always a good read

always a good read

Glad you liked it, Rob.

 Thanks for the kind words. 

DCS240 Woes

About two weeks ago I came home with a new DCS240. Set it up and plugged it in. The layout & unit performed flawlessly. I used JMRI to modify some locos on the programming track. I packed up my Zephyr, PR3 & PowerPak and listed them on Ebay. Two days later I went into the den, flipped on the DCS240 and... nothing!!?? No lights. No beeps. NADA!!? I turned off power, gave it some time and tried again. Nothing.

I listed the problem on the Digitrax Help Desk. A day later I spent about an hour on the phone with Digitrax trouble-shooting (on their dime). The outcome was total befuddlement and a request to ship the unit and power supply to Digitrax (on my dime, darn).

As this is a holiday weekend, I don't expect to hear from Digitrax till later in the week. Bad news. Good news? The Zephyr didn't sell so I can still play with my trains...

Good luck,

Harry

As I said ...

I was up against a time constraint and only had a day or so to check it out. Not a lot of time to see what the long term reliability is.

Good luck. Keep us informed.

Awesome/Thanks!

Bruce, I'm gonna give you both an Awesome and a Thanks!

I will have to look into this "Sprog" further...Robert

Sprog

Bruce does an excellent job of explaining things, thanks Bruce.

Long time SPROG user and seller

I have been using and selling SPROGs for years.

Best part is the warranty. It breaks, you get a replacement.

To see one in action, catch my clinic at the Dallas Fall SHow, October 1/2 at the Plano Center.

Thomas, DeSoto, TX

New SPROGS coming soon

The SPROG family is growing and will soon include one that attaches to a Raspberry PI which would be running JMRI. A real small and portable DCC system

http://www.sprog-dcc.co.uk/pisprog.shtml

Great info, guys.

Thanks for the kind words. I try hard to bring you good things.

Well said

I swear this little guy is the best kept secret in model railroading.  Thanks for doing such a good article.  Hopefully my buddies will pay attention to your article because they haven't seem to listen to me.

Joe

Great new insight, Awesome

Bruce, I'm an OLD modeler that resists change. I've been using my Digitrax system prior to the Locobuffer version 1. I love technology and my old layout, the Cornwall Railroad was used to test the first version of PanelPro . When sound decoders came along, Digitrax stayed behind and that made me look for a way to program them. I BETA tested the QSI programmer and purchased a Loksound programmer for my PCM Reading T1s when they came out. Recently, I purchased a Bachrus speedometer to help speed-match locomotives and it works great. The problem I have is I need to be close to my DCC system to use it. I've set up a small table in a corner where I can use this equipment but there is the laptop, different programmers, a power strip, a wifi router (for wi throttle) and the mouse and keyboard (I hate the laptop keyboard and touchpad). This all takes up space. It looks like I could use the SPROG at my workbench and clear up that corner . Now all I have to do is convince the lovely bride that I "need" another addition to my tool bin. Keep your fingers crossed.

Thanks Bruce!

I consider myself pretty savvy with DCC, but Bruce's articles always clarify and illuminate!  Thanks Bruce.

Big fan of Sprog since I sold

Big fan of Sprog since I sold it in my model shop (now retired

It introduced me to JMRI and that is now embedded in my total system.

I love it for programming decoders.

Remote SPROG?

Excellent article Bruce!

It really got me thinking as to how I want to dive into DCC soon. I will only be running 1 locomotive at a time most of the time on my 2x10 layout. Sound is really what I want to add and JMRI/smartphone operability. My question is whether anyone has operated a SPROG remotely? I have a desktop across the room from where my layout is and can't move it closer.  Is there a good way to connect the SPROG and desktop remotely without a wired USB connection?

Raspberry Pie for dessert

A RaspberryPi 3 with built-in WiFi running JMRI connected via USB to the Sprog and wireless to the desktop.  A $35 solution.

Dave

SPROG - programming companion

I have been conquered by SPROG immediately after a test at my club, when it read all CVs of a sound equipped loco like a charm and without any failure. So far, it has been defeated by absolutely no decoder I have tried.

This is the absolutely needed companion for programming your locos on the workbench. You can test run your engine on the same track switching from the programming tab of JMRI DecodePro and the throttle back and forth in just one click. SPROG has been designed to work with JMRI from a start and this is a really great piece of electronics in a matchbox size case.

I still own a Digitrax PR3 but it never goes out of the box, except for downloading sound.

So forget about programming boosters and all the no-read problems with your DCC controller, move to SPROG for programming.

Sprog

I bought a Sprog at the NTS in Portland last year and I might be the person responsible for their including the instructions for getting it  running on Windows 8 and 10. Let's just say that there were a few emails exchanged. 

But it is up and running and I am quite happy with it. It finally allowed medown test and program locos on the workbench where I assembled them. 

SPROG Clinic

Thomas. Any chance of getting a video of the clinic and posting it here? I'm in Australia. 

On another note, I have to chuckle every time I see the name SPROG.  In Australia, my generation used that word as a rude slang word. I won't tell you what it means, you'll have to google it. But that doesn't detract in any way from what looks like an excellent product.

Follow up on DCS240 woes

My DCS240 is on its way back to me and should be in my hands on Wednesday. I emailed asking what had gone wrong and was told the board had been removed, replaced and sent to the engineers. I imagine that's corporate speak for "you don't need to know" or "we have no idea."

Perhaps you have more influence with Digitrax and they might tell you more than they told me. In any case I will be happy to be running again.

Good news, Harry,

I hope.

I expect that it was an infant component failure (engineer's speak for "it broke early"). Probably nothing you did caused it.

Hopefully, the new board will go the distance. Glad you got a quick replacement.

It ain't right. It just ain't right!

OK, so my DCS240 broke less than a month into a one year "no worries" warranty. When I get the unit back my warranty is now just 90 days! It just ain't right. It just ain't fair...

Harry the curmudgeon...

SPROG 3 infio

excellent details which are simply and clearly covered.  Even a non- DCC expert can follow along. thanks

jake 

Glad you liked it, Jake.

Glad you liked it, Jake.

Ive been using a SPROG II for

Ive been using a SPROG II for about 5, 6 years now. I love it, and plan to add a III for small layout use. I use Engine Driver from my phone and tablet to operate trains.