I posted last week looking for info on a dcc system. I decided to go with the MRC Prodigy Advance. However I called Tony’s Trains and was told these units have a software problem on about 25% of them. The problem is you may not have the ability to read back CV values of a decoder.
Does anyone have this problem?
Thanks
Bill in CT.
If that is the only problem you have on yours, than you are very lucky. Almost any DCC systems are good in thier own ways. The bachmann system is the bottom of the line and basically just runs trains. I have a zephyr and it works great. I have expanded it with more throttles, throttle panels and a booster along with a PC interface. But the system in the box is great to get started with. But Dont even get your locomotives near an MRC DCC system. The prodigy and prodigy advance sound tempting with lots of features at a low price but they are complete junk! We ordered a prodigy advance for the modules almost a year ago, hooked it up and started running trains. HUGE mistake. the thing randomly decides to stop running trains and maybe 10 seconds later will start up again. If you run a consist, all you can run is the consist and no other engines will respond. Not to mention the thing puts out 22-25 volts instead of the correct 16-18. After a couple months we had some decoders succumb to the beast so we sent it back to MRC. They sent us a brand new one and we had the same problems! Plus the programming interface is absolutely rediculous. Trust me, MRC makes some good DC power packs, but thier digital systems arent worth the box they come in. As I mentioned above I like the zephyr best, but if you go with MRC you are just asking for trouble.[
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I hadn’t heard any of this when I saw one going for an amazingly low price on eBay, so I bought it. Does it tell you something that about 4 days after I received it I put it back on eBay? None of my decoders succumbed, but the user interface is a nightmare.
I have tried Lenz, Digitrax and NCE. Lenz is good but expensive, Digitrax had atrocious customer support where I was concerned. NCE had great support and the prices are pretty good to boot. One of my layouts has an NCC Pro system, my daughters will be getting the new PowerCab when they come out later in November (I am told!).
John
Interesting Indeed…
I purchased the MRC PA almost a year ago and so far, so good. It does have it’s quirks. I have experienced problems with running other locomotives when I have a consist set up. I’m not sure why it does this, I thought it was just something that I was doing wrong.
I have not seen any problems with track power though. I’m getting 15.10 volts from the back of the controller and 15.06 to the tracks at any given location on the layout.
I just wi***hat the handheld controller came with a back lit LCD display for night time ops.
I was going to purchase a PA, but know I think I will reconsider my purchase. I have read all the Tonys Trains updates, but I didn’t realize there were this many bugs in the unit.
Larry
Just received my prodigy express today. Still waiting for the decoders to get here. I hope to post some observations once I’ve played a bit.
I’ve had one for about 5 months now. No problems with it at all. I like the controller and my 15 month old son is quite capable of using it as well (with some moderation from Dad of course).
I have had my PA for over a year with no problems at all. The only issue that I have experienced is when I have a universal consist, my BLI Class A won’t run. I have had no problems when running and Advanced Consist. As far as the interface I find it much easier to use for running trains and programming through the system. The one thing it lacks is a computer interface which would be a big bonus for programming decoders. By no means is the PA a perfect system, but I have been extremely happy with it. I have added 3 extension plates to it, added as second cab, and I have added the MRC 8 amp booster. And to your original question, I have not had any problems reading CV values back, except for on my BLI engine (and I have read that some people have the same problem with the Zephyr and other systems). I spoke with TTE about this and they suggested I put a resistor in line with the programming track.
Kevin,
Interesting about the resistor in line with the programming track. Did they give any hint on what value resistor to use? Don’t feel bad about the problem you’re having with your BLI and PA combination. I’m hoping to have that problem soon!! If I’ve got that problem, it means that I’ve finally got one of those BLI beauties!! Hopefully that resistor will take care of it.
Dont know about the prodigy express, maybe they fixed some things.
On another note: We are now displaying our modules in the Goerge bush library rotunda. We were getting it set up last weekend and started running trains with the PA. Needless to say it didnt go to well. Luckily I had my zephyr in my backpack with a couple throttles (I had planned for a prodigy failure). Anyway, even the small zephyr with no booster had more than enough power to run the 5 engines we had going. Of course I had to take my zephyr back home. Oh well.