Something I'm not understanding!

[dadret]

If you have everything hooked up right from your Proidgy to the program track you might need a programming track booster.  I couldn't program my BLI locos with my PA on the program track until I added one.  DCC Specialities makes a good one and you can get it for about $50.  I haven't had any probelms since I installed it.  Also, MRC has a very good tutorial about programming with the Prodigy Advance.  You can go to their website and download the "Tips and Tricks" article.

[UpNorth]

Try and reset your SD-35 ADD 4 to factory defaults, in case other values are causing greif. It will go back to ADD 3, test it.  If issue still present, re-check your install.

Allways good to check a new decore before installing it.

[dadret]

The loco won't move on the program track - you have to move it to your main track after programming

[froggy]

The first SD-35 that had the decoder equipped works fine and the addy is 0003.I programmed the other SD-35 at 0004 and nothing.It took me awhile to put the thing together last night because I had a hard time closing the two sides in so the cab would fit it.

[Vail and Southwestern RR]

I think he has the original Prodigy.  So most of the questions don't apply!

But we need to know for sure.

Did the loco jump when you assigned the new address?  Did you try running on address 3?

[Texas Zepher]

I put the wires on the screws for the program track and gave the first SD-35 an address.I switched the wires to the main track and it worked and it moves.I got another new decoder in the mail yesturday for another SD-35 that I have.I put it in and put it on the program track and then switched the wires to the main track.Nothing happens, zilch nada.I don't see where I did anything wrong.

Could just be a bad decoder.

[Bapou]

I don't know much about the prodigy systems, but which one do you have? Express or advance?

[selector]

Was the new address for this second engine an "extended" address....a number higher than 127?  If so, you must do an additional step of letting the decoder know to use the extended address.  Set CV 29 to either 34 or 38 and see what happens.  If I am correct, when you dial in the new address after this new setting for CV 29, you will get movement...IF the power is getting to the tracks and thence to the decoder.

[froggy]

I put the wires on the screws for the program track and gave the first SD-35 an address.I switched the wires to the main track and it worked and it moves.I got another new decoder in the mail yesturday for another SD-35 that I have.I put it in and put it on the program track and then switched the wires to the main track.Nothing happens, zilch nada.I don't see where I did anything wrong.

[Vail and Southwestern RR]

If I remeber the Prodigy correctly (I'll look when I get home) there is one output, but a switch that selects the programming mode, so ideally you'd add an external switch to disable the main when programming is selected.  For now, just put one loco on the track, and don't sorry about that.

Select the programming position on the Prodigy, select an address with the dial, and press the Program address button.  Hold it down.  The light should flash, and the motor should give a tiny hiccup.  You can only do this with the controller pluggeded in to the first port on the Prodigy.

Then move the program switch to the run position.  You've already got the address selected, so you should be able to control the lights, and their direction, crack the throttle, and you are off!

 

[Texas Zepher]

I set up a peice of flex track and connected the wires to the program track on the MRC Prodigy.  I'm reading the back of the controller and I press buttons and give it an address but nothing else happens.

I am not familiar with the Prodigy specifically, but generally nothing will happen.  This is putting an electronic signature onto a chip inside the locomotive.  There is nothing to "happen" that you can see.

Tell me in simple language how to get the loco to move.

The locomotive will never move on the programming track.  It has to be moved onto the "real" track.  There will be another output from the Prodigy for the non-programming track.

[froggy]

The Prodigy is showing numbers on the screen.I was reading another post on the same page here.The wire I used for the program track is the same size used for the running of DC to the power pack.Don't know what guage that is, but for the feedere wires for DCC I know I'm supposed to use 22 guage wire and at least 14 for the buss wires.

[froggy]

Call me stupid or whatever, but I set up a program track and have a deisel decoder equipped.I set up a peice of flex track and connected the wires to the program track on the MRC Prodigy.I'm reading the back of the controller and I press buttons and give it an address but nothing else happens.Can some one smarter than me help me out her?Tell me in simple language how to get the loco to move.