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Loksound Programmer vs. SPROG /JMRI
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Offline tommyheadleycox  
#1 Posted : 01 November 2010 19:04:01(UTC)
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tommyheadleycox


Joined: 29/01/2006(UTC)
Posts: 171
Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
I'm getting ready to order either a Sprog programmer or an ESU Loksound Programmer. If any of you've had experience w/ both, I'd love to hear your comments. Here's my situation:

I like Marklin 1 gauge and HO.
I'll probably be buying ESU Loksound decoders only.
I have an Intellibox basic.
I like the idea of being able to customize the sounds at any time after installation. (Plus for ESU)
But above all, I want Ease of programming, and support. (Having some difficulty right now, setting all the CV's for a Lenz Gold Maxi manually. Never could get the speed quite right.)
If I'm understanding everything correctly, the $50-60 extra for the Loksound Programmer is worth it.
Do others agree?
Thx.
Tommy
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Offline Lollo  
#2 Posted : 02 November 2010 10:10:30(UTC)
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Lollo

New Zealand   
Joined: 22/06/2009(UTC)
Posts: 365
Hi Tommy,
I have mainly ESU Loksound Ver 3.5 or lokpilot Ver 3.0. decoders.
Recently purchased ESU lok programmer, and has been a well worth the purchase.
Easy to use, lots of features. The only thing I have not tried or mastered yet is altering or creating new customised sound projects, but is something I want to master some time soon.
I have changed complete sound projects downloaded from ESU. Very simple process.
Any loksound 3.5 or lokpilot 3.0 decoders you buy even now have old firmware. So I upgrade all my decoders straight away.
The other benefit is that it is a lot easier to select the correct parameters for the motor type etc.
Have fixed a few unusual faults by reloading sound project after everything else failed.
Highly recommend it, plus very handy helping members of my club repair or upgrade their decoders.

As far as I am aware, you can only programme ESU decoders with ESU Lok programmer. Have no knowledge of Sprog.
Just had a look at the Sprog web site. Looks like it only supports NMRA DCC standards.
Could see no indication that it supports Marklin Motorola.
I would be very cautious about purchasing the Sprog.
If you intend to stick with ESU decoders, purchase the ESU lok programmer.
You won't regret it.


Good price here.
http://www.litchfieldsta...1&cat=165&page=1

Lokprogrammer manual here.
http://www.esu.eu/en/dow...n-manuals/lokprogrammer/

Cheers,
Brian.
Brian
Yaasan's Desktop Station/Railuino & Marklin MS2, DB Era III/IV Diesel & Steam, ESU Loksound/Lokpilot & Lokprogrammer, Marklin mSD, Tam Valley Depot Octopus III Servo Controller.
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Offline pa-pauls  
#3 Posted : 02 November 2010 10:44:37(UTC)
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pa-pauls


Joined: 08/06/2002(UTC)
Posts: 1,843
Location: Norway
I agree with Brian (Lollo) I would get the ESU LokProgrammer ThumpUp
Pål Paulsen
Märklin Spur 1 Digital, epoche 3
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Offline tommyheadleycox  
#4 Posted : 02 November 2010 22:53:59(UTC)
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tommyheadleycox


Joined: 29/01/2006(UTC)
Posts: 171
Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Thanks, Brian, Thanks, Pal,

The Lok Programmer it is! Thanks for the explanation and the links. I must say that I'm looking forward to it. For some nostalgic reason, I want to add a station announcement for the volkschule district that I went to when I was eight years old. The ESU system allows that customizable function.

Regards,
Tommy

Lollo wrote:
Hi Tommy,
I have mainly ESU Loksound Ver 3.5 or lokpilot Ver 3.0. decoders.
Recently purchased ESU lok programmer, and has been a well worth the purchase.
Easy to use, lots of features. The only thing I have not tried or mastered yet is altering or creating new customised sound projects, but is something I want to master some time soon.
I have changed complete sound projects downloaded from ESU. Very simple process.
Any loksound 3.5 or lokpilot 3.0 decoders you buy even now have old firmware. So I upgrade all my decoders straight away.
The other benefit is that it is a lot easier to select the correct parameters for the motor type etc.
Have fixed a few unusual faults by reloading sound project after everything else failed.
Highly recommend it, plus very handy helping members of my club repair or upgrade their decoders.

As far as I am aware, you can only programme ESU decoders with ESU Lok programmer. Have no knowledge of Sprog.
Just had a look at the Sprog web site. Looks like it only supports NMRA DCC standards.
Could see no indication that it supports Marklin Motorola.
I would be very cautious about purchasing the Sprog.
If you intend to stick with ESU decoders, purchase the ESU lok programmer.
You won't regret it.


Good price here.
http://www.litchfieldsta...1&cat=165&page=1

Lokprogrammer manual here.
http://www.esu.eu/en/dow...n-manuals/lokprogrammer/

Cheers,
Brian.
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Offline Caralain  
#5 Posted : 02 November 2010 23:42:54(UTC)
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Caralain

United States   
Joined: 15/08/2010(UTC)
Posts: 301
Location: Bay Area, California
Hey Tommy:

I am sure you will enjoy the ESU Lokprogrammer. The learning curve takes usually some time but it is worth it. I just want to add to what was said before that the new lokpilot 4.0 can also be programmed with the lokprogrammer. There is no need to buy a new programmer. Go simply to the ESU website and download the version 2.7.7 for loksound 3.5 and lokpilot 3.0 and then, if you have the new lokpilot 4.0, download also the version 4.0. It will be installed in parallel to the other version on your computer. It will allow you to program the "old" version and the new as well with the same device.

Enjoy.

Pierre

Links: http://www.esu.eu/en/dow.../software/lokprogrammer/ (software download)
http://www.esu.eu/en/pro...s/lokpilot/lokpilot-v40/ (new Lokpilot 4.0 compatible to Maerklin)
http://www.esu.eu/en/downloads/sounds/ (sounds library)
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Offline river6109  
#6 Posted : 04 November 2010 11:05:26(UTC)
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river6109

Australia   
Joined: 22/01/2009(UTC)
Posts: 14,874
Location: On 1965 Märklin Boulevard just around from Roco Square
I have one (ESU lokprogrammer) and my experiences have been as above.
simple & easy to program.
some of my locos run in tandem and I need the same CV's for both locos, so I program one and than put the other loco onto the track and program this one as well. If they don't run the same speed I re-program one of the locos again.
But one thing can be for sure, the speed steps are the same for both locos.

Another benefit the lokprogrammer serves is, if you have Märklin locos with Márklin decoders, although you cannot program them but under the motorola system (speed steps) you can run your loco on your programming track and check all the functions.

John
https://www.youtube.com/river6109
https://www.youtube.com/6109river
5 years in Destruction mode
50 years in Repairing mode
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