I just got my new Prodigy Advance Sq Dcc system and it looks easy to use and thats good as I am new to DCC. Question #1, does MRC or anyone else make a longer cord that goes between the handheld and the booster? A long coiled one would be nice. and #2 can I disconnect the handheld from a panel in one room and plug into a panel in another room(my layout goes thru a wall) and continue to control the train without losing all the info? Remember I new to DCC to be easy on me. Thanks for any info.
I use a Prodigy Express and would also like a longer cord, I'm sure they are availible or one could probably be made up perhaps at a computer shop. As for unplugging and walking to another plug, the Express does that and I see no reson the Advance wouldn't as well. This was the factor that shot down the NCE for me.
Modeling the Cleveland and Pittsburgh during the PennCentral era starting on the Cleveland lakefront and ending in Mingo junction
I have the Prodigy Advance wireless and love it - might be worth the money to convert your system. You can move the handheld from one plug in to another without losing any information. I don't think MRC makes any longer cable but you can probably get one at an electronics store or try All Electronics (www.allelectonics.com) - just make sure the connectors are the same as on your original cable.
For a longer cable, you must know whether the existing cable is wired for "telephone" or "data" use, and how many conductors are in the cable. This can easily be determined by looking at the plugs on the cable and how they are crimped on. A telephone style cable will have the locking tab up (or down) on both ends. On a data cable, the tab will be up on one end and down on the other.
If you can find an old (or young) telephone guy in the neighbor he may still have a curly cord from an old telphone handset kicking around ( up to 30') and he could also put the plug on the ends for you. If not what I did with my MRC is I ran a length of Cat5 telephone cable under the layout and added four addition locations using data jacks( almost like your phone jacks in your house but they take the extra wires) available at any Radio Shack. This way I can carry the handheld cab to any location on the layout without affecting operations. Oh and I put a plug on the end of the Cat5 and just plugged it into the MRC at the same location you are now! Make sure all your wires are placed in the correct order, but once done you never have to look at them again.
From an Old Telephone Guy!
After a little investigation, I found a post from jwils-1 about a coiled cord 14 feet long for around $12 at www.digikey.com I ordered one. With this I can get to all areas of my layout. Since I will probably never have anymore than just me running trains, I dont need any extra panels. Problem solved. For the record, I called MRC and they do have a 14' cable (not coiled) that they can sell you, but its not listed on their website.The plugs are mounted opposite on each end and have 8 wires. I'll let you know how it works when I get mine. Thanks jwils-1!!
OK so here's one from the past... So I went to my LHS shortly after this thread to get a second cab for my Express. I bough the cab and the extension box that was "required" to use it. Out of curiosity I opened the box ans found basically 4 sockets jumpered together, no resistors capacitors etc.
So ,CPBuff, if I make a "cab bus" with cat 5 and rj45 connectors, can I have multiple throttles plugged in at the same time or is there special wiring that needs to be done. What about boosters? Actually, I think I answered my own question when I looked inside the extension box but, just want to confirm.
Absolutely correct about the RJ45 aspect.
You can use $2 ebay "Ethernet" cords in any length or color you like.
If you look hard enough, you can find pre-made RJ45 splitters for telephone use as well.
The are somewhat hard to get because you can't split Ethernet for computer use.
ruderunner I use a Prodigy Express and would also like a longer cord, I'm sure they are availible or one could probably be made up perhaps at a computer shop. As for unplugging and walking to another plug, the Express does that and I see no reson the Advance wouldn't as well. This was the factor that shot down the NCE for me.
I question your statement about NCE, maybe I misunderstood your intent, but have used NCE since 1999, my basement layout runs through walls into other areas, I use the cab04p's to run many of the trains, and unplug and relocate with no loss of train control or information. I do use mostly radio now for the through trains, but never had any loss of info by unplugging and walking to another location.
Bob
Bob, ruderunner was referring to the Power Cab. Contrary to your PH Pro system, the NCE Power Cab can't be unplugged without shutting down the whole layout.
Jack W.
Guess that makes sense, since that is the main control item for that system. Have never looked at one of them.
Yep Powercab starter system. I wasn't ready to drop $400 into DCC.