SOLVED!! - no results with Vixen->ED->LE

[mmorlan62]

Okay, here is my test setup with negative test results.  Where do we go from here?

Michael

----------------------------

ETHERDONGLE PROGRAMMING:

o Connections:PICkit 3 Programmer -> USB cable -> PICKit 3 -> ETD ICSP header

o      Device: PIC32MX795F512L

o    Imported: EtherDongle_DMX.hex

o Clicked [Write]

o Received: "Erasing device... done"
            "Programming device... Program... Boot... Config... done"

o Clicked [Verify]
  Received: "Verifying device... Program... Boot... Config... done"


VIXEN:

o Already using Vixen 2.1.4.0 with Lynx+EtherDongle.dll plugin.

o New Vixen Standard Sequence
  - 100ms step timing
  - 16 channels
  - Lynx_Etherdongle plugin with ch1-16 assigned to it
  - 10second sequence

o Created a random sequence across all 16 channels


PHYSICAL:

o Laptop -> Cat5 cable -> ETD -> cat5 cable -> LE DMX In

o LE booted with default settings and "001" displayed on 7-seg LED.

o Laptop and ETD jacks have green connection LED lit with regular patch cable.

o LE DMX terminator jumper bridged

o LE DATA LINK LED lit.


RAN VIXEN SEQUENCE:

o Laptop and ETD Ethernet jack yellow activity LEDs blink.
o Tried different ETD->LE Cat5 cable.

NOTHING FROM LYNX EXPRESS

[mmorlan62]

Here are pics of my builds:









Michael

[RJ]

Last question, we know the LE works already am I correct?

RJ

[RJ]

I believe you optocoupler chips (white chips) are in backwards. It looks like the pin one marker, the little circle in the top of the chip is on the top rht and should be to the bottom left like the other four chips above them.  This would make the unit work but not send out data and could cause power issues.

If this is true swap them around.

Was there a substitiion on these parts in the coop I was unaware of? none of mine are white they are black chips?

RJ

[pk]

I have been in both EtD coops and all of my optos are white.  My optos are oriented as shown in the top picture and my EtD is working.

[JoeFromOzarks]

The white ones from Fairchild have a decorative "F" in the corner opposite PIN 1.

My eD from the first coop shipped with the white ones.

joe

I believe you optocoupler chips (white chips) are in backwards. It looks like the pin one marker, the little circle in the top of the chip is on the top rht and should be to the bottom left like the other four chips above them.  This would make the unit work but not send out data and could cause power issues.

If this is true swap them around.

Was there a substitiion on these parts in the coop I was unaware of? none of mine are white they are black chips?

RJ

[RJ]

Ok good I see I used what I had on the last couple but the proto did have them  !!

I have too much going on and am losing my mind!!!!  nothing new (Nothing to see here folks just keep moving along!)

Although there are currently two post about dongle issues and I believe these are opposite on the two peoples units so someone has them backwards.

Let me go look again.

No these chips are in backwards guys, the pin 1 on the 8 chips are all in the same place on the pcb and these dongle does not have them correct.

RJ

[RJ]

Never mind what I am seeing as the pin 1 dot is the little F it just looked like the dot.

(keep moving along folks, nothing to see!)

RJ

[mmorlan62]

I don't know If I'm getting output from the ETD.I suppose I could build an RJ45-XLR adapter and rent a DMX instument to test it.


Anything else?

M

[pk]

When the DMX cable to the Lynx Express is disconnected, the DATA LINK LED should be off.  If it comes ON when the EtD is connected then you know something is coming out of the EtD.

Is the LE known to work or is it new too? 

[mmorlan62]

Both the LE and ETD are new and being tested together. Not an optimal testing environment, I know.

The LE DMX LED is lit when connected to the ETD then off when disconnected.

Does the ETD output a constant stream of DMX?

M

[mmorlan62]

Everyone have a great holiday weekend, and thanks for the advice and insight thus far.  I look forward to picking up this thread next week.

Best,

Michael

[caretaker]

I noticed in your first post you have a cable going from the laptop to the ED, others have reported a problem with communication when connecting this way and had to use a cross-over cable, if you have Ethernet Switch try plugging into the the laptop into the switch and the ED into the switch OR try a cross over cable.  You can download this program You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login which will allow you to capture packets and see what is (or isn't) going on as far as communications between the computer and the ED.  I know when I got my ED working and tried plugging it into my current router (Netgear WNDR 3700-2) it would not recognize the ED (I found out it doesn't do multicast) so I broke out my old Netgear RT311 along with a Netgear FS105 (Fast Ethernet Switch) and connected to my show computer and it was instantly recognized and works great.

[mmorlan62]

Hi Jeff,

Actually, my first setup included a gigabit switch between laptop and ETD. I took I out to simplify. The direct cat5 patch between laptop and ETD shows the exact same results - cat5 link and activity LEDs at each end.

M

[jnealand]

For some reason I am wondering if Vixen is configured correctly and I don't mean just the etherdongle setup, but all the other options.  no one seems to be asking about this.  I am not a vixen expert, but others on this board are.