I was given a fall Micro-Mark catalog and running thru it, I saw a MRC Blackbox that is placed inbetween the DC pack and the track to control DCC equipped train functions.
Does anyone have any experience with it? Does it actually run DCC trains as well as control their functions?..The discription wasn’t very detailed.
Itr’s probably to control an MRC sound decoder when running on DC block control. Broadway Limited has a similar black box for QSI equipped locomotives.
The Blackbox allows you to activate the funtions and sound effects of any dual-mode sound decoder. It also allows you to control the direction of travel and speed with the handheld unit. It states that it is not for use on straight DC locomotives.
Dual mode as in DCC & DC?
Dual mode locos (DCC/DC) running on DC powered track. The black box allows access to controls and effects that would otherwise only be available in DCC mode on a DCC powered layout.
How much does the Black Box cost?
Might as well spend the 200 dollars and buy a Zephyr.
Keep in mind that all sound-equipted locomotives are designed with DCC in mind, not DC; even the Blueline series from BLI (I would suggest you avoid the Blueline series, plagued with issues). DC will always be an after-thought.
David B
The Quantum Engineer controls QSI decoders by use of a relay, which acts as a power pack forward/reverse switch, only very rapidly. You press a button, a microprocessor decides what you intend to do, and fires the relay quickly to execute your instruction.
No problems what-so-ever running a straight DC locomotive on the track with a Quantum Engineer between the track and power pack, AS LONG AS you don’t press any buttons on the Quantum Engineer. If you do, at the very least, your moving loco will halt, suddenly, with the expected results following.
Running dual mode locomotives with the Quantum Engineer is as advertised, and you can program every register with ease, possibly easier than by using a sparate DCC programming track. At the very least, you don’t need a separate track for programming. The QE/QSI system is simple and intuitive, and the locomotive verbally talks back to you, telling you what register you are editing, and what you selected value is after programming.
Since the MRC Black Box purports to control all sound decoders, not just QSI decoders, then it must function in this mode as well, in addition to duplicating the keyfob radio transmitters used to control Athearn and Roundhouse sound equipped locomotives under DC control.
We’re running both straight DC and dual mode locomotives here, on DC, no problems with either one, as long s you don’t run both, at the same time, on the same cab. The sound equipped units require a lot more power to run at a given speed than straight DC, and the two will not MU well (at all).
If you want to avoid the page after page of DCC hassles well evidenced in this forum, the Quantum Engineer gives you the best of both worlds. If the MRC Black Box does QSI as well as the Quantum Engineer does, plus controls Athearn/Roundhouse decoders too, it would be a good investment.
We run one Quantum Engineer, and one pair of MRC Synchro units, steam and diesel, and are looking to add one more sound control unit, since we have
I frown on the cost of this unit. I agree with David and feel a Zephyr will do it well (Or other DCC systems of that range)
I learned not to run my QSI engines on analog. They get infected and require resetting after displaying behavior problems. Usually as soon as the Analog voltage is interrupted unexpected dropping the QSI off line, when it comes back up… stand back.
The other posts have already covered everything else.
I personally encourage analog users to dive in and get a DCC system instead of trying to feed a dual mode engine with analog power.
When I went to all DCC, All of the engines settled down and run perfectly.
I believe what the Blackbox does is actually ouput a dcc signal sending speed, direction, and function commands to address 0, which is the broadcast address. All decoders are supposed to respond to address 0 no matter what address they have programmed and whether they are porogrammed to respond to the short address or the long address. I have never used the Blackbox, but since it says it will work with any DCC locomotive, I don’t see how else it could operate.
DCC hassles? And limiting what you can run with what at what time isnt a hassle? DCC isnt a hassle-maker, in fact, it un-limits what you can do. Sure there is a BIT of a learning curve, but how is that any different from learning how many times you have to move that direction switch back and forth to make the horn sound?
The Zephyr is simple to use, allows you to run analogue locomotives and is very cost effective. The MRC black box wont work with QSI locomotives (becuase they have a different sound set) and doesnt allow you to run your sound locos with your non-sound locos.
David B
Since you asked, assigning a mainline to sound or non-sound locomotives isn’t a hassle at all. All our consists are either one or the other, and we don’t have room to run more than one train per mainline at a time. Switching from a sound loco to a non-sound is as simple as changing which cab controls that block, or changing which sound controller is assigned to that block. Since the cabs and sound controllers usually follow the train where-ever it goes, there isn’t any “reconfiguration”, just standard cab operations.
We don’t have any troubles figuring out which way the DPDT switches need to
Like you say, it either one or the other, never both at the same time.
I am only sensitive to mis-information against DCC from posters like yourself. I deal with customers on a daily basis who enter my store with lots of mis-information. It makes it difficult to actually have a conversation about DCC when they have these false preconceptions about it. When the customer actually has a hands on with our display layout (that features DC, Digitrax DCC and MRC) then they understand the pros and cons of each.
[quote]
On a smaller layout, there’s no need to open yourself to all these hassles, since you won’t run mulitple trains on one mainline anyway. I think both options have their place in certain situations. I have no use for DCC here, but see no reason to claim DC is superior, just different. I think if a layout can make use of DCC, it sould come unde
Two wires and you’re done wiring DCC?
Good for a hearty laugh, but exactly the kind of oversimplification I object to.
Your “solution” to every question raised by someone using DC is “Go DCC”.
Observe:
You claim two wires is all you need.
You claim a $200 Zephyr is “comparable” to a $55 Black Box in price.
You pretend I can’t program every register on a QSI decoder with a Quantum Controller, implying that only DCC will access them.
You claim vague mysterious complexities regarding a simple DPDT switch to control direction or the horn, when a seven year old operates them with ease.
As I said before DCC IS something to consider in many situations.
But the statements referenced above are NOT careful consideration, they are DISTORTIONS.
How does distorting the facts help modelers make good decisions?
There is PLENTY to recommend DCC. There is NO NEED to damage credibility by this type of distortion.
Give the modeler the actual truth, and let him decide what works for him.
You may THINK you’re increasing your DCC related profits, but this kind of argument really only hurts your credibility, and LOWERS your profits.
If DCC wasn’t a good idea, then HFC would have died back in the 70’s and no one here would have ever heard of Digitrax, or Lentz, or NCR, or any of the other, now well entrenched manufacturers.
But taking the position that DCC is the ONLY solution, and using disingenuous strawman arguments to support that position, is a disservice to everyone, DC or DCC.
Let’s flip this around, so you can see where I’m coming from. I DO NOT go into every single DCC thread on this board, claiming DCC sux, and recommending everyone switch to DC. But that is exactly what I see from you, here, everytime a DC question is posted.
Live and let live. This hobby is about having fun, and there really is NOT any one size fits al
I think there’s a good chance you’re right, and for that reason, decided to hold off on purchasing a Black Box without even pricing them locally.
If the Black Box manufactures a true DCC signal, there are two major considerations arising from that, one very positive, one potentially very negative.
The MRC page says the Black Box MUST be removed from the circuit when running straight DC locomotives. doing this requires an additional layer of complexity in wiring, and risks locomotive damage if mistakes are made during operation.
On the other hand, this unit would finally allow DC users to mount both onboard AND stationary sound decoders, to feed a stationary subwoofer and finally extend the frequency response of layout audio to realistic prototype spectrums. Previously, only the QSI decoders offered this possibility for DC users, and QSI, though promising the availability of after market decoders, never actually delivered on that promise, not yet, anyway.
I’m almost certain I’ll eventually end up with at least one Black Box, especially if your idea proves out. But that idea opens up a lot of possibilities I hadn’t considered, and until I do, I’m going to take some time to mull them over.
[quote user=“jeffers_mz”]
Two wires and you’re done wiring DCC?
Good for a hearty laugh, but exactly the kind of oversimplification I object to.
Your “solution” to every question raised by someone using DC is “Go DCC”.
Observe:
You claim two wires is all you need.
You claim a $200 Zephyr is “comparable” to a $55 Black Box in price.
You pretend I can’t program every register on a QSI decoder with a Quantum Controller, implying that only DCC will access them.
You claim vague mysterious complexities regarding a simple DPDT switch to control direction or the horn, when a seven year old operates them with ease.
As I said before DCC IS something to consider in many situations.
But the statements referenced above are NOT careful consideration, they are DISTORTIONS.
How does distorting the facts help modelers make good decisions?
There is PLENTY to recommend DCC. There is NO NEED to damage credibility by this type of distortion.
Give the modeler the actual truth, and let him decide what works for him.
You may THINK you’re increasing your DCC related profits, but this kind of argument really only hurts your credibility, and LOWERS your profits.
If DCC wasn’t a good idea, then HFC would have died back in the 70’s and no one here would have ever heard of Digitrax, or Lentz, or NCR, or any of the other, now well entrenched manufacturers.
But taking the position that DCC is the ONLY solution, and using disingenuous strawman arguments to support that position, is a disservice to everyone, DC or DCC.
Let’s flip this around, so you can see where I’m coming from. I DO NOT go into every single DCC thread on this board, claiming DCC sux, and recommending everyone switch to DC. But that is exactly what I see from you, here, everytime a DC question is posted.
Live and let live. This hobby is about having fun, and there really i