MRC N Scale Sound Decoders

I ordered the MRC drop-in sound decoder for a Kato E8, only one although I do have a B unit. I'm hoping it won't have the start-up rigamarole of the LokSound decoders so I can speed match the two units. Am I correct or should I order another sound decoder for the B unit? Both units presently have Digitrax decoders.

Thanx,
Ben

 

I probally would, as the motor sound does ramp up before the loco moves, just like on a real one, so matching could cause some difficulty.
on the bright side, you can mute the bell and horn on the b, and having two prime mover sounds that are not in sync really adds to the realism, and spreads the sound out over the length of the consist.

 

Thanks. I saw your post on the A-forum and rushed into ordering one. I will try matching the speeds first but be prepared to order another. The MRC decoder in the Athearn Challenger does not have the prolonged start-up lag of the LokSound but I still had second thoughts.

Ben

 

I would order MRC decoders for both units.

Stay cool and run steam......

 

I had seen the new MRC sound decoders on their web site but did not know they were available yet. Where can I order one?

 

Tony's Train Exchange. But their order aknowledgement indicated it would be shipped "when released."

River_Eagle already has his so it appears they have been released.

Ben

 

I may end up having to do this. I want to hear the sound before spending another $70.

Ben

 

the decoders arrived from the dist. on thursday, and did install on sat.
only received two of the six ordered, so must be in short supply.

 

BLW has them now for under $60.

Ben

 

I just bought one from dcctrain.com for the atlas GP38/40/ Dash-8s. The price was 59.99. Does anyone know which sound it matches better the EMD or the GE?

 

Sorry, bit late with this

I had an Athearn Genesis HO with an MRC decoder and one thing (of several) that I didn't like about it was that the engine did NOT behave like this. The notches related only to actual speed, not target speed.

The P2k/QSI and SoundTraxx units I have do behave as you say, provided there is some inertia set, the more the better for a heavy start . IIRC the MRC had an option (by a CV setting) to notch the engine manually with one of the function buttons instead of letting it be speed/volts controlled, but I couldn't be doing that all the time.

Of course the N Scale ones may be different.

 

clip of HO/MRC EMD modern large in SD50 loco in action, sorry pic quality is so low, but the sound comes thru fairly well

 

I received two MRC sound decoders designed for the Kato P42. Note that it isn't as easy as just dropping it in, because of the size some plastic needs to be removed and the frame has be covered with electrical tape in 4 places.

One of them started going nuts (running on it's own, ringing the bell like a drunk) after around 10 minutes. I found that the large chip (probably the microprocessor) was quite hot at that point. Doing some comparative voltage measurements between the two decoders I found out that the defective one had way too much voltage in a couple of places. I tracked it down to a defective zener diode, either that or they used the wrong part when they built it.

Scrounging around in my parts bin I found a 1N4734 would provide pretty close to the same voltage (5.5 volts) as the working decoder so I removed the defective zener and put it in. A bit on the large size but considering it would cost me at least $30 for them to fix it I'd rather make use of a $0.50 diode.

 

I installed a MRC "plug and play" decoder and an MRC decoder for the Atlas GP38/40 Dash 8 etc series.

The Atlas MRC decoder sound is for a normally aspirated engine so maybe a GP38. It is the most difficult decoder I have installed. You have to mill out the frame where the gas tank goes to fit the speaker. If you use a Dremmel and the right bit it is really not that hard. Aside of the initial disappointment that the sound did not match my Dash 8 the decoder has surprising sound for N scale. The Atlas engine noise can drown out the decoder speaker, but all and all I like it.

The P42 decoder is much easier to install but the term "plug and play" is misleading. It should say plug, file, and play. The decoder requires some minor filing of plastic so the decoder sits properly. The sound is again impressive for N scale however for all of you particular guys the sound is not a P42. It is I believe an EMD SD45.

I would recommend these decoders for those who want to add a new dimension to N scale, but for those of you who will be driven crazy by incorrect sound don't buy.

 

Here is a tutorial for the MRC Sound decoder in a Kato E-8 loco. It isn't plugNplay which is quite misleading.

http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/blogs/viewblog.php?entry=587


Stay cool and run steam.....

 

I didn't realize that the alterations to the plastic frame were necessary until I actually received my decoder. It appears with these changes you can't go back to non-sound plugNplay easily. Mine are running fine with Digitrax decoders so I think I will leave them.

Ben

 

If you don't want to listen to the sound after installing the MRC sound decoder you can easily turn it off.

Then again you can avoid installing it and keep the PNP decoder that's in the loco presently.

I'm sure the 14 alterations necessary to the frame surprised many who purchased the decoder, thinking it was an easy drop-in.

Stay cool and run steam.......

 

How do you like the decoder other than the sound? The installation of Digitrax decoders in Kato E8's and PA's was very easy and I've been pleased with their operation and programming ease. I had some problems getting decoders for F3's and F7's to work at all, but after Digitrax replaced several bad ones and I honed my installing skills they work very nicely also.

Ben

 

The decoder works as well as the Digitrax decoder in the E-8's. The sound is good even though it's not the exact sound.

I still have one set of Southern E-8's with Digitrax decoders and am waiting for another set of MRC sound decoders for a ATSF pair of E-8's that I have. I was going to install Digitrax decoders in the ATSF E-8's but now changed that to the MRC sound decoder.

I categorize the MRC #1645 sound decoder as an "almost PNP decoder".


Stay cool and run steam.....

 

I think I will just stick with the Digitrax in the E8's for the time being. "A bird in the hand" thing, you know. Lack of sound in a diesel isn't a bother. Sound in steam adds much more. Besides PCM might just have the Santa Fe E8's in my lifetime, optimist that I am.

Ben