Hello All,
I just purchased a new never run Athearn Genesis UP FEF-2 #821 from an estate sale a few days ago.
I put it on the test track, all the sounds work beautifully but the engine does not move!
The instructions state that if: LOCOMOTIVE RESPONDS TO BELL/WHISTLE FUNCTIONS BUT DOES NOT MOVE do the following.
" CV #29 is not programmed correectly for either a 2 digit address or a 4 digit address. Input a value of "2" in CV29 for a 2 digit address, or a value "34" in CV29 for a 4 digit address"
Well, I did that and the message I get is "cannot read cv"
It is very frustrating and am sure it is probably a simple fix.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Have you tried to reset the decoder? Try this for reset:
Make sure you do that on your test track or remove all other locos from the track. Some test tracks do not allow the loco to move.
Which brand command station and which brand decoder?
Terry
Inspired by Addiction
See more on my YouTube Channel
No. I have not done that yet, in fear of screwing up the decoder. I have an NCE Power Cab Unit.
I just checked the CV Chart and it has CV8 default 143 and there is no CV30 on the list
Seems like the decoder is already messed up, resetting it will not cause further harm. If you're using a programming track, you may need to change the previous instruction step from OPS to DIR
According to internet intelligence, reading CV8=143 indicates an MRC decoder
https://ncedcc.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/201489365-Master-list-of-Decoder-Resets-by-Manufacturer-
Well I followed the Athearn instructiions Chart that states CV125 factory default setting 0. I entered that, now I lost all the sounds and just get a ticking noise. Very frustrating!
According to the link, resetting an MRC should be CV125=1. Did you power down the loco (remove track power) after the reset?
Hello Terry, On the program track, when I go to option 2. CV, I enter it and the same message comes up "Cannot read CV". I pushed enter anyway, typed in 1 and then shut off the power. No luck
I removed the loco and tried another loco my BL 4-6-4 to see if the track was dirty and it works very well. So, it is not the track,
Well, I'm only relaying what I find on the internet. Hopefully, someone with experience pertaining to your command station and decoder will chime in soon.
I have a Digitrax DCS51 and use Soundtraxx and LokSound decoders, and normally program on the main.
Don't get frustrated, it'll work out.
"Cannot read CV" -- if the program track works correctly -- is an indication that the relatively high-frequency DCC signal is not getting 'through' the locomotive to the decoder and back. Or that the part of the decoder that involves reading CVs out is bad. (I'd think it consistent that this would also mean that writes to the decoder CV locations would fail)
I wish there were such a thing as a diagnostic test stand that you could plug a given decoder into, perhaps under JMRI, that would exercise all the functions and give a 'one stop' readout of its state and its ability to interact per spec. Perhaps there is. (Mel Perry has something that goes a long way toward this...)
I recommend that you 'read up' (or ask) enough to be comfortable substituting a known-good (and perhaps more modern) decoder in this locomotive, and then conduct further troubleshooting with fewer multiple-fault possibilities.
I contacted Athearn, no answer yet.
Then I called NCE, explained the issue and told them there is a note in the Instruction book that states" Some DCC systems do not have enough power on the program track for programming sound decoders"
The NCE Rep told me that NCE has plenty of power and it should not be a factor.
After I told him that the engine is equiped with an MRC decoder, he said contact them for assitance.
Finally, I contacted MRC, again explained the issue and the Rep told me that in some cases, NCE will have a problem reading back the CV so he suggested I reprogram the engine with another DCC system like Digitrax.
So, hopefully it will work.
The PowerCab is one that should not have problems with MRC, or most any decoder. The PH Pro system on the other hand often needs a program track booster.
I wouldn't worry too much about not being able to read. Set the CV value to what it should be.
You ARE using program on program track, right? Program on the main, or ops, does not read back no matter what the decoder.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Yes, I am using the program track.
Each time I try to program a CV, I still get the same message "Cannot read CV". The good news is that at least I have all the sounds of the 8 functions back! I now have to try and find someone with a different DCC system to see if it can be programmed or unless someone out there has another solution.
If it restored the sounds, that means it's taking some CV values, probably the reset. Which means it's probably on short address 3.
Are the sounds activated by the dunction keys, ie, you hit the horn button and get the whistle? If so, it's nothing to do with an incorrect CV29 or whatever - if you can control the manually triggered sounds (and lights) by pressing the approriate buttions, commands are getting to the loco on the proper address in the proper format.
It's possible it's configured to be in a consist. Set CV19 to 0. Don't worry about unable to read.
Is it possible this is an older MRC decoder? If so, it was soundly panned here and on other boards maybe 15 years back when people universally reported problems with them. I'm inclined to believe that there's nothing wrong with procedures or the equipment, just that it's a dud decoder well known to have been a problem child for MRC.
Could be wrong, though.
I doubt that it is an old decoder. There was an estate sale last week, 90 % of the model trains had been purchased in the last 10 years and almost all of them were still new in the box and never run, including the two that I purchased. There is still a bill of sale that is dated 2011!
If it's the MRC decoder it will almost always respnd with can;t read. They are really horrible decoders. But that doesn't mean they don;t take commands.
What address are you selecting to call up the loco to try and run it? ANd just confirming, when you have that addresses selected, if you hit the horn button, you get the horn, and if you hit the bell button, the bell starts - do the lights go on and off if you hit the headlight button?
Since the reset likely took, you should be hitting Select Loco, 3, Enter. The top left will show 003, not *003.
Hi Randy , The address shows 003 and not *003. When I hit the bell, the bell works, when I hit the whistle, it works but the lights stay constantly on and engine does not move
It's entirely possible the motor control part of the decoder is fried. Although odd the lights don;t go on and off - and typically they always set them to be directional, so if you hit the lights, the front one may come on, and if you hit the direction button to set the loco to reverse, the backup light ont he tender comes on. CV19 being non-zero was my best guess, this would mean the loco was configured to be in a consist. Select it's own address, instead of the consist address, would allow the whistle and bell to work, but it wouldn't respond to speed commands. The reset should have fixed that, but not always.
One more thing to try, since the function controlled sounds respond to address 3, use program track and set CV29 to 6. Use the CV mode programmer (item 1 on the menu I think). That will make sure the loco is configured to respond to the short address 3, which is already appears to be, and use 28/128 speed steps.
If the lights are on, press the slow increment button, or scroll the thumbwheel up one notch at a time, and look at the lights and see if they alternate on and off.
Also it's I suppose possible somone put a ridiculous amount of momentum in the loco - while doing the other programming, set CV3 and CV4 both to 0.
ANd check the non-programming stuff - is the wire fromt he tender to the loco securely plugged in, and none of the wires damaged (if they indeed put the decoder in the tender on this model). And maybe open up both the loco and tender to make sure the wires to the motor are in place and haven't come loose. In the loco it will be obvious which wires go to the motor, in the tender, if they follow NMRA color codes, they would be orange and grey wires, but otherwise you will have to trace back from the loco to see where they go. A motor wire off would of course make the loco not move - it would also make it fail to read any CV since the decoder needs to pulse the motor to ackownledge program reads. A hint to that might be if the chuffing speeds up when you advance the throttle, even though the loco doesn't actually move.
Hi Randy,
Did what you said with CVs and still getting same message "Cannot read CV".
I also checked the wire connections, no change. The same result, all sound and lights work, engine does not move.
I do however find it hard to believe that a new loco, never used or run, would have a faulty decoder or a fried one!
The MRC Rep even told me today that old new stock, such as this one that was never used, would be highly unlikely to have a faulty decoder.
I just have this gut feeling that it is something or a glitch that is preventing the loco from working, just have to find it somehow.
Hawks RuleI just have this gut feeling that it is something or a glitch that is preventing the loco from working, just have to find it somehow.
Have you inspected the jumper wire/plug between the engine and tender? This is sometimes a problem with some locomotives, particularly Broadway Limited. Sometimes a pin is bent or the socket not seated properly.
http://www.athearn.com/ProdInfo/Files/Genesis_FEF_Northern_Manual.pdf
Good Luck, Ed
I have had the NCE Power Cab and some years ago expereinced an issue like this. The decoder had a motor drive issue on one side. SoundTraxx repaired the decoder for me.
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.
Ok. I deceided to remove the tender shell to see if anything looks out of place.
Everything looks good, speakers are connected, but there is a red wire that looks like it is disconnected!
I would like to take a few photos, but after reading the rules on how to post the pictures, I am totally confused!
Any help, would be appreciated, this way everyone can see the red wire!
I sent you a message, I can post your pictures.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Manufacturers don't necessarily use DCC standard color wires.
I also noticed that the two speakers are not glued to the roof of the tender.
I wonder if that is the norm or should I glue it?