DMX Skipping Channels / Not Outputting?

[Chris90]

Hello all!

The Setup:
Hardware: Enttec Open DMX USB Dongle, One 4-Channel DMX Dimmer.
Software: Windows 7 64 bit, xLights 2017.32 64bit
Tab 1 "Setup" - OpenDMX, COM4, 250000, 512 Channels, Lights 1 to 512, Active, 1, Yes
Tab 2 "Layout" - Channel Block, Channels 1-4, Controller Connection, DMX:1,

I'm a first time xLights user but well versed in the DMX and professional lighting world so I fully expect this is something I'm overlooking.

I set everything up as below and press "output to lights." Then I drag the DMX Effect to channel 1 in sequencer mode and it doesn't appear to actually output a DMX value, however the dimmer does show that it is receiving DMX. I have adjusted the value in the effects setting window and nothing. I tried using the xLights test feature and it appears the program has assigned random channels to each actual output channel. Most recently, xLights channel 2 was outputting on DMX channel 1, xLights 4 on DMX 2, xLights 6 on DMX 3 and so on. This is incredibly inconvenient but I figured I'd give it a shot so I placed a DMX Effect on xLights channel 2 (what seems to be DMX 1) in the sequencer and... nothing. I sometimes get a little bit of flashing but I'm not sure what would cause that.

I say "most recently" above as it will change assignments, seemingly at random. I tried what I believe to be the same setup on my Laptop and it worked for about thirty minutes. I set the laptop down to go get dinner and when I came back I had the same problem. Tried uninstalling and reinstalling software with no luck.

In summary it seems I'm having two problems: 1.) Channel assignments not matching up, and/or 2.) DMX outputs not actually outputting anything. Any suggestions??

[keithsw1111]

Some screenshots of setup and model configuration would help.

[Chris90]

I don't have my dongle currently connected so the "output to lights" button isn't illuminated but this is the general idea. Let me know if there's anything else specifically you'd like to see.

[keithsw1111]

I think you are thinking controller connection influences the channel. It doesn't. That has to do with hanging dmx off a pixel controller.

To change the dmx channel you need to change the start channel.

[Chris90]

Dimmer is set to start at channel 1. Looking at the screenshots, we are talking about this controller being set to start on channel 1, correct?

[Chris90]

Optimally, this (attached) is what I need. I don't need fancy features, maybe the very occasional RGB, but simply the ability to manipulate DMX values on a timeline. What is the easiest way to accomplish this?

[Chris90]

Sorry for the multiple replies... but this seems to be another issue (or possible the same issue) along the same lines that I just can't make work.

Taking a look at the three screenshots below, it would make sense that when channel block 1 has a DMX value of 255 the DMX output should be 255, right? When I open the test window, blocks 1,2,3 & 4 all correspond correctly. However, when I try to place them on the timeline, nothing works correctly.

[keithsw1111]

I would create 1 channel block with your 16 dmx channels. Set start channel to 1. Then use the ac toolbar and drop white on effects/ramps on the channels.

[Gilrock]

Chris there is nothing wrong with the what I see in those last 3 screenshots.  That DMX effect will put out a 255 out that channel the way you have it.  To see just double-click the row header twice to get to the node level and you will see the data.  You must have something else setup wrong in the channel mapping, the output to lights or the controller setup.

[Chris90]

Well... still don't know what was wrong but switching to the beta fixed it! Thank you both for your help!