DiyLightAnimation
Fun => The Porch => Topic started by: chrisatpsu on September 21, 2012,
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since it's almost October, howmany of us are still trying to put our hardware together?
I'm still assembling my dumb drings, and i have a few custom design smart string nodes to build.
what about the rest of you guys?
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Too much work to even consider putting a show on this year. Got too tied up with software development (oh and running a COOP).
I might (heavy on the 'might') get my smart strings up this year.
Kurt
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Waiting on the dumb string controllers. Pixel tree is assembled but not programmed, Going to replace my incan mini trees with LED mini trees. Replacing 3 LED strings on each porch column with one smart string per column and trying to figure out a best way to mount them that works for me. Still have to modify my sequences from last year for the new configuration.
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I'm focussed on Halloween at the moment.....still have faces to finish and sparkleballs to finish (gettint critical).
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Moved into a new house recently, and I'm still prepping the old house for sale.
While I have all of the parts, I have had no time to assemble any of the new stuff -- nor figure out placement, songs, or sequencing.
In all likelihood, I'll use 8 aethers to shine at the house, a 4 coroflakes, and a row of large coro trees. Stretch goal is to get a megapixel tree up with nutcracker.
jeeze... just looking at my "short" list I wonder where the time will come from.
i'm toast. <fp.
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Arches to add on 21 sequences and then it's hardware test time. George
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I still don't even have a dongle, so no decent show this year. I'm considering getting a few smart strings together and getting a few small things as a test run just for fun if I get the dongle and so on soon enough.
Next year I will have a robot that no one else has <la.. >.d9. I've been keeping it under raps until I'm the first to do it. Once that is done, I'll share all my plans and others can do it. It's going to be pretty cool. Besides, I couldn't do it until the conductor came out because it will be completely wireless and I don't have all the bugs worked out. More to come. It will likely be the end of next year before I release anything.
I have my facebook and other websites ready though.
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This is my first year!! 128 channels, 9-miniature trees, 4-arches, 14-cascading snowflakes, 1-star and all the house lites. <fp. I still have 3-arches to build, the star and 3-expresses. The intimidating thing is the set up and getting it all to work! ???
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This is my first year (last 10 years was a 6 channel Mr Christmas).
I have 6 LE's, 2 wireless modules, 2 ether dongles, 2 conductors, mr16, 3 Aether=II's, 2 active hubs, 1 passive hub.
Now i just need to solder them, program nics.
I also have not received any strings from Ray yet.
Need to decide what sequencer i will use with Nutcracker.
fix bugs, finish vertical and horizontal matrix, single strand effects. Luckily i have Kurt Gustafson working the code for Nutcracker projects.
62 days until first light, http://www.timeanddate.com/countdown/generic?iso=20121123T00&p0=75
no problem ....
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Build?!?!?!?! What do you mean build? I thought that these were collector kits. Who would detroy them by building them. Really!!!!
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Tons to build, sequencing will never be exact, lights coming out that wazoo....
Oh, an Halloween is right around the corner. Not sure where to start, what to do first. Still deciding if a software change us the best thing....stuck on LOR S3.
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I'm pretty much done for my Halloween set up.
I have 24 ssc built and tested and connected to 24 smart strings
2 active Hubs built and tested
1 Ether dongle built and tested
2 16 channel AC controllers built and tested
2 USB dongles built and tested (back up plan)
1 Conductor coming (but won't be using for Halloween)
1 DMX Laser sequenced and tested
2 Fogger machines ready to go
1 Laser + Fogger stand built
7 Sequences finished and tested
I have the clips already fixed to my gutters to push my flexstrip into
But I did start the major building in January of this year ;D
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this is my first year as well. Mr Christmas just won't cut it any more. lol. I'll be working with 272 channels of Le and 900 nodes of smart string. still to do:
build pvc frames for windows and doors
build 16 snowflakes
build 2 arches, 3 colors, 48 channels( might go 4 arches haven't decided yet)
build mega tree, 5 colors, 48 channels
build 4 more express kits
build ether dongle upon arrival from coop
build 8 mini trees( thinking real hard about buying real trees to work as privacy for the back yard and just use them)
attach 3 more colors to my existing net lights
i have 3 songs sequenced would like to have at least 10 for this years show
still have to determine exact smart string order so that i can place it with ray before it's too late.
build 4 more ssc's and make 16 ssc enclosures
order rectifiers for existing half wave led's
configure mounting apparatus for express controllers
it's amazing though how fast the next 2 months are going to fly!! i plan on starting my install and set up the day after halloween, maybe the week before, my plans are to have the 272 channels, 900+ pixel nodes, and 20,000+ led's. I CAN'T WAIT!!! lol
Duane
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Keeping most of last years stuff which was 27 LEv5 DMX (4 yards). Keeping last years songs and sequences. Converting from Vixen to LSP. and then modify sequences as required for the RGB nodes.
Changes are:
Replacing 140 linear feet of C9 DMX eve lights (about 1200 lights) with flexible strips. Finalzing the design next weekend. Hope to have them all up by end of October. If the final built units work as good as I hope I will post some pics.
Replacing 6 led DMX (10ft) arches with 6 flex strip arches. same design as the eve sections.
Adding 648 feet of luminaries to line both sides of the road for 4 yard (1 Acre Lots each). Two yards are corner lots. Using square, metal backed smart strings with 3 foot node spacings. Using discarded round frosting buckets from Sam's Club as the luminary shell.
Adding a nutcracker driven mega tree. Been wanting a mega tree for 4 years. it will be a flexible strip tree. The design is about 70% complete. Plan to build a prototype tree last weekend in October. Then work out the bugs and have it finalized and up by before thanksgiving.
Programming is my biggest worry. I am a hardware guy not an artist. all my spare time between now and Thanksgiving will be struggling with sequencing.
Thank all of you on DIY. This is a great group. I could not have gotten anywhere near this far with out your help and RJ's neat stuff.
Thanks,
Rick S
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I'm is this last coop for le's so I'll have 3 more le's to build and 48 lamp cords to tin. These 3 le's will double my show from last year. Going to try and buld a hybrid spiral mega tree. That has me a little worried. Sequencing is 50% done.
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I pressure washed the house and trimmed the bushes. And I got the coro faces down from the attic.
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Controller being ordered through a coop. Gotta replace my Etd with another or the usb dongle. Then onto testing and finding a way to get onto my roof (its pretty steep so climbing up onto it is not an option). Hopefully i can get it all done
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Controller being ordered through a coop. Gotta replace my Etd with another or the usb dongle. Then onto testing and finding a way to get onto my roof (its pretty steep so climbing up onto it is not an option). Hopefully i can get it all done
find you an old couch cushion and take the cover off. the foam sticks to the roof and you stick to the foam. i used to think my neighbor was crazy when he told me to use foam on a roof, but it works!! i used to install dish network and the foam got some people service service that otherwise would not have got it.
duane
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Been a very tough summer! Not sure yet if I am going to have a show or not, but my plans of a huge show is way out the window. My "Christmas light" work room is a complete disaster and I have so many things to build I don't even no where to start. AND I have not sequenced one new thing yet.... not looking promising... So many people will be disappointed if I don't do something and I don't want to disappoint anyone during Christmas, so I will probably throw something together, but it won't be pretty.
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I was going to line my entire house with flex strips but I am finding the sequencing to be too much for me at this time. I am going to sequence a few flex strips as arches and firesticks instead. My show has gone from being fun to stressfull and I am just now realizing that I need to step back and have fun again.
This year I have added twice the lights, 6 aethers and 3 singing faces for halloween. I think that is enough in itself to annoy the neighbors and put smiles on the kids faces.
Grant
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Been a very tough summer! Not sure yet if I am going to have a show or not, but my plans of a huge show is way out the window. My "Christmas light" work room is a complete disaster and I have so many things to build I don't even no where to start. AND I have not sequenced one new thing yet.... not looking promising... So many people will be disappointed if I don't do something and I don't want to disappoint anyone during Christmas, so I will probably throw something together, but it won't be pretty.
Once the lights start to blink nobody will care about how neat it looks as long as the magic is there..
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I looked at the shelves with the controllers on it and said to myself:
"Self, you need to replace some triacs."
That's as far as I have gotten with my hardware.
Sequencing is 12.85% done. After all, we still have almost a month til Halloween.
John
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I just finished 1 new song for Halloween. Been working on it since may-June timeframe. I guess the other 2 will have to wait until next year. I want at least 1 new one for Christmas.
Sent from my Thunderbolt using Tapatalk 2.
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I just finished 1 new song for Halloween. Been working on it since may-June timeframe. I guess the other 2 will have to wait until next year. I want at least 1 new one for Christmas.
Sent from my Thunderbolt using Tapatalk 2.
i have thought of doing something for halloween, but this is my first year and after doing wizards in winter from scratch, first time doing it, i think i'll focus on christmas so i know that i have enough songs. sequencing is no joke!
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2012 GOALS:
Top Priority:
- convert most LOR controllers to LE(s) ... eliminate all by 2013
- go completely wireless where ever it makes sense to ... build some new Ex/Rx(s)
- go from 4 SS arches, to 8 SS arches ... improve angle, spacing and leveling
- build SSR4(s) w/DMX and add to key locations to optimize controller placement elsewhere
- double lights on (2) mini-megatrees from 2400 to 4800 lights each and to avoid looping over the top of 11' mini megatrees
- improve the RGB programming using Nutcracker, esp. on the arches and the 2011 mini-mega RGB toppers
- convert from using a single pixelnet flashes dongle to the etherdongle
Medium Priority:
- add 2 new coroflakes (never completed in 2011)
- improve sequencing all around on existing songs, maybe add new songs in December??
- add nutcracker single string effects to the tune-to sign RGB sequencing
Stretch Goals:
- still need to decide on whether to stay with latest version of LOR or use LSP 2.5 [ leaning LOR because of time ]
... will use xlights if needed to run shows, unless I can do it using E1.31 and LOR without changing too much
- build aether(s) and convert to if time permits
- add some RGB smart strings to my 6' 'super spinner' if time permits
- add some RGB smart string to something simple like the megatree pole, so do some experimental effects with
Staying motivated is a major issue ... I only started building stuff about 2-3 weeks back ... so I need to stay on top of that,
or I won't have a show in 2012 by default.
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Once the lights start to blink nobody will care about how neat it looks as long as the magic is there..
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Thanks, That is the type of thing that will keep me going.
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That's the spirit Rdebolt! And like the stig said, remember to have fun with it. I have a few SSC V2's and passive hubs to finish assembling. I was going to do the roof lines and doors and windows for Halloween but I don't have the Flex strips yet from Ray. Then I typically mount them to .5" PVC pipe with zip strips and rig the pipe to hang from the eaves. So if I am to get that done in time for Halloween I need to get the strips in to test all this new stuff. And then just need to finish up the sequencing for Christmas.
I never thought of using foam to stay on the roof but it makes sense to me. RC cars use foam tires for insane grip so it should work for us too. Thanks for the suggestion!
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All i'm doing is 8 windows, my roof that will be connected to 2 roofs for my porches, the porches themselves and im going to make 5 mini trees blink thats it im keeping it simple for my first year in