This is an attempt tto get to the bottom of this 6 mo old mystery.
The mystery is:
(1) Genesis Challemger
(1) Program Track hooked to Decoder Pro with more than large enough computer
(1) DCS100 hooked to Program Track
Program track is wired with #14 AWG so NO LOSS of power, (Heck in 18 " I would call this an OVERKILL)
Put any other unit, BLI, Spectrum with Digitax, Atlas with an NCE ALL work perfect on the program track in the program mode. Using PAGED MODE to program.
NOW put the Genesis Challenger and it gives OFF THE WALL reading like Address of 156398. Can not even read the 1st CV. Tell it to program on the layout and NOTHING for readback to Decoder Pro.
HAVE NOT bought the power booster from Tony’s (YET).
JMRI, Digitrax, Atherns sat that the answer is ANOTHER decoder or the Tony’s booster. All I know is that it is an MRC decoder and the MARKER lights are the SO CALLED problem giving a false feedback. That sounds a little hokie BUT with the failure of (4) MRC Auto Reverse units “CLICK, CLICK, CLICK” it would not surprise me.
Now you know why they call it a Challenger… The answer to this was posted in the General Discussion about two months ago. As I recall one has to program it in a different mode. If only our search engine worked. I’ll see if I can track back through my posts and get the new link…
I’ve had similar bad results trying to program my 3985. I have a Digitrax Chief with the PowerPax programming track booster, and it still doesn’t work right. Any other engine works great. I can see another Tsunami in my future.
“I had a lot of problems trying to turn the darn sound down on my
Challenger. A lot of people came up with the conclusion that Athearn
is using the standard MRC 1626/1627 decoders in their Genesis
locomotives, but I think this is wrong. Based upon hours of research
and programming time, my conclusion is that, in the case of the
Challenger at least, it is a modified, dumbed-down decoder.
According to Athearn and the manuals in the Challenger, if the CV is
not listed, then it cannot be modified. I think they are producing
these things for people who just want to run them on DC, not for the
DCC experienced operators who want to customize. I LOVE the Genesis
F units, but there is no way I am going to pay for those decoders. I
have a whole fleet of them and I will install Digitrax, QSI, or
Soundtraxx in mine. The Challenger is worth the cost without any
decoder, so no hard feelings, but the F Units are very pricey, more
than twice the cost for a lousy (IMHO) MRC decoder.”
Is the answer from the MRC group.
Here are the OLD urls from the previous site. They have to be back further than 32 pages that is all the further I looked back trying to find them. So If one can ever figure out a translation old to new … One of these actually has directions on how to program these beasts.
I have had on and off again programming problems with my Super Chief including a tsunami. My BLI’s gave me the most problems. I bought and installed the Soundtraxx Programming booster and have had no problems since. So I am thinking that might be your answer.
Terry
The new ones might have the Brilliance decoder, but the original Genesis Challengers have an older MRC decoder. It does not support CV readback regardless of your DCC system - just program away, ignore the goofy readback values, it should actually be taking the programming. I don’t know about the Brilliance decoders - some have said they also do not do readback. Pretty poor design if they don’t. If the address won’t program properly - after the Digitrax prompt for “set address y/n” manually program CV29 for the proper value if you are setting a 4-digit address. This is what you ave to do with QSI decoders, they take too long between accepting the values for CV17 and 18 and when it can take the next CV, which is when the Digitrax address routine attempts to program CV29 - it ends up being ignored. Might be the same with the MRC.
I must say, I’ve had no problems programming QSI, ESU Loksound, or Soundtraxx LC’s with my Zephyr, either on the program track or on the main (Ops Mode). And I have no program track boosters.
Ok this oinker is the 1st generation Genesis Challenger with the Mickey Mouse decoder (MRC). Using Decoder Pro and asking about the decoder it gives you NOTHING that makes sense (no readback as Randy said). I played with this when I first got it using the direct program on the DT400 and the oinker DIED. Nothing, no sound, no motion no nothing. Then I get MAD and put it on the DC loop and dug out the pushbutton thing you get. Turned on the DC power and it came to life. made no sense at all. Took Porky (yes I named the oinker) to the DCC test ttrack (no track back then) hit it with the 03 address and it was back among the living. Posted this same story to Atherns and got NO REPLY, wonder why. Then the story of the 1st generation came out that it was DESIGNED for DC to get people to buy their DCC.
Well I got an MRC Prodogy system for nothing, all new in the box, OLD styleI think, and will hook it up to the test track and see if THAT will make Porky happy.
I will post the reults. I realy feel a new decoder is in order.
The answer to this was posted in the General Discussion about two months ago. As I recall one has to program it in a different mode. If only our search engine worked. I’ll see if I can track back through my posts and get the new link…