output to the controller
Printed From: Aurora
Category: The Vault
Forum Name: I'm New From Spectrum And I Need Help!
Forum Discription: General usage questions from former Spectrum users
URL: http://www.aurorashow.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=337
Printed Date: 09 May 2024 at 4:34pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.06 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: output to the controller
Posted By: bcwinery
Subject: output to the controller
Date Posted: 21 Sep 2008 at 5:15pm
| I am having trouble outputting my sequence to my controller. I imported a sequence that I had made with Spectrum. I created a serial network configuration that matched my controller ID and COM Port. I then made sure that the tracks were numbered properly and the correct controller ID was selected and the correct network was selected. When I click on the "Send to Lights" button, the LED on my controller stops blinking. (It is connected) But when I push the play button, during the loading the LED starts blinking again, then the music starts, but no lights come on. Besides just downloading the software and installing it, is there something else that I need to do? Or did I miss something in the initial setup? |
Replies:
Posted By: LightChristmas
Date Posted: 21 Sep 2008 at 8:04pm
|
http://www.lightsonlogan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=299&PN=3 - http://www.lightsonlogan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=299&PN=3
11. Click the SETTINGS tab. Click SERIAL NETWORK CONFIGURATION. The Network should be 1 and the COM Port should be what you had written down as the COM port used with the HWU. If not, change it by clicking DELETE NETWORK, then clicking ADD NEW NETWORK. 12. Your sequence. Click a channel to display the properties of that channel. NETWORK SEGMENT should be set at 1 for all channels present in the sequence, and the same for the DEVICE ID since you stated you only have one controller(should be set to whatever ID you assigned the controller via the HWU). If not, change it. ------------- http://www.aurorashow.com/"> 
|
Posted By: bcwinery
Date Posted: 22 Sep 2008 at 5:41am
| Yeah, all of that is set. I reset my computer, and now the light stays solid, but nothing gets output to the controller. I started a brand new sequence, and the same problem |
Posted By: LightChristmas
Date Posted: 22 Sep 2008 at 6:37am
|
Just has a "DUH!!" moment (really need that head slapping smiley)! Did you click the "light bulb" icon prior to playback? ------------- http://www.aurorashow.com/">
|
Posted By: bcwinery
Date Posted: 22 Sep 2008 at 6:41am
| Yeah, the red LED on the controller goes solid, so there is a connection, but no lights. |
Posted By: peteandvanessa
Date Posted: 22 Sep 2008 at 9:06am
| Can you share the sequence with us so we can take a look at it. Seem to me there is something wrong with the sequence or how the comms is set up. |
Posted By: bcwinery
Date Posted: 22 Sep 2008 at 9:08am
|
how do you share the sequence? I wont be able to get it until later tonight....I am at work now.
|
Posted By: LightChristmas
Date Posted: 22 Sep 2008 at 9:17am
|
You can upload it here (pre-registration required). http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Aurorafileswappers/ ------------- http://www.aurorashow.com/">
|
Posted By: bcwinery
Date Posted: 22 Sep 2008 at 6:32pm
| Ok, so my computer may be a little messed up. Hardware utility recognized that I was plugged into COM PORT 4. So that is what I made my setting, however, I changed USB ports on my computer, and Hardware Utility still recognized it as COM PORT 4. Different USB, same COM PORT. I dont know......Now it works. But I ran into another problem. Everything outputs just fine, except when I want to do a ramp shimmer, or a ramp twinkle. Regular ramp and regular twinkle work, but as soon as I mess with the Start and End levels, nothing goes on. If I make both the Start and End levels the same....it works just fine. |
Posted By: Jonathan
Date Posted: 22 Sep 2008 at 6:41pm
|
Plugging the USB cord into any port should result in the same COM # because it's the RS485 adapter (or LOR equivalent) that is doing the work. Think of it like plugging a lamp into any power outlet. The lamp will work the same way no matter which outlet you choose. If you browse through some of the other forums, you'll find that the ramp issue is a known bug. We've been told it will be corrected with the next release, which should be pretty soon. ------------- ~Jonathan |
Posted By: tonyjmartin
Date Posted: 22 Sep 2008 at 7:59pm
Nice analogy. Now this whole COM port concept makes sense. My next question, though. Is there a difference between the USB ports on a the back of the case (on the motherboard?) vs. the ones on the front of the case vs. using a hub? Can slow/fast USB come into play here? The reason I ask is that I have some other USB gear that specifically states in the documentation NOT to use a USB hub. Have I just been lucky, or could this be a problem waiting to happen in D-Light/Aurora land? ------------- Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson |
Posted By: peteandvanessa
Date Posted: 22 Sep 2008 at 8:03pm
| I believe there is problem with long ramps in the S/W (I have seen an issue with long random shimmers that don't get output to the lights but work on the simulation) |
Posted By: JonB256
Date Posted: 22 Sep 2008 at 10:13pm
|
You may have a USB port like one of mine. Some things work when plugged in, some don't. If I plug in my Sansa music/video player, it isn't seen and won't charge. But, on the same computer, if I plug it into a USB port on the back (direct motherboard connection) it works perfectly. I haven't spent the time to investigate, but the port that doesn't work is an auxiliary set that connects by wires to the computer case. Probably a bad wire causing reduced or no voltage. ------------- JonB - D-Light user |
Posted By: Pony_God
Date Posted: 23 Sep 2008 at 8:01am
|
There are powered and non-powered hubs, you are most ilkely using a non powered hub, that does not have the extra voltage to pass down the line.
In generall, there are two USB chips, that drive the plungs on the back of the case (directly attached to the MB. Gennerally the ones that are on the from are considered to be a powered hub.
The main reason that manufactures don't want thier suff in hubs is because they don't want to explain powered vs. non powered vs. high speed vs. junk and then take the support calls on bad setups. They know that if thier stuff is in the back, they have the best connection.
Same plug in different ports with the same COM is how it's _supposed_ to work. Since we're in the MS world, and Windows likes to help when we don't want it's help, sometimes Windows does like to assisgn a new com port for the same hardware when it's just in a different slot.
I have a mouse that I have to plug into a specific port or it will try to reinstall the drives as though it's a new mouse, give it new ID, and reset all of the button programming. Put it back in the original port and Windows loads all of the stuff that was there before. ------------- Fine. You're so smart you rig up the lights. http://www.frappr.com/dlight - D-Light users Unite! 
|
Posted By: ChrisL1976
Date Posted: 23 Sep 2008 at 8:02am
USB hub works fine with the RS485. In Fact, on the computer I run my shows on, its the only way I can get the finicky little b@stard to recognize the RS485 is if I plug it into a external USB hub I have hooked to the computer. ------------- Chris www.lightsonsixth.com |
Posted By: tonyjmartin
Date Posted: 23 Sep 2008 at 9:22am
That explains the seemingly hit-or-miss success I've had with my webcam, digital camera, camcorder, MP3/4 player, and D-Light USB-485. Sometimes they seem to connect immediately. Sometimes I see them installing. And sometimes I need to switch USB slots. Now I know that it's just the "Windoze Way of Things." I miss everything about Macs but the expense and lack of cheap third party products.  Thanks, guys! I knew there was a reason that we let the geeks hang out here.  ------------- Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson |
Posted By: LightChristmas
Date Posted: 23 Sep 2008 at 10:10am
|
Its really hit or miss on some USB ports. Not so much Microsloth as it is hardware developers that want to save that extra .02 cents by not adding that extra regulator. Largely depends if there is sufficient current on the +5V line - which is why USB hubs (the ones that use wall warts) tend to have a better success rate.
------------- http://www.aurorashow.com/">
|