New Member wants DCC opinions

[jjr]

Hello,

As a new member I would like to introduce myself, give some background, and ask a question.

Probably a familliar history, active HO mrr in teens, away from the hobby for a couple of decades, started and still raising a family, got back into mrr in N scale (and some MTH O) about 7 years ago. Have been reading  these forums for about 2 years. I have  an 11'x15' N layout, trackwork complete, scenery about 75% complete, DC block control.

Lately, my interests have been turning back to HO, I got out my old trains and track (with the addition of some new E-Z track) and built a 24'x2' shelf switching layout in the family room, next to the N layout room. It's nothing fancy yet, just painted plywood with track and what buildings and scenery items that were saved from my teen years. Just a "proof of concept" layout, I will start re-building it section by section with the traditional methods.

Now, finally to my question. As I re-builld this layout I'm going to go with DCC, so I've been looking at systems. A very well respected deaer has MRC systems on sale. Prodigy Advance2 for $190 and Wireless upgrade for $170., will give you a radio system with two throttles (one tethered) for $360. Significanty cheaper than any of the other leading radio systems that seem to be favored by most of the posters to this forum. Now, I've read most of the posts about the pros and cons of all the systems, each will have its strengths and weaknesses. Does this price difference justify accepting any shortcomings that these NEWER MRC systems may have?

I welcome comments from users of all systems, but would really like to hear from anyone who is using the MRC systems mentioned above.

Thanks to all,  jjr

 

 

[Bapou]

I wouldn't recomend MRC, I prefer NCE but Digitrax is ok also.

[MisterBeasley]

And I'm a fan of my Lenz system.

These days, you can't really go wrong with the DCC systems available on the market.  As long as you avoid a few of the very low-end systems, you will get a system which will be adequate to start with and also expandable as your layout grows.

If you can, look at and try out the throttles.  The Digitrax throttles, for example, use small cell-phone buttons, and thus can have a lot of different options on a single unit, without needing to go to multi-key sequences for some actions.  The Lenz throttles, on the other hand, use much larger buttons.  I like that, personally, because I've got large hands and 60-year-old eyes.

The other consideration is clubs in your area, if any.  If you're thinking of joining a club, then compatability with their equipment is something to think about.  The NMRA standards for DCC guarantee that you can use any decoder on any system, but that's only true for the "track side" of the system.  On the "controller" side, equipment is not compatable, so you can't use one manufacturer's throttles with another's base equipment and control bus.

[Bapou]

These days, you can't really go wrong with the DCC systems available on the market.  As long as you avoid a few of the very low-end systems,

As in MRC express! the MRC advance is ok though. 

[jjr]

Thanks for the responses. A computer interface is not a priority for me, as this layout will probably never have more than half a dozen locos. I plan on purchasing them with decoder installed, my old locos from the 70's don't run well enough to bother installing one. As for which MRC systems we are talking about, it would be what Model Railroader has installed in their current project layout, if you have been following that. David, check out Tony's Trains website.

Thanks, jjr

[CSX Robert]

...

Why should I check out Tony's Train's website?

David B

That's where he got his prices, and they are for the Advanced 2 and the wireless upgrade kit.

Something you'll want to know about the wireless throttle is that they have found a bug in it. There are certain groups of addresses that it will not control. MRC has found a fix for it and will offer free upgrades to all customers. They have been discussing this on the MRC Yahoo Group. Other than this, I have not heard anything but good reviews for the wireless throttles.

[jwils1]

jjr:

The MRC sale at Tony's Train Excange is a very good deal.  If you need two throttles, one wireless and one tethered, the $360 is an especially good price.  This is a sale price good thru 2/29/08.

I recently bought the MRC wireless from Tony's at $329.95 as I only need one throttle.  For roughly $200 less than the NCE radio system, it's quite a savings for a duplex radio system.  And duplex is the key word as it allows doing everything wireless, including programing, consisting, etc., without ever having to plug in.

As far as a computer interface is concerned, they plan to have one out this year and it's wireless.  It's already listed on their website.  In the meantime, you can still use decoder pro to good advantage even thought not hooked up to your DCC system.  If you have a computer available you can use David B.'s helpful idea.  See

http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/1281624/ShowPost.aspx

I have to tell you that the more I use my MRC wireless the better I like it.  I put a review of it on another forum and will try to it here as well, including anything I can think of that it doesn't do that others systems do.

 

[jwils1]

In case anyone is interested I just posted a complete review of the MRC Prodigy Advance Wireless DCC system on this forum on the following thread:

Forum Clinic: Picking the Best DCC system

 http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/626056/ShowPost.aspx

[jjr]

Thanks Jerry,

that's exactly the kind of info I'm looking for. For my home switching layout I don't think I will require all the "bells and whistles". For the price difference, I just wanted to know what I was giving up. I will keep an eye on that "bug" situation mentioned in a previous post though, before I decide, maybe contact TTE to see if they are going to have their stock sent back for any patch MRC comes up with.

Thanks again, jjr

[ripvanwnkl]

jjr,

 I have the same MRC setup you're looking at to buy:  Prodigy Advance Squared, purchased in March '07 and Wireless conversion upgrade, purchased in Sep '07.  Combined price of $360 you're quoting is very good.  System works great with all my DCC equipped HO locos, including  QSI, ESU, Digitrax, MRC, MTH,  etc.    My teenage grandson and I run several at a time, all on extensive and constantly changing EZ track layouts.  To date, we've controlled as many as five trains runnning simultaneously, with a total of 2 single and 6 consisted sound equipped steam and diesel locos.    He's more mobile and can control more trains than I, so he uses the wireless cab while I use the tethered one.  No problems with wireless address changes from 1 to 4 numbers, maybe because we haven't tried to enter a troublesome address road number yet. 

 Hope you have as much fun as we do! 

  

[GARY 70]

hi dave love your answers -- very helpfull -- got a question - i bought a didtrex sysyem and a atlas engine with sound -- haven]t hooked up to dcc still running dc --- can i run the engine on just dc system that i have already or do i have to set up something in the decoder - engine was programed --- been wanting to run it but was unsure if it would burn out the decoder in it -- not very good at this stuff -- old age i guess-- gary

[CSX Robert]

As far as a computer interface is concerned, they plan to have one out this year and it's wireless. It's already listed on their website. In the meantime, you can still use decoder pro to good advantage even thought not hooked up to your DCC system. If you have a computer available you can use David B.'s helpful idea.

Link?

David B

The computer interface products are listed on this page:

http://www.modelrectifier.com/train-controls/accessories.asp

You can't fin dthem looking under Train Controls->DCC, you have to loook under Train Control->Accessories.

[jwils1]

The computer interface products are listed on this page:

http://www.modelrectifier.com/train-controls/accessories.asp

You can't fin dthem looking under Train Controls->DCC, you have to loook under Train Control->Accessories.

Wow!  A bargain at 270 dollars for a computer interface!

....yet another great move by MRC.......WHAT ARE THEY THINKING?

Ill stick with my 40 dollars MS100.

David B

Yeah this does sound expensive, but did you notice there is another one next to it at $180.  They don't say what is included in each so we'll have to wait to see what is being furnished and how it works.

We know that these are list prices so the actual cost will be much less.  For example, my MRC wireless lists at $600 and I got it for $329.95.

By the way, what is a MS100? 

[locoworks]

the MS100 is digitrax's computer interface. it use a serial port though and not USB, but it does work with some usb to serial converters, check out the digitrax website to find out which it will work with.

[locoworks]

beat me

[CSX Robert]

The computer interface products are listed on this page:

http://www.modelrectifier.com/train-controls/accessories.asp

You can't fin dthem looking under Train Controls->DCC, you have to loook under Train Control->Accessories.

Wow! A bargain at 270 dollars for a computer interface!

....yet another great move by MRC.......WHAT ARE THEY THINKING?

Ill stick with my 40 dollars MS100.

David B

Yeah this does sound expensive, but did you notice there is another one next to it at $180. They don't say what is included in each so we'll have to wait to see what is being furnished and how it works.

We know that these are list prices so the actual cost will be much less. For example, my MRC wireless lists at $600 and I got it for $329.95.

By the way, what is a MS100?

My understanding is that the $270 set is the PC interface and the wireless adapter for the Prodigy and the $180 set is just the PC adapter for people who have already upgraded to wireless or got the Prodigy Wireless to begin with. Both sets are wireless, which partly explains the high prices. At this point, it does not look like they are going to offer a hard wired version, which seems like a mistake to me.

[jbinkley60]

the MS100 is digitrax's computer interface. it use a serial port though and not USB, but it does work with some usb to serial converters, check out the digitrax website to find out which it will work with.

For a USB interface with Digitrax use the LocoBuffer II.  Tony's sells them for $63.95 .  It includes everything needed driver CD, Locobuffer II and USB cable.  All you need to supply is Loconet connection.