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Thanks for the reply, will look into upgrading the pickups
Decoder not responding on track
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QUOTE (upnick @ 11 Jun 2008, 20:24) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I wonder if they will upgrade it to the prodigy advanced squared?
All Gaugemaster items have a lifetime garuantee I believe so you should be sorted!
Hi Keith,
I have the prodigy advance controller from gaugemaster and affter calling them about another item i enquired if the advance could be upgraded to the squared as there is a socket for factory adjustments, and was told it couldnt be upgraded by one of the shop staff and the difference between them was for american locos.
Thanks, Upnick. Funnily enough, I was wondering why they had "upgraded" the spec, especially as the advert says it has extra functions - presumeably for "sound fitted" locos, etc. I do not have any sound enabled DCC locos, but the articles I've read seem to indicate that the Version 1 of the Prodigy Advance already has all the functions required anyway!
I have had my Gaugemaster for over 2 years and was tempted by the new "wires free" Bachmann Dynamis. I know that (currently) it does not support a programming track but the rest sounds pretty good so I have "taken the plunge" and ordered one. For one thing, if my locos work OK with it when I get it, it will confirm that the Gaugemaster unit is definately at fault and I'll get on to them to see what they can do.
I'll keep you posted.
Keith
All Gaugemaster items have a lifetime garuantee I believe so you should be sorted!
Hi Keith,
I have the prodigy advance controller from gaugemaster and affter calling them about another item i enquired if the advance could be upgraded to the squared as there is a socket for factory adjustments, and was told it couldnt be upgraded by one of the shop staff and the difference between them was for american locos.
Thanks, Upnick. Funnily enough, I was wondering why they had "upgraded" the spec, especially as the advert says it has extra functions - presumeably for "sound fitted" locos, etc. I do not have any sound enabled DCC locos, but the articles I've read seem to indicate that the Version 1 of the Prodigy Advance already has all the functions required anyway!
I have had my Gaugemaster for over 2 years and was tempted by the new "wires free" Bachmann Dynamis. I know that (currently) it does not support a programming track but the rest sounds pretty good so I have "taken the plunge" and ordered one. For one thing, if my locos work OK with it when I get it, it will confirm that the Gaugemaster unit is definately at fault and I'll get on to them to see what they can do.
I'll keep you posted.
Keith
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9,967 Posts
QUOTE (Keith Underwood @ 12 Jun 2008, 17:29) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Thanks, Upnick. Funnily enough, I was wondering why they had "upgraded" the spec, especially as the advert says it has extra functions - presumeably for "sound fitted" locos, etc. I do not have any sound enabled DCC locos, but the articles I've read seem to indicate that the Version 1 of the Prodigy Advance already has all the functions required anyway!
I have had my Gaugemaster for over 2 years and was tempted by the new "wires free" Bachmann Dynamis. I know that (currently) it does not support a programming track but the rest sounds pretty good so I have "taken the plunge" and ordered one. For one thing, if my locos work OK with it when I get it, it will confirm that the Gaugemaster unit is definately at fault and I'll get on to them to see what they can do.
I'll keep you posted.
Keith
*** The REAL reason for the prodigy squared upgrade is actually nothing to do with "US locos" at all! The Gaugemaster answer is factually inaccurate. the "Prodigy advance squared" upgrade is so it does not directy conflict with permitted use of some NMRA standards, and really MUST be done if you want a truly DCC compatible system.
Sure, the functions were there in name in the original software but they totally misused the permitted CV allocations and this meant that the original gaugemaster and MRC software would ONLY access those functions with MRC's own awful sound decoders!
NMRA insisted that they stop using CV numbers they were not entitiled to use as it severely compromised global standards, and so they did the revision to fix this and a few other quirky minor things in the original software.
Once that revision is done, its actually an OK control system at the original MRC Pricing, but I feel its a little exxy at Gaugemaster prices.
Regards
Richard
DCCconcepts
I have had my Gaugemaster for over 2 years and was tempted by the new "wires free" Bachmann Dynamis. I know that (currently) it does not support a programming track but the rest sounds pretty good so I have "taken the plunge" and ordered one. For one thing, if my locos work OK with it when I get it, it will confirm that the Gaugemaster unit is definately at fault and I'll get on to them to see what they can do.
I'll keep you posted.
Keith
*** The REAL reason for the prodigy squared upgrade is actually nothing to do with "US locos" at all! The Gaugemaster answer is factually inaccurate. the "Prodigy advance squared" upgrade is so it does not directy conflict with permitted use of some NMRA standards, and really MUST be done if you want a truly DCC compatible system.
Sure, the functions were there in name in the original software but they totally misused the permitted CV allocations and this meant that the original gaugemaster and MRC software would ONLY access those functions with MRC's own awful sound decoders!
NMRA insisted that they stop using CV numbers they were not entitiled to use as it severely compromised global standards, and so they did the revision to fix this and a few other quirky minor things in the original software.
Once that revision is done, its actually an OK control system at the original MRC Pricing, but I feel its a little exxy at Gaugemaster prices.
Regards
Richard
DCCconcepts
Joined
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114 Posts
QUOTE (Richard Johnson @ 12 Jun 2008, 14:19) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>*** The REAL reason for the prodigy squared upgrade is actually nothing to do with "US locos" at all! The Gaugemaster answer is factually inaccurate. the "Prodigy advance squared" upgrade is so it does not directy conflict with permitted use of some NMRA standards, and really MUST be done if you want a truly DCC compatible system.
Sure, the functions were there in name in the original software but they totally misused the permitted CV allocations and this meant that the original gaugemaster and MRC software would ONLY access those functions with MRC's own awful sound decoders!
NMRA insisted that they stop using CV numbers they were not entitiled to use as it severely compromised global standards, and so they did the revision to fix this and a few other quirky minor things in the original software.
Once that revision is done, its actually an OK control system at the original MRC Pricing, but I feel its a little exxy at Gaugemaster prices.
Regards
Richard
DCCconcepts
If you have been following my saga, you will know that my Gaugemaster Prodigy Advance eventually gave up communicating with virtually every loco on the layout (at one point it seemed to be "picking them off" one by one!) They continue to read back their correct address on the programming track and still appear to accept CV programming correctly.
Anyhow, I am now the proud owner of a Bachmann Dynamis, which I have plugged in to my system (after unplugging the Prodigy of course). I am pleased to report that locos now work well with the new kit. I was going to get Gaugemaster to have a look at my old controller but, bearing in mind Richard's last comments above, I am wondering if it is worth the bother, especially as I now have a functioning DCC. I may want to move on to sound fitted locos later, and it sounds as if the Bachmann Dynamis would be a better bet for this anyway.
I am going on holiday shortly so I don't want to get involved in correspondence with Gaugemaster at the moment. If I do so when I return, I'll put another message up later.
I havn't had a lot of experience with the Dynamis yet, but I am quite impressed so far. I like the "freedom" aspect of the wireless handset, and the fact that you can put a name for your loco in, instead of just a number! (As they say, little things please little minds!) Talking of which, the steam, diesel or electric icon is a nice touch too!
Sure, the functions were there in name in the original software but they totally misused the permitted CV allocations and this meant that the original gaugemaster and MRC software would ONLY access those functions with MRC's own awful sound decoders!
NMRA insisted that they stop using CV numbers they were not entitiled to use as it severely compromised global standards, and so they did the revision to fix this and a few other quirky minor things in the original software.
Once that revision is done, its actually an OK control system at the original MRC Pricing, but I feel its a little exxy at Gaugemaster prices.
Regards
Richard
DCCconcepts
If you have been following my saga, you will know that my Gaugemaster Prodigy Advance eventually gave up communicating with virtually every loco on the layout (at one point it seemed to be "picking them off" one by one!) They continue to read back their correct address on the programming track and still appear to accept CV programming correctly.
Anyhow, I am now the proud owner of a Bachmann Dynamis, which I have plugged in to my system (after unplugging the Prodigy of course). I am pleased to report that locos now work well with the new kit. I was going to get Gaugemaster to have a look at my old controller but, bearing in mind Richard's last comments above, I am wondering if it is worth the bother, especially as I now have a functioning DCC. I may want to move on to sound fitted locos later, and it sounds as if the Bachmann Dynamis would be a better bet for this anyway.
I am going on holiday shortly so I don't want to get involved in correspondence with Gaugemaster at the moment. If I do so when I return, I'll put another message up later.
I havn't had a lot of experience with the Dynamis yet, but I am quite impressed so far. I like the "freedom" aspect of the wireless handset, and the fact that you can put a name for your loco in, instead of just a number! (As they say, little things please little minds!) Talking of which, the steam, diesel or electric icon is a nice touch too!
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114 Posts
QUOTE (Keith Underwood @ 13 Jun 2008, 18:27) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>If you have been following my saga, you will know that my Gaugemaster Prodigy Advance eventually gave up communicating with virtually every loco on the layout (at one point it seemed to be "picking them off" one by one!) They continue to read back their correct address on the programming track and still appear to accept CV programming correctly.
Anyhow, I am now the proud owner of a Bachmann Dynamis, which I have plugged in to my system (after unplugging the Prodigy of course). I am pleased to report that locos now work well with the new kit. I was going to get Gaugemaster to have a look at my old controller but, bearing in mind Richard's last comments above, I am wondering if it is worth the bother, especially as I now have a functioning DCC. I may want to move on to sound fitted locos later, and it sounds as if the Bachmann Dynamis would be a better bet for this anyway.
I am going on holiday shortly so I don't want to get involved in correspondence with Gaugemaster at the moment. If I do so when I return, I'll put another message up later.
I havn't had a lot of experience with the Dynamis yet, but I am quite impressed so far. I like the "freedom" aspect of the wireless handset, and the fact that you can put a name for your loco in, instead of just a number! (As they say, little things please little minds!) Talking of which, the steam, diesel or electric icon is a nice touch too!
Having returned from holiday I contacted Gaugemaster about the mysterious non-response of locos on the main track. They suggested cancelling an "old style" consist if I had one set up (press Dble Head four times and hit Return) and, guess what, it worked, I don't really know why! All the locos are now responding as normal, so problem solved (hopefully!)
By the way, I asked the question about the "lifetime guarantee" on Gaugemaster controllers, but it only applies to their DC equipment, not DCC (though they did say that they rarely go wrong and, to be fair, my unit is still up and running!)
Keith
Anyhow, I am now the proud owner of a Bachmann Dynamis, which I have plugged in to my system (after unplugging the Prodigy of course). I am pleased to report that locos now work well with the new kit. I was going to get Gaugemaster to have a look at my old controller but, bearing in mind Richard's last comments above, I am wondering if it is worth the bother, especially as I now have a functioning DCC. I may want to move on to sound fitted locos later, and it sounds as if the Bachmann Dynamis would be a better bet for this anyway.
I am going on holiday shortly so I don't want to get involved in correspondence with Gaugemaster at the moment. If I do so when I return, I'll put another message up later.
I havn't had a lot of experience with the Dynamis yet, but I am quite impressed so far. I like the "freedom" aspect of the wireless handset, and the fact that you can put a name for your loco in, instead of just a number! (As they say, little things please little minds!) Talking of which, the steam, diesel or electric icon is a nice touch too!
Having returned from holiday I contacted Gaugemaster about the mysterious non-response of locos on the main track. They suggested cancelling an "old style" consist if I had one set up (press Dble Head four times and hit Return) and, guess what, it worked, I don't really know why! All the locos are now responding as normal, so problem solved (hopefully!)
By the way, I asked the question about the "lifetime guarantee" on Gaugemaster controllers, but it only applies to their DC equipment, not DCC (though they did say that they rarely go wrong and, to be fair, my unit is still up and running!)
Keith
you've fixed it so it doesn't matter but any way you tested the loco on dc by removing the decoder you don't need to the decoder can detect its running on dc and react to it so than you would also be testing the decoder and its wiring
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114 Posts
I told Gaugemaster that clearing the "old style consist" had cured the problem of non-response of locos on the main track, but I didn't know why this had caused the problem. This was the reply I had from Greg at Gaugemaster which I thought I'd share:
"just to explain a little further. When you unplug a hand controller you get SVDA show on the screen briefly. This signifies that the system is in "SAVE DATA" so that while your unplugged the system runs itself and restores it when you plug in again. This is also useful for saving changes to your 5 stored loco etc 'loco, direction speed steps, lights etc', if on the other hand there is a short circuit the unit will also go into SVDA as it needs to remember what its doing. Now it stores that info in the base unit in the same manner as an OLD CONSIST but if the problem is not resolved and the base unit needs to be shut down the information can remain locked in limbo."
So, there we are, the system was behaving as if "SVDA" was on the screen (although it wasn't), so nothing would respond. I have had SVDA on screen before if a short circuit occured, but obviously this has to be cleared before anything will respond again. So the moral of the story is, always clear an "old style" consist (double head) when you've finished with it!
Incidentally, I only used the "old style" consist as I had recently purchased a pair of Bachmann Class 20's which I wanted to run together, nose-to-nose. They have the new 21-pin decoder sockets so I obtained Bachmann 21-pin chips (36-554) to DCC them, but they do not support CV19 for advanced consisting. If they did, this problem would never have arisen in the first place as I would have used the advanced consist. It is surprising that some more "up-to-date" decoders do not have this function, I suppose Bachmann do this to keep the cost of the decoders down. In future, I'll make sure CV19 is supported on a decoder I wish to purchase, if I want to double-head. As they say, you gets what you pays for!
Oh, and finally as a footnote, I have got hold of a couple if Bachmann 36-559 8-pin to 21-pin adapters, so I can substitute a couple of 8-pin chips which do support CV19.
"just to explain a little further. When you unplug a hand controller you get SVDA show on the screen briefly. This signifies that the system is in "SAVE DATA" so that while your unplugged the system runs itself and restores it when you plug in again. This is also useful for saving changes to your 5 stored loco etc 'loco, direction speed steps, lights etc', if on the other hand there is a short circuit the unit will also go into SVDA as it needs to remember what its doing. Now it stores that info in the base unit in the same manner as an OLD CONSIST but if the problem is not resolved and the base unit needs to be shut down the information can remain locked in limbo."
So, there we are, the system was behaving as if "SVDA" was on the screen (although it wasn't), so nothing would respond. I have had SVDA on screen before if a short circuit occured, but obviously this has to be cleared before anything will respond again. So the moral of the story is, always clear an "old style" consist (double head) when you've finished with it!
Incidentally, I only used the "old style" consist as I had recently purchased a pair of Bachmann Class 20's which I wanted to run together, nose-to-nose. They have the new 21-pin decoder sockets so I obtained Bachmann 21-pin chips (36-554) to DCC them, but they do not support CV19 for advanced consisting. If they did, this problem would never have arisen in the first place as I would have used the advanced consist. It is surprising that some more "up-to-date" decoders do not have this function, I suppose Bachmann do this to keep the cost of the decoders down. In future, I'll make sure CV19 is supported on a decoder I wish to purchase, if I want to double-head. As they say, you gets what you pays for!
Oh, and finally as a footnote, I have got hold of a couple if Bachmann 36-559 8-pin to 21-pin adapters, so I can substitute a couple of 8-pin chips which do support CV19.
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Just as a further bit of information.
I contacted MRC direct and they will upgrade the Gaugemaster Prodigy Advance to the P.A. Squared.
You have to send your controller back to MRC in New Jersey and they will upgrade it.
The cost is $50 for 1 base station and 1 controller, any extra controllers are done at $25 each.
So if you want to upgrade the option is there.
Cheers
I contacted MRC direct and they will upgrade the Gaugemaster Prodigy Advance to the P.A. Squared.
You have to send your controller back to MRC in New Jersey and they will upgrade it.
The cost is $50 for 1 base station and 1 controller, any extra controllers are done at $25 each.
So if you want to upgrade the option is there.
Cheers
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114 Posts
QUOTE (wiggy25 @ 11 Jul 2008, 12:46) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Just as a further bit of information.
I contacted MRC direct and they will upgrade the Gaugemaster Prodigy Advance to the P.A. Squared.
You have to send your controller back to MRC in New Jersey and they will upgrade it.
The cost is $50 for 1 base station and 1 controller, any extra controllers are done at $25 each.
So if you want to upgrade the option is there.
Cheers
Thanks for the info Ian. If I go down the "sound" route at some point in the future, that is worth knowing as I will probably then need an upgrade.
Cheers
I contacted MRC direct and they will upgrade the Gaugemaster Prodigy Advance to the P.A. Squared.
You have to send your controller back to MRC in New Jersey and they will upgrade it.
The cost is $50 for 1 base station and 1 controller, any extra controllers are done at $25 each.
So if you want to upgrade the option is there.
Cheers
Thanks for the info Ian. If I go down the "sound" route at some point in the future, that is worth knowing as I will probably then need an upgrade.
Cheers
Joined
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114 Posts
QUOTE (Keith Underwood @ 11 Jul 2008, 14:55) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Thanks for the info Ian. If I go down the "sound" route at some point in the future, that is worth knowing as I will probably then need an upgrade.
Cheers
And finally! - The Deltic that started this in the first place turned out to have an intermittent contact on the black wire leading from the motor to the circuit board. So, not only was there a problem with the Prodigy Advance which has now been resolved (as explained previously), there was also another problem with the Bachmann Deltic. Two problems at the same time - I don't do things by halves! Still, it's nice to know that, at the end of the day, there was nothing actually wrong with the DCC as such - all the controllers and decoders are still working normally!
Learning curve well and truly cornered (until the next time!)
Cheers
And finally! - The Deltic that started this in the first place turned out to have an intermittent contact on the black wire leading from the motor to the circuit board. So, not only was there a problem with the Prodigy Advance which has now been resolved (as explained previously), there was also another problem with the Bachmann Deltic. Two problems at the same time - I don't do things by halves! Still, it's nice to know that, at the end of the day, there was nothing actually wrong with the DCC as such - all the controllers and decoders are still working normally!
Learning curve well and truly cornered (until the next time!)
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