Try operating it with the case off, more air can flow over the heat sinks that way. mode (ie. Shift allows you to access higher functions (F14 through F28). Seems like I remember another thread/post where MRC actually told the modeler to open up the base unit and check the connections on the switch. Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2016. Sign In Upload. Very much appreciated. There are very few, If any DCC systems manufactured in the UK(other than ZTC, Hornby and SPROG)? Both NCE and Digitrax have been used on large layouts, large club layouts, and in large modular setups. Will not be getting power to my track and then in manipulating the switch, suddenly I do. The problems and shortcomings of these 2 systems are known, documented, and work-arounds developed. Opened shipping carton to reveal a very damaged/bashed/worn box, possibly with slight damp/foxing of instructions and lid. This is a fairly standard way of resetting decoders but a few use different values. To ch ange handheld addresses: Prodigy Advance handheld Suppose you want 4001, but hit the 1 twice by accident. Glossary Second, the PA2 does not have a great story when it comes to occupancy detection and feedback. MRC appear to only have residual stocks of the higher powered Prodigy Elite left. Certainly very happy with mine. Given this is a not inexpensive item, and stocked as brand new stock, I expect it to arrive in pristine condition. What may not be mentioned on the information sheet is that the decoder can be reset to default values by writing a value of 8 to CV 8. manage your account online and more! Prodigy-Advance 2.A Fully-Functional, Affordable Wireless DCC System That's Easy To Use. the only problem I have had is with one of the throttles where the speed control knob makes poor contact with the rheostat but using the + and - buttons lets it still work OK. So if you want to make the loco address 1234, just put in 1234 at the Addr prompt. I sat down with teh isntruction manual (who said men won't read directions?) Consisting is NOT currently supported. Come join the discussion about brands, various scales, repairs, storage, displays, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! However, short of turning the power on and off, you'll find your closest . 2. I think the minimum is 0 and the maximum is 255 or 254 for CVs 3 & 4. Prodigy-Advance 2 is simple enough for the first-time user to quickly master, yet has sophisticated functionality that will impress the experienced model railroader. Connecting JMRI can connect to an MRC Prodigy Advanced 2 command station via the USB Computer interface (MRC:1516 or Gaugemaster:DCC55). The swtich can easily be replaced by you for about a buck, if your planing on replacing your controller nothing to loose by trying. My loco on address 1 is not responding anymore. Contact us via the JMRI users Groups.io First, there is the 60 or so just for the computer connection cable. Not for young children. United Parcel Service to: Model Rectifier Corporation Model Recti er Corporation Attn: Customer Service Dept. Problem with my MRC Prodigy Advance2 Posted by nemesys on Tuesday, April 3, 2018 1:59 PM I think I have a big problem. The switch carries the full current from the power supply and might be defective. MRC Prodigy Advance Controller Fix - YouTube I either get the switch fixed, or buy a new control unit. It's when I tried to start my loco that i realized it would no longer to any command and then I noticed that the cab was displaying "Cons" when I would press "Loco" and enter "1". I put back the loco (Big Boy) on the main track. I press a 3rd time and it displays "clr". Issues involved lots of stuff to the point it was confusing as to what was going on - track issues, decoders, the Prodigy unit? MelMy Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/Bakersfield, CaliforniaI'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps. My loco on address 1 is not responding anymore. I set an analog loco on teh track and it hummed so i Know it was getting power to teh layout, but none of the DCC engines will run, and no sound from teh sound equiped locos. Ive bought MRC equipment for years and havent been disappointed yet. As Brian has intimated, I wouldn't be surprised if Gaugemaster took on the product licence, or came to some alternative arrangement with MRC. MRC prodigy advance 2 vs express - Model Railroader Magazine - Model On thing that can get you with a Fast Tracks style turnout is that when the copper clad boards are sheared to make PCM ties, little fuzzes of copper can get jammed into the cut line. I like mine, I have two. Both loco's have performed well. Can a wonky switch be the cause of all sorts of electrical issues - not just the machine not outright working, but in causing all sorts of issues like intermittent start/stopping, short readings, and a locomotive sitting there emitting a ticking sound but not doing anything else, plus troubles trying to reset the decoder to factory settings? Have a call into them tomorrow morning to run all this by them but thought I would toss it out here and see what others think. PDF TRICKS" - Horizon Hobby But simple common Philips head screws? MRC Prodigy Express2 DCC system | ModelRailroader.com - Trains Everything is now completed and running great!I did order a new on off switch for my MRC unit and will replace it just to see if that solves the problems, but for now I am busy running trains again. 81 Share 24K views 9 years ago This is a response to a request for help from phil because he was not able to change the road number of a loco to what ever he wanted. This is working for me, and I will learn as I go as everyone else has! Programming, Turnout, Throttle and Power support is available for a JMRI-connected Prodigy Copyright 2022 RMweb.co.uk I've heard and read of plenty of issues when it comes to MRC DCC and I realize the Prodigy Express/Advance system is not the most cutting edge or popular way to go -- but I've had good luck with those products so far (about 8x years) and with their service. At first I assumed that everything was being appraised by the new owners and product lines might be revamped. Index This was a good exercise, now I know what mine looks like on the inside. That is assumingthey are actually assembled or manufacturedin the UK, which is often not the case! Went back and started reconnecting all of my suspect track areas, switch machines, and reverse loop - testing as I went along to see if everything functioned after each one was connected. I'm still stuck with this "CONS 1" when I press "Loco" and enter "1". Prodigy Advance2 Starter Package-Gaugemaster-DCC02 | Gaugemaster If I screw it up I have a new NCR unit due to arrive Thursday. In the UK the MRC systems is rebranded, rebadged and sold by Gaugemaster. I had a fault with my PA and although it was 18 months old Gaugemaster still fixed it no problem. Then we can focus on the right problem.-Ken Cameron, Member JMRI Dev Team www.jmri.org www.fingerlakeslivesteamers.org www.cnymod.com www.syracusemodelrr.org. Thanks - I am pretty sure the switch is the villian here. No offence intended. Must be awkward for Gaugemaster, the uncertainty, unless they know but cant say. Thought I would see if MRC would get me a switch to replace mine with so I'd know the specs were exact, but they don't sell just parts. Have students practice their addition, subtraction, multiplication and division skills by searching for hidden math equations in a word search-style puzzle. I press again and it displays "old SET". May I ask who repaired it please? are exactly the same in operation and components. I just tried unplugging and plug in the hand held control to a different jack. The instructions are easy to understand. My Big Boy is not even on the main track, it's on the program track. Star Trek: Prodigy' s USS Protostar was created to fix the mistakes made by Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) and her crew during seven seasons of Star Trek: Voyager. Direct Byte/Direct Bit/Paged). It was a fight All I can say is WOW! Amazon really came through on this one! VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. We have 1 MRC Prodigy Advance 2 manual available for free PDF download: User Manual . He might make the mistake of thinking that's part of the physical switch and have trouble getting contact cleaner down into the actual mechanism, or ordering the correct replacement if it comes to that. Advertisement. How many shots were there in total? Additional information on copyright, trademarks and licenses is linked here. Guys, I'm new to the train world, and I need help, I'm going insane with this problem. I'd follow the instructions on setting a CV and make sure 19 is set to 0. If proper operation is restored, go back to the new section and re-check everything for shorts or other wiring problems. I was able to program (change) addresses of my few engines and have them run on the layouts in a few minutes (on my first attempt.) It can handle up to 99 cabs (may require cab bus extension with additional power) and will cover both 2-digit (1-127) and 4-digit (1-9,999) address modes. 1. 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Entered "16" and then forward and it starting puffing and chuggling along! I read the instructions in MRC's manual to clear the consist. Don't want to be left without any sort of help in a few years. The problem is that the manual is little-to-no help when things go wrong. I think the listing said it was used. I was thinking that maybe CV17 has to be set with the high bytes of the address desired, in my case "40" and CV18 the low bytes, or "16". Holding down the button stops every train on the layout. The loco will continue as programmed until the operator changes settings. The only thing connected to the chassis is the fan and it has a JST connector on red and black wires.Looks like a standard PCB (Printed Circuit Board mount) DPDT Slide Switch.OK? Ive never heard the fan come on in mine Randy, I think the fan must be temperature controlled. I wish it comes with a longer, less stiff cable that connect the main unit to the hand-held throttle, though. The BASE UNIT is the brains behind the operation. It only means you cannot use the Prodigy Advance's easy address programming feature. I played with it a little but saw a few quirks that caused me to . I would suspect that something in your latest trackwork is causing the problem(s). I noticed a few days ago that it worked/not worked a couple times during an operating session. If you've put off the change to Digital Command Control (DCC) because you thought it was too complicated or expensive, then MRC's Prodigy-Advance 2 is the system for you . It's overheating. I got it back within 2x weeks. I can't speak for their decoders, but I've been lucky with the DCC system so far. Im a long time Prodigy user (12 years) so if I can be of any help send me a message through the forum. I actually sprayed some contact cleaner into the switch and that's when I noticed everything suddenly working fine. The Prodigy Advance is rated at 14.5 volts at the track with a rated current capability of 3.5 amperes. Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them. Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's. // check repository - only directories with files that include Footer.shtml MelMy Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/Bakersfield, CaliforniaI'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps. Thats good to know. MelMy Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/Bakersfield, CaliforniaI'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps. Amazon.com: Customer reviews: MRC Prodigy Advance2 MRC Prodigy Advance 2 problem - Model Train Forum Advertisement. I would like again to thank you, guys. The Controller works well. wireless versions of the interface. This has been tested with the wired and MRCDCC@groups.io | MRC 1516 Computer Interface? JMRI does not support editing/adding/removal of system Routes stored in the MRC. Plenty of decent S/H units available, for anyone inclined to stockpile spares. Each to their own I guess. target = (target.slice(-1) == "/") ? It sounds to me like your Prodigy Advanced 2 has bit the dust. I sent a detailed email to MRC describing the issue. DCC controller Prodigy Advance which has worked faultlessly for weeks now driving a couple of Bachmann loco's with factory fitted decoders including one sound decoder which i believe is a Loksound. I want it to work reliably day in and day out. 1. Then, everything was fine. Special Troubleshooting. A warning for anyone with these systems to take note of, all may not be lost if you can find a decent alternative repairer. Prodigy is available starting with JMRI version 3.9.1. Advertisement. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. Items inside seemed mint, but cannot be sure, about any internal damage. Does the Green LED flicker or go off when it quits? As for your controller coming up in Consist thats one I havent been able to get mine to do. Order Ascending; Order Descending; afboone. Very sad situation. Postby Free_at_last Sat Mar 27, 2010 10:05 pm, Postby craw607 Sat Mar 27, 2010 10:21 pm, Postby Flashbang Sun Mar 28, 2010 5:34 pm, Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests. Given this is a not inexpensive item, and stocked as brand new stock, I expect it to arrive in pristine condition. It contains all the technology you need to send DCC commands to your trains and accessories. Sorry, I couldn't resist reinforcing the stereotype. I also don't want to do anything which will cause MRC to not want to fix it. You need to contact MRC. ANd verify that none of the rail gaps have closed up. Got mine open and oddly, there is no fan. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness. I like mine, I have two. Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2018. Really thought I had solved the issue but then in an hour or so it would be acting up again. . For what its worth.. itappears Gaugemaster now have the Prodigy Advance squared and Prodigy Express squared back in stock. Have any others had the same problems, where do you go from here?? 19. I have had an NCE Powercab for about 10 years and it hasn't hiccupped yet. The default setting is 28. Unit works well and easy to setup but may need booster, Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2019. Once again, thanks to all of you who took the time to respond. Easy to set up and reliable in use. May your freight ALWAYS roll smoothlyand ON TIME!! . So not really UK made. Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. That is the abbreviation for "overload". I then tried to read other CV values and some made sense when compared to the factory settings but others didn't make any sense. Reviewed in the United States on August 10, 2012. Tried spraying more contact cleaner in from both sides and worked it back and forth quite a few times but no change once the cleaner evaporated. There are also switch 'issues' that clean internal contacts won't help; if you aren't comfortable opening or removing the switch (or the unit is still in warranty) you might be lookin' at having them do it. MRC Prodigy Wireless DCC throttle | ModelRailroader.com I'd consider a shot of electrical contact cleaner into the switch itself, followed by working it backward and forward 20 or 30 times -- more if necessary. That is assumingthey are actually assembled or manufacturedin the UK. 18. May 20, 2020. Generally, if something is designed to work with a fan, it won't operate properly without one. Not that I'm planning to do a lot of programming but there are things I would like to change, like the master volume on the Paragon 3 decoder in the Big Boy. I set it to one, andthe DCC is working again. Yesterday, I reset the address for Mikado loco 2-8-2 on the short track. There is a bit of good news here, the base unit has been repaired with parts from rs component. I found that teh cab selector was set to Cab 99--how it got there is totally beyond my comprehension, since I have one (1) handheld controller. Yes, that's why I tried to list those thatmightbe made in the UK in the hope others would have more knowledge. Had a bad crush on Angela Cartwright..;)). 1 of her shots went in the hoop. Try removing the hand held control RJ45 from the controller and plugging it into a different Cab Jack. And to be clear, I went back and disconnected all of my new track work, turnouts, Tortoise machines, and reversing devices so as to eliminate any potential issues from any of those. Pretty certain that MP stuff is made in the UK - he has videos showing his pick n place machine for assembling circuit boards. And what should go in CV 1 which is the short address? I turn off the power supply with a line switch at the wall power. Despite the limited warranty on the Gaugemaster branded MRC systems, their track record on after sales support, even out of warranty, is anecdotally very good. JMRI can connect to an MRC Prodigy Advanced2 command station via the USB Related Products. Maybe I will look at selling mine then :/. Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon. Top and bottom housing shells just pop off. Hope I get a response. I got this to replace my digitrax zephyr, and the user interface is just night and day! That is probably why it stops working after a while, then works again. Problem with my MRC Prodigy Advance2 - Model Railroader Magazine Back on the main track, the Big Boy doesn't respond when I enter 4017 to loco. I'm relatively new to DCC and recently acquired an MRC Prodigy Advance2. Prodigy-Advance 2 System includes: base control unit, 3.5 . All I can say is WOW! Two years ago, the system died -- no response as I swapped cables, throttles and cycled the system on and off. Anyway, will get a few switches and look into replacing the one that is there. MRC PRODIGY ADVANCE 2 USER MANUAL Pdf Download | ManualsLib This is a far cry from model railroading back in the 60's. Unless the cab number is 1, it's probbaly easier to set the address to the cab number instead of using 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. at a cost of 12 with postage so it is economically to repair. Try the Loco button then Recall to select your locomotive. Seems like I read somewhere online where a guy was advised by MRC to remove the cover to his base unit and clean the connections to the switch. did I notsay "That is assumingthey are actually assembled or manufacturedin the UK,". Subject to spares availability, I suspect they'll provide support for as long as they practically can. Gaps are required in the diverging frog rails. MRC Prodigy Advanced 2 | Model Railway Forum unit. I was just holding he cab in one hand while re-arranging cars on the track. Related Products. This is a far cry from model railroading back in the 60's. Not that I don't have a set with all those oddball bits (actually I somehow ended up with TWO of the same set - so one for the train bench, one for the electronics bench), but not everyone has those things. . electronics company, SGAI Tech. If the Green Pilot LED is on the switch is working OK. have done a syst 6 cab 3 reset and also syst 9 + 2 (I have two handsets) can you think of anything else that I can do? Randy is correct, just inter your locomotive address 4001 or what ever. . It works OK. The computer interface has crept up to 63. But I like having alternatives options to hand just in case. Set CV19 to 0, that will clear the consist. Follow up post: received my new NCE control unit, hooked it up to test track and programming track and got all locomotives programmed and running great. While replacing cars on my layout while holding my cab, it seems I accidentally programmed a consist. No fan? PDF MRC Prodigy express - Model Rectifier I live in the tampa/Wesley chapel FL area so if anyone out there has DCC where I could run a few locos as a test I would appreciate it. It's definitely very loud when I put the loco on the track. It wouldbe useful info for any Prodigy owner who hits this kind of issue. So, yes, I think I will just program the loco address for now and will get the USB adapter. Strange things can affect mechanical switches and then there are those that are electronic, which I presume these aren't. system to run a layout previously done without issue with one. The alternatives are buying another system, or waiting to see if replacement units become available again at some point in the future, with the attendant risk that there may never be any more. Glad they havent disappeared anyway. While replacing cars on my layout while holding my cab, it seems I accidentally programmed a consist. (It is NOT showing any short circuit, and the layout is only 10x10 so not a lot of wiring or areas where it couldgo bad). I do miss Radio Shack for situations like this. Review of MRC Prodigy Advance System | News & Resources View online or download Mrc Prodigy Advance2 User Manual. Thanks Mike. Green light seems to work pretty much as it's supposed to if everything else is functioning. Math problem search. What decoder is it? I have been using a slightly less featured MRC Prodigy Express. I think its great you managed to get it fixed and that repair was quite feasible economicallyfor someone with electronics knowledge, just a bit of a shame Gaugemaster couldnt thus undertake it. Shut unit off, sprayed switch, turned unit on and everything functions "perfectly". 2 of her shots did not go in the hoop. Share and save. I bought this through Amazon at Micro-Mark and it shipped quickly and was in perfect condition. I got this to replace my digitrax zephyr, and the user interface is just night and day! Ok, I put the Big Boy back on the programming track. Wait - an MRC power device that has ordinary screws and not special security type like on most of their power packs? Specially the suggestion to check if the decoder could be reset. The MRC Prodigy Advance Squared is really a great controller at a decent street price. IIRCthe kid's last name was Robinson, not Rogers. (Played by Billy Mumy..yeah, I was one of those "Lost In Space" junkies!! I don't want to be 'lucky' with my DCC system. I will look into the USB adapter. MRC Prodigy Advance 2 ; MRC ASB-160-C2-V2 ; MRC ASB-220-C2-V2 ; MRC ASB . Support for MRC Would that make sense? And by the way, I did try the "hold delete for 2 seconds" to delete a loco address for the cab when CONS 0001 was displayed. You should not have to monkey with CV1, CV17, CV18, or CV29. Yes, and at an eyewatering price of 385. I have read other reviews about the best unit to purchase, but everyone has their opinion. With the Prodigy Advance System, [base unit], if you use more than eight handhelds, flip the handheld switch to the appropriate setting on the base unit. document.write("history of this page and propose edits. That's what put me back on track, no pun intended! So if you only file the gap through the copper on one side, you can have an intermittant short through the back side of the board. I tried reporgramming one loco on teh program track-it appearded to ccept the reprogramming but will not run. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. Only show this user. Open the JMRI "Preferences" under the "Edit" menu. target+"index.shtml" : target; // do default expansion of empty to index No more having to program CV's to get a 4 digit address to work, no BS, just straight to the point ease of use! Who knows? You can install additional throttle ports, so if you have large layout you can change positions Good product, a lot in a small package, terrible instruction manual, if you have DCC experience you should be OK. Longer flat cables would be helpful. Finally available, but required a bit of work. Might be easier to just reset the decoder if it has a reset option. Yes, when I press the Consist button once, it displays "SET". So, went back and checked connections, sprayed contact cleaner into the MRC switch and all three of my test locos worked flawlessly - for awhile. That seems to have taken care of it. The power light working but when you 'hit'/touch the keys the light that says "link" does not flash, took my controller back to gagemaster at Ford yesterday, Welcome / Terms And Conditions / Guest Book, Web Site Articles - Help contribute to the site, Hornby - including Lima, Rivarossi, Jouef, Electrotren, Large Gauge Model Railway - including 1, O, and S, Other Model Railway Manufacturers and Gauges, Model Railway Scenery - Art and craft work.