Wow...almost 1300 bucks to fill a hub and thats just for the strings!!
I knew I needed a second job for a reason!!
If you use 128 node strings (40 ft long) and do 16 of them then yes.
I am replacing my mega tree with 16 strings 70 nodes long. This is costing me $705.
This is replacing 48 strings of 70 leds from CDI that average $13 a piece. This cost $624 and allowed me to do red, green, blue, white.
The smart string hardware is costing me ~$30 for a hub and ~$120 for controllers So $150 total.
The 3 Expresses to run the normal leds cost $65 for $195 total.
So Smart String mega tree = $855
The Standard LED 4 color mega tree = $819
It is true that leds are not cheap but we all knew this.
So it is hardly more and I can do any color and control all the leds instead of only strings. I do not think it is bad looked at what it replaces.
RJ