I have a MRC Prodigy DCC system and when I run a consist of two or more locomotives I can’t control any of the sounds or lights only direction and speed, is this normal? Anyone else having the same issues.
I hate to sound negative but I think the problem is that you purchased the MRC DCC system. Its not a common system by alot of model railroaders so you may have difficulty locating help. It is not a system that I have the slightest interest in plus I have Digitrax and you just cant go wrong with such a great system. Can I ask you why you chose that system with the many other ones available? How has it worked out besides that issue so far?
Which Prodigy? Advanced? Express? Advance2?
Hello,
I have the prodigy system and have no issues with controlling the sound and lights in a consist. The problem that I do have is controlling the lights and sounds seperately on the engines of the consist. I found that is due to the MRC decoders I have installed in the engines. This could be your same issue. The MRC decoders are not designed to do this.
I have two steam locomotives with Tsunami decoders and I can set them up independently and just have the head light, whistle and bell work on the front engine.
Which consist method are you using?
Best regards,
Jeff
I have the Prodigy Advance it works really good, the only reason I chose MRC was the price plus I got a really nice discount. I set up the consists by pressing the consist button and than I add locomotives. I also cant shut them down by pressing the F8 button 3 times. Is there another way to program a consist?
Yes, but I use NCE.
Bob
I wish I had your knowledge of the Prodigy system. I have only had my Prodigy Advance system for 2 1/2 years with no problems. I did have a question about programing a 4 digit address in an Atlas loco - I e-mailed MRC and had a reply in about 16 hours - giving me the correct answer to reprogram a CV. An e-mail to MRC will get you an answer to your consisting problem.[:)]
P>S> There are only a few thousand modelers using this system!
I also use the Prodigy Advance with no problems. I believe the NCE and the MRC are the most user friendly handhelds on the market and I studied them both. I unpacked my unit and began using it without the need to read the manual, I have since than read it. I have a Digitrax “Big Boy” from years ago, this is not a user friendly system in comparison to MRC and NCE.
The only MRC decoders I have encountered are in my Genesis F unit. I have not tryed to consist this unit with another loco yet.
Hope this is helpful, Chris
I’ve had my PA for about 2.5 years, and I just figured out that while your consist is running, you can call up an individual locomotive in the consist to change the lighting and sound settings. Just hit the Loco button, dial in the address of the individual engine, and then hit your function keys. Direction and speed are controlled by CV 19 while everything is consisted, but everything else can be controlled by the loco’s direct address.
Also, if you set all your sound and light functions before building the consist, they’ll function normally in the consist. Hope that helps.
I chose the MRC system because it is far simpler to understand than Digitrax, which is a good system, but not for the neophyte. I’ve been operating on Digitrax layouts for several years, and I still can’t figure out some of the basic functions. MRC spells it out for you right on the hand held. Perfect for an electronics moron like me.
Lee
Artur there is a yahoo MRC DCC users group at MRC-DCC-owner@yahoogroups.com.
One of the members SD40 works for MRC and he address problems. I noticed one post where he said the president of MRC had read some of the posts.
This is MRC owners so you get answers from people who have the MRC and who are not there to bash you because you bought a different brand than them.
I hate to sound positive, but the MRC dcc systems are first-rate, and have plenty of users.
Interesting that “it is not a system that I have the slightest interest in…” yet you choose to visit a thread plainly labeled as dealing with such systems.[;)]
Wow so he cannot reply to the topic because he does not have any interest or own the MRC system? Whoa that is hard.
Yes. CV-19 sets the consist address. You can program the consist number either on the main or on the programming track. The consist button is a lot easier.
Don’t worry about those Digitrax guys. Why, some of my best friends are Digitrax guys. As I said, MRC is a much more user-friendly system. Those guys just like to feel superior because their manuals are a lot thicker…[:D]
Lee
I never said he couldn’t. I said it was “interesting”. [;)]
Hey, Andie’s just trying to be nice without actually calling your system a “dog”. Speaking of dogs…I gotta let mine in.
I am sooooo tired of people bashing the MRC systems when they know nothing about them. Yes, MRC’s early DCC renderings left much to be desired, but their latest generation of DCC systems are excellent. Sure they have their positives and shortcomings, as does Digitrax, NCE, Lenz, and every other system out there. I have owned my MRC PA for over 2 years and I love it. I have operated on Digitrac, Lenz, and Easy DCC systems, and I wouldn’t trade my PA (now converted to wireless) for any one of them.
Ron
I’m with you, Ron.
Lee
Hmmm…looks like I need to check the woodwork…[:-,]
I have no problem with other DCC systems but if someone asked me I would say NCE is the best.
Thanks for the help guys, I got the sound effects to work by dialing in the address of the loco.