I just purchased a new Athearn Challenger with the Soundtraxx decoder. I put it on my program track to see how it runs and sounds. Forward it ran super and sounded great, but the problem is it won't run in reverse. I did a couple of resets but that didn't help. Could it be that the program track does not have enough power? (using PowerCab) But it seems it shouldn't run forward either if that were the case. I hope it is something I have overlooked (as with my NW2). Any help will be most appreciated. Thanks, John
On your programming track...hooked up to a programming circuit? It shouldn't run hardly at all, no matter which direction. However, if you can't run it in reverse out on the 15 volt main, you do have problems.
The Power Cab is one unit. In program mode, it is a program track controller. The loco cannot be run in that mode. Leave the program track option, you can then run the loco. Only one pair of wires to the track from the controller. The output is around 13.6 VAC. I have measured the voltage in the run mode. I have had no issues programming any decoders with my Power Cab. Any chance you can try the loco with a DC power pack? The Tsunami is dual mode if the DC option has not been changed. Is there any lights, sound in the reverse direction? Any loco movement at all? Rich
I tried running the loco on DC and it ran fine in both directions. I put it on my layout (15V power supply and Smart Booster SB3a) and it didn't run in reverse but OK in forward. Bad decoder? John
This tells me much of the decoder is working properly. The micropreocessor that controls all the functions and motor does most of the work. The motor is getting PWM for both directions, the same pulses that would occur under DCC control. A decoder does not send stright DC to the motor under DC power pack operation. A meter will show DC voltage but what really is happening is there are twelve volt pulses which get wider for more speed. Did you remove the power from the track and connect back up after doing a reset? I seem to recall having to do that. What happens when you program the loco with a different number? Usually the loco takes a couple short jerks when the decoder accepts the programming. Rich
Had a chance to try the loco again today. I put it on the main and did the reset again -no change. I changed the address and no change. When I select reverse there is a gear like sound and on the main the rear light comes on, but no reverse movement. I guess I should call Athearn support and discuss it with them. John
I got lots of help from them last week, you can talk to David if he is working Friday. I still have the number in my phone, it's 1-310-763-7140 or 877-422-9316.. Good Luck, Dan J.
I talked with David at Athearn this morning and he was very helpful. We tried a couple of things but no change, so he told me to send the loco in. It's now on its way. Thanks for the advice, John
I emailed Athearn and my Challenger is in the que to be looked at by their part-time repair tech. Anyone have any experience with turn around times? Thanks, John
Athearn phoned today. They have the Challenger on their track and it runs fine in reverse on DCC! If it still doesn't run in reverse on my layout then it must be my NCE PowerCab. John
John, what version of EPROM has your PowerCab got? The latest is v1.65 - you may want to upgrade if you're still on v1.1 or v1.28
Did you try using both 28 and 128 speed steps and do you know if the Athearn tech tried both? If you used one mode and they used the other, it could still be a problem with the decoder.
Received my Challenger back from Athearn (minus the manual - emailed and asked them to send it back to me). I ran it on both the main and program tracks and it still won't run in reverse. The rear light comes on and it makes a clunking sound, but that's it. Athearn ran it on a MRC system and it ran fine in both directions. My LHS has Digitrax and if it runs OK on it, then it is probably my NCE PowerCab that is the culprit. Steve, I have version 1.28. I have emailed NCE about upgrading. Do you have to send the cab in to NCE? Thanks, John
I'll ask again, have you tried both 28 and 128 speed steps and do you know if Athearn tried both? If they ran it on one and you tried it on the other, then it still could very likely be the decoder.
No you don't John, it's a very easy DIY upgrade. I'm still waiting to hear from NCE after a month - their UK agent I previously dealt with closed down in Feb. Fortunately I found another UK source who had it in stock about a week later.
Hi Robert, Yes, I tried both 28 and 128 with no difference. I haven't had a chance to phone Athearn support to see if they tried both. There was a note on the packing slip that they tried all functions and everything worked. John
