Well, at least you're only out the cost of the raffle ticket plus whatever it cost to send the first one back to MRC.
My initial experience with MRC decoders was way back when they first entered the DCC market. They were offering a special introductory price of five decoders plus a decoder-equipped diesel engine for the cost of only the engine. I fell for it and ordered their decoders. The locomotive was a Walthers Trainline F7. The decoder in it was dead on arrival and four of the five extra decoders were also totally worthless. Only one decoder out of six worked at all, but it went up in smoke within a couple of weeks.
Last year, I made the mistake of thinking that perhaps MRC decoders had improved over the years, so I bought a Sounder Diesel decoder. The only sound it would make was an occasional clicking. Fortunately, I was testing it before installation, after my previous experience with MRC.
I sent an e-mail to MRC and they offered to repair it and waive their normal fee. Like you, I waited two months or so to get it back. It looks like a kindergarten child tried to replace some of the components on the board, they are so horribly crooked. The decoder makes noise now (not sound) but gets so hot within a few seconds that you burn your fingers if you touch it. I'll never install it in anything and will never, ever, ever, touch another MRC decoder, no matter how preposterous their advertising claims may get.
Instead of throwing in into the trash I took it to the club. If anyone there ever mentions thinking of purchasing an MRC decoder I hook it up to a decoder tester and let them hear what they're going to be getting into. If that does't convince them, I ask them to pick it up. When they burn their hands, they learn.
"The world's leader in DCC technology" ? ? ?
Geez. I was just going to start a new thread about this same problem. Yeah, I know MRC decoders are junk. But I still have half a dozen left.
I have an MRC 1800, universal installed in an Athearn Ready to Run D9-40. Last night it was running around the layout just fine, when it suddenly went silent, but continued to run. On checking it out, the motor control was OK and it ran forward and back. The headlight and backup light worked on FO normally. Even the horn worked on F2. But no other sounds. no engine sounds, bell, air letoff, etc. So the speaker is OK, and the output amplifier. Does anyone have any idea how to restore the other sounds? The instructions are up at the cottage, so I don't have them with me. I would like to try and restore it to factory settings, but I don't have the directions here at the house. Anyone know what CVs and what values to restore it to factory settings. I have managed to restore other MRC decoders, and get them going again.
It seems that each different MRC decoder type used a different CV and reset value, so you have to download the documentation for your specific type from MRC's web site if you don't already have it.
The 1662 Sounder I have uses a value of 1 programmed into CV 125 as the reset value, according to the documentation -- but it doesn't work, and neither do any of the volume adjustment CVs. Everything seems to be set to maximum distortion and none of the noise can be turned down.
I really hope the folks at MRC are seeing this. I know there's been evidence that other manufacturers have seen comments posted on this and other boards. It can only come from user forums liek this - none of the major hobby magazines dares post a bad review of one of their products - they'll lose full page and sometimes multiple full page ad revenues. MRC seems to be trading on the reputation of their DC power packs, which was well deserved - it's not uncommon to see ones even 50 years old still working just fine. That just won't last forever as new generations of modelers come along. Of course in this era of "just throw it away and get a new one" maybe the new modelers don't care. Or, just like what happens with cheap train sets, they simply get frustrated by constant failure and move on to a different hobby.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
MRC seems to be trading on the reputation of their DC power packs, which was well deserved - it's not uncommon to see ones even 50 years old still working just fine.
Those were pretty simple devices. A rectifier, and a voltage dropping transformer. My Lionel transformer, that came with my train set in 1948 is still going strong providing lighting for my layout.
Even the newer Tech series transistor ones are solid - and those are a bit more complicated than a transformer and rectifier.
OK Good news, I guess. Today I tried to reset the MRC decoder, by programming CV125 to a value of 1.
I have a Zephyr system, so I first tried PAGE mode. Then I did it again in DIRECT mode. Now I had nothing. No horn, no motor function. Dead engine. I programmed the Zephyr to 03, which is the factory default address. Still nothing. I went to PAGE mode and put in CV1, and hit CV read, and it showed a 1, for the loco address, which is not the factory default. I then programmed CV 1 to 03, and the engine came to life. All sounds were restored, bell, horn, air letoff, engine rumble, etc. But here's the kicker. Although the sounds were restored, they were not restored to factory defaults. The horn CV still showed the 8 horn which I had programmed in earlier. And the horn and bell volumes still were set at 2. Factory default is 3. And the engine actually runs better. It starts at a lower throttle setting and runs slower.
I have no idea what goes on with the MRC decoders, but for the time being, it is working again, better than before.
I had something similiar happen to me with a MRC decoder in one of my F7 Genesis. The sound just disappeared but the engine would run. Tried a few things and could not get the sound to come back. Removed the speaker for another project and chalked it up as another bad MRC decoder. A few months later I was playing with another Genesis F7 with the MRC decoder and all of a sudden it would to nothing. No sounds or motor control.
I did some resets and a few things and it came back to life. This got me to thinking so I went back to the first one and installed a speaker and played with it for awhile with some new found knowledge and I got it to come back to life. I'm beginning to think the MRC decoder do not tolerate much "electrical noise" and it causes them to go bonkers. If you are lucky you can bring them back to life. If not they are toast.
They definately are whacky. I have another one, that loses it's address from time to time for no reason. It's running fine around the layout, and just stops responding to the throttle. I have to kill the power to stop it. I reset the address, and it's fine for another 20 minutes.
How long has MRC been making these decoders? You would think by now they would have fixed there problems! When Athearn dropped them that should have been a wake up call!
I wonder what percent of there decoders fail and are returned?
I only had 2 of there decoders in Athearn Big Boy's. One of the main reasons I took the Big Boy's back for a refund.
Cuda Ken
I hate Rust
They fix them free, if they are within the warranty period. I sent one in, and got a new one. No problems.
They also charge $15 "shipping and handling" to fix them if they are out of warranty. That might tell you what they pay for these things.
If MRC would quit spending their money on over advertising their products and spend more on product design, they might have a decent product. But, I don't see that happening anytime soon.
Will
I got burned on 2 MRC non-sound decoders. They worked fine for a little while then went poof. Since then I don't touch anything having to do with DCC from MRC.
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
I won't be buying anymore. But I have 8 or 9 now, that I'm trying to keep working.
I have 2 MRC 1811's in my N scale Atlas locos, they have been working perfectly for the 3 or so months I've owned them except for one issue, I use an NCE Powercab and they won't program on the main with the cab, they will using JMRI/USB though.
DavejbI have 2 MRC 1811's in my N scale Atlas locos, they have been working perfectly for the 3 or so months I've owned them except for one issue, I use an NCE Powercab and they won't program on the main with the cab, they will using JMRI/USB though.
You can't fool us anymore. 1 post? Hello Mr. MRC salesman.
I will never waste my money or time on MRC crap such as decoders and such......there DCC system is absolute garbage........I see why they sell for so cheap in the Micro-Mark catalogs.
Dennis Blank Jr.
CEO,COO,CFO,CMO,Bossman,Slavedriver,Engineer,Trackforeman,Grunt. Birdsboro & Reading Railroad
I'm pretty certain everyone on this board started with one post. If you like I can direct you to other forums where I have hundreds of posts.
DavejbI'm pretty certain everyone on this board started with one post. If you like I can direct you to other forums where I have hundreds of posts.
And I'm pretty certain you're a ringer.
Here's a link that shows one of the recommended fixes for MRC decoders:
http://smithpointfishandhunt.com/images/NoTargetShooting.jpg
"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"
I have several of the MRC sound decoders installed in loco, both steam and diesel. I'd never had a problem with any of them until we acquired an Athearn Challenger with an MRC sound decoder in it.
The loco worked perfectly for nearly two years and then it just quit! I tried everything I could think of to restore it. Manually reset the CVs to factory default, reset it using the MRC codes, used JMRI to restore it to its previous settings, you name it.
In frustration, I removed it from the loco and replaced it with a Soundtraxx LC decoder. Loco is back to normal and the sound is nearly as good. Just not as many functions.
Remember its your railroad
Allan
Track to the BRVRR Website: http://www.brvrr.com/
I have maybe a dozen MRC decoders. I've had a few problems, but have always managed to get them working again. I've never fried one,although one made a single horn blast and died right out of the package. I sent it back and they sent me another one. The motor control isn't very good, but a lot of sounds for the buck.
I also have a number of Soundtraxx decoders, which have their own set of problems. The Soundtraxx decoders don't have enough volume, although some seem louder than others. Also the Soundtraxx decoders seem to stumble more, and restart from zero on the slightest power interuption.
I also have several QSI decoders which were factory installed in locos I bought. The QSI decoders have computer generated sounds and horns, which sound phony.
I have yet to find the perfect sound decoder.
rrinker I really hope the folks at MRC are seeing this. I know there's been evidence that other manufacturers have seen comments posted on this and other boards. It can only come from user forums liek this - none of the major hobby magazines dares post a bad review of one of their products - they'll lose full page and sometimes multiple full page ad revenues. MRC seems to be trading on the reputation of their DC power packs, which was well deserved
MRC does make good DC power packs but the quality did not carry over to the DCC decoders.
It would seem that MRC is happy selling what they have and they must realize their product is at the bottom of the barrel in quality, since every company does testing comparing the competion's product. Athearn started with the MRC in their Genesis line and and finally got rid of the MRC decoders after the time expired for their contract. MRC should have improved their product over that five year period with Athearn since many of the decoders failed but the MRC decoders are still unreliable.
CZ
CAZEPHYR MRC does make good DC power packs but the quality did not carry over to the DCC decoders.
I'm not so sure this is as true as many think. Yes, MRC DC power packs generally looked good in comparison to their competitors. Competitors continually have had problems with inadequate components, DC pulse waveforms that overheated sensitive motors, and similar. MRC used smoother pusles in their designs that sacrificed ultimate low speed crawling for less motor heat. But since MRC went to security screws or sealed power packs (at least since Tech 2), it's pretty hard to discern whether the internal workmanship or component quality is all that MRC gets credit for. Also, the difficult to access innards have effectively made their electronic designs proprietary for a couple of decades now - it's not just their DCC products. That said, used MRC DC products are the backbone of my DC power.
It would seem that MRC is happy selling what they have and they must realize their product is at the bottom of the barrel in quality, since every company does testing comparing the competion's product..... CZ
I would venture that is far from a given in the model railroad industry that any testing of competitors' products is done. Any knowledge of the competition and their products likely comes from personal hobby experience or reading forums and hobby media, not from a company R&D program. Anybody on payroll with the requisite technical knowledge is fully occuppied planning and designing new products or supporting existing products. Separately funded and populated R&D and market research programs are beyond the financial capability of companies supporting the hobby.
I do agree that MRC must know their decoders are shoddily designed and/or made, just because of the return/repair rates and the volume of the negative press. But I couldn't tell you whether the fault is because of inadequate engineering or poor Chinese manufacturing or both (the latter most likely). My guess is that the fix is not all that simple, or MRC would have in fact fixed them by now. Improving the quality of Chinese manufacturing isn't easy, especially if you don't have the in-house engineering talent or the travel budget or the management motivation to work with your Chinese partner on product improvements.
just my thoughts
Fred W