No but ask your question

No but ask your question and maybe I can help.

Yes

I do

From the manufacturer's description

Great Product

What makes it better?

What makes the Sprog 2 (or Sprog 3, for that matter) better than some of the other, less expensive DCC/Computer interfaces out there.  I am thinking specifically of the PR3.

One of my big peeves with these things is that they'll all work to program a decoder, but you need a proprietary one to load sounds on a programmable sound decoder.  So you'll need interfaces from Digitrax, Soundtraxx, ESU, and probably others if you want to use custom sound files.  Since each sound decoder has it's advantages, I don't want to be limited to one brand, but I also don't want to limit myself to programming only one.  Why can't one programmer do the job for all?

Thanks, EastRail

Thank you for sharing your experience.  There are times that I would like to do some loco programming away from my railroad so that's why I'm looking at a product like this.

Amen, Ken!

You said: "Why can't one programmer do the job for all?"  I couldn't agree with you more!

Command Station

The Sprog II if hooked to a booster could also allow your computer to be a command station. This will need a software program and a booster that accepts Track signals. I am no expert, but this is a possible use of the system.

Regards

John

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Ninety percent of the politicians give the other ten percent a bad reputation.  Henry A. Kissinger 

Sprog II as a command station

As it is, the Sprog II can act as a mini command station to run a small layout without a booster (maximum current draw of 1.25 amps I believe). Sprog also has a 2.5 amp booster available.

It is meant to be used with JMRI and it's computer throttles. Which means if your set up with wifi you can also use iPhones and iPads or Android devices as throttles.

Sprog 2 vs. PR3

So, the advantage of the Sprog 2 over the PR3 is that it has a built-in booster, correct?  That's an interesting thing, because it means the cost of getting into DCC for a small layout is around $120 - $100 for a Sprog 2 and $20 for a decoder.  Not bad!

SPROG II - What makes it better?

Hi Ken,

Simple answer - it works! I originally bought a Digitrax PR3 and an HP NetBook computer to use as a portable stand-alone programmer for my module club when we set up at train shows. I tried unsuccessfully for a couple of months to get the PR3 software to work with the netbook. I even enlisted the help of an IT guy at a local High School, and he was only able to to get the software to partially work. The hardware would work fine on my Mac desktop using JMRI DecoderPro (both of which were unsupported by Digitrax, but this was hardly a portable setup! Digitrax support was of no help at all, since it involved using a computer, although they did offer to replace the PR3 with a new one. I took them up on that offer, even though I knew there was nothing wrong with the hardware, since it worked fine with my desktop and DecoderPro. By now I was very unhappy to have spent about $400 out of the model railroad budget for a system that refused to work as advertised. I had thought about keeping the PR3 and using the Netbook and DecoderPro with it, rather than the Digitrax Soundloader program, but by that time I was so PO'd at Digitrax' lack of support and their lame software, that I bought the SPROG II when the distributor promised me full phone support and a refund if it didn't work with my netbook. Fortunately, it worked the first time with no problems at all, so I ended up not needing any of the promised support. Also, with the SPROG II, I can switch to Virtual Throttle mode, and test run any loco I've programmed on the program track, without needing to go to the layout, which is a very handy feature. The manufacturer now has announced a SPROG 3, which has a higher amp output and is better suited for running a small layout. For more details, see: < http://www.sprog.us.com/

Unfortunately, all sound decoders require proprietary programmers to manipulate the sound files, but the SPROG II can still program the basic things like addresses, functions and CV's.

Bill in FtL