I finally took the DCC plunge, and after extensive research, I decided to go with the MRC Prodigy Express as an entry level setup. I read what I thought to be all the threads I could find here, but lo and behold, after experiencing a problem with consisting I searched some more threads and was able to determine this is a shortcoming of the PE.
My questions are:
Besides messing with CV29, is there a way to consist multiple locos with PE w/out the prerequisite of running them all in the same direction?
If I bought a PA throttle, am I able to simply plug it into the PE base in order to receive te benefits of PA, which I assume would be another way around this problem?
The MRC instructions are POOR in this regard (consisting), since they clearly state that it is possible to do so with the PE, with the direction button to be utilized during the programming phase to reverse the direction of other locos in the consist. MRC ads are also misleading in this regard, in my humble and “DCC-ignorant” opinion.
http://www.modelrectifier.com/ e-mail or phone MRC, they will help you. Meantime check the loco’s manual. Do some of your locos run in opposite directions when forward/reverse button is pushed?
The answer to your first question is No. There is no way the PE will handle consist back to back unless you reverse the normal direction of travel with CV29. A rather poor run around to the PE deficiency. This was discussed on this forum, the Atlas forum and the MRC Yahoo Group.
I don’t have the answer to your question 2.
As you go along with the PE you will also discover more issues between what is in the manual and what the PE can really do. It appears some of the documentation pertaining to the PA found its way into the PE manual.
I purchased my PE last year and ran into the same consisting issue. I’ve messed around with CV29 so that I can consist a pair of Athearn GP9’s back to back but this isn’t the method I should have had to use.
My understanding on adding the PA throttle is that yes, it will turn your PE system into a PA using the PA throttle but you won’t have the total output of the PA, still limited to what the PE’s specs are which I can’t remember off the top of my head. I would think that this should at lease fix the consisting issue though as long as you do the consisting with the PA throttle and not the PE. As mentioned before this was covered quiet exstensively on the MRC Yahoo gropus so I’d definately take a look there.