Which command station fits your layout?

Choose your situation and see which command station makes sense, how to connect it and what to check first.

Choose your situation Beginner, Märklin, club layout or automation. Check connection LAN, WiFi, USB or an interface. Test driving Loco forward, turnout switched, done.

Drive first. Expand later. Start simple and add a switchboard, decoder work or automation later.

Quick advice

For customers

What fits you?

Already have a command station? Start with that. Buying new? Focus on the first three recommendations.

All options, briefly.

Short cards for customers: when useful, how to connect, and what to check first.

Evidence

Compatibility facts and primary sources

Every command-station family listed on this page is fully supported by LocoLink. Manufacturer documentation supports the hardware and protocol facts; the table explains the connection route for each system.

How to read the connection route

Every command station listed below is fully supported. The exact model, interface, driver, network settings and firmware can still determine the physical connection and setup details.

The supported list covers modern network command stations, USB and serial DCC systems, feedback-oriented bus ecosystems and established legacy hardware. A direct, interface or gateway route is full support: the route only describes how LocoLink reaches the command station. Use the cited manufacturer material to identify ports, firmware and interface hardware before connecting the layout.

Command station	Support	Connection or protocol	Primary sources
Roco/Fleischmann Z21	Fully supported	Z21 LAN over UDP	Roco / Fleischmann Z21: Z21 LAN Protocol Specification V1.13 Roco / Fleischmann Z21: Z21 FAQ: LAN protocol and licensing Roco / Fleischmann Z21: Z21 manuals and technical downloads
ESU ECoS	Fully supported	ECoS network protocol	ESU: ECoS instruction manuals ESU: What ECoS can do
Märklin CS3 / CS3 plus	Fully supported	Märklin CAN over network	Märklin: Central Station 3 / 3 plus Märklin: CS2 CAN protocol 2.0
DCC-EX EX-CommandStation	Fully supported	DCC-EX native / WiThrottle / USB / WiFi / Ethernet	DCC-EX: DCC-EX documentation DCC-EX: EXRAIL Automation & Animation
YaMoRC YD7010 / YD7001	Fully supported	LocoNet, XpressNet, R-Bus, S88 ES-Link, LAN/USB depending on model	YaMoRC: YD7010 manual YaMoRC: YaMoRC products
BiDiB / FichtelBahn IFnet / IF2	Fully supported	BiDiB / netBiDiB	BiDiB.org: netBiDiB and webBiDiB FichtelBahn: BiDiB-IFnet manual FichtelBahn: BiDiB-IF2 manual
Lenz / XpressNet systems	Fully supported	XpressNet via Lenz interfaces	Lenz Elektronik: Downloads & Manuals
NCE Power Cab / Power Pro	Fully supported	NCE serial/USB command-station interface	NCE: Command Station System Manuals JMRI: JMRI supported hardware
Digitrax / LocoNet ecosystems	Fully supported	LocoNet via command station/interface or Z21 gateway	Digitrax: LocoNet Personal Use Edition Roco / Fleischmann Z21: Z21 LAN Protocol Specification V1.13

Maintained by Tom Westerman · Compatibility data last reviewed 2026-07-31.