I have a small layout and run only a single engine at a time so a basic DCC system meets my needs very well. I opted for a MRC Prodigy Express and it has worked well in spite of two drawbacks--no connection port for decoder programmers and no on-off switch (I made my own "in line" between the "wal-wart" and the base unit). I have had it a little over a year and recently the rotary knob that controls speed steps has been less than consistent in its response. Sometimes a slight turn of the knob increases speed steps and other times nothing happens. I am now using the buttons to increase and decrease speed. Is this a common problem with these? I am sure MRC would give me the "send it in" reply so I am considering upgrading instead. Past posts seem to indicate that NCE seems to be a better choice. Any ideas?
John Cornette
Mebane, NC
Wow! That's amazing. 24 hours w/ an MRC question and you haven't gotten a single snotty "You should have bought a Digitrax". Or someone bashing MRC.
In my experience, the knob is designed to dampen overly enthusiastic inputs. Turning it faster does not seem to increase the speed steps that much faster, especially in 128 speed step mode. However, I've never had a non-response from the knob. If you turn one "notch", you get plus one speed step. Constantly whipping it around to jump through a lot of speed steps would probably wear it out.
Mine is about 3 years old, and the cab works just fine. Does anyone near you operate an MRC system who would be willing to let you try the cab (an Advance2 cab will work with an Express command station)? Rather than send it in, you can buy a new cab, if that turns out to be the problem. Or buy a whole new system, from MRC or anyone else.
Connecticut Valley Railroad A Branch of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford
"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." -- Henry Ford
Well, I'm a Digitrax owner, but my suggestion would still be to contact MRC. It sounds like that throttle may use an encoder, and yes they can wear out (especially if you're a "knob-twiddler"), and yes they can often be replaced.
Why not see if they'll repair it for you? An e-mail or phone call isn't a big investment, and may yield a good return. And if it doesn't, well, something else to consider if you end up deciding to get a different DCC system.
Steve
I have 2 PA systems and both throttles behsve the same way on both systems. I find it odd, but it is only a minor annoyance on an otherwise nice systemthat siuts my needs just fine.
What I'm talking about is that the "notches" or "detents" on the throttle knob do not necesssarily correspond to a single or complete speed step at the decoder. For example, if I turn the knob one "click", the speed step may advance one increment, or it may not. Sometimes a second clickisnecessary to get an increase in speed step.
I always wondered if they all did this, but figured they must since both mine do.
I don't know if this is what you are talking about or not.
It was annoying when I first got it,but after nearly ten years I am very accustomed to it.
I do make it a point to explain this to new and guest users, and advise them to check the LCD frequently to verify they are actually changing speed,or traveling at the speed they think they are.
I'm still curious about this behavior, so please keep us informed.
1948PRR,
Thanks for the information. My PE cab did what you described but over the last few months it has become less responsive and more erratic. I contacted MRC and described the problem. They instructed me to send it back and they'd "take care of it" for $8 (cost of postage). So it seems there must be some issue with this. I plan to buy another cab and then send the problem cab to MRC so I will not be without a cab (I operate my layout a couple of times per week). Until this came up, I was very pleased with the PE system and found it sufficient for my needs (after I added an on/off switch).
TRNJ
I have an express unit that I now have religated to my our n scale layout and have not yet experienced the problem you mentioned . I personally have gotten so use to using the buttons that I rarely use the knob anymore and that was one feature I had to have when purchasing my new system (NCE Poer House Pro)
All that being said you can send your express back to MRC for an upgrade. I think it cost some where between $30 and $40 but don't quote me on the exact ammount. It's power supply is ip graded and the unit is reprogramed I guess so if you use an Advanced Squared throttle you now have all of the functions of an Advanced Squared but with just a little less power. I personally have nothing but praise for the tech guy at MRC they have been more then stand up with me on servicing and repair or replacement of decoders and the unit it's self. We fail to mention most of the time that the tech guys in Jersy don't make the stuff they just fix it, like everyone else in the world it's outsourced to some place god only knows. So if your not happy with the company that a legit gripe but don't bash the guys taking the brunt of the problems when they are trying to fix the stuff.
I have a similar problem. Only when turning the know to decrease speed it randomly jumps to a higher number. Bad when wanting to stop or slow down! Specifically when turning counter clockwise the speed drops 1 step at a time EG: 9,8,7,6,21,20,19,18,17 etc. No issues when increasing the speed. I have tried to replicate the problem and figure that about every 2 revolutions it occurs, but is random and not apparently linked to a particular spot on the knob. I am in New Zealand and is 3 years old not used all that much so far, so am surprised to find this issue.
That;s pretty normal for an encoder throttle. If it only took 126 clicks (128 SS reserves a couple for special purposes so there aren;t 128 distinct speed steps actually, it's a couple less) to go from stop to full speed, it would only be like 1 turn of the knob anyway. Of if in 28 speed step mode - it would mean turnign the knob less than you would a potentiometer control, so you woudl have far LESS fine a control over the loco if it did that.
The other thing is the readout - is it speed step, or % from 0-100%? If it's percentage of speed, then there will be some steps where the speed step changes but the percentage does not, to fit 128 steps into 100%.
I don't even look at my throttle when running trains, I don't particualrly care what step or percent I'm at, other than when speed matching. I have a pretty good handle on proper scale speed just by watching the loco as it passes other cars or known spaces on the layout. That is probably why I prefer Digitrax, since with the knob at the bottom it's not as handy to hold the throttle down at your side and use a thumb to control speed - also, does the MRC knob 'click' to change direction? That's another thing Digitrax did, so I con;t have to look ro feel for a 'direction' button while switching, just click the knob.
There are probbaly someother settings you can do, like ballastic tracking - works the same way it does on a computer mouse, with it on, if you turn the knob quickly, it increments the speed much faster than turnign it the same amount but in a slow manner. Again somethign I seldom take advantage off at least on the acceleration side - real trains don't jump off like jackrabbits. But it does come in handy for STOPPING in a hurry, to prevent a loco from taking a scale 1000 ft plunge to the floor.
Bottom line, it doesn;t sound liek anything is wrong, unless there is a certain segment of the knob's rotation that ALWAYS fails to increment or decrement the speed. You can make a mark on it with say a pencil (can wipe that off easily) amd verify that, it it's consistent around the full turn of click <+> click <+> click click <+> then it's ok, but if say no matter how many clicks int he lower right it never increases or decreases, then it probably is a worn out encoder that is not getting a signal in that quadrant.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
1948PRR I have 2 PA systems and both throttles behsve the same way on both systems. I find it odd, but it is only a minor annoyance on an otherwise nice systemthat siuts my needs just fine. What I'm talking about is that the "notches" or "detents" on the throttle knob do not necesssarily correspond to a single or complete speed step at the decoder. For example, if I turn the knob one "click", the speed step may advance one increment, or it may not. Sometimes a second clickisnecessary to get an increase in speed step. I always wondered if they all did this, but figured they must since both mine do. I don't know if this is what you are talking about or not. It was annoying when I first got it,but after nearly ten years I am very accustomed to it. I do make it a point to explain this to new and guest users, and advise them to check the LCD frequently to verify they are actually changing speed,or traveling at the speed they think they are. I'm still curious about this behavior, so please keep us informed.
I also have two PA2 throttles and they act exactly the same way yours do. So I guess that it is what it is.
It doesn't bother me at all. just keeps me paying attention more.
rrinker That;s pretty normal for an encoder throttle. If it only took 126 clicks (128 SS reserves a couple for special purposes so there aren;t 128 distinct speed steps actually, it's a couple less) to go from stop to full speed, it would only be like 1 turn of the knob anyway. Of if in 28 speed step mode - it would mean turnign the knob less than you would a potentiometer control, so you woudl have far LESS fine a control over the loco if it did that. The other thing is the readout - is it speed step, or % from 0-100%? If it's percentage of speed, then there will be some steps where the speed step changes but the percentage does not, to fit 128 steps into 100%. I don't even look at my throttle when running trains, I don't particualrly care what step or percent I'm at, other than when speed matching. I have a pretty good handle on proper scale speed just by watching the loco as it passes other cars or known spaces on the layout. That is probably why I prefer Digitrax, since with the knob at the bottom it's not as handy to hold the throttle down at your side and use a thumb to control speed - also, does the MRC knob 'click' to change direction? That's another thing Digitrax did, so I con;t have to look ro feel for a 'direction' button while switching, just click the knob. There are probbaly someother settings you can do, like ballastic tracking - works the same way it does on a computer mouse, with it on, if you turn the knob quickly, it increments the speed much faster than turnign it the same amount but in a slow manner. Again somethign I seldom take advantage off at least on the acceleration side - real trains don't jump off like jackrabbits. But it does come in handy for STOPPING in a hurry, to prevent a loco from taking a scale 1000 ft plunge to the floor. Bottom line, it doesn;t sound liek anything is wrong, unless there is a certain segment of the knob's rotation that ALWAYS fails to increment or decrement the speed. You can make a mark on it with say a pencil (can wipe that off easily) amd verify that, it it's consistent around the full turn of click <+> click <+> click click <+> then it's ok, but if say no matter how many clicks int he lower right it never increases or decreases, then it probably is a worn out encoder that is not getting a signal in that quadrant. --Randy
Just ahrads up Randy the knobs on the MRC PA 2 spin infinate there is no stops. They will turn in either direction. I cant remember if it was a decoder or the MRC but I had one programed to run a switcher so that if you turn the throtle in the opposite direction it would go in reverse. I will have to look in to that. I haven't been doing much with trains lately. Work is owning all my free time latley.
Truck Just ahrads up Randy the knobs on the MRC PA 2 spin infinate there is no stops. They will turn in either direction. I cant remember if it was a decoder or the MRC but I had one programed to run a switcher so that if you turn the throtle in the opposite direction it would go in reverse. I will have to look in to that. I haven't been doing much with trains lately. Work is owning all my free time latley.
Truck,
That is 'normal' for an encoder throttle...
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
That's the way it's supposed to work. And what you did was enable 'yard mode' whereas after the loco is stopped, if you keep turning int he same direction, the loco starts accelerating again in the opposite direction. That one Digitrax doesn;t have - probably because you just click on the knob to reverse direction.