General Discussion (Model Railroader)

.....thats nice.....now how do I fix/retrofit my Genesis MP-15's? Has there been a previous thread on this topic? Is it possible to replace the decoder and maintain all the lighting features? Thanks for the update!

I sent a congratulations email to Athearn after reading the news and would hope a few of our forum readers might consider thanking them also. .  

I want to thank everyone who has emailed athearn in the past few years requesting the Genesis units to be offered as non sound units, which started with some of the latest diesels and the FEF second run.

I purchased five of the Genesis Challengers and some of the Big Boys but never used them since they are DCC challenged to say the least.  I did replace the sound and drive on some of those so they could be run and enjoyed with a Tsunami.  My models are just a little ahead of time I guess, by three years.

CZ 

I suspect the decoders will be like the factory installed ones from Bachmann. They do not look like the ones you buy from DCC suppliers that are fairly small shrink wrapped. The board is almost as wide as the tender from what i have seen. I think there are two different boards in the Spectrum's, a decoder board and maybe a light board from what I see in the Spectrum PDFs.

I have one Roundhouse 4-4-0 that came with MRC sound and the decoder was almost as wide as the tender and wide open, no shrink tubing around it. It was replaced by a Micro.

Since SoundTraxx is already supplying Bachmann, it would not be too big a deal to supply Athearn since the factory programming is the biggest issue.

My Spectrum's were DCC ready, no decoders, only a lighting PC board with NMRA socket.

Rich

Just one question? How will one be able to know that what they are buying is not the MRC decoder? Will Athearn / Roundhouse put a big red sticker on the box labeling it as a Soundtraxx? I'm wondering how many will buy a new loco and not realize it's a MRC until it's too late. I can see more bashing coming very soon..."Well I didn't know it was a MRC." or "Why didn't Athearn put a label on the box?" I know I'd like to see a big label on the box to be sure.

sparkyjay31:

Just one question? How will one be able to know that what they are buying is not the MRC decoder? Will Athearn / Roundhouse put a big red sticker on the box labeling it as a Soundtraxx? I'm wondering how many will buy a new loco and not realize it's a MRC until it's too late. I can see more bashing coming very soon..."Well I didn't know it was a MRC." or "Why didn't Athearn put a label on the box?" I know I'd like to see a big label on the box to be sure.

If you take the time to read the announcement carefully, it states that locomotives "announced after 4/27/09" will have the Tsunamis installed. That means there have been no new models announced yet. The last models announced in the Genesis line were the FP7 in WP colors and a weathered Big Boy, both announced on 4/21/09. Those aren't due in until 12/09, so it will be next year before we actually see any Tsunami equipped locos for sale.

Don Z.

Don Z:

sparkyjay31:

Just one question? How will one be able to know that what they are buying is not the MRC decoder? Will Athearn / Roundhouse put a big red sticker on the box labeling it as a Soundtraxx? I'm wondering how many will buy a new loco and not realize it's a MRC until it's too late. I can see more bashing coming very soon..."Well I didn't know it was a MRC." or "Why didn't Athearn put a label on the box?" I know I'd like to see a big label on the box to be sure.

If you take the time to read the announcement carefully, it states that locomotives "announced after 4/27/09" will have the Tsunamis installed. That means there have been no new models announced yet. The last models announced in the Genesis line were the FP7 in WP colors and a weathered Big Boy, both announced on 4/21/09. Those aren't due in until 12/09, so it will be next year before we actually see any Tsunami equipped locos for sale.

Don Z.

I saw that, but...Let's just hope that if Roundhouse announces a new batch of 4-4-0's that there will be "something" on the box indicating that this is not a MRC equipped engine. That's all I was saying.

 But check the link on the Athearn newsletter that takes you to the list of models to be delivered with Soundtraxx:

http://www.athearn.com/Search/Default.aspx?SearchTerm=soundtraxx

Note that the long-anticipated SP Mountain and the N scale FP/F45's will come with Soundtraxx, as will a number of Genesis diesels previously announced.

You all feel free to fawn all over the Athearn guys for this much delayed change.  I however, got burnt on a total of 10 Genesis diesels that did not have the new decoder.  I have a large stable of diesels and I have no reason or need to purchase any more motive power from Athearn.  Just not interested.  I will continue to look to Atlas and Kato for whatever needs I may have in the future.  If they can't supply, I will make other plans or go without.

Athearn has shot me in the foot too many times.

Bob

pastorbob:

You all feel free to fawn all over the Athearn guys for this much delayed change.  I however, got burnt on a total of 10 Genesis diesels that did not have the new decoder.  I have a large stable of diesels and I have no reason or need to purchase any more motive power from Athearn.  Just not interested.  I will continue to look to Atlas and Kato for whatever needs I may have in the future.  If they can't supply, I will make other plans or go without.

Athearn has shot me in the foot too many times.

Bob

No offense meant. But if you got burned a couple of times why did you go back? Is their motive power THAT good? I got scalded on my very first HO purchase ( a Roundhouse 4-4-0 with the MRC decoder ). Lesson learned and I have not been back. And I'm not sure I will go back. I'd try to be more patient and realize that you went back more times than you perhaps should have.

If anyone hears if there will be a reasonably priced (discounted) upgrade for the MRC supplied Challengers and Big Boys from Athearn please let us know? I've emailed them and congratulated them but no answer to this question yet. Mine are a year old or less. I wasn't happy about the MRCs but the Athearn versions were the best/detailed models at that price point at the time. If I get a response I'll post it here.

I've got my Roundhouse 4-4-0 that is about a year old. Wonder if this would extend to those too?

Capt. Grimek; Why not make it available for everything and be able to use the MRC stuff as trade-in value? I have an F45 that is about 2 months old and have though about getting changed. Although I haven't really had an issue with running it, it is kind of a pain to program since I can't read CVs.

Packer, I think basically we're in agreement. I used the two steamers as examples 'cause that's what i've purchased from Athearn Genesis. I would wholeheartedly agree that ALL MRC decoder/Genesis model owners , should be given an economical way to upgrade to Tsunamis. It seems hard to believe that they didn't know there were many many issues with the MRC decoders and were losing business. It's very common to provide a reasonable upgrade path in computer worlds so this would not be an unusual business practice in general. Let's hope Athearn agrees with us! I'd be more than happy to mail my locos back to them for an upgrade/install or trade in towards a new version IF it's not going to be based on a new MRSP or cost more than a full version Tsunami and install done by a shop. If they could make the conversion plug and play all the better and we could do them ourselves but THAT's not likely for my Challenger and Big Boys at least.

You should be in luck.  The announcement came just a week after they started shipping these.  What a coincidence .  They now make plug and play drop in decoders for athearn genesis.

http://www.soundtraxx.com/dsd/tsunami/index.php?p=1000gn.php

This is good news for diesel model owners but no joy for steamers... Am I mistaken in thinking that the Genesis Big Boy and Challenger have MRC dual function decoders? (mobile and sound)? If that's correct, then the sound plug and play won't fix the problem. (Runaway locos, dead on the tracks, surprise CV reconfigurations, etc.) Can anyone clarify? I'll dig out my booklets but I have to move a bunch of lumber lst...