I've never shut down a show before, but.... (solved)

[rm357]

You might want to try a different universe setting on the wireless. These co-exist in the same 2.4GHz band as your and your neighbor's wifi...

[jnealand]

It appears the problem is with the active hub.  I can run all the DMX devices from a USB DMX dongle with no problem.  When I tried to reflash the hub that I removed the Pickit software would not recognize the chip so I reheated the PIC socket, the ICSP pins, and the 485 socket between the PIC and the ICSp.  Now The pickit recognizes the chip and I can reflash it.  Next is to go outside and put this one back in play and remove the backup.  Strange that both active hubs failed on DMX out.  Unfortunately it is misting out right now and unlikely to get much better today.  On the other hand this hub is in a marine battery box and is on the porch so at least under roof.  Tonight is a a big Christmas Party so I won;t be home to babysit the show.

[jnealand]

And the problem was..........The Etherdongle, both of them.  They would run the pixelnet lights fine, but no DMX.  Switched back to a USB Pixelnet dongle and the show is running as expected.  Tomorrow I will have to work on the EDs or else I will never get my pixel tree running on Universe 2.

Now to get ready for tonights Christmas Party.  At least I can invite folks to drive by after the party now.  LOL

[sirloinofbeef001]

Glad to here its  fixed....

[winwin]

Jim,

Just read your post and I knew you would get that situation under control. You know your stuff, no doubt about that!
congrat on finding the problem!

[sjb]

Great news. We all knew you would figure it out.

Steve

[zwiller]

Glad you got it under control. 

With regard to the ED, Ralphie says: Be sure to drink your Ovaltine use the latest ED firmware from the wiki.   

[jnealand]

I probably will not get to work on this today as I have other things to get done before the show goes live around 5:30p.  It sure is strange that the ED will not run DMX but the USB pixelnet dongle will.  I do not change anything except move the cable that goes to the active hub from one device to the other and voila.  The smart strings work with either dongle.  I am using the firmware that I downloaded from the wiki on 12/5/2012.