Setting Up AC Controllers

[martsycart]

I've attempted to find some info on this via the YouTube Channel and XLights website, and have had no luck. The one video link I did find (below) is broken. Can anyone direct me to any helpful information regarding this? I have a regular old CTB16 LOR controller to control my old school string lights.

http://videos.xlights.org/sequencing-ac-channels-in-xlights_8a5d3fb0c.html

[scuba]

XLights handles LOR strings very nicely. 
Go to the Setup tab. 

Click the ADD LOR button on the left. 

The easy way to setup the port is to plug your USB LOR dongle into a vacant USB port. 
Id= 1; 
Port is a pulldown and select the /dev/cu.usbserial....... ;
Baud rate 57600;
description: ANYTHING YOU WANT!

Then hit the add button:
Type: AC controller
# Channels: 16
Addr Mode: Normal
Description: what ever you like
OK
OK
All good

[scuba]

BTW: If you need additional info on how to connect your lights to the controller go to the LOR site.

Additional information can be found on the forums.  BTW: use a test sequence to check your setup with the controller.

[martsycart]

I got the controller added in the setup, my problem is in the Layout tab. When I add a model, what settings do I need to configure for it to be assigned to the AC controller?


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[scuba]

send a screen shot of your setup page.  I don't do anything special within the layout page.

I want to see if your setup in similar to mine.

I've included a screen shot of one my single color model in layout. Note: port 0 and 'Blank' protocol.  This worked on past versions of lights (2018 show)

[martsycart]

Ok, I think I figured out my issue. I had the start channel set incorrectly. How do you set the channel for the AC lights? My LOR controller starts on #33 in the setup tab. Say I have string lights on channel 4, what should I enter into the start channel field, 33:4?

[scuba]

Thats a good question.  I put my LOR controller as the first controller, not the last.  My guess is that you must find the last channel the last E1.31 controller that is used in a model.  Then start the LOR channel number +1 after that. I also think 33:4 may work; I've never done that before.... I think Gil was trying to expand the max number channels. But IDK.
I like to have my LOR first because I change my controllers and models from year to year.  BTW: is 3 the first line in the setup?  If so you can move the LOR controller to 1; without having to setup other controllers.

[martsycart]

I have literally just started with XLights. I used LOR last year to control a single AC controller, and that's it. I've added in pixel lights this year and am annoyed at how the programming works for them in LOR. I've moved my AC controller to be #1 so it mirrors your setup. So now when I enter in my start channel field, how should it be formatted?

Also, 3 wasn't the first line, I had to scroll down in the screen shot.

[scuba]

Please see the screenshot.  This is how I've been doing it for years!  I'm currently moving away from the LOR controllers and single colored lights.

I've had up to 48 channels of single color lights and used  LOR controllers to control them.  Lights is SOOOO much better that the LOR software!

[martsycart]

Ok, I think I finally got my figured out. Do you think it’s worth that effort for me to convert all of my LOR sequences over into Xlights, or do you think it would be best to just build sequences from scratch in Xlights? Don’t forget, all of my sequences are for dumb channels.


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[scuba]

Its a factor of time...Years ago when I tried to convert to Xlights I had to use a Alpha program to support the conversion.  Today you have a several tools to help you convert.

I love XLights.... I think you will have a better show with it.

10 years ago, when I first started to program my controllers, it took about 20 hours per minute of music.  Now I can whip out a great display sequence in about 20 minutes!