Okay.... So boy genius went out and bought himself a MRC Prodigy Advanced2 wireless controller set (controller and throttle) and three booster packs (planning, in advance, on four power zones). I can't speak to the booster pack, but the controller and throttle were working pretty nicely and I was happy. Well, I was happy until programming loco's got to be a bit of a drag and I remembered one of my big "must haves" -- a computer interface. Of course, if you are going to program loco's and have a dream of being the dispatcher or yardmaster, the least expensive software is jrmi's bundle.... unless you find someone who wants to pay you to run their software and that doesn't seem like (even relatively) trouble-free software.... *That* was when boy genius noticed a small flaw in his plan... The controller won't interface to jrmi nor does it look like MRI has any plans to make that interface possible. I can get their software (also free except for $135 of connection hardware -- that's some "Free") for programming locomotives, but I'm getting a strong suspicion it may be time to change controller and throttle before I invest more time and effort in this one. So, what do I do? It looks like the answer is "Get a new controller and throttle" (ouch). The question is which one? ----- Key requirements: Wireless (radio) operation Computer interface for loco programming *and dispatching/ main line route control* with feedback (monitor traffic displays) Ability to create/split lashups "on the main" (okay, so "in the engine terminal") Ability to read CV's as well as write them (I forget wnat that's called) Expandability (loco and controller capacity) -- definitely 4-digit addressing Preferred: Maximum functions (not quite sure why I need them, but seems like a reason will appear and I'd like to not be saying "Drat, I wish I'd thought of that before...." Ability to run with MRC boosters on power bus. -----
What is wrong with this? It is only $55 list. MRC Prodigy DCC Computer Interface It's what I plan on getting.
You may be correct that it's only $55, rather than $135. I read the "and" in "The interface hardware are items 0001515 Wireless Computer Interface and 0001516 Cable Computer Interface" to mean both not either (Descriptions for products aren't up), but it makes no sense to need both. But that said, robustness, function expansion and size of user community are issues. I can go to NMRA's Hartford National 2009 and attend 9 different clinics on JRMI and it's various components. I can even build a CDC panel for use on my computer and use it for dispatching. I can create switch lists and a host of other functions (with, doubtless more to be added). MRC's computer interface is way behind and, given the size of the JRMI community, is only going to fall further and further behind as time goes on. (Best example is JRMI's templates for specific decoders. MRC has no equivalent ability and I really don't see them setting up templates for Digitrax, NCE or Lenz decoders if they ever add such functionality). I bought the Advanced2 for the future. It's more than I need now, but the idea (if very badly flawed) was that it would last as long as I did and I wouldn't have to learn the quirks of a new system down the road. Closed, proprietary software just isn't even close to the same class. From my experience (and that's lots and lots of years), much as I like my MRC controller, I would never recommend it to anyone who wants to interface their railroad empire with their computer for anything beyond what can be done on the programming track.
OK, I was just wondering. Computer dispatching is not in the cards for me even if I ever get to build the big dream layout. I model two shortlines and two branchlines which were not controlled that way. I use CC&WB's to control car movements on my layout. I like my Prodigy setup and I think it will do whatever I need to do with it. I have an upgraded Express with two Express handhelds and an Advance2 handheld. I plan on getting the computer interface and wireless in the future. I do not know anything about JMRI and have no experience with it. I really do not need anything other than the programming options so I think MRC's offering would work for me. I can see where our druthers/needs are different.
Tad, Thanks for posting the info on the MRC. I'm kind of in the same boat you are and I think this might be the ticket for me. Eric
Not to argue here or cause one, I've been playing with the beta software for a while now and it will do most of what JMRI will do. It does include some templates for other man's decoders as well as setting up routes that can be saved and reran at anytime with simple text files. I understand why most of everyone has the "oh you must have the digitrax/nce system and the jmri to make your system work right", but thats their opinion and work right is by their standards. The advance/express systems are great systems for the beginner and advanced users whom know what they want to do, but like all the systems out there, they have drawbacks like the others do. You lose one or two items with one that one of the other systems may have, but in return the other systems may not have the function capabilities of the advance/express. You must remember that all the manufacturers are constantly upgrading their systems, maybe not to work with other brands of components, as there arent any set rules for how the systems should interface with each other, and the "NMRA standards" are real vague as well. The MRC boosters you have should interface with any other dcc system as all it does is "amplify" the current of the dcc-signal and the units come with manuals to tell you how to setup them for other systems. I personally would like to see the manufacturers themselves get together and create their own standards for the interfaces, transport protocols, and other misc items so that we, the consumers, would end up with a great dcc system, but the odds are better for a winning lottery ticket, and not one of the "you have won the UK lottery" emails either, lol. Eric aka ThoroughBreed :tb-cool:
Don't worry. I don't take as an argument. I'm just terribly disappointed to find out MRC is not JMRI-compatible and they have no intention of releasing the information that would make it such. I can't "play" with their software without buying the hardware, so I don't know what it has except from their scanty literature and I gave up trusting the claims of software developers (and I've been one) very quickly and long, long ago, after dealing with IBM's "That's not a bug. It's an undocumented feature." and "Oh! That part hasn't been written yet, but it'll be out in six months." (IBM made Microsoft look like pikers when it came to vaporware and selling features that didn't exist, yet.) As far as I can tell from what I have been able to play with, MRC's software limits me to setting up 9 routes and that isn't enough to get me from/to a three-track main to/from 12 station tracks, little less run a railroad. (I can't complain about their documentation, if only because JMRI's has gaping holes in its documentation as well, although the JMRI user group is quick and prolific with help.) I love the DCC controller, really. And the throttles. But DCC was developed primarily to deal with multi-consist layouts and the more consists, the more it differentiates itself from DC. That also applies to the Prodigy Advanced2. Too bad that, as their hardware shines more and more, their software becomes weaker and weaker. I really wish they'd open their specs and let the JMRI folks do the software.
Heres a link to the software available on the yahoo group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MRC-DCC/files/MRCDCC.exe
\ You are right, it should. That's my pet peeve with MRC, though. They won't tell anyone which two wires get connected to the foreign booster to get it to "boost". Or which two terminals are the one that a forein command station can use to get the Prodigy(choose model) to be just a booster. They seem to have gone whole hog on keeping their system as proprietary as possible. That reads to me like they want their customers to be trapped into spending their money on only MRC DCC products. Every manufacturer has a proprietary throttle command system but it seems that only MRC chooses not to divulge information that could be useful to owners of existing DCC equipment. It would be nice to be able to connect a member's MRC to our club's Digitrax system to be used as a module mounted booster for accessory decoders, private trackage, etc. Same goes for their computer interface and software. My guess is that it cost more in R & D to develop an interface and software than it would have cost to just design an interface that would work with JMRI. When it all gets said and done, it's a business and the markup is based on their expense. More expense, more markup dollars for the manufacturer. It's their business model and apparently it works for them. Martin Myers
Just thinking outside the MRC square (okay I have a digitrax system so don't shoot me :tb-biggrin: ).... can you hook up a locobuffer USB to the MRC controller? just needs a loconet connection. I'm not up with MRC as it's not that readily available in my part of the world.
MRC interface I have heard nothing about MRC allowing their hardware to interface with any software other than there own. Now or in the future. That is my only major qualm with the MRC Prodigy series. Although the release of the computer interface leaves some hope for the future. As for mixing the Command Stations, Boosters and throttles of different manufacturers i feel that is asking for problems. I just stayed away from that.
