HinksPix Pro Smart Receiver support

[lenchuckd]

Hi there, Very excited about the new update to xlights to support HinksPix Smart Long Range Receivers.

My question is how do I set up my controllers within xlights.  I have played around with installing a new controller etc, but xlights looks the same as it did before and I can't find the option to install a smart long range receiver within the Controllers Tab.

Will xlights just automatically find them?

Thanks in advance.

Dave.

[keithsw1111]

You have to tell the model which smart remote they are on and likely need to check the Cascade down port option and limit the number of remotes to cascade down.

[lenchuckd]

Thanks,

That makes sense but how do I set up "smart receivers" in the controllers tab?  right now I just have one controller setup with all 25 of my universes as setup by xlights.  I can't find an option to setup multiple controllers. I tried adding a new controller but don't see an option for a smart long range receiver.

I see the dropdown for "smart remote" in the layout tab for my models, but without assigning multiple controllers in the Controllers tab, how am I to know which controller is "a" or "b" etc..?

Thanks,


Dave.

[keithsw1111]

Without more details I am not sure we aren?t talking at cross purposes.

But essentially smart remotes aren?t controllers. They are remotes to a controller. So you set up the controller and then define certain ports as remotes.

[lenchuckd]

Ok I think I am starting to get it....

I believe my only issue as I'm unsure which smart remote to label "A", "B" etc... within the layout tab.

my main hinkspix pro controller is assigned port 17-32. (don't know why this is but this is the factory setting!)

I am running one smart 16 port remote (ports 1-16) and a second smart 16 port remote (ports 33-48). 

So in the controller tab, i essentially label which props i want to be on which ports...  (which is what I have now) and in the layout tab, i use the drop down new menu to select which smart remote it is on by selecting which port it is on.  So i assume my smart remote (ports 1-16) will be smart remote "A" and my smart remote (ports 33-48) will be smart remote "B".

I'll try this setup if this is correct and hopefully have some luck!.

I thank you for adding this feature!.  I know that these smart remote are new tech and hard to understand for us so the integration into xlights is great!

[keithsw1111]

Are they really smart remote or are they expansion boards. The way you describe them they sound like the latter.

[lenchuckd]

they are the smart ones for sure. 

I have updated my models and assigned them to smart receivers.  I am trying to upload outputs, but it keeps saying failed.

I am running 2- 16 port smart receivers off of my main 16 port HinksPix Pro.  I'm unsure about the cascade option.  I have tried setting no cascading, cascade to 1 controller and cascade to 2 controllers.  And i cant get the upload outputs to send the right info to the controller.  Just keeps saying failed.

I have tried with one smart receiver, and I can get it to upload the outputs, but then only 2 ports work.  so i'm really confused.

I guess my question is what does cascade mean and how should i set this? 

I have also tried to go to the hinkspix page and set up my universes and channels manually but it doesn't acknowledge the second smart receiver..... so I can't even do that!

any thoughts?

[lenchuckd]

Ok,

So i found a solution!

I updated the firmware on the hinkspix and downloaded Scott's beta version of xlights that he made last november for the hinkspix 16 port long range receivers.  And after some dynamic meltdowns on my part, I got it to work!.

I hope xlights supports the 16's in the future on their regular program as I believe it only supports the 4.

thanks for all your help.

Dave. - Lights on Audrey Court.

[captdave1961x2]

You can learn much from Joe Hinkle web site, with videos to show you how to set up your controllers, I have Hinks Pix Pro 16 outputs, + new 32 outputs, + 1 4 port smart controller
1 Tip. If you download videos, number them in order some have parts of videos, I suggest you watch all of them, especially when you set up lights, you need be sure xlights have the same universes set up.

Dave.