DiyLightAnimation
Hardware => Other Projects => Topic started by: einstein2883 on September 25, 2013,
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I am in the process of putting the finishing touches on my new project and I’m looking for a few beta testers. The project is a Pixelnet to DMX converter (If you were at the Academy you might have gotten a look at it). This project works just like the DMX output on RJ Active Hub but it looks like a SSC.
It was designed to look just like a SSC but outputs one universe of DMX instead. It has 8 jumpers to select which 512 channel section that you would like to copy out of the Pixelnet stream. It also will pass-thru power and Pixelnet, so that it doesn’t take away any of your ports on the hub.
I am looking for a few beta testers that have more than just Lynx’s equipment. I would like this tested on as much different equipment as possible so that I know its working. If you are interested please let me know.
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I'd be glad to help beta this. I have Lynx, Open DMX 3 Channel controllers, Rainbow Floods, and access to some Renards that I can play with. Let me know if this works for you.
Duane
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I'd be happy to beta test this for you.
Denny
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I can test as well.
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I can test also.
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To give you an idea of the sort of second-guessing you can expect from me... :)
1) Would the cost and trouble be less for a pair of PCB-mounted RJ45 jacks compared to the pair of pigtails?
2) Would your processor be able to provide (4) DMX universes with the 4 pairs of wires? Downstream you could use a (de)combiner to separate out the 4 pairs. (this approach would mean no pass-through power, but most DMX devices wouldn't know how to handle it anyway...)
It looks good, and I can't wait to add it to my show!!
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Ok I think I have got enough testers (about 6). I will send you all a PM.
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To give you an idea of the sort of second-guessing you can expect from me... :)
1) Would the cost and trouble be less for a pair of PCB-mounted RJ45 jacks compared to the pair of pigtails?
2) Would your processor be able to provide (4) DMX universes with the 4 pairs of wires? Downstream you could use a (de)combiner to separate out the 4 pairs. (this approach would mean no pass-through power, but most DMX devices wouldn't know how to handle it anyway...)
I would think that the purpose here it to prove it functional, not to redesign it.
It looks good, and I can't wait to add it to my show!!
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1) Would the cost and trouble be less for a pair of PCB-mounted RJ45 jacks compared to the pair of pigtails?
This could really be argued both ways... I think by having it use pigtails it makes it more flexible. Its also harder to use RJ45 jacks and put it into a PVC pipe. You would have to drill a bigger hole in the end cap or put a new end on the cat5 cable. Also If you only need to go a few feet you could get away with just cutting a cat5 cable in half and soldering that in. You could also solder a male on one side and a female on the other or the other way around. It just all depends on where the user is looking to put this.
2) Would your processor be able to provide (4) DMX universes with the 4 pairs of wires? Downstream you could use a (de)combiner to separate out the 4 pairs. (this approach would mean no pass-through power, but most DMX devices wouldn't know how to handle it anyway...)
The PIC I am using only supports 2 serial ports (PixelNet IN, DMX OUT). So to add any more outputs it would take a big re-design (more chips and software). Sorry its not going to be possible right now.
The power on the output side (on the right) was meant to go with the pixelnet data that is also passed to that side of the board so that you could still run a SSC after.
Thank you for the suggestions keep them coming... but for now I think the HW side is good.
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Good points. Thanks for considering the suggestions.
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Any chance this would be ready to use this season?
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It has tested well with my setup. This is why I asked for beta testers so that we can confirm that it works with more then just my setup. As soon as we confirm that it works I will ask about a doing a coop. But it’s late in the year so who knows if it will happen.
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It has tested well with my setup. This is why I asked for beta testers so that we can confirm that it works with more then just my setup. As soon as we confirm that it works I will ask about a doing a coop. But it’s late in the year so who knows if it will happen.
Cool. If you have the PCBs ready I wouldn't mind getting my hands on one and even getting individual the components if I had to if a co-op wasn't going to happen.
Great work on the piece by the way!
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It has tested well with my setup. This is why I asked for beta testers so that we can confirm that it works with more then just my setup. As soon as we confirm that it works I will ask about a doing a coop. But it’s late in the year so who knows if it will happen.
Cool. If you have the PCBs ready I wouldn't mind getting my hands on one and even getting individual the components if I had to if a co-op wasn't going to happen.
Great work on the piece by the way!
i wouldn't mind having one of these also. Is there any specs on this yet? what it hooks into etc?
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Cool. If you have the PCBs ready I wouldn't mind getting my hands on one and even getting individual the components if I had to if a co-op wasn't going to happen.
Great work on the piece by the way!
i wouldn't mind having one of these also.
Sorry guys I don’t plan on sending any more PCB’s (if I send any more I think this will start to look like an unapproved co-op).
Is there any specs on this yet? what it hooks into etc?
The specs are that it takes Pixel net data and converts 512 channels of it to DMX. So it should hook into any DMX device. Hope that is what you were asking.
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Did you get beta tester? would like to see you get to the point of a coop.
RJ
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Did you get beta tester? would like to see you get to the point of a coop.
RJ
Yes...6. So far I have only gotten one person to do a quick test and it worked on one of Rays 27 ch controllers. Others have said they will try to test this week or very soon.
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How about an update?
How is the project going?
I get excited about anything that adds flexibility to our system.
Do you have a rough estimate as to the end cost?
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How about an update?
How is the project going?
I get excited about anything that adds flexibility to our system.
The beta testing has finished. We were able to test it on: LE, wireless, Rays 27ch, Rays 3ch, Renard, LOR, Aether.
Do you have a rough estimate as to the end cost?
I don't have my numbers near by but I know its under $20.
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Anything further on this?
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All the testing is done. It's just not a good time to start a co-op.
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Any new updates on this? I'm anxious to give my money away to the coop.
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any updates
Any new updates on this? I'm anxious to give my money away to the coop.
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Any updates? I need to output dmx from my Zeus and don't really want to spend $60 for that. I'm sure this option will save me some money.
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I think that you are going to find that this DMX converter is not going to play well with the Zeus, at least not without serious modification. This DMX converter is designed to be connected to a controller output of a smart string hub and gets both its power and signal that way. The Zeus is a series of SSC's already on the board. There is no Pixelnet output on any of the string outputs of the the Zeus and no power on the PixelNet output so it cannot be directly connected to any of the ports on the Zeus and function that way.
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Any updates? I need to output dmx from my Zeus and don't really want to spend $60 for that. I'm sure this option will save me some money.
I am looking to get a co-op going sometime soon.
I think that you are going to find that this DMX converter is not going to play well with the Zeus, at least not without serious modification. This DMX converter is designed to be connected to a controller output of a smart string hub and gets both its power and signal that way. The Zeus is a series of SSC's already on the board. There is no Pixelnet output on any of the string outputs of the the Zeus and no power on the PixelNet output so it cannot be directly connected to any of the ports on the Zeus and function that way.
I wouldn’t say that any modification to my board would be needed at all. You will most likely need to make a Cat5 cable to pull the right par of wires from the other PixelNet port on the ZEUS. Then you will need to get 7-12v to the board which can be pulled from any of the pixel outputs. I hope that makes sense.
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Did this project fall by the wayside and get abandoned?
I still have my beta unit and use it on my desk with a 4-port passive hub so I can have Pixelnet and DMX available with only one dongle and without the expense of an Active Hub sitting on my desk. I think others could benefit from having them in their yard. If the idea was abandoned, is there the possibility of releasing the code and PCB files so that users could get these if they wanted to? I could also see this board as an option for Aether II users to run them off an Active or Passive Hub if they wanted since there is no Pixelnet firmware for the Aether II.
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<fp. sorry I didn't mean for this project to slip. The project got put on hold because I was getting ready for the birth of my first kid last year. He was born on 10/26. After I put away my lights (kids take sooo much time) I will see where I left off.
I hope co-ops pick up this year, they didn't do very good last year.
I agree this board adds a lot of flexibility to displays/testing. It allowed me to run a 2nd DMX output off my active-hub to go in the opposite direction as the first.
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<fp. sorry I didn't mean for this project to slip. The project got put on hold because I was getting ready for the birth of my first kid last year. He was born on 10/26. After I put away my lights (kids take sooo much time) I will see where I left off.
Congrats. You are excused. :). Get some sleep whenever you can and forget the board for a little while longer.
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I used mine last year as well in an area where it was easy for me to branch off an active hub and do an SSRw/DMX vs. a 50-75 foot run of Cat5 from my Express. I'd definitely be up for getting some more because it did add so much ease of set up!