Untitled - Uhlenbrock

1.2 How MARCo operatesMARCoMARCo is an automation system, based on the RailCom ® Technology, which represents a bidirectionalfeedback system. Simply stated, the locomotive sends its address to the track andin return receives new driving instructions from the track. The information is thereforetransferred from locomotive to the track. A detector which can receive this information isconnected to the track Gleis. So that the information can be transferred, the digital signal andthe booster must allow a corresponding gap in the DCC digital signal (e.g. Power 4, Part No.63240). This gap is known as “Cutout”. If the detector has received the information, it ispassed to the MARCo-Receiver. The MARCo-Receiver reacts with its programming and thensends, e.g. new locomotive instructions across the LocoNet to the Intellibox. The center putsthe instructions into a DCC signal and then sends it to the locomotive decoder via the track,which then controls the locomotive with the new information.The RailCom Technology functions exclusively with the DCC data format.The locomotive information is sent from a RailCom transmitter or a RailCom capablelocomotive decoder. The RailCom transmitter is described in the MARCo system as MARCotransmitter. This MARCo transmitter in a vehicle is contacted via a digital address like alocomotive decoder. The address is sent via the track to the MARCo receiver.The MARCo-Receiver can have different instructions to change speeds, to switch locomotivefunctions (e.g. Sound) or to switch from turnouts, signals or entire routes, that are stored in theIntellibox. The instructions are implemented or not, depending upon the recognized address.Furthermore, the MARCo-Receiver can switch routes in the IB-Switch, or control a PCprogram, through track occupation reporting. The MARCo-Receiver recognizes a locomotive’saddress, and scans all stored instructions to determine if there is one to do for that address.Since the MARCo receivers can be installed anywhere in the vehicle, i.e. not centrally located,it forms a modular assembly. This has given the system its Name: Modular Automatic forRailCom - MARCo.The MARCo-Receiver can also be set up for different kinds of complex automatic operations,e.g. shuttle-track or Block-section. In this instance it implements functions without beingprogrammed for a special vehicle. Thus it becomes a terminus for shuttle trains, which stopand after a waiting period, pull out again in the opposite direction, independent of the train’saddress. It is also suitable for monitoring or setting of signals. In a section block all trains willdrive through on a green signal, stop on a red signal.Each MARCo-Receiver has a clear receiver address (base address). It can be identified bythis address by the Intellibox at any time. It is also possible to read or reprogram this address.6