Sound Chip in Athearn Challenger?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

| Posted - 10/08/2006 : 13:02:15 Show ProfileEmail PosterVisit BRVRR's HomepageEdit TopicReply with Quote |
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2

They use MRC decoders that are total junk. The engine itself is great, but if it were me I would swap the decoder for a tsunami and you will be good to go.

3

I tend to be even minded about things until the preponderance of evidence becomes so substantial that do believe otherwise would seem foolish to me. With that in mind, I have read so many complaints about Athearn locomotives, in general, that have the El Cheapo MRC decoders in them that they must have bought for a few dollars apiece on a “great deal”. In the past four months or so, it seems every new Athearn owner seeths with their posted problems trying to get the engines to behave in any mode other than straight old DC. There must be some happy ones, but the problems get posted here.

I agree with the above advice. Tsunami it and you should enjoy an otherwise nice locomotive.

4

BRVRR,

Do a lookup under the not so obvious title of: Genesis Challenger wire harness

There you will find information on swapping out the awful MRC sound decoder.

Pharmd98233

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Thanks guys. I was afraid of that. I have a couple of MRC decoders in smaller locos and they seem to work okay. But for a Challenger or maybe a Bachmann 2-6-6-2 I’ll go with the Tsunami.

Thanks again.