Good inexpensive starter DCC system.

sounds like dirty track or weak pickups.   Before you buy another control system, chekc that both wheels and track are clean.   then check the pickups.  

If you have a set of the test stand rollers, try those.   If not, turn the loco upside down in a cradle and hook leads directly to the appropriate truck frame sides or touch the wheelsets.

I have DCC and would not part with it, so I know nothing about DCS.  

As for inexpensive systems, I think NCE, Digitrax, and MRC all have starter systems.   Depends on your definition of cheap.   

Are you putting DC voltage into your DCS system? 2 rail wants DC voltage. Try to see if putting the loco on the track the other way works, the signal goes down the HOT rail and I believe the the engineers side is the side that picks up the signal but somebody please correct me if I am wrong on this detail. Make sure you have the DCS switch turned to DCS and not DCC.

MRC has probably the least expensive starter DCC out there.  Digitrax costs more but has more features.  NCE's is a litlle more than MRC's.

Rusty

Wheels are clean and track is clean. The loco works just fine in 3 rail mode. But when I switch it to 2 rail I get the errors.

DCS and PS3 locos are supposed to run on both AC and DC. So I was using the AC transformer. Do you think a DC transformer would name a difference? The train in question is the new mth Santa Fe ps3 Hudson.

Using the standard DCS system for 2 rail try using DC voltage. I have found it works better

A couple of questions:

1. Is the layout a small continuous loop?
2. If so, did you put a break (insulated joiners) in one joint?
3. If there are multiple feeds, is there a break between feeders?

The reason for this is that the ONE huge enemy of DCS is signal feedback/cancellation. Multiple feeds in a single block tend to cancel each other out. This will also be the case with DCC in some situations.

Does anybody out there have a Prodigy Explorer and does it have terminals to drive a high amperage booster?

Lou N

Ive got an MRC Prodigy Advanced2 with wireless upgrade and I love it. It is stupidly simple and built for running trains. It should have a J45 plug output for a booster

I would save the money and get the MRC Prodigy Advanced or something similar that has a large upgrade possibility. Digitrax makes a decent setup for $200 but they are a bit too complicated to use and the NCE also makes a really nice system that is a little more complicated than the MRC but much more open ended for open source computer control like JMRI.

I agree with Matt, get the Advance2 set.  It's super simple to use and can be upgraded in amps for our power hungry locomotives. I have re-motored all my locomotives that draw more than 1.5 amps to draw up to 1.5 and use QSI HO decoders rated at a constant 1.5 amps.  For those using up to 1 amp I have used Tsunamis.  The new QSI with ET are so good I think all my new decoders will be QSI, if I can find some.

Peter

I just noticed last night that MRC is now supported by JMRI. This would have been the only reason I would have chosen a different system but now it will be my best recommendation for people seeking a great dcc system