Opinions On Athearn's MRC controlled SD-45-2 ? ?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Howdy gang.

My wife went out and blew me away with the purchase of a brand new Athearn SD-45-2, in the SF koda-chrome scheme for my 33rd birthday. I have to admit, I love the detail, beautiful engine. But, I had a some knee jerk reactions to it as I am not found of the MRC system…but I put thoughts aside, and decided to keep it. (For what’s it worth, she bought at my LHS, 2 miles away, I know I could return it).

I have 5 engines, all with the QSI sound and controls. I have had the best from them and have always been great for me. Run on several different DCC systems and have always stepped up to the task. Solid performing, fair and relaible sounds. Some with 3 years on it, perfect.

I am creature of habit. If like it or it works, it I do the same away again. Boring maybe? Yeah, kinda. Frustrated less? You betcha.

So I get it home and first impressions, it grows on me. Love the detail, sounds is good too. But then the issues start. Right off the bat, I notice its programmed wrong, or the instructions are printed wrong as the sound function listed, is not what the button tells me to do. I figure out at least 3 of them that are wrong, make notes and adjust. Not a biggie by itself, but still bugged me. Ya know, it says lights, and you get coupler. Hit dynamic brake, you get air let off. Hit something and you get the blinking yellow beacon.

But the main issue, wont run worth a darn. I know it is fine mechinicaly, as it was tested in DC at the store, but when I got it home, I had to drop the hammer on the throttle to get it to move and even then, it would stall at times. Mind you though, it sure revs up likes it moveing.

It took me awhile to figure it out but I think it has to do with voltage. I run a NCE Power Cab and while it puts out good amps, the voltage is a bit on the low side. Where as MRC

2

Sweety, if you need to return it, I would understand. Even though I think it’s so cute and I love the little blinking light on top.

Get what you will enjoy.

But hopefully somoene on here can shed some light on why it wont run as well as it did at the store. (fingers crossed)

The Wife.

3

Big John, you have been so busy having fun, and with the impressive and unfailing loyalty and support of your wife, (“Sweetie”…how cute is that!?), that you have clearly missed that the MRC decoders are kind of iffy. One of the big complaints is that they don’t programme in quite the same way that QSI and Soundtraxx, Digitrax, and Lenz folks say they should.

So, me friend, you have two practical choices: learn how to programme this decoder (you’ll probably need a booster, or else a resistor to the programming track…I think…out of my depth, but I recall reading this here), or your second choice is to install a different decoder…one with the right noise loaded.

Of course, that should be your range of choices if you keep the engine for its obvious value and appeal, wife’s attachment to it not the least discounted.

Otherwise, it must go.

4

Crandell,

Thanks for the reply. I was hopeing you would chime in. I remember stuff from way back when, but it was kinda foggy. I just remember haveing a bad taste in my mouth about the MRC stuff. I am still debateing what to do about, but I admit, I am leaning on returning it.

Thanks again

5

The Mighty Rough Control drive is very poor so you could trade it back for a DC version, or replace the sound and drive in this one since it was a gift. The bottom line is you don’t want to hurt her feelings and the model is really nice looking. I purchase some of the latest Genesis models without the sound and the Mighty Rough Control drive system.

Cheers

6

Hi John,

Don’t know about the SD, but I have a Genesis F3 with MRC sound and it’s junk. Beutiful shell and the mech seems fine and it runs well on DC. Put it on DCC though, and the sound works for about 30 seconds then stops and it starts to surge on the track like it’s going from half to full throttle and back again.

I also have the Powercab and I’m running only on a 6 x 4 test track at the moment so I don’t think power is the issue. I have around 30 other sound locos, most with qsi, Soundtraxx or loksound & some with MRC DCC only decoders.

The F3 is the only one I have problems with and I think it’s something to do with the dual mode part of the decoder. I emailed MRC about it asking if there was a way to disable the DC side of the decoder, but all they want me to do is strip the body off the chassis and send it to them. Fine if I lived in the US, but I’m in OZ and it’s not worth my while in shipping to send it back.

So my solution is a Soundtraxx decoder on order and I’ll tear the MRC decoder out and file it in the bin where it belongs !

Oh and before anyone says take it back to the LHS, my closest one is about 300 kilometres from where I live so most of my stuff is bought from the US & ebay.

Warren

7

Warren

Your solution is the correct one, but next time, purchase the unit without the DCC and sound. The Genesis shells are the best available, but the drive is absolutely the worst.

I have to tell you a secret, the hobby shops don’t want the units back.

Cheers

8

I hope I’m not hijacking the thread, but I have a similar problem with an Athearn SD50, that I installed an MRC decoder in. The sound is fine. But the engine won’t start slow. The engine sound revs up higher and higher, and suddenly the engine lurches away, at almost full speed. If I try and slow it down, it stops. I never tried it on DC. Just bought it and installed the MRC decoder. I kept raising the start voltage gradually, but it’s almost all the way up, and the unit still won’t start slow. I was planning to lubricate it, but I’m not sure that is the problem. It also starts with a slight push.

9

All to sadly these engines run better in the DC mode then the DCC mode…I have seen several of these units run in DC mode and they are great runners…

To bad the MRC DCC system kills a fine locomotive.

10

Awe! That’s so sad!

And I did tell the guys at the shop that he runs on a DCC system…but I have since learned that they may not be totally up to speed with all that DCC entails. Okie dokie…

K, hun, get what you want, get something that works at least!

That’s such a bummer that so many people have had such a hard time with those engines, you’d think with how many people use DCC that they would want to fix that.

~B

11

So cute I’m getting a sugar rush. [:-^]

You’re so lucky to have such an adoring and generous wife, John, even if she is having a hoot embarrassing you on the MR forum. [:I] [(-D]

I haven’t heard of an MRC decoder that didn’t have problems. I have heard a few claims that they are due to poor soldering on the circuit board, and that after removing the plastic jacket and cleaning up the solder joints they perform fine. It’s probably something you should only attempt if you decide to keep the loco, before replacing the decoder.

12

Hey Canazar,

They might be giving you a hard time about the “sweetie” bit, but I think it’s pretty cool “The Wife” is supportive of you and your hobby !

My wife doesn’t give me too much of a hard time except when I’m silly enough to leave a bunch of invoices lying around like I did today.

Now that was a mistake !

Her “I thought you weren’t buying any thing lately ?”

Me “I haven’t”

Her “What’s a Lionel HO Challenger ?”

Me “Oh that…”

Her “Yes that, and these ???..”

Been copping it ever since I got home from work, not too serious though, she’s a good sport my Missus, she knows I’m hooked and I’m like a kid in a candy store !

Still, don’t think she’ll be getting on the forum to find out what I want next !

Warren

13

I do not have any Athearn’s with sound simply because of this MRC “debate”. I’ve not read one positive comment about them - maybe I’m not looking hard enough.

So, I have stuck with QSI and lately tried a Tsunami steamer. I love them both. I have some Intermountains on order and did so because they have QSI sound.

Athearn has some diesels I would simply love to have and would pay the $200, if, and only if, I do not have to re-work the unit or change the decoder.

Ask yourself, how often will you run this unit on your layout, as is ?

[edit] In the last Athearn E-newsletter, they advertised new F3 units coming out with “an improved factory installed onboard sound and DCC decoder”. I asked my LHS owner if he knew what they mean by “improved”. Relative to what ? I may email them to see if I get a straight answer.

Regards,

14

Tom, I know of one guy that has no problems with his Athearn MRC DCC decoders…However,he uses the MRC Prodigy that he bought use for $35.00.

Is he lucky? I don’t know! Did he find the secret? I know not.I do know the fool thing works!

15

I was kind of wondering about this too. I have VERY limited DCC experience. I have a Bach that ran fine on DC. Good low speed for a Bach. I put an MRC in it and ran it on my Bach EZ Command and it has NO low speed anymore. Runs a little jerky once in a while too. I was thinking I had to adjust the CV’s(which the EZ Command can’t do) But I’m sure you tried that so it must just be a design flaw.
I know what you mean about being a creature of habit. I’m going to have to figure out who’s product I want to use as a standard. I don’t want to have to pull out a different manual for every loco I have when it comes to programming.

Later Sweetie![:D]

16

Hehehehe! I am going to get in some trouble I can tell! When I told him I was on his forum poking around he said “great! that’s so cool!” then he though about it a bit and said “But you’ll behave right?”

Hehehe, k, I wont torture you all with the “sweeties” and “hunnies” anymore. I just want to thank you all for helping my sugar-wugar-baby-cakes out with his engine problem.

~B

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[(-D][(-D][(-D]

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[(-D] You gotta love her canazar [(-D]

19

Thanks for the entertainment! I haven’t laughed this hard in a long time. [:-,]

20

In case you are all wondering what that low boom was you heard tonight… That would be my head bounceing off my desk. [banghead]

I wish you guys could have seen it. I walked into the kitchen, looking dead serious and went “sugar-wugar baby cakes?” She laughed so hard I thought she was going to pull something.

But, I do love her so. I admit, she doesnt come out much or ever want to run the trains, but she is very, very supportive of me and the hobby. The crew at the LHS know her well and take care of her when she comes in. She will push out me out into the garage when I start getting the 1000 yard stare from work or stress.

I know she is pretty bummed about this engine as she tried hard to surprise me. I also know she tried to do her homework. Funds have been tight for us and a new engine has been pretty far down the list. This is the first new engine I have gotten in almost 2 years.

I have all ready talked to the store and they said it would be no problem to return it for something else. Just go to figure out, what. But that is for another thread.

Sincerly,

S.W.B.C.