I can only comment on the original Prodigy Advance system and only from the UK point of view where we can't use the radio versions.

My P.A. has been in constant use for 3 years now - it's been dropped, burnt, coffee spilt on it and generally abused as only a rail baron can abuse his equipment! For all that it's still going strong and does what I need for a small layout.

The only problem is the need for a booster so you can change Tsunami loco addresses - Only applies to the Tsunamis - MRC, Bachmann, Hornby and Basic Soundtraxx  can all have their loco address changed straight from the P.A.

Regard

David

The quality is very good.  Their wireless system works well.  I would only recommend the Prodigy Advance Squared or the Wireless and avoid the Express due to its limitations.  The PA2 and Wireless have good power, nice features and very easy to use.  They work well for the small to medium home layout.

If you're interested in a computer interface you may want to avoid MRC as theirs appears to have serious limitations, although it's not available yet and not fully know what it can do.

The PA2 comes with a flat cord which I feel is a little awkward to use but some have found a source for coiled cords.  Also, if you intend to throw a lot of turnouts with your DCC throttle MRC works fine except you can't control loco speed and direction while in switch thowing mode.  This is inconvenient if you do a lot of switching.  Digitrax and NCE do not have this limitation.   Also, their plug in stations for throttles are rather expensive, but here again I think some have been able to make their own.

Jerry

From what I have seen and heard, Digitrax [hate em all you want] has the widest range of capabilities witht he ability to run the most number of engines at once via as many independent conrtollers as you want; the sets are expandable by simply adding more components.

Hence why so many choose Digitrax.

MRC is cheap though - one Bachmann set and you're started!! [And that set includes two locomotives with decoders...yikes.  It's lowba;; stuff but it will get the kids moving!!

From my understanding MRC has a proprietary computer interface that will not work with software like JMRI. They want people to buy the software they develop. It may be worth verifying that is true. If so, I would advise against a system that does not let you take advantage of the free help provided by open source DCC software for decoder programming and such.

Also, in my travels I have operated on Digitrax systems and NCE systems, I have never been to a session running MRC. My digitrax throttle helps out when I visit Digitrax layouts. Likewise would an NCE for those layouts if I had one. I haven't ever had a case where I wish I could bring a Prodigy throttle..

Chris

I was wondering about the PA2 and JMRI. So I sent them an email. Here is what I sent and got back.

This was Frank V at MRC:

I have not bought DCC yet so I am still looking and learning.

Initially I was taken by the MRC design and advertising.

MRC makes a darn good DC pack.

I'm willing to believe that their DCC system works alright, but it is somewhat limited I think and proprietary.

I've heard almost nothing but bad things about their decoders.  Not sure why that is.

One of the key features for me when I buy a DCC system will be it's ability to interface with a computer and talk to Decoder Pro.  That leaves MRC out of the race right off the bat.

I just watched the electrical and DCC DVD, volume 3 from model-trains-video.com

In it Joe talks about choosing the right DCC system and explains what I call his bulletproof way of installing DCC.  I'm really glad I saw it before taking the DCC plunge!

Selecting a DCC system is an important issue in model railroading mainly because you are going to have to live with the system you choose for awhile. Joe does cover this nicely on his DVD and in his Movie Monday selections. But one should consider that the actual system selection should really be based on certain criteria which make the selection somewhat personal and so/mewhat based on your needs.

Last June I was only involved with DC because none of my old equipment had anything else. Then I joined a club and found that my 21 year and older equipment either didn't run at all or wasn't compatible with modern DCC and wasn't worth converting to it. So I got new locomotives and had Digitrax decoders installed in them. I also got a Digitrax Zephyr and a DT400R for use with it. Why did I select that? Because that was what the club was using and since I had no where else to run my trains, it was a no brainer at the time.

Now that I have my layout under construction, I will still use Digitrax because I've gotten used to it. Had I built my layout first or not joined a Digitrax club, I can't be sure that the selection would have been the same. But I probably would nopt have gone with any DCC setup primarily because DC was the only thing I knew and I didn't know anyone that ran model trains anyway. But if I did it is quite likely I would have gone with what they were using since I most likely would not have joined a club either.

I understand why Joe picked the DCC system he has. I can understand why someone else would have picked something else. However, it's really a personal thing in that none of the systems around are truly intuitive in that you don';t need to learn anything to use them. So it's really what you are willing and able to do that counts here.

I don't claim to be an expert at Digitrax. But I can learn what I need to know as necessary or as it comes up. And whether you select Digitrax or NCE or Lenz or something else you will be too.

Irv

If you like the MRC system to operate your trains because you prefer the throttle style and ergonomics, then there's no reason not to buy it.

JMRI should be able to be interfaced to the layout for "programming decoders only" purposes by using a third-party programming booster. It won't give you the PanelPro ability or other extended functionality.

... and I find no reference to their computer interface.

I spoke with Bob Jacobsen (founder of JMRI) at the NMRA Convention in Anaheim last summer about MRC and JMRI. He told me MRC had turned down being JMRI compatible, preferring instead to go proprietary.

I'm sorry to see MRC going this route. It's doubtful MRC's offering will have all that JMRI offers, which not only includes DecoderPro, but PanelPro as well. PanelPro allows interfacing your layout to DCC systems for the purposes of signalling and other such powerful layout enhancement features. In fact PanelPro will also connect to Chubb's CMRI, so JMRI is truly the universal Java Model Railroad Interface it claims to be.

I have a hard time imagining MRC's offering will have all this functionality - and even more annoying is the fact that if it does have all this stuff, they're going to charge money for it.

Last I heard, the MRC computer interface pricing was going to approach $200. Compare this to $35 - $80 for a computer interface for the other systems - and then you can use the free JMRI software to do just about anything you can imagine with this computer interface - not to mention you can program decoders using a very simple point-and-click interface on a PC or Mac.

I'm disappointed to see MRC taking this route. It does mean that anyone comparing apples to apples for a serious DCC system needs to include the cost and likely more limited functionality of MRC's propietary computer interfacing when considering which system is "best".

At the moment, the lack of a computer interface for MRC's system means it's primarily a "train set" category DCC system that doesn't have a very strong expansion path.

Just to throw a bit more confusion into the DCC ring, my personal choice for a system was EasyDCC. It has the ability to interface to a PC with JMRI, can use most brands of decoders (very important), is upgradable and expandable, has wireless throttle capability. I am also using CTI's Trainbrain system as well which also interfaces with EasyDCC and PC. Down here in Australia most of the serious modellers are using one of 4 systems, Digitrax, NCE, Lenz or EasyDCC. All of which are very good systems and all are able to use a variety of different brand decoders (once again very important) and interface to a PC. Most other systems available here tend to be a bit more propietary or do not have the features of the above systems. Still in the end it comes down to personal choice, budget and whats available, especially through your LHS.

Cheers

Ian