DiyLightAnimation
Hardware => Lynx Express => Topic started by: MSL on December 07, 2011,
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I am running a combination of Lynx Express and LOR boxes. I am using LOR S2 software connected through a IDMX 1000 (thanks again to all who helped me get the IDMX 1000 running).
I have all the Lynx boxes that are at the end of the line terminated (terminate pins connected). I also have two LOR boxes at the end of lines that I do not have terminated (I do not know how to terminate them).
As my show is running I get (many) channels flash on that are not programmed. It happens on all the shows I am running (at different times). Could that be feed back from the LOR boxes that are not terminated? If so how do I terminate the LOR boxes? Is there something else I should be doing to stop the lights from flashing when they are not suppose to?
MSL
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I made one last year trying to figure out why my LOR controllers were having sticking channels (LOR protocol and not DMX). I don't recall the setup but I think it's just the a 120 ohm resistor between the + and - pins on the last controller. I used a cat5 cable and cut the end of. Placed the resistor between the wires and plugged it into the open rj45 jack.
See this thread for more information.
http://forums.lightorama.com/view_topic.php?id=16953&forum_id=25&highlight=terminator
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Thanks Jeffl. The link helped.
The only place I know of locally to get electronic parts is Radio Shack. They do not carry 120-ohm resistors. Can I solder a 100 ohm and 22 ohm resistor in series to make a 122 ohm terminator? Would it make a difference to have 122 ohm instead of 120 ohm as a terminator?
Should I do a 100 ohm and 2-10 ohm resistor?
I'm thinking of just sticking the soldered resistors into the 4 and 5 wire slot in a male RJ-45 plug and crimping it down for my LOR terminator. Has anyone else done this?
If I can do that should I get 1/2 watt or 1/8 watt resistors?
MSL
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122R is good enough, as is 1/8W
/mike
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Search on this forum for "snubber" or "easiest terminators". I put them on all my LED lights strings.
Found the right thread
http://diylightanimation.com/index.php?topic=3430.msg64908#msg64908 (http://diylightanimation.com/index.php?topic=3430.msg64908#msg64908)
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Thanks for the responce!
I'm going to solder up a couple of terminators for my LOR boxes.
I will let you know how it turns out.
MSL
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Yesterday I replaced an LE with a couple of bad Triacs with an extra (unused until now) LE. I noticed tonight that about 2 seconds after the lights from that LE come on they briefly blink. None of the other LE's have this effect nor did the one that I pulled out of service. I am only using LE's in my show. If the lights are on for less than 2 seconds there is nothing noticably different than the other LE's. It is only when they are on for more than 2 seconds that the brief flash occurs. Thoughts??? I program using Light Show Pro.
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I made terminators for the LOR boxes. All my Express boxes that are at the end are terminated. I still get channels flashing that are not programed to turn on.
What else can I do to stop the flash?
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A little more information: All my Express boxes are v.5.
I should not need snubbers. Correct?
MSL
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Yes that is correct. The Le's v5 have them built in. The ssr4 controller do not.
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I also have problem with unwanted channel flash with all the newly built LE v5. All my old LE v5 are all working fine. I will watch this thread and hopefully someone will be able to give a solution to the problem.
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I also have problem with unwanted channel flash with all the newly built LE v5. All my old LE v5 are all working fine. I will watch this thread and hopefully someone will be able to give a solution to the problem.
they are the same nothing has changed since the V5 came out so look for something different in their power, data connection, lights they control, etc. if you can find a common among the ones you have issues with this is the place to start changing to see what happens. Maybe swap on that is doing it and one that is not to see if the problem moves or stays the same.
RJ
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Curious which DMX Out port you are using? The "pass the signal along" port or the "regenerated" port?
Part of the reason I ask is that if you are not using the normal DMX Out port (the one next to DMX In), then you should be using the Termination, correct?
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I fixed some channel flash on one of my LE and a couple of Renards with a few Phillips one outlet surge protectors with EMI RFI filters for $5 from Walmart.
This is the thread on DIYC that led me to this fix.
http://doityourselfchristmas.com/forums/showthread.php?18060-flicker-fixes&highlight=phillips+surge+protector (http://doityourselfchristmas.com/forums/showthread.php?18060-flicker-fixes&highlight=phillips+surge+protector)
Here are the Surge protector/RFI/EMI devices
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Philips-1-Outlet-Surge-Protector/17127162 (http://www.walmart.com/ip/Philips-1-Outlet-Surge-Protector/17127162)
The back of the box says
Pure Power Noise Filtering (EMI/RFI)
150kHz - 100MHz up to 40 dB
I could stop some flicker by moving controllers to different outlets and spreading them over different circuits, but the surge protectors fixed the ones that kept happening. no matter the outlet.
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Not saying this is your problem but, I had one song that was doing the same thing. I double checked the sequence and found a tail end of a fade I did not completely delete when I was doing the programming. It was hard to see.....
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I purchased three Phillips 1-outlet surge protectors for my three input lines. No difference.
JonB256: I looked at what DMX port I was using. All are on the "DMX Out 2" port.
At first I attempted to hook all up to the "DMX Out" port but some of the "DMX Out" ports on my boxes did not work. All of the DMX Out 2 ports worked. I was going to look into that problem after the season; looks like I have to get to the problem now.
Any suggestions?
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I had some LEs that had flaky output via the DMX2, at least that is my guess, because even the Phillips surge protector didn't fix it.
I tried switching 485 chips and using a different cable to the next controller with no luck. Sometimes switching outlets to a different circuit helped.
Finally, since I didn't want to take them down to check solder joints, I just built some additional EX/RX wireless units to feed the other controllers and the problem went away.
Most of the problems I had were feeding Renards from an LE that was running wireless. I find the Renards a little sensitive and will probably switch to all LE next year.
Hope the info helps.
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If you use the first dmx output, be sure to pull the terminate jumper. Only the last device should be terminated. The dmx out #2 is regenerated from the dmx in, whereas the dmx out #1 is connected directly to the dmx in.
RM
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msl,
Just to recap.
There is no wireless devices in the mix correct?
It's only the LE boxes that are having issues and not the LOR boxes?
The flashes are random and not consistent?
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Jeffl: I am running wireless on three of my boxes. From those I daisy chain to 11 other boxes (8 LE's and 3 LOR's). The flashes are random spread out over all the boxes including the LOR boxes.
SteveMaris: I get unwanted flash on all my sequences not just one.
bcstuff: I am getting the unwanted flash on the boxes that are wireless also. As far as moving boxes to different circuits I have 3 dedicated 20 amp circuits spread out between my boxes. I am getting flash on all my boxes.
rm357: The 3 LOR's are at the end of my chain. I made terminators for those three boxes. I have the terminator jumper off on the LE's in between.
I did some research on the forum and found the answer to my DMX out" issue I mentioned in a previous post. I don't have one! According to posts on the wireless pages when running wireless the DMX out is turned off on the boxes that are wireless; only the "DMX out 2" works. My boxes are working as they should.
From the wireless box I go from the DMX Out 2 rj-45 terminal to the next box. From that box I use the "DMX Out 2" terminal to the next box (and so on).
I read that someone had unwanted flash with their wireless but solved the problem by flashing the latest firmware onto the wireless equipment. I got my wireless in the last coop. I assume it has the latest firmware.
Thanks for all the input. Keep it coming. I still have 12 days before the lights come down!
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Have you tried eliminating the wireless? I don't recall reading this in the thread.
Wireless is neat. Copper is king.
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A few notes on the wireless...
The transmitter works better if it is at least 4 ft above ground level (I do ~6 ft) and oriented with the antenna end up. The antenna pattern is not omnidirectional, but radiates outward like a deformed doughnut
The receivers work better if they are oriented with the antenna up as well. It doesn't make as much difference as the transmitter though...
The transmitter and dongle will interfere with each other if they are too close together - make sure they are at least three feet apart.
With LEs and a Freestyle, I didn't have any problems, but I never could get a DMX SSR4 to operate reliably with the wireless once it was out in the yard. Ended up using a TXRX in receive mode and running a short cat5 to the first DMX SSR4.
Also, the DMX transmitter functions in the same frequency band as the 2.4 GHz wifi. You might try using one of the other universes or going into your router and changing the channel it uses.
Good Luck.
RM
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MSL - I had a similar problem and reprogramming the PICs in the TX/RX and EX/RX with the latest firmware posted in the Wiki solved my problem. It was recently discovered the older version of the firmware had been posted there. Rick updated the Wiki 2-3 weeks ago with the latest version. What is posted there now is good.
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I reprogrammed the PICs in the TX/RX and all three EX/RX with the latest firmware tonight. While I was at it I changed to universe #3.
If that does not work my next step will be to run cat 5 to all the boxes and remove the wireless.
I will post how it works out tomorrow night.
MSL
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Well, at least the lights came on after I up dated the firmware. There was some doubt since I have only used the Pickit 3 a couple other times.
The channel flash is still there.
I am going to make up some cable and hard wire all the boxes.
MSL
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I can see good news and bad news coming out of this. I'm eagerly awaiting good news.
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what software are you using when the lights flash? LSP, VIXEN other? Today I had some random channels flashing. I have sat and viewed most of my show a few times, but tonight I had some channels that were flashing randomly. The only thing that had changed was that I upgraded to the newest version of LSP. So I downgraded to the previous version and the flashing went away.
<RANT> I will not be touching the scheduler or any of the sequences until after the season is over. Then I am going to truly evaluate my stance towards LSP. I like how the new VIXEN is evolving. If they get the DMX and pixelnet outputs/controllers developed for next year, I might be converting over and dropping LSP altogether.
</RANT>
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I went hard wire and no more wireless and the random flash still occurs. The problem is still not solved. Im not gonna worry bout it til after the season is over.
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I took the IDMX 1000 out and used xLights with the Lynx dongle to run the show. No unwanted channel flash.
The IDMX 1000 was causing my grief.
Seasons almost over. I have 10 months to figure out how to control the shows. I hear that we will be able to use the Lynx dongle with LOR S3. That is most likely how I will go next year.
Thanks to everone who chimed in to solve my problem.
MSL
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Glad you got it figured out and glad it was not any of my stuff causing you the issues.
RJ