Has anyone purchased the MRC Prodigy Advance2 system? Id like to get some outside opinions on it. I have a friend in my club that has it and I have to say I was impressed but I wanted unbiased opinions on the system. I really like its simplicity since I'm not the smartest when it comes to DCC. Thanks for everyone's input!
Uh oh, an MRC question..I better put on my helmet.
-Paul.
I'd suggest that you use the "Search our Community" function to the right of this forum to look for prior posts about MRC's DCC products. You'll find many...
A was hinted at above, any question regarding MRC will bring many negative comments. Most of these are people who have had trouble with MRC decoders, those who dont like MRC as a company, or those that like to point out that the Prodigy Sq. system doesnt work with the computer/dcc interface system(forgot its name). I agree with the previous poster that you should use the search function to read threads/posts about the various DCC systems available. Like most things, there are pros and cons to everything. Im an owner of a Prodigy Squared system and I LOVE IT. Like you mentioned, it is very easy to use. Good luck to you.
wyldmanr8cer I wanted unbiased opinions on the system.
I wanted unbiased opinions on the system.
Note the lack of response........
Ask yourself, how does one of the most respected manufacturers in the hobby end up with a very large segment of the buying public firmly biased against them?
Some may feel that the aforementioned reasons are invalid, you may as well, and that is your prerogative.
If your only purchase criteria is ease of use, then it meets the need. For many the purchase decision is a much more complex process that accounts for many factors, including the reputation and good will of the manufacturer. Good luck with what ever you decide to do.
Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum
wyldmanr8cer Has anyone purchased the MRC Prodigy Advance2 system? Id like to get some outside opinions on it. I have a friend in my club that has it and I have to say I was impressed but I wanted unbiased opinions on the system. I really like its simplicity since I'm not the smartest when it comes to DCC. Thanks for everyone's input!
There is no such thing as an unbiased opinion.
Our modular group requires NCE wiring. Other modular groups use Digitrax. It is possible to wire modules to use either NCE or Digitrax (or DC). No modular group I know of uses MRC DCC.
Since I don't have personal ownership experience with any of the 5 major DCC systems in the US, my opinion is based on my analysis of features and drawbacks and costs. Reliability and support are ignored because I have no data.
As an example, on my home layout I would expect a maximum of 3 operators. Tethered throttles with that number of operators and layout space is fine. If I choose NCE, I need the basic system plus Super Booster plus 2 more walk-around throttles. If MRC, I need Prodigy Advance2 plus 2 more tethered throttles. If Digitrax, Zephyr plus 3 throttles would be the end state.
If I want Decoder Pro to program my locomotives (the larger your locomotive fleet and the more you want to tinker with CVS, the more important Decoder Pro becomes), then MRC requires a separate DCC system to use with Decoder Pro like a Sprog 2 or Digitrax PR3. MRC will not interface with Decoder Pro. NCE and Digitrax have computer interfaces to add on to their systems that will work with Decoder Pro; MRC does not. If I'm going to have DCC, I want the sound of steam engines working on my layout. Programming a Tsunami (or QSI sound) decoder without Decoder Pro is like returning to MS-DOS and a pen and paper instead of Windows.
my thoughts, your choices
Fred W
My respones like others will not be unbiased because I like MRC while other's like there system equally as well.
A dcc system purchase is going to be a very personal thing. Like said it is going to be for what YOU want out of it.
I have the Advance2 with the wireless conversion and love it. It does everything I need it to do. I started out with the Advance2 & then bought the wireless conversion. This gives me 2 throttles plus the advantage of being wireless. Some freind's have the wireless version & some the Advance2. With my wireless conversion I can operate on either one of there systems. The one with the Advance2 I take my wireless conversion to use on his Advance2 letting me run my train's wireless.
Bottom line I am very happy with my MRC Advace2 with wireless conversion.
Larry
Not sure why MRC frequently gets a bad wrap a lot of the time but its probably like the argument about whether Mac or PC is best. When I converted my DC layout to DCC a few years ago I went with MRC Prodigy Advance mainly because of cost as I recall. Since that time I've been very happy with the system and have had no real problems although I am more of a modeler than an operator. Have never had a problem programming any decoders. I added the wireless conversion a couple of years ago and it works great. My experience with their customer service has been just fine. I had to send my base unit back to them last week for repair as it was damaged by a major electrical storm we had. They repaired it for a flat rate of $50 (which includes return postage) and as a courtesy upgraded the unit to an Advance2. I can't compare MRC to Digitrax or NCE as I've never used either one but I'm sure they are fine systems. I definitely agree with the other posts that there are no unbiased opinions on this forum. The best system is the one you like and the one that works for you.
Hi Larry.
Just a curious NCE Power Cab user. With MRC are you able to speed match and fine tune your DCC decoders? Are you able to read and write CVs from the MRC. In comparison. With Decoder Pro I can see a chart of the speed curve and modify the speed at all of the steps. With sound decoders, Decoder Pro gives me a page with a master volume control and all of the sounds can be set individually, other settings can be accessed.
Thanks
Lee
delete
dadret Not sure why MRC frequently gets a bad wrap a lot of the time but its probably like the argument about whether Mac or PC is best.
Not sure why MRC frequently gets a bad wrap a lot of the time but its probably like the argument about whether Mac or PC is best.
Here are the primary reasons MRC gets a bad wrap.
1. A history of producing appallingly bad DCC decoders that were inherently unreliable. Of course this does not mean that everything they sell is junk, but if they have poor quality control on cheap Chinese made decoders, it is not a big stretch to think that their Chinese made DCC system might have some quality issues as well. IMO, this does not seem to be the case as the DCC system seems to be quite reliable.
2. The product is Chinese made. Most of the main DCC players in the US are American made. There are many that want to support small US business when they can.
3. MRC has entered the DCC market more than once. Previous efforts were not very successful and the products were dropped and superseded, leaving the owners with no upgrade path or compatibility with their current system. Other main players in DCC have worked hard to provide backwards compatibility.
4. MRC flatly refused to provide the details to allow JMRI Decoder Pro to be used with their system, instead preferring to go their own route. This stops a lot of folks from even considering their system.
5. There are many that consider the MRC advertising campaigns of the recent years to be staggeringly arrogant and very loose with the facts.
So in a nutshell MRC has managed to build up significant ill-will in the market place. Considering that the company had a superb reputation for decades, this is no mean feat.
As I said before, if you can just look at the PA2 in isolation and not consider other factors, it is really not a bad system. However, many purchasers do consider other factors.
One thing for sure, MRC certainly has a strong distribution chain. You often see the MRC system in non DCC specialist hobby shops and very often at significant discounts.
simon1966 dadret: Not sure why MRC frequently gets a bad wrap a lot of the time but its probably like the argument about whether Mac or PC is best. Here are the primary reasons MRC gets a bad wrap. 1. A history of producing appallingly bad DCC decoders that were inherently unreliable. Of course this does not mean that everything they sell is junk, but if they have poor quality control on cheap Chinese made decoders, it is not a big stretch to think that their Chinese made DCC system might have some quality issues as well. IMO, this does not seem to be the case as the DCC system seems to be quite reliable. 2. The product is Chinese made. Most of the main DCC players in the US are American made. There are many that want to support small US business when they can. 3. MRC has entered the DCC market more than once. Previous efforts were not very successful and the products were dropped and superseded, leaving the owners with no upgrade path or compatibility with their current system. Other main players in DCC have worked hard to provide backwards compatibility. 4. MRC flatly refused to provide the details to allow JMRI Decoder Pro to be used with their system, instead preferring to go their own route. This stops a lot of folks from even considering their system. 5. There are many that consider the MRC advertising campaigns of the recent years to be staggeringly arrogant and very loose with the facts. So in a nutshell MRC has managed to build up significant ill-will in the market place. Considering that the company had a superb reputation for decades, this is no mean feat. As I said before, if you can just look at the PA2 in isolation and not consider other factors, it is really not a bad system. However, many purchasers do consider other factors. One thing for sure, MRC certainly has a strong distribution chain. You often see the MRC system in non DCC specialist hobby shops and very often at significant discounts.
dadret: Not sure why MRC frequently gets a bad wrap a lot of the time but its probably like the argument about whether Mac or PC is best.
Simon pretty much nailed it. The past history was a killer. Early adopters of DCC using other brands have not been left out in the cold - those systems allowed you to take what you staretd with and add on new stuff and grow as DCC grew. MRC's early systems all ended up beign throwaway orphans, no longer supported and not compatible with the newer and more advanced systems that followed..
My opion here is that this derived directly from their DC power pack mentality. You didn't upgrade or add stuff to a DC power pack, if you wanted more features, you bought a newer, better one. No one really expected to be able to take their Golden Throttlepak and turn it into a Controlmaster X, and besides, adding a new pack meant another throttle for multiple cab control and/or power for accessories so you could throw a switch without the train jerking.
DCC is diferent. There's a computer in there. Computers are supposed to be upgradable. With the exception of some games and specialized software, you don't have to throw out your 2 year old computer to run programs released yesterday. Maybe I don;t care about programmign CVs today, but tomorrow I might - I shouldn;t have to throw out the whole system. Today I may only have 2 oeprators runnign 3 trains, but tomorrow I might have a dozen operators and 15 trains. I shouldn;t have to throw out my system and start all over again for this.
MRC seems to FINALLY have gotten it with the upgrade path, you can buy a Prodigy Express and expand it to A Prodigy Wireless or Advanced^2. That's oen part of the puzzle. The rest of the system seems extremely limited as far as expanding beyond what the base command station/booster can do. That may not be fact, but it's the perception one gets from the thin, almost non-existent manual which talls you nothign about the technical aspects of the system. Beginners may not need that info, but you don't stay a beginner forever. I rather prefer that Digitrax and NCE provide this information in the manuals so when I need it, it's there. And the final bit, keepign everyone in the dark. There's a de-facto standard for computer interface software to make programming CVs, particularly complex sound decoders, simple and straightforward. MRC has chosen not to participate and go their own way. Nearly every other DCC system on the market is supported by JMRI. But not MRC. And even if you are not a fan of JMRI and open source software, there are commercial programs like RR&CO which work on many different DCC systems - but not MRC.
My tinfol hat theory on this is that MRC doesn;t want to release their command structure on the cab bus because either a) they copied someone else's or b) it's so limited they don;t want anyone to find out.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I have a buddy using the Prodigy Advance^2 system, and is very satisfied with it, but he has a small layout. I considered buying one of my own, but passed.
I started my current layout only about two years ago, and needed to change control systems. I was a long-time user of CVP Products RailCommand, which had become obsolete and was no longer supported by its manufacturer (CVP currently sells Easy DCC), so it was finally time to go DCC. I tried out my buddy's MRC system and liked using it - it's easy to understand and the throttles are nice. MRC also provides for re-charging batteries on the radio cabs through the throttle bus, something the other system's don't offer. Plus, the Prodigy variants have a fairly low introductory cost.
I ended up buying NCE's PowerPro, which cost quite a bit more. Why?
One, I had already been burned by one manufacturer giving up on a proprietary system, and MRC has a reputation for failing to make new products backwards compatible, which others have noted above. I didn't want to get stuck with another orphan. Since MRC isn't especially popular, if Prodigy Advance^2 is abandoned there may be a limited pool of spare components available through eBay and such just like I would be facing if I stayed with RailCommand.
Two, NCE is made in the USA.
Three, NCE is even easier to use for me than MRC. The cabs are very similar in layout and functionality, and consisting is somewhat simpler for me to implement with NCE.
Four, Prodigy Advance^2 seems to have limitations as to expandability. Their own product literature is difficult to interpret as to just how far you can expand the basic system, and I have a somewhat large layout. Some of the initial cost advantage for MRC disappears once you have to start adding boosters to overcome its relative lack of power versus the other major players in DCC. I also don't like how they haven't cooperated on JMRI compatibility.
Five, I had doubts about MRC quality. I have no positive experiences to report with MRC decoders, which are of dubious quality at best. I have none, but a couple of other friends do (or did) and they have been just awful. If MRC is willing to sell poor quality decoders, what about the innards of its throttles or boosters?
I would highly recommend going with one of the big players in DCC, which have a reputation for quality and continuing to support products for the long haul. Go with NCE if you like the easy user interface of the MRC system, but investigate Digitrax too, as you can't really go wrong with either.
Rob Spangler
If the question is am I able to do this with the aid of a chart? NO
Can I speed match and fine tune? Yes
Can I read back & write? Yes
Can I change individual setting's on sound decoder's? Yes
My 2 cents.
MRC Prodigy Express was my first DCC system, and I bought it primarilly because I used normal analog direct current MRC products for decades beforehand. Since then I also upgraded to the Wireless and Prodigy Advanced2. I am also able to interface with my computer using the MRC software, so I am able to read individual CV's and speed match with no problem. The two problems I've had is the Express internal software was out of date, so I sent it in and they upgraded it for me for the cost of shipping. My Wireless controller has since stopped working wirelessly, and I have to use a tether. But overall, I've enjoyed the system and would buy it again if I were just starting out in DCC because of the ease of use.
That being said, I am on the verge of starting a new layout with more knowledge than I had before. This time I will most likely go with Digitrax because of it's advanced features and compatibility with JMRI. In addition, my local railroad club uses it and I find myself behind the curve in knowledge of the system. Finally, I want to host operating sessions at my house someday, and would like to offer the option of smart phone control.
- Tim