Electronics and DCC

 I was on MRC's website for the first time in awhile just seeing what new products they had. I noticed that they now make a Computer Interface it says sold out on the site but I'm assuming it's not released yet since I could find minimal information on it. Does anyone have any information on this accessory they are making? Will it work for any of the MRC DCC systems (I Own a Prodigy Express) and I'm also curious if it will work with JMRI software.

You'd think something would of been made sooner  too interface MRC with a computer since they do use ethernet cords to connect the throttle to the system. 

 Nope, no interface available as of yet.  Even if they DID have one, it says on their site that it will only work with THEIR propriatary software......a horrible move on MRC's part.

Did you get a look at the price?  It costs more than most entry level DCC systems.  For a Digitrax system you can get away with the DS100 which will put you back 30 bucks and with NCE all you need is a straight through serial cable.

Now, will the computer connection work with the express?  I doubt it.

David B

conrail92:

You'd think something would of been made sooner  too interface MRC with a computer since they do use ethernet cords to connect the throttle to the system.

 

just because they use a commonly available cable to make the connection between their components doesn't mean that the signals and voltages they use are compatible . unless you can afford to loose either or both the MRC system and the computer , i wouldn't recommend connecting them with an ethernet cable

also note that many systems use or have used telephone style cables to connect their components , that doesn't mean you can phone home with them !  

 

ernie

The back cover of the November Model Railroader gives a brief description of what their wireless interface will do.  The prices shown on their website have been lowered from what they had previously listed.  These are MSRP so I assume street prices will be much lower.

 If it's not going to work with JMRI and popular commercial programs like RR&Co then they might as well not even bother. I REALLY hope that 'proprietary software' in the ad ont eh back of MR is a typo. All other major DCC brands have a computer interface that works with lots of ssoftware, not just what they themselves might provide.

                --Randy

 

jwils1:

The back cover of the November Model Railroader gives a brief description of what their wireless interface will do.  The prices shown on their website have been lowered from what they had previously listed.  These are MSRP so I assume street prices will be much lower.

 

Remember what they said about the capabilities of the Express?  I would NOT take MRC at their word.  They even go around saying how they are "Leaders" in the DCC community when it comes to systems.  They also resort to American style politics when they run their ads.  They are underhanded and grossly overvalue and overfeature their products.  

For example here is an ad from their website....

 

Are you looking for the world’s most advanced line of model railroad decoders?

MRC's Model Railroad decoders are world renowned for their highest quality, brilliant design and most importantly, their dependability.

Covering all aspects of DCC and even DC and AC, MRC decoders bring model railroading to life. With all 28 NMRA functions and unique in all the world, MRC's incredibly small, one piece, dual mode, N-Scale Brilliance™ onboard diesel sound decoders with mounted speakers enable simple drop-in replacement... unheard of for this scale.

MRC’s full range of sound decoders & (included) speakers from N through G scale, steam and diesel, early & late, with the most amazing sound quality & lighting add the realism and reliability that modelers demand.

If sound isn't required, MRC has an array of onboard directional decoders from N through G scale that will power your locomotives like never before… and coupled with MRC's accessory decoders, layout functions like turnouts and lights can be activated from the palm of your hand.

MRC's exclusive BlackBox will even allow you to operate the dual mode sound decoders on a DC only layout. Another amazing MRC first!

Functional with all manufacturer's DCC systems, and of course MRC’s easy to use Prodigy Express & Prodigy Advance DCC systems, MRC's latest 28 NMRA function decoders are a perfect match for MRC's Prodigy Advance2 "squared" DCC system.

Everything in Bold I have an issue with.

Keep in mind I havent yet mentioned their horrible customer service.....

David B

conrail92:

 and I'm also curious if it will work with JMRI software.

 

  I just checked the JMRI Yahoo group (You can do that too, the messages are open to the public - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jmriusers/) and after wading through a LOT of MRC decoder problems, I found a post on the subject dating back to December 2007.  It a nutshell, the developers of JMRI were getting mixed information from MRC about whether they would share the information necessary to allow JMRI to communicate with their system.   Somehow, then, it doesn't surprise me that MRC still does not appear on JMRI's list of supported hardware:  http://jmri.sourceforge.net/help/en/html/hardware/index.shtml

 

conrail92:

You'd think something would of been made sooner  too interface MRC with a computer since they do use ethernet cords to connect the throttle to the system. 

  The physical type of cable being used is way down on the list of things that need to be resolved before one device can communicate with another.

Steve

 Ok, thanks for the information!

I spoke with Bob Jacobsen (the head of the JMRI project) in Anaheim and he told me MRC declined their requests to add MRC to JMRI.

Bob said he was very disappointed that MRC has elected to go completely proprietary and not join the open JMRI effort.

I too am quite disappointed in MRC taking this stance.

 Wow....just wow. VERY shortsighted on their part.

            --Randy

 

The amazing thing is that MRC asked what features customers wanted in a computer interface and one of the most common answers was to make it compatable with JMRI and other already available software. Their is a MRC tech that participates in the Yahoo MRC DCC group and there is a lot of back and forth between him and MRC users about what features they wanted and what features would be included. Another feature users wanted was the ability to use the interface on older Windows 98 machines because a lot of people have an older machine they can use in their layout room. Well, the interface will only work with Windows XP and later and MRC's response is "since it is wireless you really do not need a computer in the train room." That might be fine for dispatching functions(if the software will support that), but who wants to run trains or program them from another room. I also think they are making a mistake by having the interface only wireless. One of the selling points for MRC's systems is their lower cost, yet they will have the most expensive PC interface.

I would love to hear an MRC rep come on here and explain their reasoning.  But, like many politicians, I don't think they would be able to tell the truth, which most likely is that they feel that their chosen course will yield more profit.

MRC systems tend to appeal to first time users because of price and ease of use, and because of their advertising approach.  For many of us, we didn't even realize how important a computer interface would be would be when we first started, then later became aware of the benefit.  If they get enough people to buy their DCC systems, then the majority of them will probably have little choice but to buy the expensive MRC interface once they feel the need for it.

I think that they are wrong, but then I'm sure they are smarter than I am when it comes to making money.  But making money this way is not very appealing to most of us modelers.  

I would like to follow-up my previous post by saying that, in some ways, I really like MRC.  I have their wireless system, which has a lot of nice features.  I also have two of their decoders that work really well.  I admire them for offering decoder solutions for many locos that would othewise be difficult to fit.  It's just too bad that so many have had problems with their decoders.  Let's hope that their newer versions are getting better.

I still have their wireless DCC system and use it occasionally but have found another system that better fits my method of operation.  I can switch back and forth between the two.  I have kept the MRC Wireless with the thought that their computer interface might be really great.  But it sounds like it won't be anything l like JMRI so that hope has dimmed.  I'll probably sell it one of these days, not because it's not a very fine system in its own right, but because another system actually works better for me, and because of the dissapointing interface. 

 What is the 'other' system you keep talking about?

David B

davidmbedard:

 What is the 'other' system you keep talking about?

David B

Digitrax Zephyr/DT400