I found out on another forum, that MRC has released a new Genset sound decoder. Since I don't think Soundtraxx or QSI will release one any time soon, if at all, I think I will try this out and see how it performs and sounds.
This includes a speaker, and replacment light boards for both forward and reverse flashing ditch lights.
Anybody here have this yet? Thoughts? MRC
(My Genset has been sitting in a box).
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989
Well, it's MRC... I'd wait to hear a sound sample, it SAYS it will have the sounds of 3 different prime movers, but how will it activate them? On a real Genset, it's load dependent, not speed dependent. I wonder if they can do that. Hopefully the buttons normally used as manula notching on a diesel decoder would be used to ramp up the number of running motors so you can manually override as well - like all 3 going when moving very slowly lugging a long train.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I would advise avoiding the MRC decoders. They have severe quality issues.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
All the cynics here. Don't you know that once again MRC is out of the yard with another world-beating advancement in DCC drop-in sound decoder design???
http://www.modelrec.com/search/product-view.asp?ID=11896
MRC is once again coming out of the yard with another world-beating advancement in DCC drop-in sound decoder design. This extraordinary feature-packed, exclusive “Triple Core Processor”*, dual-mode (DC/DCC) sound decoder can instantly turn the new Atlas GenSet locomotive into a powerhouse of life on any DCC railroad layout. The full size GenSet has 3-motors and distinct notching sounds as each powers up and down. Incredibly, this amazing sound decoder duplicates this unique process, even when sitting idle!! Not only is this powerful decoder brimming with functions, but the realism of its 16-bit sound quality “has to be heard”. Unlike others, you have options galore, plus manual notching and more! MRC has taken lighting to the next level too, with exclusive, included replacement Ditch light boards… plus, blow the horn and the Ditch Lights flash* . Impressive? Yes! Available NOW! Just look at some of the features.
Springfield PA
Triple-core processor huh? Must be using AMD, they are the only ones making odd numbers of cores, Intels are all even numbers of cores.
Seriously, I think this shows that MRC has a LONG way to go to gain back the trust that their really poor quality original attempts wiped out.
I know we also all talk about how good MRC's DC power packs were/are, how there are 50 adn 60 year old ones still workign great, etc. - all true, but I DID once take my Tech II apart, because I do stuff liek that, and the interior reminded me most of that MRC decoder witht he capacitor hanging off the edge by its leads. It wasn't all a neatly soldered circuit board, there were components everywhere stretched from one solder point to another. Like something I would have put together before learnign that even without a pc board, using plain perfboard for point ot point circuits makes for a nicer job. Pictures of the internals of other brands around the same time show no better, to be fair. But while this sort of construction may still be reliable and durable, when you try to do the same thing with surface mount components and the small size required of an HO or N scale DCC decoder, that's when you have problems. Here lies, I think, the problem. Manufacturing decoders like DC power packs, thinking that because the DC packs are well-liked and reliable, naturally the decoders will be too.
Note that they don't show a picture of one. I'm sure it's the same old board. If they want to show innovation they should include a small CO2 canister to automatically extinguish the fire when they burn up.
Hey wow, flashing ditch lights - a never before offered decoder feature. Hmm, I guess all those people out there that have flashing ditch lights in their locos are just imagining it, they really aren't flashing, because no one has ever offered this feature before!
Marketing is all about makign your product look best, but when it's nothing but crazy over the top statements, it's just laughable - at least by those who know better.
I just instaled one for a friend..... onlt ONE MOTOR is heard ..no matter how much you throttle up...only one.
Drawing in the instructions leaflert is reversed and do not state clare where should point to the front end (MR clarified it in their review) Ditch light do no sit down an so lighting is poor.BEMF??? How to activate it...nowhere is stated.....IMHO avoid thgis deco.
Adrian in Buenos Aires Argentina
That and since it's an MRC, it's only a matter of time before it produces real smoke.
Gosh, I guess you people haven't read MRCs claims about the high quality of their sound decoders on their web site. They sound like the most fabulous invention since the wheel.
http://www.modelrec.com/train-controls/dcc-decoders.asp
If only their utterly laughable claims were true . . . .
I was surprised to see MR left Dana's comments that it didn;t sound correct int eh review in the current issue. Something less than a glowing positive review, for someone who buys a full cover ad? Almost unheard of. Of course it's not een close to the real truth, that this is clearly NOT recorded from a real Genset loco and contrary to the huge claims about the triple core processor and associated bits so that would lead you to believe that these were goign to have the correct sound, they aren't even close.
Some day maybe they people in charge of the DCC and sound products at MRC will wake up. I'm not holdign my breath though, given that Athearn dropping them as a supplier for factory sound would have been a big enough wake up call if I was running things. Or maybe they don;t really care and selling RC plane stuff is what they really want to do now. Of course if they think I would buy one of their radios for my plane.....
Soundtraxx has the Cummins diesel decoder which is basically what the MRC is(single truck engine sound), except higher quality. If I had to have sound in my Genset, I would probably try that? Problem is that it doesn't have much RPM variation and only one engine--so it's NOT that good either for this application.
To be done right, the 2 to 3 gensets are going to have to cut in and out based on load and that's going to take some pretty sophisticated algorithims. It's also going to be hard in a modeling scenario for a lot of guys who don't have large layouts. Also, these genset locos are very quiet, especially with just one set running(they are tier 3) and so prime mover sounds need not to be turned up. At times the compressor is the noisiest item.
Richard
rrinker Some day maybe they people in charge of the DCC and sound products at MRC will wake up. --Randy
Some day maybe they people in charge of the DCC and sound products at MRC will wake up.
MRC decoders are so cheaply made that they're probably selling them at a 1,000% profit margin, and how many purchasers will simply throw them in the trash and buy another one instead of complaining.
We had a club member who kept buying MRC sound decoders even though none of them lasted more than a couple of hours of run time before totally failing, "Because they're CHEAP!"
They're selling enough of them to unsuspecting people who don't read these forums that they're still making a huge profit off them.