MRC Prodigy Express and Computer interface cable problem

[Great Western Rwy fan]

I just purchased the MRC Computer Interface cable to be able to run My Trains via the Computer. I have the cable connected from the PC to My Prodigy Express system. I tried to download the software from the MRC web Site but the link would not work. The cable didn't come with any software and instructions were not real clear. If You are running the Prodigy system with the Cable {Not Wireless}  Could You please tell Me what Software I need to run it. I have downloaded JMRI and am attempting to use it but to no avail.  Thank You

[ba&prr]

This might help: 

http://jmri.org/help/en/html/hardware/mrc/index.shtml

Joe

 

 

 

[RR_Mel]

I went that route and my time was wasted trying to get the MRC Software to work, the adapter works great with JMRI.  The MRC software isn’t worth the time it takes to download.

 

 

 

Mel

 

Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951

 

My Model Railroad   

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

 

Bakersfield, California

 

I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

[JoeinPA]

The JMRI citation mentions the Prodigy Advanced2. Does the Prodigy Express have the same capabilities to connect with a computer?

Joe

[Slee The Sloth]

I run the prodigy advanced with a Digitrax PR3. You'll need to set the comport. On your computer, each USB port will have a different com port. You will also need to install the drive for the device and the comport as well. While your MRC Computer Interface  is connected to your PC, Go into device manager in your PC and look to see if there any unknown devices. They may be listed in the USB section or out in the main tree. If you see an unknown device you'll need to install the drivers for it. You'll need to be contacted to the internet and have your MRC Computer Interface connected and then  you can try RIGHT clicking on the unknown device and then click on "update driver". If that dose not work you will need the driver from MRC. Once you get the driver installed, it should show up and be list as a COM# or comport#. The comport # may have to entered in the software like Digitrax's sound loader or JMRI.  Also make a note of witch port you plugged the USB cable into. As each port will have a different com port #.  Sorry i can not be more specific but I do not have the MRC Computer Interface I use the Digitrax PR3. Let me know how you make out.

[jalajoie]

Slee The Sloth

I run the prodigy advanced with a Digitrax PR3. You'll need to set the comport. On your computer, each USB port will have a different com port. You will also need to install the drive for the device and the comport as well. While your MRC Computer Interface  is connected to your PC, Go into device manager in your PC and look to see if there any unknown devices. They may be listed in the USB section or out in the main tree. If you see an unknown device you'll need to install the drivers for it. You'll need to be contacted to the internet and have your MRC Computer Interface connected and then  you can try RIGHT clicking on the unknown device and then click on "update driver". If that dose not work you will need the driver from MRC. Once you get the driver installed, it should show up and be list as a COM# or comport#. The comport # may have to entered in the software like Digitrax's sound loader or JMRI.  Also make a note of witch port you plugged the USB cable into. As each port will have a different com port #.  Sorry i can not be more specific but I do not have the MRC Computer Interface I use the Digitrax PR3. Let me know how you make out.

 

I presume you are using the PR3 in standalone programmer. I don't think it can interface with your Prodigy.

 

[Stevert]

jalajoie

 

 

Slee The Sloth

I run the prodigy advanced with a Digitrax PR3. You'll need to set the comport. On your computer, each USB port will have a different com port. You will also need to install the drive for the device and the comport as well. While your MRC Computer Interface  is connected to your PC, Go into device manager in your PC and look to see if there any unknown devices. They may be listed in the USB section or out in the main tree. If you see an unknown device you'll need to install the drivers for it. You'll need to be contacted to the internet and have your MRC Computer Interface connected and then  you can try RIGHT clicking on the unknown device and then click on "update driver". If that dose not work you will need the driver from MRC. Once you get the driver installed, it should show up and be list as a COM# or comport#. The comport # may have to entered in the software like Digitrax's sound loader or JMRI.  Also make a note of witch port you plugged the USB cable into. As each port will have a different com port #.  Sorry i can not be more specific but I do not have the MRC Computer Interface I use the Digitrax PR3. Let me know how you make out.

 

 

 

 

I presume you are using the PR3 in standalone programmer. I don't think it can interface with your Prodigy.

 

 

Without having an MRC system to actually try it, I'm pretty sure it can't.  The PR3 (which I do have) only "speaks" LocoNet (and programming commands to it's programming outputs). 

But if I'm not mistaken, the MRC systems use a completely different polled throttle bus, not a version of LocoNet (which would have to be licensed from Digitrax). 

[rrinker]

 Yes, MRC has their own bus, and their own computer interface cable - which now works with JMRI (originally it didn't, MRC didn't want to reveal their protocols to the JMRI team, but that has changed and now JMRI can talk to MRC systems, using their specific interface cable.)

 Prodigy Express afaik does not do readback on the program track, like the Digitrax DB150, so adding a PR3 in standalone mode is a cheap way to get a read/write program track that happens to work with pretty much any decoder.

                              --Randy

 

[Slee The Sloth]

jalajoie

 

Slee The Sloth

I run the prodigy advanced with a Digitrax PR3. You'll need to set the comport. On your computer, each USB port will have a different com port. You will also need to install the drive for the device and the comport as well. While your MRC Computer Interface  is connected to your PC, Go into device manager in your PC and look to see if there any unknown devices. They may be listed in the USB section or out in the main tree. If you see an unknown device you'll need to install the drivers for it. You'll need to be contacted to the internet and have your MRC Computer Interface connected and then  you can try RIGHT clicking on the unknown device and then click on "update driver". If that dose not work you will need the driver from MRC. Once you get the driver installed, it should show up and be list as a COM# or comport#. The comport # may have to entered in the software like Digitrax's sound loader or JMRI.  Also make a note of witch port you plugged the USB cable into. As each port will have a different com port #.  Sorry i can not be more specific but I do not have the MRC Computer Interface I use the Digitrax PR3. Let me know how you make out.

 

 

 

 

I presume you are using the PR3 in standalone programmer. I don't think it can interface with your Prodigy.

 

 

Yes just as a stand alone on its own section of track.