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Post by sbntexas on Dec 12, 2019 8:01:33 GMT -8
Does anyone here have an older Genesis Loco with the MRC decoder and are you running it with a Digitrax system? I have a NIB Genesis F9 set that works perfectly on my test track that uses an NCE Powercab but when placed on the layout that uses a Digitrax Zephyr as power and a DT402 throttle none of the functions work. My throttle uses Up5s around they layout to control the locos. I have reset the F's and the behavior is the same. I also ran the loco directly from the Zephyr with the same results. The other odd thing is that the A unit headlight stays lit on the digitrax system as soon as power comes up and nothing can turn it off. I most likely will pull at least the A units decoder for a Soundtraxx, but its become a matter of principle as I have not seen anything like this on the some 200 locomotives that I have plus the 120 some I have put decoders in. DCC is not supposed to work this way. I can understand that MRC decoders are problematic but I would think it would be problematic on both systems. But they work as described without a hitch on the NCE Power Cab. Have any of you seen this issue before?
Thanks
Steve B
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erb
New Member
Posts: 26
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Post by erb on Dec 12, 2019 15:02:27 GMT -8
I have come across this problem before, although in that case the decoder would work on one DCS200 and not another while using the same throttle, I think it was a DT400R. IIRC, it wasn't just the functions, the entire locomotive was dead. The B unit that was with it ran fine on both command stations, so it wasn't something with the command station itself.
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Post by ncrc5315 on Dec 12, 2019 17:44:19 GMT -8
I use to have an Athearn MP15 switcher, that had the MRC sound decoder, and it ran fine with my Digitrax Chief system, using a DT300, and DT402R, and DT402D throttles. The decoder, has since been changed out to Loksound.
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Post by sbntexas on Dec 13, 2019 6:24:06 GMT -8
Thanks for the posts. I am beginning to think the problem might be the Zephyr and or DT402 is struggling to throw the signal to the MRC decoder with the layout set up like it is. No reason for it but something weird is up. I am going to try a direct connection between the Zephyr and a test track this evening. Is the Chief system 5 Amps?
I wonder if the MRC decoder needs a bit more Juice? However that makes no sense because the Power Cab has less Amps than the Zephyr.
Steve B
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erb
New Member
Posts: 26
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Post by erb on Dec 13, 2019 12:17:58 GMT -8
I honestly highly doubt there's anything wrong with your Zephyr - the MRC decoders that Athearn used in their locomotive were, to put it mildly, complete and total pieces of junk. I never found two that would even vaguely consistently work the same - case in point were the three SD60M's that came to me for programming - the manual said that the CV settings for volume were 0, 1, 2 and 3 (mute, lowest, medium, max) I got the following results when I tried each different value:
Loco 1: mute, max, mute, max
Loco 2: mute, mute, mute, max
Loco 3: mute, min, mute, max
There's a reason why Athearn got away from them as quick as they did...
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