MRC, Digitrax Phone Conversations

[Anonymous]

Hi Herb,

Thought I would let you know what I found out this morning. I called Digitrax and they told me at first, that I cound not run a MRC Decoder with the Digitrax System. He told me that "you get what you pay for" . I told him that I have come to that painful conclusion and needed help. He then told me that I would need the paperwork that came with the decoder. Of course, the place that I bought the engine from, did not send it. He then told me that I would have to put the machine in PHYSICAL MODE to be able to program the MRC

I then called MRC and asked them why their decoders would not work with the DIGITRX SYSTEM. I spoke to a FRANK in service, and he told me that the decoders should work with the Zephyer System. He also told me to program them in the PAGE mode, and not to use the PHYSICAL MODE as it would burn up the decoder.

Frank told me that if all else fails, send the engine to him at MRC and he would check it out. He said if the decoder was damaged, he would replace it and program it on their Zephyer System they have in the service department. I also told him of the problem that you were haveing, and he said to send him the engine, with no body on it.

This where I am now. I am going to post this on the fourm for everyone to see.

Bob

[Anonymous]

Bob:

I'm going to put this in the "Well Duh" File.

Randy

[dave9999]

So even MRC uses the Zephyr? Thing that make you say HMMM. Dave

[Anonymous]

Dave,

I think you'll find most of the DCC manufacturers service departments have some of the other manufacturers' systems in their shops. A few years ago there was a new decoder on the market which wouldn't work on EasyDCC and one other system (Lenz, I believe). Everybody sent everybody a test bench set up for their particular system and the maker of the offending decoder made a few changes and it all went away. Because MRC has a Zephyr to use to program a decoder doesn't mean they "use it".

Ed

[cacole]

You may have gotten a locomotive that has one of MRCs first decoders. I had some bad experiences with them. When MRC first came out with decoders, they advertised a locomotive with decoder installed. It turned out to be a Walthers Trainline locomotive with an MRC decoder. I had just bought a DCC system, and this was the only decoder-equipped locomotive I had. After many aggravating attempts to operate the locomotive and thinking that the DCC command station was bad, I finally discovered that the MRC decoder in the locomotive was defective. I had bought six spare MRC decoders at the same time because they were on a special introductory discount price. And guess what? Five out of six of them were defective, too!! As you were told, "you get what you pay for." I hope MRC decoders have improved, but I will never try another one after my first experience with them.