Well, I finally got it. I got my new DCC system for Christmas. It was the new MRC Prodigy Advance. I am still several weeks from being able to install and test it, but reading the info on it from the manufagurer and from Tony’s Train Exchange I think it will perform better than some of the negative hype I have heard. Now all I have to do it get some track laid (I am at the bare benchwork creating basic landforms stage), install a decoder or two, wire the thing up, and I’m ready to go. I am very excited about the digital move.
Congrats. I’m hoping to take the DCC plunge in 2005 and the MRC Prodigy Advance is one of the finalists for consideration. Please report your findings when you have it up and running!
Good move, I visited Tony’s up in Vermont this Fall ( color was beyond description ) and I picked up my NCE DCC equipment. I am behind you guys, I finally have a room downstairs to use, and will be starting to install walls, wiring, etc, then the bench work, ohh well, lots of work to do, but being retired, we have the time, right guys?
grayfox1119
I’ve heard good things about the Prodigy Advanced System. Much improved over the
original Prodigy. I haven’t tried the Advanced, but I briefly owned the Prodigy… returned
it the following day for a Digitrax System. From what I have read, the Advanced will hang
with the big boys ( Digitrax, NCE, Lenz and such). Good luck and let us know how it
works out. Dave
I think one of the problems regarding the old Prodigy system is that people expected it to be something that it was never intended to be. It was marketed and designed as a basic, entry level system. It was never intended to do what advanced systems like Digitrax or the new Prodigy Advance systems do. The new MRC system is designed to be a more complete and expandable system. I am looking forward to seeing what it will do.
I just installed my MRC Prodigy Advance system and it ROCKS!!!
Now if I can just figure how to get some of my decorders that I installed to actually work, I’ll be in train heaven…
I have 2 of the new P2K GP38’s in Boston & Maine. I installed the Digitrax DH163LO decorder. Programed it on the programing track. All I can get to work is the lights, the engine won’t run at all in either direction.
Did you set the decoders to 2 digit or 4 digit addressing? Try both, and see which the loco responds to. There’s also a known problem with the P2K GP38s that has to be resolved first – here’s a link to the info on Tony’s Train Exchange website: http://www.tonystrains.com/technews/loconews/life-p2k-wiring.htm
Check to see if there is a way to reset to factory settings. Also see what speed steps should be 14, 28, or 128. If using Digitrax decoders get on line with them and download the free mobile decoder manual. 78 pages of a wealth of information. Get some track laid and go for it! I am going back and forth on a 2 x 8 foot module yard throat, but at least i’m running! Happy Railroading New Year!
You might have the voltage settings off too. When I switched to the advance entering a numeric value for the start, top, and decelleration settings was a new animal compared to the original prodigy. If I set a number to hugh the engine would not move but the lamps worked. I wound up programming all the voltage settings back to zero and then my engines that acted up worked again. Then I changed the number values a little at a time to regain momentum mostly.
Still learning how to tweak these settings since it wasn’t something to play with before and they do not give instructions for them in the advance manual.
To those of you who own the Prodigy Advance system, have you been successful at programming on the main track? I have a bunch of Atlas Master locos and Digitrax decoder equipped Athearns and Bachmanns, and I am contemplating purchasing the MRC Advance DCC system so I don’t have to move the locos to a programming track every time I need to set something.
I have built my programming track right into the layout and have the small section isolated from the main and on a DPDS toggle so that I can run a train in, flip a switch, program, then flip the switch back and drive out. I have placed some of my engine service structures like sanding towers so the reason for the stop in on the program track can be somewhat prototypical.