zimo MX10 system, a lot to learn, but can be customized quite a bit. Will be emailing you Dan with some questions.
I have only used the computer MTS 55045 for reading/writing to LGB decoders and was limited to the first 256 locations. (one hex byte of addresses 0-255). I never saw data over location 127 in decoders.
With the handheld (55015) the instructions do limit you to 1 byte for addressing.
For 28 speed steps and/or higher addressing you need the MTS III with a Massoth Navigator for operating and programming.