Author Topic: BC-204/BC-216 Controllers  (Read 1328 times)

Offline drakernet2

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BC-204/BC-216 Controllers
« on: December 10, 2020, 04:48:56 AM »
Hello xLights enthusiasts,

Has anyone been able to get xLights to work with BC-204 or BC-216 controllers (https://www.superlightingled.com/dc524v-ethernetspidmx-pixel-light-controller-bc204-support-madrix-software-p-1884.html)

I can get the BC-204 controller to correctly drive a string of Rextin WS2811 LEDs in test mode. But when I drive them from xLights, no pixels illuminate. If I probe the data line with an oscilloscope, I see active data that goes away when I click "Lights Off" (or "Stop Now!"), so xLights seems to have some control over the BC-204. My BC-204 uses the Artnet protocol.

My next step is to analyze the data for proper WS2811 protocol, but I am hoping a forum reader has already gotten this to work. Thank you.
« Last Edit: December 10, 2020, 04:52:55 AM by drakernet2 »

Offline drakernet2

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Re: BC-204/BC-216 Controllers
« Reply #1 on: December 14, 2020, 04:21:39 PM »
I now have xLights working with my BC-204 controller. I just installed xLights version 2020.55 but I'm not sure if that solved the issue. I believe it was the "Start Universe" count -- I had that set to "1" rather than "0". I was able to get some good visibility into my problem with DMX-Workshop as well as a Saleae logic analyzer.

The xLights "Port" setting is also confusing -- not sure if the convention is to start from 0 or 1.

I'm very happy to have this working, xLights seems like a fantastic piece of software.

BTW, according to DMX-Workshop, my controller is manufactured by GuangZhou MCSWE Technologies.

Offline Gilrock

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Re: BC-204/BC-216 Controllers
« Reply #2 on: December 15, 2020, 05:44:40 AM »
Universes start at 1, ports start at 1, start channels start at 1.  Hardly anything visible to the user would start at 0.

Offline keithsw1111

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Re: BC-204/BC-216 Controllers
« Reply #3 on: December 15, 2020, 11:18:26 PM »
Except artnet where I believe it can.