Athearn Genesis

[2059]

How long have you had yours and approx. how many running hours? I’m just starting to lay my track so only have a couple of hours on mine. Thanks. Those MRCs make me nervous. The models are beautiful things and I’d like to get another of each eventually.

I’ve had the model for about nine or ten months now. Sorry I really can’t think of the approx. running hrs on it. I only have one, UP 3985. If I was a steam era modeler I would definitely get a few more of the UP ones.

[BRVRR]

We gave our grandson an Athearn Challenger as a Christmas present in 2006. The loco has had its wheels run off on the BRVRR layout since then. We haven’t experienced any problems with it at all.

I have a few MRC sound decoders installed in locomotives of my own. I have yet to have a failure. My Zephyr has had no problem programming them either.

My major complaint with the ‘self installed’ MRC decoders is the poor motor control. Beyond that they are/were a bargain at the time I purchased them. About half the price of a Soundtraxx DSD-100LC at the time.

[Capt_Grimek]

It sounds like the sound (portion of the) decoder is the problem? These are combination mobile/sound MRC decoders aren’t they? I’ll have to dig out my manual/literature again tomorrow. Mine are factory installed and I hope my luck holds. I readdressed the Challenger using 03 with a Zephyr. when I was in a hurry at a session. Later I reset it to the cab # on my friend’s NCE sytstem and it’s held it so far. I’ll be using a radio Digitrax Super Chief… Thanks for the feedback on how long you’ve owned yours, guys and approx. running time. I’ll be reporting back once I put the Genesises through their paces.

[railandsail]

And it would appear as though it might be best to utilize the newer HB (high bass) spearker(s)?? In looking at various photos of these units, it appears as most installations utilize a single speaker at the rear of the frame, and pointed downward??

1. Will this single speaker fit in the stock frame without any milling?
2. Are all installations with the speaker facing downward?

I heard mention on another forum that Model Railroader had a recent article about this subject of "‘adding a decoder to an Athearn Genesis F unit’ sometime in the fall of 2008? Can someone tell me which month or where I might view this article?

I have a friend who recently purchased a 3 unit set of F3 Genesis engines, all with sound. I have not had the occassion to view inside these units yet. but it does appear to be really good sound. I believe he has indicated that they are MRC decoders.

And most interesting they appear to project sound thru the top rear grills (two small rectanges on F3) and the side grills at the rear. Is it possible that this speaker is mounted in the up position? I had also been led to believe that sound was generally best if from two speakers and pointed downward??

Well I got a look at my friends F3 Genesis engines and sure enough the speaker is located at the rear of the chassis just like the MRC factory installation.
BUT, I was surprised by the orientation of the speaker itself. Its front wave face projected into the ‘back-cavity enclosure’ and its rear face was pointed downward toward the truck opening ?? I wrote about it here, but it might bear repeating in this subject thread:

I was just listening to your ‘sound samples’, and had a question about the EMD 567 Sound of the F7 locos. (BTW, great presentation !! )
http://www.ulrichmodels.com/Sound_Samples/SoundSamp

[krs]

I have a Genesis F7. It runs and looks great but like others have said the sound could be better. I have also had problems with different sound features activating themselves as the train goes around the layout.