[Piotr Maciejewski]

Info from: http://www.lenz-elektronik.com/digitalplus...ware_update.php

Lenz update LZV100/LH100 to new version of software: 3.6

Main news:
- Support for Fx up to F28
- programming of CV up to CV1024

 

[Doug]

Thanks for that news and link.

I was going to say: "I'll be downloading the update ASAP", but I've seen that you have to send the units in at a cost of 40 Euros including shipping.

Why can't this be done via the Internet and the USB connector?

This is why Lenz is a dying brand.

 

[Piotr Maciejewski]

QUOTE (Doug @ 14 Apr 2008, 14:20) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Why can't this be done via the Internet and the USB connector?

This is why Lenz is a dying brand.
LI-USB can be upgrade by USB, so why LZV100 not (eg. by LI-USB)?

 

[Edwin]

QUOTE (Piotr Maciejewski @ 14 Apr 2008, 12:58) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>LI-USB can be upgrade by USB, so why LZV100 not (eg. by LI-USB)?

I think when I looked inside mine the firmware was on EPROM.

 

[Brian Considine]

QUOTE (Doug @ 14 Apr 2008, 12:20) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>This is why Lenz is a dying brand.

Many people who are on the internet seem to forget that not everyone is. Whilst agreeing that Lenz does appear "old hat" to a lot of people I would not write them off yet.

Don't forget that DCC is not their only business & they make a lot of DCC for Roco & who else ?

To be quite honest it's this constant need for updating to cure bugs & finetuning that puts me off the ECoS (the attitude of the importers to us does them no favours either). For me it's too much faffing about.

Whatever way you look at it the LH100 is tried, tested, reliable & simple, which is what many people want, no more, no less.

 

[Doug]

Don't get me wrong, I still use my LZV100/LH100 combo. I have not found the need to upgrade to an Ecos and have not been temped by a Dynamis or the Elite even after testing and trying out.

I just wish that Lenz had more of a vision like Zimo and that they embraced the modern DCC market offering new products however minor.

After speaking to their product manager last year at Nürnberg, and finding out that there was nothing on the table at all for the next few years, I left their booth feeling quite depressed.

 

[neil_s_wood]

QUOTE (dbclass50 @ 15 Apr 2008, 01:48) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>To be quite honest it's this constant need for updating to cure bugs & finetuning that puts me off the ECoS (the attitude of the importers to us does them no favours either). For me it's too much faffing about.
Yes Brian, but having just completed an update for ECoS I can tell you it took me ten minutes at most and now I have more functions and operability than I did yesterday. I see it as future proofing and with a system that can be updated this way I know I am covered with an up to date system for as long as they keep doing the updates. It was also free, sending it back to the factory involves some financial outlay.

 

[iansa]

QUOTE (neil_s_wood @ 14 Apr 2008, 21:51) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Yes Brian, but having just completed an update for ECoS I can tell you it took me ten minutes at most and now I have more functions and operability than I did yesterday. I see it as future proofing and with a system that can be updated this way I know I am covered with an up to date system for as long as they keep doing the updates. It was also free, sending it back to the factory involves some financial outlay.

I too have just updated my Ecos to 1.1.2 and like Neil took ten minutes. It cost nothing and I now have the latest system that ESU offer.
How many other DCC systems offer the same method to update features and to latest version.
Don't get me wrong I am not knocking other systems and firmly believe in horses for courses.
I have been a Lenz user for yrs but agree, until now, Lenz have been lagging behind a bit.
I still use the Lenz thru sniffer port of ECOS but not sure if I will update my Lenz to 3.6.
Ian

 

[Brian Considine]

Hi Neil & Ian,

I suppose that because the units I have at the moment (FLM Twin-Centre's on SL & LH100 on the outdoor) have all the functions & facilities I require for the present I am a little reluctant to change, certainly for SL as I will require two consoles. If I change the outdoor I will probably go for the radio version of the Multimaus.

Shame really, I do quite like the ECoS, but being in the trade there is no way I am going to pay retail for it & I am not too sure about getting the required support for it, although I do now know enough people who use the ECoS. We can purchase ESU at trade prices from Germany but I am reluctant to do so, being a great believer in "proper" channels.

Maybe Lenz has got something under development, after all, they have been very quiet for some time, although they have of course developed the radio Maultimaus recently.

 

[Sir Galahad]

I think that you wouldn't buy a games console, for instance, and find that it had glitches and then have to download an update every few months when they fix them, you would get a console that works well and doesn't need updates to fix glitches or whatever and not need to change it untill a better console comes out. Although I do see the benifits of having internet updates. (Vista anyone?)

 

[iansa]

QUOTE (Sir Galahad @ 16 Apr 2008, 17:10) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I think that you wouldn't buy a games console, for instance, and find that it had glitches and then have to download an update every few months when they fix them, you would get a console that works well and doesn't need updates to fix glitches or whatever and not need to change it untill a better console comes out. Although I do see the benifits of having internet updates. (Vista anyone?)

My ECOS was purchased in Nov 06 and has never had any gliches that effected the running of my layout. Each new update has made some features work better and also added new features that we did not have prior.
I will admit, the sniffer stopped talking to the Lenz at one stage but ESU were on top of it within a couple of days and released a firmware fix for it. Did not have to send system away just connected to computer and hey presto, problem solved.
Happy DCCing
Ian