How did you finally make out with your debacle? I feel your pain as I got a MRC Prodigy Advance 2 system for Christmas (early Christmas a couple of weeks ago).
After debating on what brand DCC system for my wife to get me for Christmas, I told here I wanted a MRC Prodigy Advance2 system as it seem to be the best bang for the buck and appeared to fit our layout (12’ X 5’ for now).
Having NEVER had anything DCC made me a complete novice. The first thing that I noticed about the PA2 is that the manual was VERY lacking. Nothing there said the “complete” manuals had to be printed out from MRC’s web site (which I did after a week of frustration).
MRC offered a “free” decoder ( http://www.wholesaletrains.com/2009/MRCdecoderoffer.pdf )with the purchase of a PA2 system by sending them a list of four of their decoders (which they would choose one from) along with a check for $9 (which negates the “free “part). My wife said that they’d pick the fourth one which they did!
The decoder I got was the #1802 ( http://www.modelrectifier.com/search/product-view.asp?ID=8276 ). I figures that I had only $9 in it so why not learn on this one rather than ruin a more costly one. Good thing for me that I did as it took me days to figure it out but now I feel a lot more confident about setting a locomotive decoder up.
In retrospect, I wish that I’d had her get me a Digitrax system even though it would have cost more just for the fact that the Digitrax system appears to have more growth potential without the limitations that the MRC system appears to have.
NOTE: After re-reading numerous time all of the manuals that I had to print out from MRC’s web site, they have a system shutdown procedures for the hand held unit on page 3 of this manual: http://www.modelrectifier.com/resources/trainsound/PRODIGY%20ADV%20TIPS%20AND%20TRICKS%20REV%2010-02-2009.pdf It states that states to unplug the hand held unit before shutting system power off. The hand held unit will flash “Svda”. Then plug your hand held unit back in and shut the power off (or unplug your power supply on the Prodigy Express).
I don’t know how important this is but IMHO, if it’s in the manual, then it’s important enough procedure that you need to follow it.
I give all of you a thousand pardons.The more I looked at the instructions, I was doing it all wrong. The orange wires connect to the program track and I was splicing them into the wires I already had on the program track.I feel stupid. When I get time I'm going to do it all right.
Froggy...
I'm guessing you have things wired wrong.
So, the programming track output of the Prodigy goes to the input of the PTB, the out put of the PTB goes to the programming track, and only the programming track. The programming track is not touching the main in any way! Make sure that's what you have.
Jeff But it's a dry heat!
I have a Digitrax Super Chief, a PR3, and Decoder Pro. I have three Tsunamis, and one Locsound and they all program just fine on the program track, just like the non sound decoders do.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
Well, I have a blinking green light now.Every DCC locos I have are going loco on me.
By the way, I'm getting a blinking red light.
I am still at my wits end. I went to Radio Scack and bought a 12volt adapter 500 milliamps.I connected the two black wires to it and triple checked the orange and yellow wires. What the heck am I doing wrong. When I think the Athearn is programmed, anothe loco runs at the same time. One has the #1 on it and the other Athearn has the #2 on it. What address would you use fdor these? I need help I don't have anyone else to turn to.
The 2 black wires should be connected to it's own power supply. For you to connect to power in on your prodigy, you would have to splice in to the power cord after the transformer and before the plug that goes in to your prodigy power supply. DO NOT CONNECT THEM TO TRACK POWER. Read the whole paragraph #1 on the instructions to the PTB-100 pay close attention to the note and the last sentence of the paragragh. I use a transformer like for charging a phone. It converts ac to dc puts out 12 v. at 500ma. And only the yellow wires to the program track outputs on your prodigy. the orange wires to the ISOLATED program track. If you tried to program without the power Black wires supplied with power you wont get the boost needed for the tsunami's
For power.... the Prodigy looks like it has a plug for the power, so if you want to use the some power supply you will need to cut into the wires and splice, Alternatively, you can get a separate power supply for the PTB.
As far as the green light goes:
The PTB-100 automatically connects power to the program track whenever a programming operation is started. The GREEN LED indicates the status of the programming track. A slow flash rate indicates that there is no power on the program track and locomotives may be safely placed on or removed from the programming track.
It has two screws for program track and two for the main track. I don't see anywhere to put the two black wires to the power in.
Does the Prodigy Express even have a dedicated program track connection? If not, you can't leave the PTB100 connected when running trains.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
It says the two blacks go to the power in.The two yellow are connected to the program track on the MRC prodigy The orange wires are spliced to the program track.The green light is blinking, is that normal?
I am at my wits end!!!!!!!!!!!! Mt PTB-100 came in the mail today and now I have two locos moving at the same time.I read thru the instructions as best as I thought I could. Nobody here to help me locally.I have two Athearn locos with sound and the number on one says #1 and the other is #2. I programmed one of them and a totally different loco runs too at the same time.Please help me somehow.
I have the PTB- 100 connected to my MRC prd. adv.sq.2 and I have not had any problems setting or reading back CV's since i put it in. I tried the PowerPax one from DCC specialties but could not read back cv's on soundtraxx decoders. So I took it back and got the PTB-100. Now I havent found a decoder I cant read or write cv's on.
cacole CSX Robert's comments about changing from long to short or short to long addresses in Ops Mode is not quite true -- I do it all the time with an NCE ProCab Radio throttle.
CSX Robert's comments about changing from long to short or short to long addresses in Ops Mode is not quite true -- I do it all the time with an NCE ProCab Radio throttle. The trick is to change CV 29 to indicate whether you then want to run on the long or short address.
I'm not familiar with a Prodigy but I have never had to calculate CVs 17 and 18, either -- I just type in the long address number I want and the controller does the calculations. But I've never used an MRC Prodigy Express, so maybe you have to do it that way with it.
I want to thank everyone for all of the replies. I ordered a PTB-100 so hope it's easy installation.
Use this web site: http://www.2mm.org.uk/articles/cv29%20calculator.htm to calculate values for CV17, CV18, and CV29. Use the programming on the main option to set CV17, CV18, and finally CV29 to the calculated values.
If the cab number on the loco is less than 127, do the above but pick an arbitrary address. Like 2000. Then select loco 2000 and program CV1 to the desired address (1-127) and finally program CV29 using the above calculator but selecting 2-digit addressing.
Which Prodigy?
What locos?
What kind of fits?
I have two Athearn locomotives with sound. My first one gave me fits to program so I just let it be 0003. I got another new one today and for the life of me I cannot get it to program with my MRC Prodigy.I wouldn't mind if it would recognize 0002. What the heck can I do? I badly need your help.They both are the same brand and have sound.I am stumped and have read the book over and over.Please help me.I ordered this because it has good pulling power and is heavey enough to pull a lot of cars.I will be waiting anxiously for a good answers. Thanks.