Athearn Genesis F3 DCC Ready - Choosing the Right Decoder

[richhotrain]

Have you considered a TCS decoder? Really excellent motor control.

Hi Pete. Yes, I have looked at TCS. I love their website, especially the section on Installations. The non-sound decoders can be expensive though. I will take another look. Any suggestions?

Rich

[richhotrain]

richhotrain
What do you mean by “through the board into the socket”?

When I got my first 21 pin decoder some years back I studied the newfangled thing for quite a while. My inital “assumption” was to place the black socket on the decoder facing the pins the way any ordinary plug and socket combination would seemingly work.

After studying the situation and the documentation for a while it suddenly dawned on me that the decoder had to be placed onto the “motherboard” with the PC board in the same orientation. In other words the gold pins passed through the bottom of the decoder then engaged the black plastic plug which is now oriented on the top side or facing up.

See the Soundtraxx guide I linked to above, Pg. 26.

Of course the index pin will help answer alignment issues but it had me scratching my head for a while. IIRC, the TCS decoder had a little piece of Kapton tape over the “NO” side of the plug.

DCC documentation from nearly ALL the major decoder manufacturers is awful, at best. Dave (HOn3 Critter) had a keep alive diagram that had the + and — pads reversed. Soundtraxx confessed that, yes, maybe some were shipped with the wrong hookup drawings but, well, sorry.

Good Luck, Ed

Thanks, Ed. Now I see what you are saying.

This is my first experience with a 21-pin setup. Up until now, whenever I read about 21-pin decoders, I thank my lucky stars that I don’t have to concern myself with them. Payback time has arrived!

Interestingly, or maybe not, I have two other pairs of Athearn Genesis F3s, both with factory installed sound (Soundtraxx Tsunami). Both pairs came with shells attached, so I have no

[richhotrain]

For an 8-pin connection, generally the ‘female’ receptacle is built into the lightboard, and the decoder (or it’s harness) has the ‘male’ eight pins. 21-pin connections are the opposite, the pins are in the lightboard and the decoder has the holes that the pins go in to.

Thanks for that explanation, Stix.

Rich

[wrench567]

Rich.

Lichfield Station lists the EU621 six function decoder for under $40. They also have the EU821 eight function for a little more. I can’t see how many functions you need.

Pete.

[richhotrain]

Rich.

Lichfield Station lists the EU621 six function decoder for under $40. They also have the EU821 eight function for a little more. I can’t see how many functions you need.

Pete.

Thanks again, Pete, for your help and advice. It is most appreciated.

I did go back and look at the TCS website, and I saw that EU621. When I read the Description, it said that “this decoder is designed specifically to meet the needs of European HO scale modelers”. This statement made me wonder if this decoder would work for North American models.

But the Description did go on to say that "This decoder is compliant with the NEM660 standard found in locomotives equipped with the MTC 21-pin socket. So, I guess that the EU621 would work. The TCS price of $51.95 scared me off, but the Litchfield price under $40 that you found seems more reasonable for a non-sound decoder.

As far as functions, I am not looking for much. The A-unit has two headlights but they are wired together, so there is no functional Mars light. There is also a backup light. So, a 2-function non-sound decoder would be just fine.

Rich

[wrench567]

Hi Rich.

The 21 pin is a European design. It’s slowly getting incorporated into the North American market. Because it’s a European standard is why most manufacturers call it an EU decoder. Just a few years ago you could only find them in European made locomotives. I can imagine in a few years that 8 and 9 pin decoders will be rare as hens teeth. Soon there will be 10 and 12 function decoders and they will come out with thirty pin decoders.

Pete.

[OldEngineman]

2nd photo from top shows the way the “dcc ready” engine came out of the box, right?

If so, the 21 pin board is a “dummy” board, when it’s in place the loco is set up for DC-only operation.

For dcc, buy a 21 pin decoder. Then, just lift off the dummy board (BE VERY CAREFUL removing it, lift it “straight up and evenly” so as not to bend the pins), then set the dcc board over the pins (again, be careful), then “press home”.

You’ll note that the decoders are designed so that the pins “come through the bottom of the board” and settle into the plastic receptacle which is ABOVE the board.

The new board goes on the way the old one came off – pins through the bottom, plastic receptacle on top. At least on the ones I’ve used (ESU).

[gmpullman]

Soon there will be 10 and 12 function decoders and they will come out with thirty pin decoders.

Next18 also PluX-22 on the horizon. Not necessarily more pins but smaller interface.

https://dccwiki.com/Locomotive_Interface

George has a little blurb here about how the guts have evolved over the years:

Also in the last few minutes he shows plugging in a 21MTC decoder.

Good Luck, Ed

[richhotrain]

2nd photo from top shows the way the “dcc ready” engine came out of the box, right?

If so, the 21 pin board is a “dummy” board, when it’s in place the loco is set up for DC-only operation.

For dcc, buy a 21 pin decoder. Then, just lift off the dummy board (BE VERY CAREFUL removing it, lift it “straight up and evenly” so as not to bend the pins), then set the dcc board over the pins (again, be careful), then “press home”.

You’ll note that the decoders are designed so that the pins “come through the bottom of the board” and settle into the plastic receptacle which is ABOVE the board.

The new board goes on the way the old one came off – pins through the bottom, plastic receptacle on top. At least on the ones I’ve used (ESU).

Thanks for that post, Old Engine. That pretty much confirms what I have concluded from all of the great replies to my initial post. I appreciate your information.

Rich

[tstage]

Next18 also PluX-22 on the horizon. Not necessarily more pins but smaller interface.

My Walthers Mainline NW2 switcher came outfitted with a Next18 socket. While the socket was indeed small, it wasn’t difficult to plug a Loksound micro Next18 decoder into it and sounds GREAT with the Scale Sound Systems speaker designed for it.

Tom

[wrench567]

Tom.

I recently put sound in a pair of Bowser Baldwin switchers using the Next 18 nano Loksound plugged into a WVD interface board designed for Kato N scale locomotive. An 11x13 sugar cube with enclosure fit nicely over the hood end truck tower with a minimum of Dremel work. Great sound and motor control out of such a tiny decoder. The Nano decoder is smaller than the TCS MC2 decoder it replaced. Reading about the N18 interface they actually use four pins for motor connections.

Pete.

[Water_Level_Route]

I have two other pairs of Athearn Genesis F3s, both with factory installed sound (Soundtraxx Tsunami). Both pairs came with shells attached, so I have no idea what the chassis look like with the shells removed. I don’t know if the decoders are 8-pin, 9-pin or 21-pin. Now, I am curious, but I will leave it at that.

Rich, for what it’s worth, I’ve got a Genesis F3 that came sound equipped that I replaced the decoder for a new one. It wasn’t any of the pin options you list, but was rather a direct fit board. Like this:

https://soundtraxx.com/products/econami-digital-sound-decoders/eco-pnp/

[richhotrain]

richhotrain
I have two other pairs of Athearn Genesis F3s, both with factory installed sound (Soundtraxx Tsunami). Both pairs came with shells attached, so I have no idea what the chassis look like with the shells removed. I don’t know if the decoders are 8-pin, 9-pin or 21-pin. Now, I am curious, but I will leave it at that.

Rich, for what it’s worth, I’ve got a Genesis F3 that came sound equipped that I replaced the decoder for a new one. It wasn’t any of the pin options you list, but was rather a direct fit board. Like this:

https://soundtraxx.com/products/econami-digital-sound-decoders/eco-pnp/

Mike, I just wanted non-sound decoders for this pair of locos, and I needed a 21-pin connection between the motherboard and the decoder.

Rich

[richhotrain]

I want to thank everyone who replied to my thread. I learned a lot about 21-pin decoders, and I particularly appreciate the specific recommendations for an appropriate decoder.

I have decided to go with the Soundtraxx MC1H104P21, based upon price and functionality. I wanted something simple in a non-sound decoder since the lighting on the F3AB consist is pretty basic, a dual headlight and a backup light. There are no Mars lights on this model, no ditch lights, no lighted numberboards, so my requirements were pretty basic.

Thanks again to all who replied to this thread.

Rich

[wrench567]

Your welcome Rich.

Pete.

[blabride]

Rich,

The soundtraxx MC1H104P21 is a great easy drop in for that loco. You will love it. It is also an easy to speed match it with other’s using the same decoder or even the Economi’s.

SB

[richhotrain]

Rich,

The soundtraxx MC1H104P21 is a great easy drop in for that loco. You will love it. It is also an easy to speed match it with other’s using the same decoder or even the Economi’s.

SB

Thanks, SB, I will report back with the results.

Rich

[richhotrain]

blabride

Rich,

The soundtraxx MC1H104P21 is a great easy drop in for that loco. You will love it. It is also an easy to speed match it with other’s using the same decoder or even the Economi’s.

SB

Thanks, SB, I will report back with the results.

Rich

Well, it took 12 days to get the two Soundtraxx MC1H104P21 decoders, but I finally got them installed today. As predicted, it worked like a charm. They are drop-in decoders after removing the DC plug. I appreciate everyone’s help and advice.

I sure miss my LHS where I could have had the decoders at least 10 days ago, but what the heck. This little project is done now.

Rich

[wrench567]

Rich.

Glad it turned out good for you. How do they run?

Pete.

[richhotrain]

Rich.

Glad it turned out good for you. How do they run?

Pete.

Thanks for asking, Pete. They run just fine and are excellent pullers. I went with non-sound decoders in this A-B consist, although I do have two other Athearn Genesis consists (one A-A and one A-B), both factory equipped with Soundtraxx Tsunami decoders. My oldest set of passenger diesels is an Athearn Genesis ABBA consist in which I installed non-sound decoders. Lots of details on the Genesis diesels starting with the Highliner shells.

Rich