What is the difference between the Locobuffer 2 and the MS 100 connectors for connecting a Digitrax DB150 to my computer? Is one better than another, more reliable, etc? Are either one necessary?
Randy will probably be able to offer more meat on this, but yes, if you want to hook up your PC to the Loconet, something like the Locobuffer or MS100 is required. The Locobuffer 2 is a better product. The MS100 uses an odd transmission speed, while the Locobuffer 2 can be set to either 19.2k or 57.6k bps ransfer rates. Either of those are standard settings on PCs. The Locobuffer 2 can also be isolated electrically, meaning if something comes in the power plug of the PC and takes it out, the circuit will stop at the Locobuffer and not get passed through to the railroad. So, you would wind up replacing the PC but not the boosters and everything on the layout. I say it can be isolated, and it actually is by default. That also means it needs a small wall wart to operate.
You can buy the thing from Tony’s with the Locobuffer 2, wall wart and serial cable. It uses a 9 pin serial, which is pretty much universal in PCs. If I am not mistaken, the MS-100 still uses the DB25 connector, which means you need either a 25-9 converter or a cable that will do the conversion.
I’m sure there is more, but I’m too lazy to dig out my Locobuffer 2 manual. I just hooked one up a few days ago, and it worked exactly like it should (once I was smart enough to realize the wall wart needed to be set from 1.5 v to 9 v).
One disclaimer, though. The DB150 will not permit you to read the decoder values that are set. It is essentially write only. You need the Zephyr command station or the DCS100 to read values.
Do not waste your money on the MS100. As Adelia says, all the MS100 does is translate RS-232 signals into Loconet compatible ones. It requires the computer to function at a non-standard baud rate. This works on most computers - but seldom with USB serial adapters, if your computer happens to not have a serial port, like most of the latest ones.
The Locobuffer is just that - a buffer, so it accepts data from the computer, and generates the Loconet signal and sends it out. And vice-versa. It is FAR more reliable, especially if you plan to have signalling and detection. It works at standard PC serial port baud rates so it works with just about anything, even a USB serial port on a non-Windows PC, or a Mac.
If you have any electronic skills at all, you can build your own Locobuffer for half or less than the going price of the fully assembled Locobuffer-II. I built mine for maybe $20, because I got the PIC processor and the rather expensive ($7 from Mouser) serial interface chip as samples from the chip makers. There is a fellow in Belgium who sells the blank circuit boards - contrary to what I expected, the shipping costs were quite low.
Even if you don’t feel capable of building you own, *** Bronson’s commercial version is still a good deal, and works nicely.
–Randy
Randy and Mark have pretty well nailed the situation with respect to the MS100 and the Locobuffer II. I’d just add that I too have tried both and find the Locobuffer II to be a much more robust solution for interfacing a computer to Loconet.