Has anyone figured out how to program the Athearn HO Challenger? This thing has me at wits end. Can someone send me to a website which discussed this problem and offers specific instructions? Thanks for your help!
You may have a bad decoder, which is not uncommon with MRC products. If no one else jumps in here with some help, you might try contacting Athearn via e-mail. They do answer their e-mail, albeit a little slow at times.
All I can say is Good Luck! You will need it.
Been there, done that. They just acted like it wasn’t their problem and referred me to the MRC DCC web site.
I’ve had mine for two months now and it has moved about 3 feet. As soon as I started programming it, it got on some unknown channel. Now I can’t even seem to undo what I had done. There is no manual reset. I love thedetailed directions that state “Program it like any other NMRA DCC decoder”. As you can see a person who sort of specializes in DCC at my local hobby store runs screaming from the room when he sees one of these stupid things.
My full story is in this thread:
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=1&TOPIC_ID=56100
And like I have said many times. This was the final nail in the coffin for me and “Genesis” products. I will not purchase another one new (and support the vendor), maybe on the used market and they are really cheap.
Perhaps I can add some more useful information on this thing. First, this is one of the best running engines I have ever had. That said, I am still running it on the default address (3). We use a Digitrax Chief System and a Power Pax program booster. Using these components, it fails to read the address. I also can use JMRI, but I have failed with that as well. Recently, the engine seems to have picked up a CV change which initiated momentum for stopping. I run this engine on a sometimes crowded club layout and I need this engine to stop quickly at times or I may be hearing some expensive sounding thuds!!!
Would more power make it to the programming track if I increased the command station track voltage to G guage?
Has anyone tried adding a 10- ohm resistor to one of the programming track leads. This allows you to program Atlas Diesels on a Lenz system for example.
This has the same process by using BLI locomodels!It seems that Quantum sounds are saying,you must do something to make sure no problems?What kind of digitalsystem has anyone?I`m myself using Lenz SET100 V3.5 and must using a 10 ohm resistor to make sure that programming has become suceesful!
agge [8D]
I’m using an NCE system and had absolutely no problems programming my Challenger. Runs great, hate the whistle, so I don’t use it.
Well…, would you mind posting what you did so we can duplicate it? Did you program on the main or on a programming track? What programming mode did you use?
Well, we are still waiting.
I was able to get a couple of HO DCC Challengers by Lionel.
They run great and I have’nt had any problems with programing the CV’s.
I have a friend who also bought several Lionels and he would disagree. He is trying to figure out how to rip the electronics out of the Lionel and put into the Genesis and/or Trix. But I think we just went off-topic for this thread? We all, already own these stupid things that run great but have lousy electronics.
I have made some progress programming my Athearn Challenger by using JMRI Decoder Pro and programming on the main. After I logged the engine into the roster, I was able to change the address. Entering the comprehensive section I clicked on the CV tab and changed the deceleration CV. I have not been able to silence the engineer who says " All aboard ". More to follow, I hope.
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QUOTE: Originally posted by momac34
I’m using an NCE system and had absolutely no problems programming my Challenger.
Well…, would you mind posting what you did so we can duplicate it? Did you program on the main or on a programming track? What programming mode did you use?
Well, we are still waiting.
This post has been edited by Texas Zepher on Today, 14:22:41
--------------------Sorry, I just saw this thread again.
I used the programming track and followed the normal NCE programming procedures.
I just put the loco number in and adjusted starting voltage. The “All aboard” announcement only happens if you pu***he #6(I think) button. I don’t, that’s the easiest way to deal with the problem. I don’t use the whistle because it’s terrible, but as far as running characteristics, it’s great!
Thanks, so I can follow the directions for a normal NCE D13SR type decoder and It should work? I’ll give that a try, starting with a reset command, since mine is now on who-knows-what channel.
What is the reset command? I also have the Challenger on some unknown channel. I have a Chief Digitrax, but very novice at that.
I also have the MRC Adv. and like it very much, but it sure did not like this engine.
It will run even better with a Zimo drive and Soundtraxx sound.
to reset MRC Brillance decoders;
CV125 set to a value of 1 to reset factory defaults.
lowering the whistle volume helps alot, factory setting overdrives the sound.
Are you certain it is CV125. I tried this, it seemed to take it, but it didn’t reset.
yes, CV125 set to 1 restores all cv to default setting.
as listed on page 9 of the challenger manual CV chart
you might neet to set CV29 for the long Address,
some systems do it automaticly when programming a 4 digit address,
and some require manual setting of 29 for the long address to work.
Hi fellows,
i tried to investigate the problem with an oscilloscope: the 47 Ohm resistor is simply to large, the generated signal from the loco is to weak to be recognized.
i tried to change the address, it was stuck to 3 - even without answer from the decoder nothing happened.
then i experimented with lower values for the resistor:
finally i just plugged a 4,7 Ohm in (second try) - and i could change the addres, despite the readout is not correct at every try.
But no warranty for this try, even if 4,7 Ohm is better than 0 Ohm.
Hope this little helps
Michael
I tired to reset CV29 back to the factory default of 2. In fact, I went through the whole list of factory CVs and reset them all to what the book said was factory. It has gotten worse. Now the sounds don’t even go into “idle” when the unit is sitting on the track.
I give up with this Genisis Athearn piece of junk. I just purchased a new decoder for it. I hate having to tear into a brand new unit, I hate having to spend more money on an already expensive unit, I hate having to invest time into a supposedly RTR unit.
It is a shame that Athearn is ruining their formerly good name with stuff like this. I belive the founder would turn over in his grave if he saw what was happening with his company.