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Genesis DCC Sound

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  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Huntsville, AR
  • 1,251 posts
Genesis DCC Sound
Posted by oldline1 on Tuesday, March 12, 2019 7:32 PM

I'm looking at some Athearn F-units for sale. The box says G22145A with sound. There's an Athearn hand controller of some sort with 6 buttons in the box. Is this some specific Athearn sound system or will it work with my Digicrap throttles?

Thanks,

oldline1

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Tuesday, March 12, 2019 7:47 PM

From what I found, it controls sound in DC.

Here's a review, not on your F units, but tells about the remote.

http://mrr.trains.com/news-reviews/staff-reviews/2007/12/athearn-genesis-ho-scale-fef-3

It looks to be a Genesis thing.

I would say in DCC mode, your Digitrax should work fine.

Mike.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Huntsville, AR
  • 1,251 posts
Posted by oldline1 on Tuesday, March 12, 2019 7:54 PM

Mike,

Thanks for that link. I never even thought about DC as my feeble mind has moved on to DCC.

oldline1

 

 

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Tuesday, March 12, 2019 8:05 PM

I found the directions for the loco.  The Athearn website says it was "announced in  2006"  When it was actually available might be another story.

http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATHG22145

It has a MRC dual mode decoder in it and the hand controller with buttons labeled #1-6 controls various sound functions in DC mode. 

Maybe the following was standard for DCC 12 years ago, but today it is an odd statement:

"Because of the nature of dual function controllers, it does not support the CV read back feature"There is another thread on MRC decoders and some of the forum regulars are very happy with them. 

The global volume control is a screw adjustable pot on the decoder. 

I wouldn't pull the trigger on this unless someone steps up and says they are satisfied with this model decoder. 

Athearn only recently started putting in led lighting, so don't expect that.

 

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Huntsville, AR
  • 1,251 posts
Posted by oldline1 on Tuesday, March 12, 2019 8:19 PM

Henry,

Lots of good info there. Sounds like something to take out and throw away. The units I'm looking at are beautiful and definitely brass quality. I think for the price they would be worth buying and replacing the systems with TS-2.

Thanks,

oldline1

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