Entry Level DCC System

MRC has a reputation for lack of expandability.

Their older sound decoders are well known for being “problematic” and not very realiable.

So unfortunately they have a bad rep.

IF you were going to go walk around, I would go with either NCE or Digitrax.

If you have an old spare windows PC around, and you connect it to a wireless network you can run JMRI with the handheld throttle app (accesible from your smart phone) (You will have to buy the computer interface made by NCE or Digitrax)

My old club used NCE. And unfortunately we had nothing but problems with burned out boosters and broken off throttle antennas.

The throttles were just poorly designed as they weren’t very serviceable.

The boosters might have been a wiring issue we could never track down, but breakers never tripped. Everything was properly grounded with #12 wire. So I’m suspect of the cause.

Uhhh no. -

I don’t think Crest Electronics’ Train Engineer is going to give him control of sound.

It can do sound. I Googled it but pricey.

Rich

If the OP wants to run ONE DC loco, the Digitrax Zephyr would be nice. Annoying motor buzz but it can be done. Motor does get hot when the loco is sitting still though. Yeah, opened another can of worms.

Choices.

Rich

Actually, the OP won’t choose the MRC System… He stated he wants to use a JMRI WiThrottle, so MRC, which does not support JMRI, is already ruled out by the OP…

So, I stick by my suggestion of Digitrax Zephyr Xtra, with a Locobuffer, so he can use the WiThrottle through JMRI, and be able to expand later on. No need to spend big $$$ on a wireless throttle, or even a tethered throttle, as the WiThrottle will give him the wireless walk around throttle on his (presumed) already owned smart phone/tablet. If, the OP decides, later on as part of the expansion, he can add in an extra throttle (or two).

I am not knowledgable on NCE systems, so will defer to others on them, but they will also work with JMRI.

On the other hand, the advantage of the NCE PH-Pro wireless is that it is self-contained. No need to master JMRI and no need to keep the smart phone close at hand. Open the box, set up the components and you are all set to run.

Rich

JMRI support for MRC Prodigy has been available starting with JMRI version 3.9.1.
See http://jmri.org/help/en/html/hardware/mrc/index.shtml for the details.
Nonetheless, as I suggested earlier, “focus on and choose from NCE or Digitrax.”

RR Baron

After enough complaints, possibly by reading the forums here and the number of times anyone who has done DCC for a long time said to skip MRC because it doesn;t support JMRI MRC gave in, and JMRI now has support for MRC.

What I still don;t like about MRC is their complete lack of information. Those ads they rean featuring a club that used MRC - I really would love to know how they did it, since there is little to no technical information on expanding the system to club-size in the manuals. Sure, the manual is simple, and common instructions are on the back of the throttle - not that any of the others couldn;t do the same, because the basic operations like selecting and running a train are simple with ALL systems, and nearly identical, except for what the label might be on the button you push. Some say “select”, some say “loco”, etc. You can download the manuals for all the major systems. MRC’s is the smallest. Sure, it’s simple - but the problem is they don;t tell you anything past the basics. All the others have a quick start section at the front of the manual PLUS all the technical details you might want to know after becoming familiar with basic operation.

The real gotcha? When you do want to expand for a larger layout, there’s only a brief mention in the MRC manual about needing powered cab jacks. No one else hides the fact that after the wires get long enough and/or you have enough cabs plugged in, you need to supplant the power in the cab bus because you can only draw so much current through thin telephone wires. And most charge about $15 for each extension jack. MRC’s are like $40. And MRC uses what should be, in this day of everything networked, much more common (and therefore less expensive) RJ45 jacks for their throttle bus. The 6P6C jacks used by Digitrax and NCE are relics of the analog office phone days and hardly used anywhere else these days - I have a box ful of Loconet cables I snagged over 7 years ago when we ripped o

I have been using MRC Prodigy DCC since 2004 with no complaints.

Bob Bochenek

The assumption has to be a smaller layout. If he is just busting into DCC I would go with the digitrax Zephyr extra. Street price can be as low as under $125, used even less and there is expandability. Not a lot lost if later he wishes to move out to walk-around as his empire grows. Walk-around seems a bit silly on a small road in a small space. The zephyr can be relegated to program track use and testing much later if the walk around becomes important on a bigger layout.

SInce the Zephyr Xtra supports 22 locos and cabs, you can get pretty big and still use the Zephyr as the command station. You’d need a booster or two to run 22 locos, but the command station capacity of the Zephyr is pretty good. You could do something like what I did for my previous layout, the Zephyr was the command station and track power from it ran my accessory decoders (Tam Valley Singlets, for servos) only. I have a DB150 which provided track power. My Zephyr is the original one, so it only runs up to 12 locos - not exceeded on my spare-room size layout replciating a branch with only one train in each direction, plus a (not finished) cement plant wih its own in-plant switcher. I will be upgrading for my under design basement size layout. Not sure what I will do with my old Zephyr, my test track has a PR3 for programming and if I change that out for anything it will be for an SPROG which can program and run trains.

–Randy

MRC prodigy wireless.Almost as easy to use as straight dc transformer.

Hello All,

As a lone wolf modeler I went with a system that makes most others wince. (Insert snarky comments here.)

I went with the Bachmann Dynamis infrared wireless system. I have a 4x8 table top pike. I mounted the reciever on the wall above the layout. This gives better line of sight communication between the handset and reciever. I also bought the 5-amp booster. This extra oomph comes in handy when running multiple consists.

The MSRP listed on the Bachmann website is unrealistic. I searched on eBay and found the Dynamis base system new in a factory sealed box for $134.00. I found a used booster for $200.00.

The drawback of this system is that you cannot read CV’s. You can program CV’s. My motive power uses Bachmann installed decoders and I have installed Digitrax and TCS decoders in some locomotives. All with no compatibility issues.

You can purchase a ProBox that will allow you to read CV’s. This is a pricey item. Rather than going that route I purchased a MRC Decoder Dr. to read and program CV’s on a separate test track.

Yes, for the same amount of money I could have bought another system but for me this works and works well.

Hope this helps.

I see no mention of the SPROG ll ( 1 amp, $100 ) or Sprog lll ( 3 amp, $130 ) paired with JMRI ( free ). No need for any other " extra’s " to make it work with JMRI ( unlike NCE or Digitrax ). A Sprog and JMRI can do more than the other 2 mentioned ( from what I have researched, I could be wrong ). All 3, you still need a computer and wireless router. And when your ready for more power, a 5 amp booster from Tam Valley is $60.

I am on the fence of upgrading to Sprog lll and JMRI, from my Bachmann E-Z.

If you get bored, you will be able to run with smatphone/tablet when Bachmann comes out with the new add on box for the EZ Command. Technology is always on the move.

Rich

No, a Sprog cannot not do more than the others. In fact, the others can do more when you consider that with the sprog your only option for throttles is JMRI while the others also have their hardware throttles (I still prefer a throttle with a physical knob and buttons).

If thats correct, then why are so many people with NCE and Digitrax buying an extra little box so they can hook up thier command station to a computer so they can use JMRI? Seems to me JMRI must have something that the other 2 do not.

As for throttle choices, with JMRi you have a variety of sizes of handhelds available. The only difference I can see is actual tactical buttons vs touch screens. How a throttle feels in one’s hand is a personal preference, much like how one golf club or tennis racket or handgun can feel better in a persons hand over another manufacture of same item. Some people are willing to pay more money to get what feels right in thier hands, and at times, I am no exception.

I’m a current E-Z Command user. I chose it for simplicy and cheap cost. I know it can not do anything near what NCE and Digitrax can. I like it. BUT, I now want wireless. Bachmann has a new interface coming out that will just plug into my command and poof, i got wireless. BUT, at what cost? $50, I might buy it. $100+, I will consider Sprog+JMRI because I can get into wireless for the same $100-$130 ( depending on the amp’s I want ). JMRI gives me a throttle thats much simplified ( like my E-Z command ). Too many buttons to remember and click on the others. And, if i want to learn to do more, the option is th

I think I miss-understood what you meant - I thought you meant Sprog with JMRI vs the others with JMRI - if you meant the others standalone, then I concede your point.

The actual physical buttons and throttle knob are the main reason why I would never consider Sprog as my main DCC system. Especially when switching, I like to be able keep my eyes on the train and manipulate the throttle strictly by feel. I also wouldn’t like having to fire up the computer to run trains.

The wireless phone throttle app used with JMRI in many cases uses the physical volume buttons on your phone for the throttle as well as having the touch slider, so you have physical control you cna use without looking at the phone, instead watching your train. They also have switch mode options where once the loco stops, continuing to press the down button starts it moving in reverse, so nothing to touch or click where you need to glance away to find a direction button, either. That’s something even my Digitrax knob throttles don’t have, but lucily you can reverse simply by clicking the same knob you are turning, so still no fumbling for a direction button or switch. That’s one the always gets me on the “Digitrax is so complicated” arguments - 99% of the time I am running a train, and especially on the club layout which is fully signaled, my throttle is at my side, my thumb on the knob to control speed and direction, and my eyes are on my train and the track ahead (less worry now but in the early days people weren’t used to the signals and would just keep on going past a red so you had to pay attention even if you had a clear signal. AFter a few years, people now know to follow the signal indications and not just freely run). I’m not looking at my throttle.

With modern touch screens, I see the ideal throttle as a hybrid. Knobs for speed and direction, coupled with a conext based touch screen that displays large, clear areas to touch with labels - like Whistle, Bell, Lights, etc - not F0, F1, F2. You cna do this today with JMRI, except for having a physical knob on the throttle. This would be something like the Digitrax DT40x series, but where all the buttons are would be a touch screen, perhaps using something high contrast and easy to read like e-ink rather than any fancy color LCD or OLED stuff that draws too much power. Regardless of which function does what in a given loco, the button layout would remain the same so you could easily operate without looking.

It was probably easier to run an actual steam locomotive, that run a model with all the latest gizmos.