Digital Control Center Roco 1000001 Z21 START newGen

Please note: this item is on backorder. Delivery in the 3rd quarter of 2026.

The Roco 1000001 Z21 START newGen digital starter kit brings together a digital command center and its power supply block. This control center is the heart of a DCC miniature railway layout: it transmits driving commands, direction changes and function activation to locomotives equipped with digital decoders, while also enabling turnout control via decoders.

The Z21 START newGen is designed to start or expand digital operations within the Z21 ecosystem. Its built-in Wi‑Fi makes it easy to connect to compatible control devices and mobile terminals. It can therefore be used with the Z21 app on a smartphone or tablet, with a Z21 multiMAUS, or with a Z21 WLANMAUS.

Digital control of a miniature railway

In a DCC system, each locomotive equipped with a decoder receives its own address. The digital control center thus allows multiple engines to be operated independently on the same installation, by controlling their speed, direction of travel and available functions. The Z21 START newGen supports up to 9,999 DCC locomotive decoders and up to 2,048 DCC turnout/accessory decoders.

Its control capacity reaches up to 100 locomotives simultaneously. Locomotive decoders can be operated with 14, 28 or 128 speed steps, as well as with functions F0 to F31. The control center also supports reading and writing POM, meaning decoder programming directly on the main track.

Connections and operation

Wi‑Fi is built directly into the Z21 START newGen control center. This arrangement makes it easy to connect a smartphone, tablet or compatible wireless controllers to run trains from the layout. An X‑BUS socket allows connection of compatible control devices, while a USB‑C port is provided on the control center.

The main track and the programming track are combined into a single output. This setup is suitable for programming and operating DCC equipment on the layout. Analog locomotives without a digital decoder cannot be controlled with this control center.

A control center suited to DCC layouts

With a maximum output current of 3 A, the Z21 START newGen powers a digital miniature railway within the limits of its available power. The input voltage is between 18 and 24 V; the output voltage is 1 V lower than the input voltage. Protection is triggered in the event of a short circuit or overload beyond 3 A.

The control center supports RailCom, a communication system that enables feedback from compatible decoders. Software updates can be installed using the new Z21 suite.

Thanks to its compact format (147 x 103 x 26 mm) and its mounting system under the housing, the Z21 START newGen can be easily integrated under a layout baseboard, against a wall, or near the control desk. It provides a coherent foundation for operating DCC locomotives, turnouts and digital accessories from a compatible mobile, wired or wireless controller.

This control center replaces the older Roco Z21 Start reference 10833.

Technical features

• Reference: Roco 1000001
• Type: starter kit with Z21 START newGen digital control center
• System: DCC
• Wi‑Fi: built-in
• Compatible controllers: Z21 app, Z21 multiMAUS, Z21 WLANMAUS
• Locomotive decoders: up to 9,999
• Turnout/accessory decoders: up to 2,048
• Simultaneous locomotives: up to 100
• Speed steps: 14, 28 or 128
• Functions: F0 to F31
• Programming: read and write POM
• Connections: X‑BUS and USB‑C
• RailCom: supported
• Input voltage: 18 to 24 V
• Maximum output current: 3 A
• Dimensions: 147 x 103 x 26 mm
• Contents: Z21 START newGen digital control center and power supply block