MRC Prodigy questions......

[canazar]

Howdy gang.

I have a MRC Prodigy system that I truly enjoy. Problem is though, I had some conflicts with my Athern Genesis SD70. The lights dont work very well. So I am looking for folks that have this system and what engines they run and have had good luck or bad luck.

For instances, I have a Broadway Limited Cab Foward that works great, along with two GP60M Athern RTR with Digi traxx decoders. They wrok flawless as well. I recently got some extra money and want to buy some engines but want to avoid any more issues. So your opinoins or expeirences would be great. Thanks everyone

best regards
john k

[Javern]

I use Prodigy on a dozen Athearn engnes, MRC decoders and 3 of them being the sou variety. No issues all work good

[Pennsy58]

I have a Genesis SD-70 that I used with my prodigy system. Recently went to the Advance system. This engine worked fine on both systems.

The natural question is which decoder is in your SD-70?

[canazar]

Well, the problem I have is the lights dont light up very bright....At first, they harldy glow. Will get brighter the faster the engine moves. After awhile, the front ones will stay sorta bright. But if I trun off the ditch lights, the head lights go low, and vicea versa. The rears barley even glow. I put it on a NCE system and porgramed it.. and BINGO worked fine.Lights all it up bright as day. get it home, and nadda....[banghead]

I put in a Lenz decoder nadda, then switched it out for a DigiTraxx 163... The part the I dont get and why I assume its the board in the SD and the sytem is not getting along, is I took out a DigiTraxx decoder out of my GP60 and put it in and it still worked poopy (lights anyway, runs great, just no lights/or barley glow) Keep in mind, in the GP60, it works perfect. So I have no idea what it is. I am hopeing when I finally get my MRC Prodigy Adavanced, it wil work as well is it did on the NCE system[%-)]

[rrinker]

This issue here has nothing to do witht he DCC system and everything to do with the way the loco is wired. I don't have modern diesels like that, but if the lights only ever come on dim, this would indicate that between the decoder and the light bulb there is too big a resistor and/or extra diodes. The Proto2000 SD-7 is like this, you can just plug a decoder in and it will work, but the lights will be dim.

If, rather than being dim, the lights flicker as you change loco speed - this means there is a speed step match, the decoder is set for 128 speed steps and your system is controlling it with 28 speed steps, or vice-versa. Digitrax/NCE/Lenz/Prodigy Advanced can all do 14/28/128 speed steps. Not sure about the original Prodigy - it may only do 14/28.

--Randy

[Anonymous]

I have prodigy and have never had any problems, and i run an Atlas U30C and a Roco GP38-2. It could be that you have the wrong bulb. Try replacing the bulb. Or it could be a resistor problem.

[canazar]

RRinker,

I would accept that theroy eccept 2 things. The decoder install on that engine is a plug-n-play type. It only goes in one way. 2nd, if it was a decoder issue, it would not have worked perfectly on the NCE system.
I took it back to the train shop to have them look at it since it was beyond me. He put it on, and it was operating 100%. Directions, good speeds. all light functions, and all lights were as bright as one could hope for. Yet I get it home.. and back to dark.
Also I cant replace the bulb or a resistor due to the fact (mind this now) 6-8 times out of 10, half a lap around the lay out the front lights usually come pretty bright (not all the way, but accetable ), its like they warm up or something goofy. If they dont on the first pass, by the second pass they are lit up. So, in theroy, if I replace bulbs or resistors, it blow by the end of the first lap. LIek I said, it has to be some thing very weird with that engine board and my system. Oh well...... hope my Advance comes in soon.

[rrinker]

Well, the only thing the Prodigy could be doing that the NCE doesn't is send the wrong number of speed steps. This sort of thing will cause wierd lighting issues due to the packet structure for DCC packets meant for 14/28 speed steps and those for 128 speed steps. You should not have this problem with the Advance, it the loco works fine with an NCE system.
Believe me, just because a loco has a DCC socket and says it is "DCC Ready" does NOT mean you can just plop a decoder in and be done. In more cases then not, you need to change bulbs, add resistors, or do something to make it exactly right. That may not be the case withthe loco you have, but as you get more and install more decoders, you will find this out. "DCC Ready" I take as more of a suggestion than any statement of fact - witness the P2k SD7 I mentioned, or even the better P2K GP7's - yeah they are plug and play IF you use a Digitrax DH163L0 decoder, any other plug-in decoder and you need resistors or replacement bulbs. Or even better - the new MDC EMD Model 40 'Critter' - DCC Ready? DCC Ready To Blow Your Decoder is more like it, as delivered it will instantly fry the function outputs for the lights due to the sloppy design of the directional lighting board.
I've had to do less work to put decoders in locos that have no socket than in some that are supposedly "DC Ready". All part of the fun and games that is Model Railroading.

--Randy

[Pennsy58]

Got me curious since it ran well back at the train store and the lights worked fine. Was going to suggest looking at the voltage output, but if other engines are working fine doubt if that is the problem. rrinker has a good idea again, look at the speed step settings, maybe change them to see if it makes any difference.
If all else fails, do a factory reset on the decoder and start over.

[canazar]

Hmmm Yeah. Good points that go around. It is a strange case. I also believe that the Advance will help alot since the Regular Prodigy wont allow changes in speed steps.. I have messed with starting voltage and such. Also programed Momentum which really helped make the SD70 run smooth. I am very happy with the performance.. But I have theroires brewing on the MRC prodigy system....

And now for this......

Today I pruchased a Atlas Master series which comes with its own DCC decoder. Every Atlas unit I have seen/ heard it ran flawless. Super quiet and smooth. (Its a GP 38) This one when goign slow sounds like it has something rattleing in the motor. Its louder than my 3 blue box Atherns. If the speed picks up, the motor noises go away. of course I can hear drivetrain noise, gears and such, but that is nothing (in fact doesnt bother me at all, since that noise really is quiet.) but when the engine is just crawling, say through the yard.... Good lord, sounds like the motor is hitting the side of the shell... (I know its not, just that loud) Sounds like grinding and rattleing...

But, I have a theory that it is MRC system not quite getting enough amperage or voltage out. Hence maybe explain my pesky light problem in the SD70. This weekend I will try the Atlas engine and the SD70 on a NCE layout and see how it does. I cant belive that my BRAND new Atlas would be the loud with engines noises.

Hey, I would take thoughts and theorys on the Atlas. I have given up on the SD70, its got a ghost and will wait until I get the Advanced system.....which I hope is soon.

Thansk for the input guys. I need it..[:)]

best regards
John k