For all of my Genesis F units I have used either the Soundtraxx ECO PNP for the older boards or the Soundtraxx ECO-21PNEM. In your case the ECO-21PNEM would be a good plug in if you want sound. If not any 21 pin, like the Soundtraxx MC1H104P21 or any of the ESU 21 pin Lokpilots. The Soundtraxx is much cheaper though.
Good news with that board if it is a newer version with LEDS you don't need to worry about blowing bulbs and they are much easier to add decoders to.
The big issue I have had in adding sound to these Units is what to do about a speaker. While there is a lot of room back there the speakers on the market tend to be to big or to small to fit right. I have used and like the Scale Sound Systems speakers made to custom fit this space. They sound amazing as well. There are several You Tube videos comparing these.
SB
Rich.
I'm sorry. Looking at the second photo again I can clearly see the bare pins so there is no cover. Notice the one missing pin? The decoder socket will have a blank spot where that missing pin should be.
Pete.
The Athearn motherboard has a black plastic cover over the pins. Carefully work it up from end to end. It's there to keep the pins from getting bent. Then match up the decoder and press firmly.
Any 21 pin decoder will work.
Pete
Here is what still confuses me. In the past when I have converted a DCC Ready loco to DCC and the factory installed circuit board has an 8-pin plug, the plug itself has 8-pins (male) and the circuit board has an 8-pin receptor (female). So, the plug is removed and a harness from the decoder has an 8-pin connector (male).
But, in this instance, the circuit board has a 21-pin receptor (male), and the plug has a 21-pin connector (female). So, when I remove the 21-pin plug to install a decoder, I will need a 21-pin connector (female). How do I deal with this? What decoder would I use? Would I need a special harness?
Rich
Alton Junction
riogrande5761 A Nix Decoder Buddy circuit board may allow you to adapt a 21 pin to a 9 pin.
A Nix Decoder Buddy circuit board may allow you to adapt a 21 pin to a 9 pin.
A decoder buddy is not necessary. A decoder buddy is used for converting older 8 or 9 pin locomotives to a 21 pin decoder. It has solder pads for accessory lighting, speaker, and some have a keep alive solder pads. Their latest board has a socket with lighting solder pads to allow complete shell removal. (Nice feature). The mini works great for locomotives without a lot of room. I have it on good authority that an even smaller version that uses the Next 18 nano decoders in the works.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Looking at the motherboard, it appears to be mounted backwards. The FO is on the opposite side of the cab. There is also solder pads for a speaker. Very easy to add sound if you want.
It looks like Athearn upgraded the motherboard but not the instructions. They did the same thing going from the 8 pin to the 9 pin JST.
When I was doing installs for club members, one guy gave me a pair of locomotives and two 8 pin decoders for them. Upon opening them up one was 8 pin the other was 9 JST. Both bought at the same time. Kind of like a box of chocolate. You never know what you'll get.
I have an Athearn Genesis F3A-B that was given me by Ed and it came with an 8- or 9-pin socket. Yours has to be a newer run.
Yea, from the photo you're going to need a 21-pin decoder, Rich. I would go either TCS or LokPilot for a motor-only install. I used a TCS A4X in my B-unit and a TCS WOW WDK-ATH in the A. They run very well and smoothly.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
tstage Looks like a 21-pin to me, Rich. You could always call or email Athearn to verify and let them know of the error on the instruction sheet. Tom
Looks like a 21-pin to me, Rich. You could always call or email Athearn to verify and let them know of the error on the instruction sheet.
So, do I need a decoder with a 21-pin connector? I assume that is the case.
I bought a pair of DCC Ready Athearn Genesis F3AB locomotives. I am a bt confused about selecting the right non-sound decoder for each locomotive.
Here are the instructions from Athearn.
Here are photos of the "DCC Jumper Board" still in place in the first photo and removed in the second photo. As you can see, the circuit board has a 21-pin configuration.
So, the Athearn instructions say to "plug in a decoder with either a 9-pin plug or an 8-pin plug". But, the circuit board has that 21-pin configuration in place.
Can someone help me sort this out?