Prodigy Wireless - Cab Doesn't Connect

Model Railroader Electronics and DCC
1

Years ago, I bought a Prodigy Wireless (brand new). It’s spent most of its life on a shelf as I had no layout. I have used it from time to time on a test track.

A couple of months ago I hooked it up to a switching layout I’m building. All was well.

Within the last week or two, its developed a problem… half the time wen I power it up, the cab won’t connect to the base unit. I hear the air pump sound from a sound-equipped locomotive sitting on the track, so I know the base unit is functioning and putting power to the track. But while the cab display is on and everything SEEMS to be working normally, I have no locomotive control. I’ve tried several things - turning the cab off and back on, turning the cab off and switching power to the base unit off and back on, leaving the cab on and switching power to the base unit off and back on, unplugging the tether cable from cab and base unit and plugging it back in - everything I can think of. BTW, this happens in both tethered and untethered mode. The cab battery is fully charged btw.

Eventually the cab starts responding, but I have been able to detect no pattern to the actions I took (mentioned above) and things starting to work properly.

Any ideas?

2

Is there any type of adjustment between the base station and wireless cab to select a frequency or channel that may not be properly set? What does the system use for a receiving antenna?

I have no experience with anything made by MRC, but on an NCE system the wireless throttles have to be set to specific channels (frequencies) to avoid interference when you have more than one.

3

No there is not. And the antenna must be internal as neither the cab nor the base station has one visible. Again, though, this also happens in tethered mode when the two are communicating via a cable.

4

Hi Dwight,

Although I do not have the Prodigy Wireless, I have, at times, a similar problem with my Prodigy Advanced2 where the system needs to have the Master Cab reset. On my Advanced2 I enter SYS,6,1 then ENTER which resets the master cab and things function normal. Hope this helps.

All the best.

Reinhard

5

Reinhard - it’s still a little too early to say for sure, but that seems to have done the trick!! Thanks so much!! [bow]

6

Hi Dwight,

I hope it helped. Keep me posted.

All the best.

Reinhard