xlights setup question for e131

[JRF]

Hi
I am beginning to explore my next years, first ever light show. At this time I have an xlights "setup" question I need confirmation on please.
My hardware set up will contain:

1 - alphapix16 control board ( 16 outputs )

16 - RGB pixel light strips (each strip has 50 pixels, which is 150 "channels" per strip )

One strip connected to each output on the board (150 channels used PER OUTPUT; a total of 2400 channels used; 150 x 16 ports = 2400 )

Question 1: Am I correct in thinking that what I will be using above, is 16 universes?

Question 2: So on the xlights setup tab, under E131, I would input "16" in the "# of universes" line?

Question 3: In that same xlights setup e131 section, since I am only using 150 "channels" per output, would I really input "510" beside the "last channel" line, as seen in the tutorial video? OR, would I input "150" since I'm not using all available 510 channels per output?

thanks !!

Jeff

[Gilrock]

You could use 16 universes but I'd probably just pack it into 5.

[JRF]

I had thought about that, conecting 2 strips together, for 2 strips on one output. But what about the other question, #3 above? Do you enter the actual last channel used, or is it always "510" ?
thanks

[Gilrock]

You can still have one strip per output if that is more convenient for the wiring connections.  That's how I do my ribbon tree.  The last channel used can be smaller if you want.  There are almost no restrictions.  I don't think you can build a tree that we can't represent.  Have you bought the hardware already?  If not just get in on a group buy for a F16v2 Falcon board and then you just make the all the universes 512 and tell it to start at channel 1 and your done.

[babybear]

Each universe has 510 to 512 channels depending on controller. A universe may expand over a number of outputs on a controller or vise versa. The real question is how many channels can each output do.  Try and use as few outputs as possible for a tree that way you have more room for other future lights. My first set up I did a 15 strand tree with 1 for the star using all 16 outputs.   now I did 8 for the first tree 2 for the second tree and  2 for the 4 arches and then one on each star.  It left me with 2 open outputs but I used every channel the controller could do. My small tree is 25 tall but the strand 200 long Just folded to make 4 passes. Set that up in xlights model not on the controller.  (3) In xlights setup it would be what your controller does  510 or 512

[JRF]

Ok babybear, so even if, for instance, I only use 150 channels on each port, I would still type in "510" in the setup box in xlights...

I was thinking that whatever number you type in tells the xlight software where to send the info, to a specific individual light (Channel, 1 - 150 starting at output 1)  and then roll over to the next actual used channel ( # 151 on port 2 of my control board), and so on....

But from what I understand from you and Gil, the software is smart enough to know if I am not actually using all 510 channels per output...

Correct?


thanks!

[JRF]

Hey perhaps what Im thinking about, in my post directly above, is done in the controller board setup, and not in xlights...
xlights setting is "510"
controller board settings are what Im actually using..

[Gilrock]

Actually what happens is if you define the universe as 510 then all 510 channels are transmitted.  Its the controller that does the filtering.  You tell the controller to only use the first 150 channels so it throws away the bytes for the other 360 channels.

[JRF]

Yeah, the light finally came on in my head; the controller is set up for actual lights used...
thanks for the help, Im sure Ill have more questions later!