DiyLightAnimation
Hardware => Lynx Express => Topic started by: zaccutt on December 03, 2012,
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Hi guys,
I had to start a new thread, the old one was way to long and the topics varied greatly.
Basically my problem is that my LOR controllers will not run DMX. The Lynx works properly with the LOR sequence editor. LOR's status LED just flashes. Occaisionally random groups of channels will do something when nothing is running but the dongle is connected.
I am using the LOR USB adapter and I have selected it in the DMX tab in LOR and it is running raw DMX. I have also tried Lynx and others. LOR in the LOR network config window is set to none.
The control panel is open, firmware is up to date, LOR software is 3.8.0 and advanced.
The problem would seem to lie in the LOR boards or adapter as the same LOR adapter will run an LE no problem. Also, the LORs worked yesterday before I switched the LOR to DMX but now will not even work back the original way it was and hardware utility can't find them. I have tried new Cat5 cables.
I hope it was a good idea to start a new thread, hopefully this is a bit more concise.
Thanks
Zac
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Open a sequence in the Sequence Editor
In the Play menu, check "Loop at End"
Be sure the Control Lights is checked
Then click play
Now, while DMX is theoretically being send to the LOR controllers, turn their power off, pause, then re-power.
See if that forces them to switch.
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Nope, didn't do anything. The controllers status LED that I can see is still flashing. I also have tried switching this back to LOR and the controllers cannot be found in hardware utility or play lights, I also tested it on a different computer that has nevr even heard of DMX and it still find them.
Zac
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Did you make a crossover Cat5 from the lynx dongle to the LOR controller.
Also check this: right click the LOR icon & go to Network Preferences
Click the LOR tab & under port make sure it says NONE
Then go to the DMX tab & set up network.
Mike
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The Lynx dongle will not work, I think I got duped, the green LED will not turn on. So I am attempting to run it all off of the LOR dongle in DMX mode. Therefore I do not need a crossover to run the LOR devices.
The LOR tab is set to NONE and the DMX tab shows my LOR dongle and is set to Raw DMX.
After the LOR adapter was switched to the DMX tab the LOR controllers will not get signal in any mode or configuration.
Thanks
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Is my problem that I am using the LOR USBRS485 adapter and maybe it does not work with DMX?
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If you are running just LOR controllers off of the Lynx dongle you absolutely need a crossover cable. LOR and DMX pinouts are not the same. The Lynx pinouts follow the DMX standard and the LOR controllers follow the LOR standard. You have to use a crossover cable if you are going from the Lynx(DMX) to something LOR. If you are going from Lynx to something DMX you do not need the cable. If you are going from LOR to LOR with DMX mode you do not need a crossover cable.
Now, if you are running just DMX, not through an E1.31 network, you have to have another LOR adapter connected to the computer. LOR's way of making sure you are using their software with their products. You will notice with no LOR network asigned, by default the "Control Lights" in the Play menu is not checked. Attached another LOR USB adapter.
Can I ask why you aren't running your LOR controllers with the LOR protocol? They act much better as LOR devices than they do as DMX devices.
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Is my problem that I am using the LOR USBRS485 adapter and maybe it does not work with DMX?
I feel too many changes are being made without first confirming the setup. To troubleshoot any problem, if more than one change is made you will not know what is your next step or what worked and not worked.
If you go back to the basic setup that worked with the LOR protocol, we can then go through the steps to convert to DMX. You do not need any LOR Dongles configured or attached to run just DMX using LOR, period, you you say it does you have something configured wrong.
IMHO, this is taking wat too long to get you up and running,
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IMHO, this is taking way too long to get you up and running,
I'll second that.
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Hi guys, thanks for the replys. I want to run LOR on DMX because my LYNX DMX adapter is not working and so I am trying to run both the LOR and LYNX from the same dongle. The Lynx works no problem through the sequence editor and the LOR will not, however the LOR did work fine on the LOR protocol however now switching back in every way even onto the old LOR computer the LOR devices do not respond.
I understand it appears as though I made too many changes however now reverting back to basics with the LOR in the most basic set up I cannot get any signal through, so what would my next step be? I want to simply trouble shoot why LOR isn't getting signal in the LOR protocol.
But by the sounds of it, are you saying I must have the second adapter to run both system? Or is that only if LOR is on LOR protocol and Lynx is on DMX?
I am willing to try anything, I will be home in about 5 hours doing so.
Thanks
Zac
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Keep in mind that LOR DMX is 'non standard' ... meaning they used wires 4,5 instead of wires 1,2 which regular DMX does. So that is why people mention the crossover/conversion cable as a requirement whenever you mix LOR and LYnx, even when both are doing DMX ... they do DMX on different wires. You need to swap wires any time you switch between the LOR and LYNX DMX world, because that DMX data needs to be present on 4,5 for LOR and 1,2 for LYNX.
I think ideally you would not want to use just the LOR USB adaptor to control both, but maybe its possible?
You should be able to detect the LOR controllers, unless you have a lynx unit wired up between the computer LOR USB dongle and the first LOR unit. Normally you flash the LOR controllers with newer firmware that supports DMX ... then the LOR controller will auto-sense whether your sending it LOR protocol or DMX protocal ... so you never really set the controller for DMX per se.
LOR on DMX just gets its address based on its UNIT ID assigned, so UNIT ID=1 is DMX 1-16 ... and UNIT ID=2 is 17-32 and so on.
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Hi, right now I only have LOR hooked up. And they are all in 4.32 firmware.
So basically the adapter is not allowing connection to the LOR since HU isn't picking them up.
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Your post says you are trying to run LOR and DMX on one dongle, if I read it right, this cannot be done.
You need two separate dongles and networks.
Can you come up with 2 working dongles, either LOR, or DMX?
Your answer will help in the next step.
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Do as Dennis said ... get two dongles.
Also, reboot your machine. I've seen LOR Hardware Utility lose it a bunch of times ... and normally the reboot fixes it ... often the com port gets marked as busy even when its not and you can't do anything till you reboot it again.
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Your post says you are trying to run LOR and DMX on one dongle, if I read it right, this cannot be done.
You need two separate dongles and networks.
Can you come up with 2 working dongles, either LOR, or DMX?
Your answer will help in the next step.
Dennis, he's trying to run LOR AC controllers (in DMX mode) and Lynx Express together. This is possible. I've done it. (with LOR controllers, D-Light DMX controllers and Express controllers, all on the same DMX cables with converters where needed.
I'm running that same setup now, except that I'm using E1.31 DMX rather than a USB dongle. It still works, with the converters switching the lines.
I'm at a loss where this is going wrong.
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I have tried numerous reboots, powered down all the controllers, a different computer etc. I would like to get a second dongle, but if that is the only choice I need to order it ASAP as I have no time left!
Tonight I will tear everything down and install LOR fresh on yet another computer and see if I can get LOR working on the LOR protocol. Then after that I will try to switch the channels to DMX settings and then the adapter to DMX settings. And then see if it fires.
But to this point, the LORs have permanently lost signal with the adapter.
When I put it back to original LOR settings, 1 out of 7 controllers was attempting to play one part of my song. Its like a lost in translation bit.
But I shall let you know what happens after I re-jig the whole system.
I was just looking for that simple answer that is eluding us all!
Btw, I still have my old LOR serial adapter, maybe if I get a USB to serial adapter I can use that adapter plus my USB adapter? But if LOR won't work on LOR protocol I still have a problem.
Zac
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Try a different cat 5 cable
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Your post says you are trying to run LOR and DMX on one dongle, if I read it right, this cannot be done.
You need two separate dongles and networks.
Can you come up with 2 working dongles, either LOR, or DMX?
Your answer will help in the next step.
Dennis, he's trying to run LOR AC controllers (in DMX mode) and Lynx Express together. This is possible. I've done it. (with LOR controllers, D-Light DMX controllers and Express controllers, all on the same DMX cables with converters where needed.
I'm running that same setup now, except that I'm using E1.31 DMX rather than a USB dongle. It still works, with the converters switching the lines.
I'm at a loss where this is going wrong.
He does only have one working dongle and that is one of the problems in his setup. I am helping him offline to get him operational.
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Somehow, the third controller I am testing is now responding to LOR HU. I then hooked up the second controller in line and got them both responding. I also tried switching the 1st controller to DMX and it worked! However then after connecting a second controller I tried it again and now neither controller will work in DMX even just a single one at a time.
Regardless though I am much happier knowing I can get some of these working on LOR. Maybe I can find a few extra LOR controllers nearby? hint hint
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Zac, how are you sending DMX out to these controllers? (i.e., how do you KNOW you have a DMX waveform on the wire?)
My personal preference with LOR was to create a 60 second LAS animation file (no music) with the same set of channels. A few random ON and OFF commands and put it on "Loop"
The problem with outputting DMX from a Raw or Open adapter (the LOR USB) is that I have caught it not outputting a DMX signal if it is not being sent anything from software. Its a case of "no garbage in, no garbage out."
On the other hand, a Pro or Lynx or E1.31 DMX will output "something" all the time, kind of like a carrier wave.
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Zac, how are you sending DMX out to these controllers? (i.e., how do you KNOW you have a DMX waveform on the wire?)
My personal preference with LOR was to create a 60 second LAS animation file (no music) with the same set of channels. A few random ON and OFF commands and put it on "Loop"
The problem with outputting DMX from a Raw or Open adapter (the LOR USB) is that I have caught it not outputting a DMX signal if it is not being sent anything from software. Its a case of "no garbage in, no garbage out."
On the other hand, a Pro or Lynx or E1.31 DMX will output "something" all the time, kind of like a carrier wave.
Zac and I spent the evening last night emailing each other and then on the phone. This on/off issue is still unknown but Zac now understands how to setup the network for either LOR or DMX.
I have given him all the info I can but there is some thing else missing.
We know the Lynx dongle is bad and the USB485B is working in both LOR and DMX.
The controller might have an issue but not sure yet. LOR V4.32
Cat 5 cables are being checked and so far all are working.
Routing of cable is away from AC power.
One issue is most of the controller are in the display and hard to see what is happening.
Crossover cable to convert from LOR to Lynx controller is working when in DMX mode.
Zac is checking the Cat5 receptacles for damage.
Still have bad communication issues.
HOw about a few suggestions.
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We know the Lynx dongle is bad and the USB485B is working in both LOR and DMX.
This means that he should be able to run in all DMX mode with all the controllers. This should be option 1. I'm not sure the Lynx dongle is bad as he stated he did not have a Pickit. I can't tell how many quirky things I have had with firmware and had to reprogram multiple time.
One issue is most of the controller are in the display and hard to see what is happening.
I would be pulling controllers out of the display to test or have a laptop in the yard to connect directly to each controller to see which works and which don't.
Crossover cable to convert from LOR to Lynx controller is working when in DMX mode.
Zac is checking the Cat5 receptacles for damage.
This also means that all DMX is an option.
If I understand this the only thing that is missing is that the Lynx Dongle does not work. If I don't understand, it's that "some" of the LOR controllers are not working.
I know its already been said but how many total LOR and Lynx controllers are we talking about?
Checking for bent pins or cat5 plugs that have been pulled is a good idea. I once had a LOR adapter with a bent pin. Luckily is was not a criticle pin. Check the Lynx dongle for bent pins as well.
Last of all, thank you Dennis for taking things this far.