MRC Prodigy Express

[Herc Driver]

I'm just about to take the jump into DCC but need some advice...my LHS has the MRC Prodigy at a great price, but no one knows much about it. Has anyone used this product and could pass on a review? Here's my current needs/desires regarding the jump to DCC...I have a small layout built on a door. All my engines are DCC-ready (Kato, Atlas, Bachmann Spectrum, LL Proto N) but I don't have any decoders yet. I'd like to run multiple diesel units on the same consist. I'd probably run one train on the mainline (say a passenger train for example) while I accomplished some switching on the sidings (with some freight and switching diesels). I'd probably run no more than three seperate trains at any one time due to layout size requirements and track congestion. Based on these thoughts...I was thinking that this Prodigy would be a good starting product for me to learn on and add to later on when the layout expands. Your thoughts please?!?!?

[green_elite_cab]

I have it, Its alright, and would work for you when you get your decoders. Alot of people would insist on the digitrax zephyr.

You just need to figure out that programming stuff with the prodigy stuff. on some, you can connect the locomotive to a computer and program it the easy way, but with the express and advanced you need to know the CVs and what numbers do what. You can't control switches with the prodigy express cab, and the only bigger and better thing is the advanced cab.

It would be good for your layout for the most part.

[Herc Driver]

I appreciate the info Green Elite...I don't know enough about the various DCC makers to know what I don't know...if you know what I mean. But I'm going to look into the Digitrax too for comparison. MRC seems to make good electronics (or owns the company that does under the MRC name). I'd like a simple set that is upgrade-able when the time comes. And right now nothing I own has a sound card or is equipped with one, and I'm not planning on buying any diesel with that option for a while.

[green_elite_cab]

then the prodigy isn't for you. There isn't anything upgrade able about it, except the cabs. You can either have the express ( basic) or Advanced ( full) cab. the advanced has more funtion buttons, a fast clock, switcher mode (where the speed dial also changes direction depending which way you turn it) and a few other things. Its not much of an upgrade. I probably would go look into some of the other systems.

[Herc Driver]

I'll check out other systems too...thanks for the advice.

[Iron Horse]

I also have the prodigy express. I haven't used it much yet but it is really not that bad for the price of it. I don't believe it is made for a large club layout, it is made more for what you have, a small layout. It seems pretty easy and is a good intro to DCC. Lots of people swear by digitrax, but you can't get a handheld throttle until you spend like a billion dollars. If you don't care about handheld, it seems to be the most popular. I wish I would have known about, checked out the New NCE Handheld, you might want to check into that.

Also......you should retract that statement about putting off sound for a while, one loco with sound and you are hooked !

[Gary Pfeil]

Iron Horse said:
Lots of people swear by digitrax, but you can't get a handheld throttle until you spend like a billion dollars.

Digitrax UT4 throttle $65.00 at Tonys

[Herc Driver]

Oh, I'd like a diesel with sound...but can't afford one (or two, or three) yet. I know myself too well...if I get a sound-card diesel, I WILL be hooked!

[green_elite_cab]

you can afford one, you just need to save up for them!

[Herc Driver]

There sure are a lot of nice ones in HO...still not too many choices in Nscale, but more than there was before.

[UP SD40-2]

Originally Posted by Herc Driver

...if I get a sound-card diesel, I WILL be hooked!

Herc, truer words have never been spoken!. BEWARE of sound, after i put sound in one engine, there was NO turning back. i didn't even want to run the other engines i had...till i put sound in them ALL!. BTW, i started out with Prodigy, problem was you couldn't adjust CV's with it, so i bought Prodigy Express, last year i found Prodigy Advance on sale at a show and bought it. for ME, i wouldn't have anything else, i have used it on the last large layout i had, and my current switching layout. i find it EASY to use, reads decoders-NO problem, EASY to do a consist, can run SEVERAL engines at once, and i adjust my CV's on the fly. KEEP IN MIND, i am NOT trying to get you to buy one, just saying i am pleased with mine. -Deano

[Woodie]

I went the whole hog!! NCE Pro with 8 AMPs of power, radio cab, and tethered cab as well. Command station also has computer interface.

I looked at it this way. By the time you decoder equip quite a few locos (specially with sound), the cost of the cab/throttles/command station etc will be a minor portion of the overall expense. And the total cost? Dunno whether to or

[rksstl]

Hi Mark,
I've have the Prodigy Advanced for about a year now. I'm using it on a N Gauge 6x13x6 layout running 2 trains plus 1 switching industries. So far it is great I'm getting ready to add sound but from a couple of others I've talked to about it say it works great, it might be worth a couple of extra bucks to shop around for the Advanced.

[Herc Driver]

Many many thanks for the advice guys. My LHS has the Express and Advance in stock and at a good/fair price. It seems like with both I can run multiple diesel consists, but with the Express, it doesn't run non-dcc diesels while dcc controled diesels are on the layout (according to the instructions inside the box). Does the Advanced get around this problem by assigning the non-dcc diesel a default address? There are a few diesels that I probably won't switch over to dcc, but would still like to run them. Also, what is a CV? I'm still learning the Dcc-lingo and a little slow on all the terms.

[Woodie]

Originally Posted by Herc Driver

Does the Advanced get around this problem by assigning the non-dcc diesel a default address? There are a few diesels that I probably won't switch over to dcc, but would still like to run them. Also, what is a CV? I'm still learning the Dcc-lingo and a little slow on all the terms.

There is no way you can "assign the non-dcc diesel a default address". A non-dcc loco does not have a decoder in it, so you cannot "assign" it an address. The only way you can run locos that do NOT have a decdoer in them, is on DC track. There is no other way of doing it.

Do NOT put non-DCC locos on a DCC powered track. Your DC locos work on a varying track voltage of 0 V DC - 12 V DC. (Depending on how fast/slow you want your locos to go). DCC powered track is at a constant voltage of 15 V AC.

Some DCC controllers (not sure which ones) will have a "DC mode", which will supply the varying 12 V DC voltage to the track instead of the constant 15 V AC that DCC uses. However all the functions of your DCC system will not be available, and the controller will function just like an ordinary old DC controller.

DCC equiped locos (with a decoder) can run on DC track (12 V DC) provided they have the appropriate CV turned "on", and they will function as any other DC loco would on a DC track, otherwise they will just sit there and do nothing. You cannot "select" a DCC loco (when running on DC track), and ALL your locos will move according to your controller, as if it were a normal DC powered track.

However, your 12 V DC loco, when put on a DCC powered track that has a constant 15 V AC............. well, I'll let you work out what will happen to your loco if you do that.

Should you wish to still run your non-dcc locos (no decoder in them), then you will need to retain your exisiting power supply/controller, and unplug your DCC power supply/controller from the track, and plug in your old DC power equipment. Or have a switch, to switch from one to the other. Your DCC locos will function as if they did not have a decoder in them (in DC track) however the opposite is NOT ture. You cannot run locos (without a decoder in them) on DCC powered track. Make sure you remove ALL your DC only locos from the track before switching on your DCC power supply/controller.

Originally Posted by Herc Driver

Also, what is a CV?

a CV is a "Control Variable". These are settings inside the decoder that contain what the decoder will do. e.g. the loco number, or when the headlight should be on/off, what the maximum speed of the loco should be. etc.