Prodigy vs.

[Anonymous]

Can anyone give me feedback on the prodigy system? the system is my first choice for my new layout.

[Javern]

I have the first Prodigy, my layout is about 15 x 25, I run 2 or 3 engines at a time. The Prodigy works very well for me, I run some sound decoders also. I also run just myself. I'm very happy with it,

[cacole]

Read all about it at Tony's Train Exchange, where they have tested it. http://www.tonystrains.com

[Pennsy58]

I had the prodigy system for over a year. It met my needs and performed very well. No need to learn complex programming or speed steps. Well worth the money.

I just upgrade to the new Prodigy Advance system and I am pleasantly surprised. It is just as easy to use and it overcame the only issue I ran into. The engine number limit of 32 engines. I kinda went overboard and have way to many engines. I too am a one man operation. The Prodigy seems to receive quite a few knocks from others but it seems to be from people that want all the programming options in the world. Not running anyones needs down but this system has met mine totally. The new systems display is much better and control of each engine seems to be improved. Prodigy suits my needs of being able to jump into DCC, easy to learn and use, and extremely cost effective comparatively.

I highly recommend it as it is simple, easy to learn and use, and has never let me down. At present I rarely run more than 2-3 engines at a time. Any more than that would probably result in collisions anyways.

[Anonymous]

I have had Prodigy for about a year, and it works well. Now building a new, larger layout and will need to have remote plugs for several hand held units around the layout. Does the Advance system have this?

[johncolley]

yes-but... you need to use 8 wire, I believe it is RJ-45. so yes you can run it around your system if you find a source for the wire and fittings. don't forget to flip the fittings, one up, one down on each piece of wire. I love the new Prodigy Advance!

[rrinker]

The problem with the original Prodigy system is that in trying to keep it simple, they left out a lot of useful stuff. You are quite limited int he programming you can do with it, plus the previously mentioned 32 loco limit, since you program your loco to one of the 32 settings, rather than use a 'normal' address like the loco's cab number.

The Prodigy Advance has NONE of these limitations, you can program any CV, and use normal addresses, plus it allows control of ALL the functions - running a BLI unit on the original Prodigy would not be a great experience since you wouldn;t have access to all the cool functions. With Prodigy Advance, you do.

--Randy

[Pennsy58]

Could not agree more rrinker, The new prodigy advance is quite an improvement with regards to capabilities. The new prodigy can make all the sounds on my BLI T-1 now.
Just not needing a log sheet with all of the engine addresses on the old system is a pleasure. Now I just look at the engine number and punch it in.

I havent jumped into things deep enough to worry about all the CV settings but I see the Advance can program them all if you wish.

[Anonymous]

Glad to hear good comments about the prodegy advance. I too just bought one but the track is not yet ready so I didn't use it yet. When programming what does "start voltage mean? The manual does not explain that. What do you set it at? thanks.
Larry

[rrinker]

Start voltage is the voltage supplied to the loco's motor on the first speed step. For sake of example, let's assume 12v on the track and 120 speed steps. That means each speed step is approximately .1V. Now, not too many locos start on .1V. Say your particular model runs at a minumum of 1.5V. That menas it won't start rolling until you hit speed step 15. By pusing the start voltage up, you 'get back' those 'empty' speed steps by allowing enough voltage through to start the loco moving on step 1 or 2.
What VALUE you put into the 'start voltage' setting (which is a nice simple way of saying CV02) depends on the characteristics of your loco. I don't know if the Prodigy Advance throttle shows the speed step you are on, but if you slowly turn up the throttle you will see there is probably some dead space before your loco moves. Put some value into 'Start Voltage' (start low, put too high a value and your loco will jump like a rabbit) and try again. When you have it right, your loco will start moving at the slowest speed it is capable of right after you start moving the knob. Keep track of what values you program for each loco - others from the same manufacturer will likely be close.

HTH,
Randy

[Anonymous]

Thanks Randy, that is just what I was looking
for. I understand it all now. Thanks.
Larry

[rrinker]

If you look al ittle more you'll also find "mid-voltage' and 'max voltage' or somethign to that effect. Same principle, only one is how much power is delivered at the middle speed step, and the other is the power delivered at the highest speed step. So if you have one of those models that runs a scale 200mph at top speed, you can cut back on the max speed CV so that it runs at a prototypical speed, even when you crank the throttle knob wide open. Default on top speed is 0 which is the same as 100% or a value of 255. Default for the mid voltage CV is also 0 which means the power will come up in a linear fashion from the first step to the last step. By altering start, mid, and max settings you can adjust your loco for best performance.
Beyond that and you get into lesson #2, speed tables. We'll save that for another day.

--Randy

[dzamzow]

Just curious. In all the talk about the Prodigy Advance, including Tony's Train Exchange and the MRC website, I see no mention of memory. I assume you can unplug the throttle to move it to another plugin without the train stopping. Is this right? Otherwise I agree that this new system looks like you get a lot of utility for the money.

Dave
Fort Collins, CO
The C&S lives!

[Anonymous]

I wasat the show in Mke this weekend and spoke with the guys from Tony's.
I compared all the DCC systems side by side. I had the original Prodigy system, and was very happy with it. The new system has several advantages such as more functions. I upgraded to the new Prodigy Advanced from Tony's.
It is a great system for the money.
Ken

[tomytuna]

RE; Plug in located around room..i have the orig Prod.....and have no problems using the remote plug in sights...

[CFournier]

I just bought the Prodigy last week. I'm thinking of returning it and buy the Prodigy Advance instead. But my 5 years old son would be more at ease with the simpler Prodigy, right??
What do you guys think? I have'nt tried it yet...
Chris.

[rrinker]

Knowing a 5-year-old's propensity for pushing buttons, yes, the regular Prodigy would probably be more suitable. I suspect at some point MRC will make a simpler 'visitor throttle' for the Advance like other manufacturers have for their systems. However, if you intend to operate sound equipped locos and be want to be able to set them up, you'll want the Advance.
At the risk of turning this into a DCC war, I might suggest the Digitrax Zephyr plus one of their UT throttles. The main unit has a full-feature throttle with all the buttons, and the UT throttle can't do much more than control train speed and direction, and blow the horn if you have a sound unit. It has a big knob and a toggle switch for direction, pretty easy for a 5-year-old to operate, and since you can't program from it, there's really no way he could mess up anything if he starts pushing buttons. Plus it's easy to add on as your needs and skills increase. Cost would be right between that of the Prodigy and Prodigy Advance.

--Randy

[CFournier]

I returned my Prodigy and bought an Advance Prodigy this morning. I have a question here: is it possible to use, as a second handheld throttle, the simpler Prodigy handheld with the dial?? It is cheaper than the digital one and a lot simpler to use for my 5 year old engineer!!
Chris.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by johncolley

yes-but... you need to use 8 wire, I believe it is RJ-45. so yes you can run it around your system if you find a source for the wire and fittings. don't forget to flip the fittings, one up, one down on each piece of wire. I love the new Prodigy Advance!

Radio Shack should have everything you need including the strip/crimp tool. The tool was $10 and a package of plugs was $3. I bought a 25 foot piece of the cable and cut the ends off and cut it to length, re-crimped and everything works fine. Like the other person said, pay special attention to the orientation of the wires in the plugs so everything can communicate properly.

[rrinker]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CFournier

I returned my Prodigy and bought an Advance Prodigy this morning. I have a question here: is it possible to use, as a second handheld throttle, the simpler Prodigy handheld with the dial?? It is cheaper than the digital one and a lot simpler to use for my 5 year old engineer!!
Chris.

As far as I know, no, the older Prodigy stuff and the Prodigy Advanced are not compatible.