Technical Question

[TexasStingray]

I am wanting to create a standalone portable light device that uses the SS technology (Pixelnet) I have the SSC's. I am a programmer at heart and for a living. I have been using an arduino for some time and have programmed one to use DMX and it work with the Lynx USB Dongle programmed for DMX. Now that I have the SSC's I would like to programmer a sender that sends the Pixelnet via the RS485 to the SSC's as a standalone device running off a 12V battery just a single SSC so I really dont need a Active Hub for this project. Does anyone have an example of sending the Pixelnet protocol directly using a PIC or Arduino.

Thanks
Scott

[rrawlings]

are you wanting to do this with existing smart strings and then use them as smart strings again later?  If not you may want to consider using a string based on the WS2801.  There are plenty of arduino libraries available for that protocol now.  I don't want to run afoul of the desire to keep this board non-technical.  I fyou want to communicate more lets do it via PM's.  I am interested in the same thing and have just received my first arduino uno.

[n1ist]

The pixelnet spec is You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login and looks rather simple to code.  Just note that the pinout in that document for the 4-universe pixelnet cable is wrong.
/mike

[Kasey911]

I've been toying with the idea of doing something similar as well.  As I'm just getting started, my first goal is to learn how everything works and then start building my show from there.  If you guys end up putting a project together, I'd love to see what you come up with.   

[rrowan]

Feel free to create your own hardware but be careful about using RJ's stuff 

Rick R.

[chrisatpsu]

if you're going through the trouble of writing firmware for sending a protocol. Why not skip the controller, and go straight to sending the chip protocol of the 180x chips?

[rrawlings]

I myself have been looking for an arduino library for the 1804 chips in the smart strings, I have not found any but have found the libraries for the WS2801 that can be driven directly from the arduino.  I have met the builder and my daughter has played with a hula hoop made by a local college student that is lit with the arduino and I believe the WS2801.  I too was looking at a small stand alone device using the strings.

[TexasStingray]

This help some, I hooked up an ST485BN to my Arduino and have been trying to read the signal but just dont have the rate correct to see the correct signal in the Serial.begin(rate); of the sketch.

[wftxlites]

This help some, I hooked up an ST485BN to my Arduino and have been trying to read the signal but just dont have the rate correct to see the correct signal in the Serial.begin(rate); of the sketch.

For Ardunio Uno to do DMX it is:
Serial.begin(250000);

Sorry, I don't know what it would be for pixelnet, but would like to know also.

[n1ist]

According to the document in the wiki, it's 1Mb, so I would try
serial.begin(1000000);
I haven't tested it myself, however.
/mike

[wftxlites]

Makes sense to me.
I was thinking about this last night and remembered that it is basically enhanced DMX (more channels) in a little different format, but had forgotten the higher speed.

I won't be doing any testing until after Christmas as my Ardunio is tied up at the moment.

[rm357]

Simpler than DMX. Strait up serial stream - 1 Mbps, I think it was 1 start bit, 8 data bit, 1 stop bit, no parity. Any UART that is fast enough will do fine. A value of 170 is used to reset the channel counters, which means you cannot set a channel to a value of 170...

You will need a 485 chip to convert the TTL to a balanced output.

[TexasStingray]

I'll try some testing later tonight and I'll share the results.

[wftxlites]

 

[TexasStingray]

Ok, maybe I'm doing something wrong here. Here is how I am testing.

1 Activehub powered by Computer Power supply.
2. DSC Connected to FLEX Strip.
3 Arduino to ST485BN to the Active Hub.

RESULTS: No Blinky.

If I use Vixen and the EtherDongle the Lights works.

Maybe some else might have a suggestion.