Athearn DCC

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1

I’m thinking of buying an Athearn F3 A/B/C (MKT) with DCC & Sound but I don’t know anything about Athearn’s reputation with DCC & Sound. I know they make a good DC loco. Before I spend a lot of money I’d like to hear from anyone with any experience with Athearn & DCC. I’m using an MRC Prodigy Advance and mostly BLI and Proto DCC & sound equipped locos with no problem.

The particular set I’m interested in is Athearn’s catalog number ATH 26361 and it retails for $499 although I can find it cheaper than that. Their website does not say which of the units are powered - does anyone know? (I e-mailed Athearn). I’ve also been curious for a long time why Walthers quit selling Athearn - anybody know?

2

I own a athearn RTR with DCC installed no sound though. And I use a MRC Prodigy Express, I never had any real problems with my Athearn loco’s. They seem to run well in my opinion. I never had sound in any of them so I can’t help you out there.

3

Athearn uses the MRC sound decoder. If you look back through the threads on these forums, you should be able to find a lot of comments, both good and bad, about MRC sound decoders.

4

MRC sound decoders? [tdn][xx(][xx(][xx(][xx(][tdn]

5

MRC sound decoders are a 4 pound brick that is best served smashed inside a roundfile.

Now if they made QUALITY decoders to go with the nice new Athearns… yah! Awesome.

Best to buy a analog only unit and install your own decoder of better quality.

6

I have two Athearn Genesis F3s. They are very nicely detailed but I’m sorry that they use MRC sound decoders. No matter what I do I can’t get them to start and stop very slow and smoothly. There’s always a slight “jump” or abrupt stop.

I don’t really care for the sound either and you can’t read back CVs. I had trouble programming them to new addresses but finally discovered (on my Lenz system) that I had to quickly, repeatedly enter the new address over and over again until it finally worked.

One of the decoders started doing weird things so I replaced it with a Soundtraxx decoder and now it starts and stops very slowly and smoothly - a great improvement.

7

ANY decoder is a 300% improvement over the MRC junk decoders. How can a company that makes such wonderful power packs and DCC control systems make such bad decoders.

8

Buy them without sound and install Digitrax SFX decoders. MRC decoders have very few options and will give you nothing but headaches…avoid.

David B

9

When I retired a few years ago and got back into this hobby I thought anything from MRC would be great, like the power packs and other DC stuff I used years ago. I think that they really hurt their reputation with their decoders.

I plan to replace by other F3 decoder as I just don’t like the way it sounds or runs.

Do all Athearn Genesis diesel sound units use MRC?

10

I believe so… until they state otherwise. Thier advertising only states the barest necessity and stays away from the kill-letters like MRC, everyone else blares the manufactor of the Decoders such as Equippted with LOKSOUND! Equippted with QSI! etc … MRC? Only you discover that little fact after buying the durn thing.

My defense is to buy the Genesis ANALOG ONLY and put one of the Digitraxes in.

11

…and if you want, purchase the PR2 and ill send you the sound file for the F3.

Digitrax seems to get looked over alot, but the ones I have are second to none.

David B

12

Athearn’s website now says their F units have a “new and improved factory installed DCC and sound decoder”.
Not sure what this means so I e-mailed them and asked what brand they now use. The brand of decoder is noticeably missing from their ads!!

13

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

I dare you to go to the Hobby Shop, open one at the counter and examine the documentation. I bet you MRC is stamped all over the CV chart.

14

Athearn has a contract with MRC, just like BLI with QSI…I bet they are regretting it now…

David B

15

Now if Athearn + QSI = Good engine… I would most certainly give them consideration.

16

To reply to your last question, Walhters can not sell Athearn as Athearn are owned by Horizon hobbies, a competitor to Walhters.

As for the Athearn Genesis with MRC decoders, they are not the best, but they work. the sound is simple especially I miss the start up sequence from QSI. The worst thing is that they start with a to high speed, not very high, but to high.

But all in all, as I am lazy and want to run my new investments ASAP I’m satisfied but I will definitly upgrade to better decoders in the future.

17

Well, I don’t like to be the odd man out but, I purchased a Genesis F3 in March 07 and have no complaints except I haven’t been able to get the Mars light to turn on yet. I think the sound and throttle response are acceptable and it runs great with plenty of pulling power.

I also have the earlier (MRC) diesel and steam sound decoders and they are pretty basic and not really satisfactory in any respect.

18

60YOKID,

If you have what I think you do, the mars light won’t come on because it is not connected to anything – the decoder Athearn uses doesn’t have a mars light function so they didn’t connect the wires.

Just another one of those reasons that I’ll never purchase an Athearn with an MRC decoder.

19

Thanks for all the good feedback - you’ve convinced me not to get the Athearn. Now, does anyone know where I can get an MKT or KCS F3 or F7 with DCC and sound?? (By the way, I contacted Athearn and all of their decoders are still MRC).