Two control approaches for magnetorheological (MR) dampers on cables based on collocated control without state estimation are formulated, which generate amplitude and frequency independent cable damping: cycle energy control and controlled viscous damping (CVD). The force tracking is solved by the inverted Bingham model whose parameters are fitted as function of current and frequency. Cycle energy control and CVD are experimentally validated by hybrid simulations and free decay tests on stay cables of the Sutong Bridge, China, and the Eiland Bridge, the Netherlands. The implementation of CVD on the Russky Bridge, Russia, includes two novelties: the force tracking also takes the actual MR damper temperature into account to ensure precise force tracking for MR damper temperatures −40 to +60 °C and the decentralised real-time control units with pulse width current modulation are installed next to each MR damper to avoid long direct current (DC) power lines with associated losses and thereby minimise power consumption.