Not getting E1.31 output consistently

[Ellis]

I am having issues getting the e E1.31 output from the preview tab and occasionally the nutcracker effects tab. The test tab consistently works. For a short period last night all tabs were working, but then after editing the sequence and resaving, I lost all output. The test tab continued to work fine.

Had anyone else experienced this type of issue? Is there any debug logs that could help explain why the Ethernet is not getting out?

I'm running the latest xlights, 3.6.12 I think.
Setup is one 48 channel of Renard usb and 8 E1.31 universes.

Tonight I'll try complete uninstall and reinstall. When it works it is beautiful.

[Ellis]

Anyone? Tonight I can't get anything out to the lights except for the test page. I can't run a sequence on the preview, nutcracker, or on the playlist or scheduler. Everything looks good on the laptop screen, but nothing goes out.
 Any ideas?

[drlucas]

My thoughts (seldom helpful)

- There is a .13 version now
- Reboot PC
- Check network cables (not likely a problem if test tab works)
- make sure check output to lights is checked
- check your setup tab - maybe share that in a post here and people can review what you have (maybe even post your xml files)

[flyinverted]

Things to check:

Other software on your PC that is throttling the IP traffic.  Virus scanner, malware scanner. 
Is there a duplicate IP address on your network? 

No data is sent to the controllers unless OUTPUT TO LIGHTS is selected.

Last but not least and I've rarely seen it, but network cables, but highly unlikely.

[CaptainMurdoch]

Attach a screenshot of your E1.31 network setup as well as one of the models that you are putting effects on.  Is this computer only on a wired network or do you ever switch to wireless?

[Ellis]

Thanks for the suggestions. Tonight I did get a sequence to run and repeat for three hours showing "Merry Christmas.... More coming soon" on my matrix gift box. It didn't start on the first try, but once going, it succeeded.
I have the Ethernet going to Ron's 8 channel FPGA board with the Komby adapter and one USB to 485 to Renard plus TR16s. No other wired network, just straight to FPGA. The paths work good with V2.1 and xlights test page and other xlights functions occasionally.
I'll post pics and XML when I get back to the lappy.
I do use the WiFi on the lappy to research and move files, so maybe that's part of the issue. I'll pay attention to it's on/off state.

Thanks again and keep the ideas coming. I really need xlights to be a win for my setup.

[Ellis]

Tonight the programmed schedule started, but didn't drive any lights. When I got home I switched to the test tab and everything worked. I switched back to schedule, toggled output to lights and run schedule check boxes and it eventually started driving lights. I left the house and when I returned again no output. I closed xlights and restarted as admin, started schedule and again lights output stopped sometime later.
I'm running on a low level win7 celeron laptop. I have no other sw running, antivirus included. Wifi has been off all day. My guess is there is something weak about my laptop.
I'm going to throw together a FPP pi, real quick if I can and hope the export function works.
Is there anything debug or logging I can turn on? It is weird that the test page works so much more successfully.

[drlucas]

Does it have a screen saver, or some other power saving mode that might be shutting down disk, network ?

[Ellis]

I'll look into the power saving modes, but that wouldn't explain the issues I'm having getting the output to lights started. It might explain why it kept stopping tonight, though. Thanks.

[Ellis]

Today, I swapped computers from win7 lowly entry level laptop to an above average at the time vista laptop and everything is working thus far.  I have a Raspberry Pi Falcon Player in the wings. I'll update as I figure anything more out.

[drlucas]

Once you get the concept of the pi it's a good product. There are lots of changes these days with the fpp but if you take the set it and forget it approach you will have no issues with it. I don't ever leave things alone!.

Good to hear you made progress

[Ellis]

I am now running at least. It bothers me that I don't know why the other laptop doesn't work, but my older laptop is doing ok still.
I had one freeze this evening, luckily as I was backing out of my drive, music and lights stopped mid song.  I toggled the run schedule checkbox and it pick right up and completed the night. Thanks for the support and thanks Sean et al. for the software.