Updating The Wlanmaus; Glossary - z21 Roco FLEISCHMANN WLAN-MULTIMAUS WLANmaus Manuel D'utilisation

Appendix

4.1 Updating the WLANmaus

you can update your WLANmaus using the "Z21-Maintenance" PC tool and your router.
you can download the PC tool from our homepage: www.z21.eu.

4.2 Glossary

 Bits and Bytes
The terms bits and bytes were used during the early days of computing and is still encountered with digital
model railways. Decimal numbers are not part of the computer world. A new number system was developed,
the binary system. This system has only two numbers, 0 and 1. These two numbers also represent switch-
ing states. The 1 means switched, enabled, or activated; 0 means not switched, disabled, or deactivated.
One bit consists of 0 and 1; eight bits are combined to one byte. The bits combined into one byte are num-
bered from 0 (bit 0) to 7 (bit 7). A certain value is assigned to each bit position.
Bit
Value
If these values are added up, a max. value of 255 per byte (with each bit activated, i.e. set to 1) is derived,
which returns us to the decimal system. The min. value is 0, all bits are set to 0.
ROCO has significantly simplified programming individual bits in the WLANmaus. If supported by the
decoder, you no longer need to calculate certain values but simply select whether to set or not to set a bit
in the "PROGRAMMING" menu.
Numerous published articles provide additional or in–depth knowledge about this topic.
 CVs
All values which affect the behaviour of the locomotive decoder – and ultimately the behaviour of the
locomotive – are stored in what are referred to as CVs. CV is the abbreviation for configuration variables.
Since the WLANmaus and the Z21 are compatible with the NMRA/DCC standard, CVs between 1 – 1023
can be read and written.
CVs range from "0" to "255". This shows that reprogramming requires experience, as incorrectly set CVs
may have an adverse effect on the performance of the decoder.
 Decoder
In order to make the digital control signals of the WLANmaus and Z21 accessible to „conventional" technol-
ogy, you require a "translator" – the decoder. It does not replace any of the components in the analogue
direct current locomotive but is a necessary addition and must also be given a place in the locomotive
housing. For alternating current locomotives on the other hand, the change-over module or relay is replaced
by the decoder, not in DCC format but of course Motorola format.
 Speed steps
On a conventional model railway a regulating transformer is used to control locomotives. The transformer
emits voltage values to control the locomotive motor between 0 volts and the maximum voltage (typically
between 12 and 16 volts) via the controller.
In a digital system on the other hand, the track always carries a fixed constant voltage. The motor is con-
trolled by the control signals which the decoder converts into voltage values. These signals are made up
of "zeros" and "ones" and are therefore modified. The smaller the steps – speed steps – are, the more
accurately the locomotive can be controlled. The DCC /NMRA standard, according to which WLANmaus and
Z21 works, recognises 14, 27, 28 or 128 speed steps.
Decoders (from about 2000 onwards) can be controlled using at least 28 speed steps. They automatically
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