Convert to DMX or not?

[rickswa]

Hi All,
I know this is a question that has been brought up before but I haven't found the thread that contains my specific situation and question.  If anyone could help, I would really appreciate it.

I am beginning the migration from LOR over to xlights and also will be adding a falcon f16v3 to add some new pixel arches over my driveway this year.  My current setup is this:

LOR "exclusive" system as far as software, etc
15 LOR controllers and 2 ccr strips made into spiral trees
of those 15 controllers, 191 channels are in use

I had an issue with lag before and changed the network speed, but also as a safeguard, I split the display up into 3 networks with each having its own LOR dongle.

My plan this year to integrate it with the falcon controller and xlights was to keep the dongles and LOR setup as is and add the Network line and switch to the falcon controller.  My only concern is that I have read this type of setup can actually cause lag and it would be better to convert the LOR over to DMX as long as I'm doing a complete conversion anyhow. 

Any thoughts on keeping the setup as I had thought or going to DMX?  Also, if I do switch to DMX, how would I handle the DMX switch AND the switch for the f16 controller?  I probably should add that I plan on slowing converting more LED strings to pixels over the next few years so that may affect the decision or recommendations on what to do. 

Thanks for any thoughts or recommendations.

[rmorgan62]

My experience is that yes you should convert to DMX.  I was only running 1 LOR controller last year in combination with several AlphaPix controllers and I never could get the latency on the LOR controller to go away until I switched over to DMX mode.  I started with a E1.31 bridge but soon scrapped it and ran the LOR controller from one of the RS-485 ports on my AlphaPix 16.  I had instant success and no timing issues!
Here is a video I did, showing the issue before and the end result.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EF6gAiEsik
Just my 2 cents!

[Gilrock]

Its as simple as connecting a cable from a serial output on the F16v3, making sure the jumper is set for LOR on that output, and plug it into the LOR box.  Then you just configure it as E1.31 data in xLights and setup the F16v3 to route the correct universe to that serial output.  Just hook it up to one LOR box in the house to test it out.

[rickswa]

Thanks for the quick replies guys!  sounds like DMX it is.  Now I just have to figure out this whole LOR>Xlights conversion process which still has my head aching right now.  As far as custom making the models so they show the right mapping and actually converting the files over so that it works correctly. I wish there was a "service" available where someone converts them for me for $$. haha.  but I'll keep reading and watching and hopefully get it figured out.

Also Do you think running the DMX thru the f16 and running all the LOR boxes as one universe will cause any lag or data "overload" issues?  Will this be too much data to run with just one network from the f16?

Thanks again for the replies, I REALLY appreciate it.

[Gilrock]

You won't be able to overload the F16v3.  Its just 512 channels per output when using those serial outputs.  Its really no strain on the board at all.  I've used all 512 channels for my LOR stuff using a F16v2.

[rickswa]

cool.  THANK YOU again for the info.  Can I ask one more extremely noob question?  I have no repeating unit numbers for all 3 LOR networks.  BUT the way I have it setup now has all the ctb16 units on "channel 1" and the CCRs on "channel 2" in the sequence editor.  Would this mean I have 2 universes that I need to use for import to xlights?  If I count the CCR's as 150 "channels" each and then my other units, I'll still be under 512 so it seems I could put them all in one universe and then just have the new arches I plan on in a different universe all with multicast.  Does this seem right?  The thing that threw me off was one video on conversion used an example of 50 LOR universes but then made a new universe of 51 and moved that to the top and then put all his LOR imported channels under 51.  I was just confused as to how anyone would have 50 universes and why you would then make the extra one for import and leave the rest alone.  My understanding would be all of my channels are in one universe but the units re-addressed using the DMX protocol (including the CCRs). 

Thanks again for helping me get my head around this.  Seems the more I read and watch the more questions I end up having.