NCE/MRC decoder issues
- Thread starter Davejb
- Start date
ModelRailroadForums.com is a free Model Railroad Discussion Forum and photo gallery. We cover all scales and sizes of model railroads. Online since 2002, it's one of the oldest and largest model railroad forums on the web. Whether you're a master model railroader or just getting started, you'll find something of interest here.
Not really a useful reply. Why is it when ever a thread comes up about MRC decoders everyone feels the need to trash them, many people use them without problems, "MRC decoders are trash" doesn't add anything useful to the discussion.
Ok, well your information is a bit out of date, newer MRC decoders read back just fine on non MRC systems. I don't think I was being rude at all, but that's neither here nor there, MRC blamed NCE for the problem.
I figured that out already, I know the problem is the decoder, the point of this post was to see if anyone else using MRC decoders has had the same problem and had found a solution. Is that not the point of discussion forums such as this? Benefit from others experience? Not trying to be rude at all, but replying to a post and just saying "sorry that's crap" doesn't really help anyone. MRC has a bad rep when it comes to decoders, they probably earned it, but I think they're getting better, and as I said, for this particular set of loco's, I didn't have another choice or I would have went with it!
Of course, I'm just looking to see if a solution exists, a long shot at best probably, and I'd be more inclined to believe the problem is with the decoder, not NCE
Just makes it harder to try to speed match the two locos and get them consisted using only the program track, but it looks like that's the only solution.
It's the 1811, thanks for the reply, I'll track down that list, wouldn't surprise me if it's not there either.
It's actually CV125 to reset defaults, and it only resets 2 CV's, the short address and I forget which other one, it doesn't reset all of them, according to MRC support.
Must be a different version then. The owners manual that came with my Athearn MP-15 with MRC decoder says 126 is the factory reset. I have also programmed it with both Procab and Powercab, and found that the Powercab has enough oomph to program any sound decoder without a booster. None of your MRC decoders will program?
The stock MRC decoder in my Athearn Challenger programs just fine, just these 2 1811's that won't. I'm going to be purchasing a Kato Pennsy E8 before long, and again it seems the only drop in decoder is from MRC
so we'll see how that one does.
Agreed, but I would say that it would be next to impossible to be able to stick with a single mfg for both your DCC controller AND all of the required decoders.
Actually, more than 95% of it works together just fine if you read the manual. I have an NCE system, and use decoders by Soundtraxx, Digitraxx, Lenz, TCS, NCE, LokSound, and yes, even MRC. The only issues I have ever had are with some MRC sound decoders, and one Bachmann decoder, neither of which I would buy again. Bachmann isn't long on instruction sheets...the Peter Witt trolley I got that had DCC onboard had no decoder instructions at all. Turns out it would only program on the main, and had limited functions (2 I think). Early MRC's had readback issues, but newer ones are OK. You are pretty safe if you mix & match.
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website (Learn More Here)
Davejb
Member
yeah, MRC decoders are trash
Not really a useful reply. Why is it when ever a thread comes up about MRC decoders everyone feels the need to trash them, many people use them without problems, "MRC decoders are trash" doesn't add anything useful to the discussion.
diburning
AlcoHaulic
I've googled your problem and saw that you cross posted into other forums and bashed others for (what they thought were) useful replies.
Well, that comment is to answer "has anyone figured this out"
Read the manual again. The manual states that you can change the address on the main. It doesn't say you can change anything else while on the main.
If that is true, then the decoder probably doesn't see the programming done through JMRI as programming on the main, or the creators of JMRI may have created JMRI with that in mind to fix that issue.
Do you not have a programming track?
Well, that comment is to answer "has anyone figured this out"
Read the manual again. The manual states that you can change the address on the main. It doesn't say you can change anything else while on the main.
If that is true, then the decoder probably doesn't see the programming done through JMRI as programming on the main, or the creators of JMRI may have created JMRI with that in mind to fix that issue.
Do you not have a programming track?
Davejb
Member
The only other people that were "bashed" were those that replied with the same tired old "MRC sucks. I've found all of the forums I visit a great help, answers like that aren't in line with the normal quality of help I see being dolled out on a regular basis.
What the decoder manual actually states is "Supports Programming on the main (ops Mode), nowhere does it state it will only do the 4 digit address.
Yes i have a programming track, not really relevant to the question. I posted to many forums to try and find an answer, I can't be the first one with this issue.
What the decoder manual actually states is "Supports Programming on the main (ops Mode), nowhere does it state it will only do the 4 digit address.
Yes i have a programming track, not really relevant to the question. I posted to many forums to try and find an answer, I can't be the first one with this issue.
diburning
AlcoHaulic
The MRC decoders are made to be compatible with MRC's own systems. If you haven't noticed it already, MRC decoders do not read back CVs except on MRC systems.
The part of the manual I was reading only said that you can change the address while on the main. It did not say that you can change anything else. If that is true for the MRC system, then I suspect that it must be true with other systems as well.
JMRI was devleoped with the user in mind and I am sure they added something to allow more options while programming with it.
Help is help regardless of the quality. YOU are asking for help. We are not obligated to help you. We are helping you because we (actually, this is my opinion so if you do not like opinions, close this window now) like to help fellow modelers. Being rude to people who may be joking, or attemtping to give you help is not the best way to ask. (why should we help you if your response is going to be rude?)
Did you try contacting MRC directly? They know their stuff inside and out and can probably give you better "quality" of help than we can.
The part of the manual I was reading only said that you can change the address while on the main. It did not say that you can change anything else. If that is true for the MRC system, then I suspect that it must be true with other systems as well.
JMRI was devleoped with the user in mind and I am sure they added something to allow more options while programming with it.
Help is help regardless of the quality. YOU are asking for help. We are not obligated to help you. We are helping you because we (actually, this is my opinion so if you do not like opinions, close this window now) like to help fellow modelers. Being rude to people who may be joking, or attemtping to give you help is not the best way to ask. (why should we help you if your response is going to be rude?)
Did you try contacting MRC directly? They know their stuff inside and out and can probably give you better "quality" of help than we can.
Davejb
Member
Ok, well your information is a bit out of date, newer MRC decoders read back just fine on non MRC systems. I don't think I was being rude at all, but that's neither here nor there, MRC blamed NCE for the problem.
Davejb
Member
I figured that out already, I know the problem is the decoder, the point of this post was to see if anyone else using MRC decoders has had the same problem and had found a solution. Is that not the point of discussion forums such as this? Benefit from others experience? Not trying to be rude at all, but replying to a post and just saying "sorry that's crap" doesn't really help anyone. MRC has a bad rep when it comes to decoders, they probably earned it, but I think they're getting better, and as I said, for this particular set of loco's, I didn't have another choice or I would have went with it!
hamltnblue
Active Member
I've been here for a little while and have never heard of any problems with MRC decoders 
Signed Pinochio.
Signed Pinochio.
wright2626
Member
you have to keep in mind that all companies do not make or adjust there stuff to be versatile with another companies product. nce does not have to make itself compatible to mrc's stuff.
Davejb
Member
Of course, I'm just looking to see if a solution exists, a long shot at best probably, and I'd be more inclined to believe the problem is with the decoder, not NCE
Just makes it harder to try to speed match the two locos and get them consisted using only the program track, but it looks like that's the only solution.
kbkchooch
"retired" conductor
Exactly, Which model # MRC decoder are you having issues with? I'll bet dimes to donuts, that if you check the model number against the NMRA's list of decoders that did recieve a conformance warrant that yours is not one of them. MRC kinda did thier own thing for a while, but is starting to build decoders that might achieve the NMRA's blessing.
Maybe someday everyone will. (Do ya hear that Mike Wolfe??)
Maybe someday everyone will. (Do ya hear that Mike Wolfe??)
Davejb
Member
It's the 1811, thanks for the reply, I'll track down that list, wouldn't surprise me if it's not there either.
Davejb
Member
It's actually CV125 to reset defaults, and it only resets 2 CV's, the short address and I forget which other one, it doesn't reset all of them, according to MRC support.
Must be a different version then. The owners manual that came with my Athearn MP-15 with MRC decoder says 126 is the factory reset. I have also programmed it with both Procab and Powercab, and found that the Powercab has enough oomph to program any sound decoder without a booster. None of your MRC decoders will program?
Davejb
Member
The stock MRC decoder in my Athearn Challenger programs just fine, just these 2 1811's that won't. I'm going to be purchasing a Kato Pennsy E8 before long, and again it seems the only drop in decoder is from MRC
so we'll see how that one does.Steamfreak
CEO of the LCP
If there's something to be learned from this thread is that mixing different manufacturers' equipment is not a good idea....It's a bit like playing Russian Roulette....
I recently purchased a B'mann 2-8-4 with DCC onboard (B'mann decoder, made by Lenz...) and couldn't get it to run worth a hoot. I'm using a D'trax Zephyr. I swapped the decoder out for a DH163, and now it runs beatifully....
Some systems are better than others, but all will do the job IF you stick with that system's accessories....
I'll let someone else address the issue of forum etiquette....
I recently purchased a B'mann 2-8-4 with DCC onboard (B'mann decoder, made by Lenz...) and couldn't get it to run worth a hoot. I'm using a D'trax Zephyr. I swapped the decoder out for a DH163, and now it runs beatifully....
Some systems are better than others, but all will do the job IF you stick with that system's accessories....
I'll let someone else address the issue of forum etiquette....
Davejb
Member
Agreed, but I would say that it would be next to impossible to be able to stick with a single mfg for both your DCC controller AND all of the required decoders.
Actually, more than 95% of it works together just fine if you read the manual. I have an NCE system, and use decoders by Soundtraxx, Digitraxx, Lenz, TCS, NCE, LokSound, and yes, even MRC. The only issues I have ever had are with some MRC sound decoders, and one Bachmann decoder, neither of which I would buy again. Bachmann isn't long on instruction sheets...the Peter Witt trolley I got that had DCC onboard had no decoder instructions at all. Turns out it would only program on the main, and had limited functions (2 I think). Early MRC's had readback issues, but newer ones are OK. You are pretty safe if you mix & match.
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website (Learn More Here)