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MRC Sound Decoder not responding.

sjauch
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Posts: 5
 Joined: 2008-02-27
No votes yet

DCC HELL!! Ahh...

I'm about to smash this! I'm using a Digitrax Zephyr and have a Kato SD70 with a MRC Sound Decoder in it that was running fine until I tried to change the address of the loco. Using 03 it worked great. Now I tired to follow the steps to program it's 4 digit address on the main using OPS Mode and messed up. So the I read the MRC instructions to reset the decoder to factory this involves setting CV 125 to Value 1. I did this both on the main and program track and the engine will not run. I still get the basic engine sound coming out of the decoder but no horns, bell or lights and it doesn't respond to throttle input.

 Can someone please help, I'm about to lose it!


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Submitted by sjauch on Mon, 04/14/2008 - 23:11.

tedbtrains
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Posts: 317
 Joined: 2006-03-02
nScale.net Site Supporter
Well your first problem is

Well your first problem is that you are useing Digitrax...(LOL) only kidding. For some reason MRC decoders are a little hard to program a four digit address with Digitrax, Two numbers seam to be what works best for it. Call Frank at MRC he will help you out.

Ted


--

There is a fine line between "Hobby" and "Mental Illness"



Tue, 04/15/2008 - 08:42

duff
duff's picture
Posts: 80
 Joined: 2005-10-23
Can you program on the Main
Can you program on the Main with the Zepher ? If so do that. That is the only way I could program my Challengers and Big Boy. Just make sure that you remove all other locs from the layout. As I understand you can purchase a booster for the programming track app $50.00.  The sound decoders require more power to program. Hope this makes sense
--

Sometime your the hammer, Sometime your the nail

Troy



Tue, 04/15/2008 - 21:10

Cat
Cat's picture
Posts: 5
 Joined: 2007-10-10
MRC decoders

Hi

I had the same problem with the Zephyr and MRC decoders.

The best way to reset your decoder is to put it on the programming track punch in the adress that you started of with.

Then program CV29 to 6 and that should restore your decoder back to the original factory settings.

Remember this will only work on the programming track,it work for me every time.

We have a lot of static in winter and that is when my sound decoders lost theier settings.

I eventually sold my Zephyr and got  the MRC Prodigy and must admit,I havent had a problem from then on with my sound decoders.

Hope it works.

Cat



Wed, 04/16/2008 - 00:40

woodone
woodone's picture
Posts: 104
 Joined: 2007-05-17
Need boster

For some reason I recall that MRC decoders using a Digitrax system need a boost in voltage.

Bad thing about MRC sound decoders is you can't read any of the CV's. You have to program on blind fath, the numbers that you put into the CV's.  You can't read them, most of the time you will read a 255 default code.



Thu, 04/17/2008 - 22:45

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