Newbie help with setting correct channels for model

[tractormike21]

Hello everyone,

I am working on a new model and I am new to xlights and the falcon V3 controller.  My background is in using DIY Pixlenet equipment.

I am using universe 1 for my DMX equipment.
I am starting pixels on Universe 2
I have a Merry Christmas sign that is setup to use the first address in universe 2 which in my DMX knowledge equates to address 513.
I have read the manual and looked at the video and I must be missing something.
The M in my sign has 12 pixels in it.
it is connected to a F4 differential receiver card on port 1 which should equate to port 17 of the Falcon controller.
I have tried both types of addressing and so far I am having no luck.
Hardware test works.
Xlights test works, but only by when I check address range 4096 in test mode.
I cannot make the sequencer light the lights.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Tractormike

[cybi257]

I'm fairly new to Xlights (couple years) and it's a never ending learning lesson.

First off, I would recommend starting your pixels at Universe 1, since 1-4 are on the first port. Just to make it easy. Use the latter channels/universes for DMX (Assuming your using the Falcon DMX outputs).

Also, setup your E1.31 in the Falcon and Xlights as 510 channels, not 512. Pixels use 3 channels per bulb (3 pixels, red/green/blue, which 512 will not divide equally by 3, while 510 will. DMX is standard with 512, while E1.31 is 510 and not sure if I stated that properly, but should make sense if you've used DMX. 

But, I can see right off that you have your "M" starting at Universe 2, which theoretically is not wrong, but then you have the E,R,R,Y set completely wrong with the wrong channel. With the latest of XLights, you can easily follow down the line by selecting "Start after model"... And select from a dropdown. This is best practice in my opinion so you can make adjustments on the first model, and the others will follow, when needed.

"E" starting at 525 and ending at 2123 will basically mean that you are using 533 pixels, or 1599 channels, which is definitely wrong, plus, it is overlapping with the other letters, including "M".

I could explain all I can, but probably not make sense to you with a bunch of words.

Here is a couple videos I recommend to assist:

Keith Wesley - Configuring Falcon controllers from XLights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bfax5RK3FWI

Leechburg Lights - Universe and Start channel upgrade in Xlights 4 (older version, but still relevant to 2017)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMGAD1GjNi0

Hope this helps.

-Tim

[MrChristmas2000]

Where you start your pixel universe does not matter. I set my DMX universe to 1 as well.

My pixels start at universe 2, you have 64K+ of universes so at this point most shows will not run out of universes unless it at the commercial level.

Here is an example of how to use the Boscoyo coro letters. I use two words in my show, NOEL and JOY. I have them daisy chained together so they all will exist in the same universe.

The first letter 'N' is addressed (in Universe/Start channel notation) as #262:1, ie universe 262 start channel 1. It's the same notation you would use in either xLights or the Falcon configuration. I gave mine a model name of 'Boscoyo 14 Letter N'.

This would cover all the letters in the word NOEL in the Falcon. However in xLights you will have a model for each letter and they will have to have an individual model name and address for each so the next letter in the chain is 'O' and I named it 'Boscoyo 12 Letter O' and in xLights would be addressed as '>Boscoyo 14 Letter N:1' or the equivalent notation of #262:151 i.e. universe 262 start channel 151. This same process is repeated for each additional letter (model). etc etc

This addressing is accomplished in xLights by clicking on the 'start channel' line and clicking on the '...' box at the end of the line.

The universe/start channel method in xLights will calculate the behind the scene absolute address for you automatically. If you ever want to add to or change models it makes those changes much easier in the future, whereas if you use absolute addressing YOU have to manage all the addressing and even with a spreadsheet it can become a headache to do modifications. Trust me been there done that hand have the war wounds over it.

Hope this helps.

[tractormike21]

First,

let me thank everyone that sent help messages.  That helped me get my Merry Model setup with what looks like proper channel counts!  I also like the new numbering scheme, but it is going to take awhile to get used to the method.  I am so used to the discrete numbering:)

Now I have the model setup and I used the test sequence button to see how I did.  This was thank to the video links sent.

I am not getting two errors that I would like a little explaining for.  The file is attached.

I am still not getting output from universe 2 to the falcon port 17, but I am getting much closer thanks to your help.

Mike.

[keithsw1111]

The first error is serious. The second isn't. Basically it is saying you have defined universe 2 twice on the same controller. That will never work.

[tractormike21]

thanks to the helps so far I am making progress!

I have gone thru and redone my addressing for my model and have gotten rid of any errors on the check sequence test.

I am still having problems getting my model to actually test out from xlights.  It will test, but from the wrong universe.  it shows up on universe 9 during testing.

I have added screen shots from xlights and falcon controller.
I have been using xlights to setup my falcon and i like it:)

Any help will be appreciated.

Tractormike.

[keithsw1111]

You need to upgrade. The version of XLights is so old it is hard to know if you are tripping over an old bug or not.

On top of that the layout screen looks wrong. That may be a bug from back then or it may be you didn't grab all the screens at the same time and made changes between them.