A friend gave me an MRC steam sound decoder out of an Athearn Genesis Challenger. Someone else gave it to him but he has nothing to put it in. I hooked it up to a test station, but the sound doesn't seem to work. I use DecoderPro, but there doesn't seem to be a reset listed for the decoder. Anyone have any ideas, or should I junk it?
Gary
Although some say the newer MRC sound decoders have improved, I personally wouldn't bother with it.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
And that's not even a newer MRC decoder, the ones used by Athearn before they switched to Tsunami are the olde ones, probably has a bic capacitor flapping in the breeze off the edge of the board, and a big blob of a chip so you can't tell what it is and steal their design (who would want to?). No loss if you didn't pay for it but even if it worked it wouldn't be much to write home about. Most of those older MRC sound decoders do not have CV readback regardless of the DCC system you use. I don't think any of those old MRC decoders had any of the common methods of reset, like CV8=8 or CV30=2. You might find the instruction sheet on their web page, or maybe Athearn's, to make sure the volume wasn't set to minimum or something just ot be sure it's dead and not simply left in a state where it's not expected to make noise. I assume the speaker is connected. If it's just a plain speaker without an enclosure, it's also possible the sound level sitting on the bench is so low you can't hear it.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I would have to agree with Randy,
Some years ago I bought a Roundhouse 4-4-0 with onboard MRC sound. Athearn has the Roundhouse line though have not seen any for sale in a few years.
I junked the decoder and installed a SoundTraxx Micro back then.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
rrinker I assume the speaker is connected. If it's just a plain speaker without an enclosure, it's also possible the sound level sitting on the bench is so low you can't hear it. --Randy
I assume the speaker is connected. If it's just a plain speaker without an enclosure, it's also possible the sound level sitting on the bench is so low you can't hear it.
Yes, the speakers are hooked up. There are two in an enclosure, and I tested them with a Tsunami. They work fine.