currently i have all kato n scale locos most of them are emd's 80mac, 70mac, and a few ge's ac4400. the decoder that i installed in all of them was mrc, i know alot of guys frown on mrc and now i know why out of about 10 decoders 4 of them are sound equiped, i've had 7 that have numerous problems, not moving, sound doing what it wants, or not working at all. i'm tired of pulling my hair out with these decoders, i do have a few that never give me any trouble but its only a few. i originally took a liking to mrc decoders because of the capability of sound and the easy insallation, not to mention i am still somewhat green when it comes to dcc not knowing they were troublesome. can anyone help me find a good n scale decoder for kato locomotives that doesnt take and electronics degree to install?
I use strictly Digitrax products with the exception of two MRC sound decoders in an atlas b-23-7 and an SD-35. They were drop in after having the frames milled for the speakers. After about six monthes those two drop in decoders dropped dead. One has sound but no movement and the other has intermittant movement and intermittant sound. I don't want this to sound like an anti MRC rant but if the shoe fits. I would wait for digitrax or another qualitiy decoder manufacturer comes out with them.
I have several Digitrax N scale decoders in HO locos. They work fine.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
retsignalmtr One has sound but no movement and the other has intermittant movement and intermittant sound.
Don't know about the first one, but on the second have you considered it's not the decoder at all? I was recently complaining about similar start/stop/restart problems and got some very helpful suggestions on this board, one of which fixed the problem (bending the phosphor bronze wheel pickups for better electrical contact.)
Of course, I did point out at the beginning that it was NOT an MRC decoder, so the responders did not enter the discussion assuming it was the decoders fault. Funny how that works.
If you want sound with little muss and fuss, MRC is the only game in town.
Digitrax, NCE. and TCS make excellent drop in decoders for Kato N scale. No sound though.
At some point, Digitrax may introduce sound decoders for N Scale. I was told a year ago they purposely stayed out of the N scale sound business to avoid the big law suit. They have HO two piece sound and motor decoders that skirted the suit because it specifically went after integrated one piece motor and sound decoders. For N scale, it has to be one piece like the MRC. Hopefully now that the suit is settled and Digitrax has gotten the DT402 throttles out of the door, A.J. can get to work on some N Sound decoders.
Tsunami micro is really small. Check your locos stall current before buying one. I have quite a few TCS MC2 N scale decoders in a lot of HO scale locos.
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!