Last week,my Athearn N scale Challenger had lost it's programmed adress after another loco had caused a short circuit going through a turnout.After reprogramming it,I gave it a try this week and guess what?...it did it again.While my Big Boy,wich also was on the same track,didn't bother a bit,the 4-6-6-4 lost it's memory going through a turnout.It seems that even the smallest spark eraises at least this part of it's memory.It just sits there,emitting steam cycling sounds but won't restart until it's adress is rewritten to it's brains...most annoying.Maybe I'm being warned that it'll smoke some day........
I've had it...enough is enough...I've ordered two Micro-Tsunamis that will replace these two MRC decoders as soon as I receive them wich raise a couple questions.Has anyone had any experience retrofitting these Athearn's?I suppose so and would like to know if there are any traps I should be aware of.And last,are the original speakers compatible and worthy of using them with the Tsunami's?Thanks.
It will be interesting to see if the new decoders work any better. You just might find it is the track. Any spike in voltage can cause the problem; especially in an N scale decoder. Let me know what happens.
Yes, some of the MRC decoders can be a problem. I have a Roundhouse 4-4-0 that came with a MRC sound decoder. I replaced it with a Micro-Tsunami decoder. The rest of the Roundhouse steamers I purchased DCC Ready and installed the Micro.
I use the NCE Power Cab controller.
Join the Yahoo SoundTraxx DCC group where there is a lot of discussion of the 1000 Tsunami and the 750 Micro in different installations. Make sure to look in the Files, Photos and links sections. You can upload photos of your installations to the Photos sections. There is quite a lot of documentation in the Files section of the group.
Athearn has said they are going to start equipping new locos with the Tsunami technology, a somewhat stripped down . (sounds) version of the Tsunami you purchase and install yourself.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/soundtraxx/
The below Yahoo Group is run by Rick Bell who has an online DCC shop. There are installation clinics in the Files and Photos sections for different locomotives.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RPMclinics-RickBell/?yguid=44628248
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.