Which company has better decoders.

Model Railroader Electronics and DCC
1

Which is better NCE or MRC. Watching a few on ebay. MRC sound only decoder and a 4 pack of NCE decoders with 5 functions

Mike

2

NCE.

3

Any decoder is better than MRC decoders.

David B

4

No contest with that comparison. NCE is hands down better.

5

NCE hands down! MRC decoders are [xx(]junk[xx(].

6

I’ve never owned an MRC decoder, but there have been a lot of negative comments here about them. MRC generally replaces them free of charge, but you’ve still got to pack them up and send them back, and then you’re without that engine until you get another one.

Since this is an eBay item, I wouldn’t touch it.

7

Well, you’re not comapring apples to apples here. MRC sound-only means it just makes the sounds, it does not drive the motor. The NCE decoders are motor decoders that will run the loco motor.

I’m still in the “stay away from MRC” camp.

If the NCE decoders are the D13SRJ model, look at Empire Northern’s web site. Tim sells the D13SRJ for less than most of those ebay auctiosn ever closes for. He has singles, 4 packs, adn 10 packs. The 10 pack is $119.95 - $12 a decoder! And it’s a very good general purpose decoder - it doesn;t have an 8 pin plug so you have to sodler wires to connect it, but they have excellent running characteristics and have proven quite reliable - I used them in everything where there wasn’t a special fit decoder made for the loco. And more and more I am leaning towards using the just plain everywhere, it’s not really THAT hard to solder in a decoder so why pay $20+ for one that’s the shape of an Atlas light board when for a few minute’s extra work I can put in the $12 one?

–Randy

8

Thanks everyone. Generally I was looking at both mrc and nce motor decoders. I saw the mrc sound only decoder for 33 dollars and was inticed. There is a 4 pack on there for 60 something. I will check out the above website. Thank you

Mike