Support and Downloads for the SPROG family of DCC devices

All required software to install and run your SPROG device are provided on our web site in the online install pages.
You do not need to download or search the web for any software or drivers to use your SPROG.
Should you not be able to use the online install you can order distribution media on a USB Flash stick.
If you wish to seek newer versions or upgrades, this download page has all the options available.

Latest SPROG Software Upgrade

If you are already running your SPROG, we suggest that you only install JMRI DecoderPro to upgrade;
you do not need to re-install the USB drivers, so skip those sections.

We strongly recommend you to use the latest production version of DecoderPro;
currently this is v5.6 released in December 2023. You can download this version from our online install pages.
Also, click on the icon to the right to go to the JMRI web site and see full details about the current production version,
and any upcoming development versions, which might support newer features, decoders, etc.

SPROG II & IIv3 & IIv4 User Guide

SPROG IIv4 User Guide (PDF 2.56Mbytes), 43 pages.
This guide includes installing the SPROG II and required software, and guidance on getting started to use the SPROG and the JMRI software.

SPROG 3 User Guide

SPROG3 User Guide (PDF 256kbytes), 7 pages.
This guide is a supplement to the SPROG IIv4 User Guide (above) and should be read in conjunction with that Guide for full details.
The SPROG 3, SPROG IIv3 and SPROG IIv4 use similar USB support, and drivers, and so this Guide is relevant to all those models.

SPROG Nano User Guide

SPROG Nano DCC Booster Interface User Guide (PDF 971kbytes), 39 pages.
This guide includes installing and connecting the SPROG Nano to your computer, and to SBOOST Boosters, and contains important information about setup, and booster connections.

Pi-SPROG One User Guide

See the Pi-SPROG One User Guide (PDF 588kbytes), 11 pages.
This guide includes installing and connecting the Pi-SPROG One to your Raspberry Pi 3 or 4 computer, and contains important information about setup, and Pi configuration. This Guide applies only to the initial Pi-SPROG model, named Pi-SPROG One. See below for later Pi-SPROG versions.

Pi-SPROG 3 User Guide

See the Pi-SPROG 3 User Guide (PDF 1274kbytes), 37 pages.
This guide includes installing and connecting the Pi-SPROG 3 to your Raspberry Pi 3 or 4 computer, and contains important information about setup, and Pi configuration. This Guide applies only to the upgraded Pi-SPROG model, from Pi-SPROG One and now named Pi-SPROG 3. See below for later Pi-SPROG versions.

Pi-SPROG 3v2 User Guide

See the Sprog3Plus User Guide (PDF 1275kbytes), 51 pages.
This guide includes installing and connecting the new Pi-SPROG 3 v2 board to your Raspberry Pi 4 computer, and contains important information about setup, and Pi configuration.
Pi-SPROG 3v2 is the first of the new "Generation 5" series of SPROG products and shares many features with the Pi-SPROG 3 Plus (see below) and SPROG 3 Plus (future product).

For more details about the Raspberry Pi SPROG models see the Pi-SPROG pages.

Pi-SPROG 3Plus User Guide

See the Sprog3Plus User Guide (PDF 1275kbytes), 51 pages.
This guide includes installing and connecting the new Pi-SPROG 3 Plus dual-output board to your Raspberry Pi 4 computer, and contains important information about setup, and Pi configuration.

For more details about the Raspberry Pi SPROG models see the Pi-SPROG pages.

SBOOST II DCC Booster User Guide

SPROG DCC Booster User Guide (PDF 378kbytes), 14 pages.
This guide includes installing and connecting the SBOOST Booster, and contains very important information about power connections.

Decoder Pro User Guide

JMRI DecoderPro3 Manual (PDF 3.9Mbytes), 163 pages
The most recent guides in PDF form date from 2014 (yes, getting to be quite old now and essentially obsolete, but maintaining pdf Guides has not been a priority for the JMRI volunteers!) included more depth on all the features of Decoder Pro, PanelPro and the JMRI software. However many changes have been made since 2014, so see below for the up to date latest available online or in your computer while running the JMRI tools!

Decoder Pro Online Help

All the latest information is available while you are running DecoderPro or PanelPro. Click on the Help menu at any time.
Also see those same Help pages online here.

Firmware Programming Files

Due to recurring problems encountered by people attempting to upgrade their SPROG firmware themselves,
the user download of firmware updates is arranged only upon request.
If your SPROG is doing all that you need without issues, upgrading is not needed, but if you have problems, or need support for some of the latest sound decoders,
or if you use SPROG as a Command Station to run your layout, the newest versions may have some improvements for you.
Contact us directly to arrange an upgrade.

Why should I consider upgrading?
Recent sound decoders place some different demands upon programmer behavior, and the SPROG firmware has been upgraded to support these needs.
If you are having problems programming sound decoders, then an upgrade may be the solution.

see the version list below for the latest firmware in each hardware model. Within a series, upgrades (e.g. from 2.3 to 2.7) may be available, but upgrades across series (e.g. from 2.x to 3.x) are not possible.

How do I know what firmware version my SPROG has?
In DecoderPro or DecoderPro3, select the SPROG menu, and then Console;
You should see the firmware version reported in the command monitor, e.g., "SPROG II Ver 2.7".
If you are using an older version of DecoderPro than 4.0, please upgrade (see above).

New SPROG IIv4's shipping from February 2017 onwards are "series 4" and the firmware version is currently v4.4 or 4.5.
SPROG IIv3's shipped from 2012-2016 are "series 3" and the firmware version is v3.1.
The current series 2 (SPROG II) firmware is version 2.7 (unchanged since July 2010), or 1.8 if your SPROG II is "series 1" and has 1.x version numbers.
The current SPROG 3 firmware is version 4.0 or newer; older series exist with 2.x, and 3.x versions as appropriate to the internal devices used in the hardware.

Please contact us with any version questions.

SPROG USB Drivers

The latest specific SPROG USB Drivers are available for download here.
These are the same drivers that are included on the optional SPROG DCC Flash Drive.
Updated drivers will appear here when necessary.

Earlier SPROG II

For SPROG II series 1 or 2 (using FTDI VCP Drivers):
download Windows2000, XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 drivers. Follow the detailed instructions.
on MacOS 10.4 and later, use FTDIUSBSerialDriver_v2_2_18.dmg;
For MacOS 10.11, "signed" drivers are now required. If you have a SPROG II (not SPROG IIv3, SPROG 3 and Nano) and have trouble with the Mac drivers, download the latest generic driver here.

Current SPROG IIv3 and IIv4, SPROG3 and SPROG Nano versions

On MacOS X, no special drivers are needed, even though the later MacOS versions (El Capitan, Sierra and later) are requiring "signed" drivers, as the supplied standard drivers are satisfactory.

For SPROG IIv3 and IIv4, SPROG3 and SPROG Nano on Windows (all versions including 8 or 8.1, but see SPROG3 on W8.1 instructions) and also see Windows 10 below.:
Download the appropriate zip file: sprogIIu.zip for SPROG IIv3, sprog3.zip, or S-nano.zip.
Save the file(s) to your local disk and unpack them.
Please follow the installation online at the online install pages or read the installation guide in the SPROG IIv3 User Guide

Latest versions of Windows

Newest Windows 10 and Windows 11 no longer need custom drivers, and a SPROG 3, Nano, SPROG IIv3 or IIv4 will work with the generic USB Serial driver that is automatically installed.
The entry seen will not say SPROG, as a consequence. To be sure which port the SPROG is connected on, look in Device Manager to observe the COM port assigned and labeled "USB Serial Device (COMn)"as the SPROG is plugged in.

If the driver is not recognized, as shown by a yellow triangle, right click, select "Update Driver" and point to the driver when offered. See the standard installation instructions for full steps.
For SPROG II earlier versions using the FTDI driver, follow the full detailed instructions to disable driver signature enforcement

For any issues or questions with installing drivers, which can be a complicating factor, please contact sprog@bbmgroup.com, and we will work with you to resolve the issues.