After ALOT of research and reading many comments from forums (much appreciated), I purchased a Digitrax Super Chief 5 amp w/radio control. I’ve been pleased with the performance, except for changing the loco address ID’s, especially for 4 digit addresses (too many steps involved, and many occassions the QSI decoder would not accept the change ).
Yesterday I purchased the MRC Express that was on sale at the LHS, for use on yards and sidings, which was cheaper than buying another Digitrax DT400 controller. What I discovered was the ease of changing the loco address ID’s, in particular the 4 digit addresses literally took less than 5 seconds, and all 20 DCC engines with QSI decoders accepted the changes with no rejections.
As a sidenote their is a notice in the MRC Express handbook that the Express should not be used with analog locos.
Welcome to the forum. I have the superchief, but only use 2 digit numbers so far. I like the ability to run my old brass engunes on DC until I get them converted. I too love retirement. I went with IR instead of radio because the radio was not availible in my town at the time. I will always wonder which I would have liked better.
every dcc system has it’s advantages and disadvantages
what i don’t understand is how your 2 dcc systems coexist , it was my understanding that you could only have one command station on a layout (assuming the tracks are all connected) , so how can you have a separate dcc system for your yards and sidings ?
From all that I have seen/read about DCC systems while advising my Dad - I’m still locked in DC for right now with my HOn3 - the newest MRC systems are quite well done. In particular, the Prodigy Express is an excellent buy if you can live within the following drawbacks/limitations:
as you pointed out, no analog locos allowed. You can run DC by using a DPDT toggle to select one system or the other, but you need to remove DC locos from the tracks (or shut off the tracks) before switching to DCC
cannot interface with a computer, so can’t use Decoder Pro software for CV programming or running the layout
Prodigy Express cannot read back CVs (Advance can). You can write new CV values, you just can’t read what the existing value is.
lynchgj,
It doesn’t take that long to program a 4-digit address on a Super Chief, which by definition includes a DT400 throttle.
Once you have the loco on the programming track, you do the following:
1). Hit “PROG” on the throttle (make sure it says “PG” on the display…keep pushing “PROG” until it does).
2). Click the right knob once (don’t turn it, just press down on it). The display will now show “Ad4=???”
3). Punch in the 4-digit number you want with the keypad and hit “ENTER”
4). After the display shows that it’s done programming, it will ask, “Add 4 dig?”, hit the “Y +” button. It will program again.
5). Hit “EXIT”, put the loco on the main, and run it under the 4-digit address.
I don’t see how this takes a lot of time.
As for QSI programming, you can either buy the “PowerPax Programming Booster” (http://www.tonystrains.com/technews/powerpax.htm), or, IIRC, you can put a resistor across the programming leads. BTW, you can avoid this by programming on the mainline.
I have the sidings and yard insulated/ gapped from the main, with a DPDT switch to isolate the 2 different DCC sets, with only the Digitrax for the main line; and I recommend the radio control DT400R, as the IR loses contact from different sections of the layout; and I’ll look into the PowerPax Programming Booster for the QSI decoders.
After you hit enter to input the 4-digit address in Page mode with QSI (I always do this on a short piece of isolated track…a “programming track”), exit programming, then go into Ops mode. Once in Ops mode, change CV 29 to a value of 38, and your loco will accept the new address. However, QSI decoders won’t wake up until you actually dial in, or acquire them, on the throttle. For example, its new address is 6001, but when you change CV 29, and exit programming, the loco won’t respond. You think it did not take the new address. Press and hold the active encoder on your DT400 to get the “Select?” message that flashes, then press in the 6001 address using the number pad. Click that throtttle, and “Holy Cow!” the engine will come to life.
selector,
If you hit “Y +” after you program a 4-digit address with a DT400, you don’t have to change CV29 to 38…it does it for you.
Not to mention that if you go to “OPS” mode, you better move your loco to a powered normal running track, or your loco won’t do a thing. “OPS” mode only programs to the address selected on the main…not to the programming track.
The Analog issue on the MRC Systems is a pain. I had wanted to convert all my engines over to DCC, to include my Grand Son’s Thomas, Henry, and Gordon HO trio. After converting the Thomas over first, I decided to give up on the other two. They were not as easy to get INTO as Thomas was.
With thhe Prodigy Advance, and NO Analog set up, I was at a loss as to how to run my Grans Son’s stuff. I wound up adding a switch panel to the layout and a DPDT switch to change from DCC to DC power, just to run the kids stuff.
I had thought about changing over to an NCE Power Cab, but I have a few reservations for some Passenger cars and a Loco coming up, so the Power Cab will have to wait.
I will probbaly still keep my PA System for setting up my Locomotives on DCC. My fingers can dance around that PA system and I can be up and running really quick with it.
Do not get a PowerCab if you want to run DC locos as it does not allow for this either. None of the new NCE systems allow for DC control on address 00.
Paul, that is not my experience. I agree that the Y key should set the address, as the instructions say, but I did not get the loco to respond until I had manually set CV29. Mind you, I had not learned the step of actually dialling in the new address on the paddle to get the decoder to wake up, so maybe that was my error in the first instance. Next time I program a new 4-digit address, I’ll do it by the book and know to dial in the four digits to get sound and activity from the still seemingly improperly addressed loco.
As for your second point, same thing. After I programmed the address, I was able to switch to Ops mode on my short programming diorama, and change all the CVs that I wanted. It worked…for three BLI locos now.