Sometimes just reprogramming the address eliminates problems.
I removed the MRC and replaced it with a Soundtraxx DSD that I had in a Berkshire and reprogrammed it for articulated chuff (didn't know this was an option?) and everything is running and sounding pretty good. Now I will put it up for sale on ebay. I made a quick video of it and posted it on youtube just to show what it looks/sounds like. I added LED's to front and back.
-Bob
http://youtu.be/TIYhGpFKWkQ
Life is what happens while you are making other plans!
Yeah, I guess you guys are right, junk is junk. I had to try it and see if I could get a decent sound out of it, but even the sounds aren't much to speak of. I have a Tsunami in my Big Boy and what a difference. I just took delivery of a new Athearn Genesis Challenger with the Tsunami in it. WOW, what was I thinking? I will remove the MRC and put a motor/lights only decoder in and put it up for sale. Took a few years to get what I wanted but the wait is worth it. Thanks for all the input (and honesty!).
farrellaa I can't get the loco to come to a complete stop; it just keeps on creeping. I tried adjusting the start voltage and it doesn't help. The decoder is an MRC and not very good as I found out, just got a great price ($20) on it.
Try setting CV29 to the value of "34". If the loco behaves thereafter, it suggests to me that your decoder is sensing DC voltage and acting on it, even though it is so low as to be almost spurious. I'll let the experts in electronics/electricity say what might be the problem if my suggestion makes the problem go away.
Well, that shouldn't happen. Check the CV specs for the decoder, which you should be able to find online. They don't all follow the NMRA standards. Some, like start voltage, are part of the required standards, but acceleration and Vmax are only "reccomendations" and some decoders put those in other places.
If you can't get the motor control to work properly, you could disconnect the motor leads from the MRC decoder and add a motor-only decoder, assuming there's room. Give them both the same address and you should be able to have your cake and eat it, too.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I've had three MRC decoders.All three ended in my thrash can.Yours has been removed...want me to say more?
cacole Are you using DC or DCC? If DCC, what brand? Too many possibilties to be able to provide advice without knowing more information about what you have. Start by setting CVs 2 through 6 to zero. If this doesn't help, change to a better decoder.
Are you using DC or DCC? If DCC, what brand? Too many possibilties to be able to provide advice without knowing more information about what you have.
Start by setting CVs 2 through 6 to zero. If this doesn't help, change to a better decoder.
I have an older Rivarossi Challenger (4-6-6-4) that I installed a used Athearn Big Boy sound DCC decoder in (don't ask why??). Everything works OK except that I can't get the loco to come to a complete stop; it just keeps on creeping. I tried adjusting the start voltage and it doesn't help. The decoder is an MRC and not very good as I found out, just got a great price ($20) on it. I use JMRI DecoderPro and there aren 't many choices presented. Any suggestions before I remove the decoder and go without sound?