Model Railroading > Athearn MP15 w/DCC Question

Bought it a year or less ago ran fine , after 3 months the sound quit, oh well I thought, DCC kept working so I put the sound flaw on a "when I get a chance list",, this weekend I took it off the track for a day, then put it back on  and entered the number and the sound returned on start up, working great ever since,  was this a known (historical problem) or first of a kind in the DCC world ?, TIA

Ed Stewart
Jacksonville, FL

How old is this unit?  Early MP15s used MRC decoders for sound.  MRC is about as flaky of a sound decoder as you could get.  They only work about half the time, and spend the other half thinking up ways to make you go insane.  Athearn has since switched to the much more robust, reliable, and better sounding SoundTraxx Tsunamis. 

Can you go into programming mode and read the contents of CV 8? 

If it's =143 - you got an MRC and should resign yourself to a miserable experience with this decoder. 
If it's =141 - you have a Tsunami.  No sound could be a fluke, or you may have just accidentally muted it (by pressing F8), and that's why there was no sound

Good luck!

I have one that I replace with a Tsunami and the thing still cuts in and out seems to be a power contact problem...

Posted from iPhone

notabob Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> How old is this unit?  Early MP15s used MRC
> decoders for sound.  MRC is about as flaky of a
> sound decoder as you could get.  They only work
> about half the time, and spend the other half
> thinking up ways to make you go insane.  Athearn
> has since switched to the much more robust,
> reliable, and better sounding SoundTraxx
> Tsunamis. 
>
> Can you go into programming mode and read the
> contents of CV 8? 
>
> If it's =143 - you got an MRC and should resign
> yourself to a miserable experience with this
> decoder. 
> If it's =141 - you have a Tsunami.  No sound
> could be a fluke, or you may have just
> accidentally muted it (by pressing F8), and that's
> why there was no sound
>
> Good luck!
Thanks notabob, it will be later tonight when I get to it, Ed

Ed Stewart
Jacksonville, FL

calsubd Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> notabob Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > How old is this unit?  Early MP15s used MRC
> > decoders for sound.  MRC is about as flaky of
> a
> > sound decoder as you could get.  They only
> work
> > about half the time, and spend the other half
> > thinking up ways to make you go insane. 
> Athearn
> > has since switched to the much more robust,
> > reliable, and better sounding SoundTraxx
> > Tsunamis. 
> >
> > Can you go into programming mode and read the
> > contents of CV 8? 
> >
> > If it's =143 - you got an MRC and should resign
> > yourself to a miserable experience with this
> > decoder. 
> > If it's =141 - you have a Tsunami.  No sound
> > could be a fluke, or you may have just
> > accidentally muted it (by pressing F8), and
> that's
> > why there was no sound
> >
> > Good luck!
> Thanks notabob, it will be later tonight when I
> get to it, Ed
                             It's a 141. I must have hit F8    Rule 2, Pay attention !, Thanks again 

Ed Stewart
Jacksonville, FL

Mine never worked at all. It sits on a track never to run again. I think. It was a waste in money with the MRC decoder. But it looks cool.

Posted from iPhone

Soundtraxx and Digitrax are both making sound decoders in the sub $80 price range. Take the MRC decoder out and replace it with a quality decoder. Put the MRC on the auction site.

No need not to use the MP15 model on the layout.

Posted from iPhone

I purchased this model immediately after its release. The sound packed in within weeks, and Athearn repaired it. Now, it remains off the layout due to its erratic performance and sound. Maybe a new decoader will solve it after reading this thread. Chris uk.

55002 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I purchased this model immediately after its
> release. The sound packed in within weeks, and
> Athearn repaired it. Now, it remains off the
> layout due to its erratic performance and sound.
> Maybe a new decoader will solve it after reading
> this thread. Chris uk.
I would go the new decoder route, , It's to nice of a engine to sit on the shelf (i know I've been there) , Good luck, let me know !

Ed Stewart
Jacksonville, FL

This is one of the best looking plastic swithcher models I have ever seen, but every single one I purchased has power/pick up problems and issues on flawless track, even after the MRC decoder was scrapped and engine produces with new decoder.
Oh well, Might try the next run if Athearn fixes the power/electrical pick up issues.