I have the wireless version. It works well, and I really liked the short learning curve. Sent from my GT-N8013 using Tapatalk
Thanks for the quick answer,natsb.Can you tell me the part # of the system you have? thanks again! UPTODAY Rainy Portland Or
My club uses the wireless system as well. We like it, some would prefer NCE. I've used both, now that mrc supports jmri, it is as good in most ways. I'd have to look up the part number, but there's only on prodigy wireless system. (you can add wireless to the wired systems, but that's different.
http://www.modelrectifier.com/search/product-view.asp?ID=6454 I have the MRC 1410. I found the best price at Jim's Model Trains. This morning I was able to get my new Bachmann Acela locomotive programed and running is less than two minutes. I am a big fan of being able to program and run on the same track.
Just to balance things out, my experience with MRC has been abysmal (really bad). It started with the sound decoders in the first Athearn N-scale Challengers and Big Boys which almost put Athearn out of the N-scale locomotive business because they just wouldn't suddenly cease to function (die), they'd melt the tenders while they were dying. I found them to be nearly impossible to program, and after they'd been programmed, they'd lose their programming or do strange things, so I was always resetting them back to the factory presets. I tried a couple of their sound decoders with the speaker on the board for Kato F's and they were also difficult to program, had horrible speed control (jackrabbit starts and stops, couldn't speed match, etc.) and the sound was very toy-like and the the volume was really low. Before I bought my Digitrax Super Chief Radio starter system, I tested out several makes of DCC systems including MRC, NCE, Lenz and Rail Lynx. The two that I settled on were Digitrax and NCE because of their expandability, that these two were what most modelers in my vicinity were using, and that they had excellent track records. Every system has detractors, and has problems of one sort of another, and even Digitrax and NCE aren't without their eccentricities, but...and this is important...they are generally more reliable than the other systems, have a LOT of online and local support, and have a good reputation with excellent customer service. They also have excellent and easy expandability and function precisely and without major surprises and are used by many major clubs and prominent model railroaders. In the end, I went with Digitrax because it would allow me to run non-DCC engines simultaneously with my DC motive power, it had an excellent warranty, was made in the USA so it's not subject to either European or Chinese industrial/political upheavals or changes, was the system most in-use in my vicinity and was the most powerful, versatile and expandable system because of the Digitrax LocoNet peer-to-peer LAN. I did not experience any exceptional difficulty in learning how to use it, and used my online resources as well as local assistance when I'd run up against a problem I couldn't figure out by myself. Took me about a week to figure everything out. My advice is to stay away from MRC...and go with either Digitrax or NCE...even if the MRC ads make their stuff sound like the end-all product in the DCC world....it isn't. Cheerio! Bob Gilmore
Thank you robert3985!thats the kind of answer I have been looking for!When I ask about DCC systems at the local hobby shop,I hear that I should buy this xyz they have in stock,maybe not whats best for me. UPTODAY
I would not suggest that MRC is better than NCE or digitrax, but I will say that I don't believe Bob's experience relates to contemporary MRC decoders. The current product line programs exactly the same as every other decoder I've used and the MRC prodigy wireless system..while occasionally not holding up to our busiest show days, has been soldi the other 363 days of the year. They made some bad stuff in the past, but that is in the past.
My experience with current production MRC HO sound decoders (past couple of years) has been excellent. Check the features to be sure you're not getting old stock. The ones you want have 16 bit sound, adjustable BEMF, programmable speed tables, 28 functions, and CV readback. I would also agree that the Prodigy system is very easy to use. I have the wired version and am also using the computer interface module to use JMRI.
Thanks everyone for your opinions!My needs are for a four foot by nine foot n scale kato unitrack island layout.I have 22 feet of isleway and I have to go to one side and then the other to operate.I have a huge fleet of locomotives,all three of them.Two Atlas GP38-2s,and a Kato NW2.Want to have DCC and sound in the geeeps.DCC in the NW2.Now you know the rest of the story! UPTODAY PS;katoturnouts have their own dc power supply.
I have MRC on my system is the wired version I run 3 to 4 trains with sound and assy decoders for the switches and I have only had one issue in the 10 years and that was a controller died. It seems easier to program then some of the others and as a starter I would recommend it
