MRC PRODIGY dcc

[Summertrainz]

i saw one of those on ebay for a really cheap price and i was wondering
would it work with e-z track and bachmann trains...
so does it?
does it have to do with some sort of NMRA compliant system?
is it?

[SteamGene]

Could you rephrase this in the form of a correct question?  You are back in school.  Your language arts teacher would not like to see your message.
Gene

[the Bach-man]

Dear Summer,
I have a Prodigy controller that I use to change sound volume and chuff rate at shows. It works fine.
Have fun!
the Bach-man

[Summertrainz]

thanks about that
im sorry but  did you mean this as well:
does it fit into e-z track and able to control the train speed?

just because it seems to have different wires than the e-z command. 

[Jake]

You don't know how to solder do you? And yes, it will control the bachmann trains fine.

[Summertrainz]

WELL not really... but i can do it
i dont want to break the thing 

[Jake]

If done carefully, you wont have a problem. Though you may want to look at sopme other Mfgs. Such as Digitrax or Lenz.

[SteamGene]

Try calling them.  I've had very good results talking to MRC.
Gene

[gcodori]

Since most people in this forum are more interested in criticizing your grammar and punctuation (this ISN'T school) - I'd thought I would try to answer your question (if you haven’t already been put off by the rude responses).

Most all DCC "controllers" or command stations are NMRA compliant, meaning they all meet a national standard, and therefore can operate other DCC equipment (loco decoders) by different brands.

Items like throttles have to be from the same brand in order to operate along with the command station (you can not use a digitrax throttle with a MRC command station).

In terms of wiring, there are usually two wires to the track, and 4-6 wires for the DCC command bus.  This bus links additional throttles to the command system.  If you are not using more than one throttle, you may not even have to wire the bus (some command stations have the throttle built in like the Zephyr).  When wiring the track, the two wires need to be connected to the track - and try to make multiple connections to avoid power drops. 

If you need more info, please don't be afraid to ask.

[djp]

The MRC prodigy express sells for a real good price. Am seriously thinking of up grading from my EZ command. Looks pretty fancy too. It says that you can further upgrade to the Prodigy advance from there onwards. BTW how much was it going for on ebay.

[Jim Banner]

MRC products seem to work well enough but MRC has a history of bringing out new products which make the old products incompatible and obsolete (anyone want to buy an MRC Command 2000?)  Digitrax has taken the opposite approach - the various generations of products all play well together.  This is a huge advantage when you expand your railroad sometime down the road.  Digitrax also has operating manuals on line for all their products whether still in production or not.  Without manuals, used equipment off eBay or any other source is just unusable junk.

[Pacific Northern]

The instruction manual for the MRC Prodigy is to say the lease lacking.
It is an eleven page minimanual. I thought I had obtain the wrong item. It refers you to MRC Web site for additional information on the unit.On the site all you have access to is the minimanual.

[brad]

I have the Advance system and enjoy it a great deal. I like being able to program on the main  or on a programming track it it will control all the functiuons I ever plan to use. Switching between cabs is very easy using the recall button, I have no problems running 3 or 4 trains at the same time, and MUing is a breeze. As for a small instruction manual. It's a very easy to use system, why complivcate it?  everything you need to know is in the book

brad