Selectrix

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Throttle Network:

Selectrix

Summary: Selectrix (or SX) is a digital model train control system developed by German company Doehler and Haass for Marklin

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General information
Common Name
Used by
Reference material URL
Has computer interface
Year Released
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Number Of Max Devices
Is open source Yes

History

Selectrix was developed in the early 1980s. Selectrix is based on a data communication protocol originally developed by Siemens for communications between mainframe computers. Döhler & Haas offered their system to several model railway manufacturers in the 1980s. The only interest in the system came from Trix GmbH and resulted in a licensing agreement between the two companies, giving Trix exclusive marketing rights. Selectrix has been on the market since 1987. Selectrix decoders are often smaller than an equivalent DCC multifunction decoder, and some are compatible with DCC.

Selectrix (SX)

While Selectrix is technically more advanced than NMRA DCC, with a bus system which is much faster and decoders small enough for Z Scale, there are some limitations.

The biggest limitation is the issue of single source. D&H is the sole supplier of the Selectrix integrated circuits needed to manufacture the system's components. Unlike DCC, where manufacturers are not tied to one supplier for a critical component.

Open Standard

In 1999 the two companies mutually agreed to terminate their licensing agreement. Since then, Selectrix has become a widely recognized open standard and is supported by several equipment manufacturers in Europe. Selectrix is especially popular in smaller N and Z scale model railways. European Model Train Association, MOROP has covered Selectrix data protocols partially in their NEM standards.

Selectrix first appeared in 1982, and later was rebranded in 1987 as Trix Selectrix.

SX Bus

Selectrix uses one data bus for controlling everything, including rolling stock and accessories, and includes feedback from various system components.

The data bus is bi-directional and synchronized. This makes it possible to integrate many types of automatic functions without a separate computer and software by using only a Selectrix central unit. Because the data packets are sent and received within a fixed timeframe, system speed and reaction times are not dependent of the number of decoders controlled, as is the case with other systems, most notably NMRA DCC. Selectrix is also very resistant to data communication errors.

Selectrix Signal Format

The Selectrix data format seems at first glance to be similar to the FMZ format. Positive or negative pulses follow each other. The pulses are separated by a Pause Cycle. The pulses are 40 microseconds long, breaks are 10 microseconds.

In Selectrix, the problem of the voltage reversal is solved quite differently. It is not whether the voltage is positive or negative, but each pulse is compared with the previous ones. A pulse that has the same polarity as the previous one is a logical "0", a pulse which has a different polarity than the previous one is a logical "1". Unlike the digital packet used with DCC, where time determines the value of the pulse.

Therefore, the resulting voltage is not necessarily zero volts on average. There may be a residual voltage level, but that is not a problem as Trix never sought to mix digital and analog modes.

Details of the SX protocol can be found in the NEM 680 and 681 on the Morop Site.

The term SX is an abbreviation of SelecTriX

Manufacturer Support

Manufacturers of Selectrix equipment are Rautenhaus, Müt-Digirail and MTTM. Selectrix components from various manufacturers are compatible at all levels and can be freely combined in real-world Selectrix control solutions.

Variations

There are two varieties of the Selectrix system:

  • SelecTRIX 1
  • SelecTRIX 2

SelecTRIX 1 offers 31 speed steps and 100 addresses. SelecTRIX 2 is an enhanced protocol offering 127 speed steps while supporting 10,000 addresses and an additional 16 functions.

See Also