LOR Pixie Controllers

[feeleyfam]

So I am new to xLights and have been pounding my head to figure out the configuration for my Pixie controllers to work properly with xLights. I currently have an Alphapix 16 which is working as it should. I then have a Pixie 8 5v which controls a tree. After scrounging the internet and various forums, I have gotten this to work correctly for the most part. Next in line I have another Pixie 8 5v that runs a couple mini trees and my tree topper. And finally I have a pixie 16 which I have moved the majority of the props I had on it to the Alphapix to at least get something running. This will also be replaced very soon by a Falcon F16V3 I have on order. So I do need to get this up and running as well.

My second Pixie 8 is where my problem starts. My First two ports are 50 pixels each and I just got those working properly. It's everything after that, that doesn't even come on. I have tested everything in LOR and things work perfect. I am using the 485 dongle as well. I have actually just gone into Setup and added each port on this Pixie individually. This is actually how the first two ports started working properly.

I have researched setting up DMX on these controllers and have not been able to find anything useful. So if there is anyone out there that can provide a little guidance, I would greatly appreciate it. I can provide any other information on my configuration as necessary.

Thanks,
Jim

[Gilrock]

Doesn't sound like you used the right output type when you say you added them individually.  A Pixie only works right if you choose the Add LOR option and select the Pixie8 controller type as shown in this screenshot.

[Gilrock]

And remember only one output in Setup is allowed to use each COM port.

[feeleyfam]

Thanks for the response Gil. That is how I have added my LOR. What I mean when I say I added them I visually is I broke down the second Pixie 8 after setting the LOR Universe up, in my case Universe 25. I set my mega tree up on my first Pixie 8 as Unit ID 4. For my second Pixie 8 instead of using a single Unit ID I broke it out as LOR sees it when I would test it in their software. Unit ID 10 is Port 1, Unit ID 11 is Port 2 and so on for the 8 ports. This is how I got the first two ports which my first mini tree is on, to work. Hopefully this is a little clearer.

An update to this: I actually got all my ports working on this second Pixie  and hoping maybe you can explain how. After searching through the forum more I found a thread concerning an LOR CCR that you helped someone out with. You had them setup the LOR addressing as Split instead of Normal. I tried this and the lights started working. Not sure why this would work but hoping you do. I also did notice that I have some Pixel counts messed up as my last mini tree was actually displaying part of my first item of my Pixie 16. I am going to try the same setup for my Pixie 16 this evening in hopes that it will work. When I get a chance, I will post a screenshot of my addressing just in case it’s still not clear.

[Gilrock]

If you select the name Pixie8 the code automatically assigns 8 unit IDs in succession and hopefully you noticed in the dialog that when you switch to a Pixie the channels field changes to say (per output) so you don't enter the total number in the controller like you would with the other controller options.  If you were able to enter individual lines for every unit id there is no reason it wouldn't work with one line you had something set wrong but you didn't show any photos or provide any files for me to know why.

[feeleyfam]

When I get home this evening I will get some screen shots. I originally set it up by choosing Pixie 8 but it wasn’t working and that’s why I tried the individually setting up the controller. I’m going to try Pixie 8 again and also the Pixie 16. I appreciate the help.

[feeleyfam]

Gil, Attached are a couple screenshots of my setup and channel configs. I went back and set everything back up with selecting the Pixie 8 and Pixie 16. My Mega Tree still works along with only a coupe of my second Pixie 8 props. I do have some sort of config issue as my props on my second Pixie are displaying wrong. Please let me know if there is anything else you might need.

[Gilrock]

I kinda wanted to see the actual controller definitions for the LOR Optimised output so I could see your addressing modes and unit id settings etc.  To be honest you have over 7,000 channels configured and that might be pushing it past our limit.  Its not a defined limit because the LOR protocol bandwidth varies based on how many different colors and effect changes happen per frame.  Since I was only reverse engineering the protocol I'm sure I don't have every available feature so running in LOR will always be better than xLights for the Pixies once you get a lot of channels.  I would try running the one that doesn't seem to work by itself and see if it does any better.  If so that probably means we are lagging.  By the way the original method we had for controlling LOR could only run like 96 channels before it couldn't keep up so I've gotten it way better but the best option is to move everything to E1.31 controllers where the bandwidth remains constant.

[feeleyfam]

Thanks Gil. I tried just the one controller and still have issues, so I have a mapping or config problem with it. It’s weird because I can get all outputs working not necessarily the correct display, by individualizing them in the Add LOR tab but any other way I can’t get anything to work. I’m going to keep trying some things to at least tie me over till my Falcon comes in. Are there any limitations that you know of in xLights if I run the LOR through the Falcon?

[Gilrock]

Nope.  I run a couple LOR boxes using Falcon DMX outputs and it works perfect.