Thank you for your feedback on the MRC 1833. I am doing N scale. I had stopped looking at that decoder as a possibility when I realized they are for the FP7 not the F7... also the negative feedback on MRC decoders was concerning. That was earlier this year as I stared this thread back in January...
Your post is timely because I recently found an FP7A for sale that I can run with my F7A & B. I am encouraged that you are happy with the decoder because I have been considering the MRC 1833 again... it seems like the most realistic option for sound in N scale InterMountain F units. Soundtraxx offers an external decoder with speakers installed in the layout (which does not help when I take the loco to the club layout). I imagine any other sound decoder would cause major surgery I am not prepared to do without destroying the loco in the process!
You can always modify the Intermountain F7 split frame to fit the MRC 1833 Sound Decoder but be aware it is not an easy job and usually not recommended for beginners. If you do have the right skills and the correct equipment to do it, I think it is worth the try.
RyanDFAnyone like the MRC 1833 sound decoder for Intermountain's F7?
davidmbedardOh, you are in N scale...that would have been useful information...
Well, you may get lucky and have the 1 out of 10 MRC sound decoders that really works. I model in HO scale and have had 7 out of 8 be dead on arrival over the years. I have sworn off any MRC decoders for life, no matter what others may experience with them. They are cheap Chinese JUNK. MRC apparently contracted with the cheapest possible bidder in China who does no quality control testing whatsoever.
Other brands such as Digitrax, LokSound, and Tsunami are all made in the USA or Germany and are far and away more reliable.
But for N scale, you're stuck with MRC or nothing.
Thanks all for the feedback. I am on the the decoder learning curve!
Will the Tsunami AT-1000 567 fit N-scale?
davidmbedard Yes, you will be dissapointed, and no, no one actually enjoys MRC sound decoders. Get a Tsunami AT-1000 567...you cant go wrong. David B
Yes, you will be dissapointed, and no, no one actually enjoys MRC sound decoders. Get a Tsunami AT-1000 567...you cant go wrong.
David B
Mr. B. and Mr. C. have given you good advice. Mr. B.'s advice is based on much experience with MRC decoders. Mr. C., I'm not so sure since he went through a period where he did not discriminate which brand of decoder he fried.
However, "no one" and "99.9% sure" are a little exaggerated. I have a MRC decoder (not the one you referenced) and I'm happy with it. So, to be accurate, the statements should be something like "only one person I've heard of enjoys his MRC decoder" and "98.9% sure".
99.9 percent sure you will be. If you do a search on there decoders here you will find the ones bought by people here are junk.
I hate Rust
Anyone like the MRC 1833 sound decoder for Intermountain's F7? I like the price and the drop in feature, but will I be disappointed?
Ryan