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Prodigy Advance Wireless

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  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Overland Park, KS
  • 343 posts
Prodigy Advance Wireless
Posted by dadret on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 7:02 AM
I recently added an MRC Prodigy Advance Wireless conversion kit to the Prodigy Advance on my layout and it works fine but I notice that the loco address on the handheld flashes sometimes when I'm running that particular loco.  I still have a wired handheld hooked up and use them interchangably. The loco address on the wired handheld flashes also. Is this normal or do I have a problem I am not aware of??
  • Member since
    January 2006
  • 526 posts
Posted by Mailman56701 on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 7:18 AM

 dadret wrote:
I recently added an MRC Prodigy Advance Wireless conversion kit to the Prodigy Advance on my layout and it works fine but I notice that the loco address on the handheld flashes sometimes when I'm running that particular loco.  I still have a wired handheld hooked up and use them interchangably. The loco address on the wired handheld flashes also. Is this normal or do I have a problem I am not aware of??

  When a loco address flashes, that means the loco was originally set for control by another cab.

  In other words, the two cabs are "fighting" over which will control the loco.  Either can still control it completely; its more a notice to you that the loco could be controlled by someone else with the other cab, at the same time :)

  If desired, just delete the address from one of the cabs, and the flashing will go away.

"Realism is overrated"
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Overland Park, KS
  • 343 posts
Posted by dadret on Thursday, May 15, 2008 5:59 AM
Thanks for the information
  • Member since
    January 2004
  • 790 posts
Posted by Tilden on Thursday, May 15, 2008 7:05 PM

Mailman is right on.  Also, a quirk with the wireless units.  If you have an "older" PA unit(not a PA2, or upgraded PA unit) The wireless handhelds with version 1 software will work with them fine.  Except...there are some four digit addresses that won't program (I forget which ones, I never had a problem, I didn't use them).  If you get the wireless upgraded to Version 2 software and try to use it with a non-upgraded base unit, there is a delay in the system acknowledging commands, all commands.  This delay varies, it might be instantaneous or it might have a 2 second delay...or a 4.5 second delay...or a 12.3 second delay....etc

The solution appears to be to have the base unit software upgraded.  This will also allow you to use 28 functions, on the wireless handheld only.

I had my wireless upgrade for the heck of it....my base unit is going back shortly.

Tilden 

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