DiyLightAnimation
Hardware => Lynx Smart String => Topic started by: Pete on December 08, 2013,
-
When using the SS utility for SSC4's will the lights flash as with the previous versions to show a successful programing?
Pete
-
I believe so.
-
Yes they will.
Todd
-
Hmmmmm . . . .
I have 32 SSC4's and I cannot get one to program (no lights flash). I have checked and rechecked all wiring, connections and have programed and re-programed the PIC. Help!
Anyone have some ideas?
Thanks - Pete
-
Yes. If they don't check to make sure you are using the input side of your strip or the chip side of nodes. If using 3 wire connectors check them as some have bad connections or shorts. To clarify was your program jumper on? And your hub powered up?
-
Yes to all the questions . . . checked again too just to make sure.
Thanks - Pete
-
its always good to confirm the environment first. do you have any working sscv3, v2, or v1 that you can reconfigure to confirm that it is a v4 problem -- or not?
...and, are you using the latest utility? it is an EXE file that is dropped into the install directory that was created by an earlier version.
-
Even using the first version of the SSC utility the lights will still blink when programmed. They will just not work right since not all the needed data was programmed. I know this first hand since that is what I did a few days ago.
Todd
-
Help please . . .
I have checked and rechecked . . . I am still stumped - Thank you for all your suggestions. I worked on this last night until my wife said "go to bed, sleep on it you'll figure it out in the morning". Well I did and started again this morning and made no progress figuring this out.
I cannot get the SSC4's to take using the SS Utility (yes it is the newest one with "grouping"). I have checked the nodes - all good - reprogrammed (multiple times) the PIC using a Pickit 3 (using correct HEX file and the checksum is good) - did a continuity and short check, good - removed all plugs I was using and made a basic straight run to SSC and lights. AND I have tried multiple SSC4's with the same result . . . not lights flash when transmitting with the utility.
Now a twist . . . I tried a SSC3 never used before - same result. So I loaded the test firmware on that SSC3 . . . lo and behold it works. I reloaded the standard firmware and again nothing (multiple times too).
Then, I took a display item I used last year with a SSC3 and tried the utility on it and it works.
I checked all solder connections too
I am stumped again. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you - Pete
-
If the test firmware is working then that's a good sign. Triple check to see if you have installed 485 ship correctly. Using a dongle flashed pixelnet or ETD? Choosing appropriate device in program utility?
-
I got my ssc v4 programmed without problems. They flash the same as before when programming takes. Have you tried uninstalling and then re-installing the version listed for the V4 in the wiki ?
I'm also having a problem programming a v3 (modded v2) suddenly to control from rectangular modules. When this stuff doesn't work, you can sure waste a lot of hours in a hurry!
I also like to reflash the firmware to the latest (per v4 firmware in wiki) and make sure my checksum matches before using the SSC string utility.
Are you going from an etherdongle -> SS HUB -> SSC ?
The other day I didn't have the etherdongle plugged into the SS HUB --- seriously, I was so embarassed when I figured it out.
-
It is probably the Pickit 3 that is giving you these issues. I d believe that the Pickit 2 works with these PIC's and if you have one, I would use it. If not, then you may have to reset and reload the Pickit 3 firmware. MPLab can do that for you. You may also want to shoot a closeup picture of one of the SSC's that is not working and post them so that we can take a look and rule out any issues with the boards.
-
Can you explain exactly how your connecting the SSC to the PC ... all interfaces and devices and jumpers set, etc.
-
if you can program the SSCv3 with test firmware, and it works... then your pickit3 is working.
if you can get the SSCv3 with test to do blinky, then your hub has power.
if you cannot get the SSCv3 or v4 to do blinky before getting the channel assignment (xlights test mode set to do ALL channels), then it sounds like your pixelnet isn't working (anything from computer to dongle, dongle to hub, ...)
if only one had problems, you might suspect a 485 chip, but not all of them... well, unless there was an assembly problem.
so...
check your computer to dongle:
make sure EtD magijack (silver connector) is connect to your network switch, or directly to your computer. make sure that your computer shows the NIC is enabled and reports a link. the computer should show transmitted packets -- and if you have a sending device, also received packets.
make sure that your cable connects from the black EtD jack to the smart hub, it should be connected to the pixelnet IN connector on the middle of the hub board. you should have a green light on the hub (that is a given since you have power for the test firmware to do its business)
what do you know about the hub? has it successfully worked before?
what do you know about the dongle? has it successfully worked before?
change out cables -- I've seen that cause problems too.
-
I am at work so I will try and check all this in the AM and post results.
Thanks
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk (http://tapatalk.com/m?id=1)
-
if you cannot get the SSCv3 or v4 to do blinky before getting the channel assignment (xlights test mode set to do ALL channels), then it sounds like your pixelnet isn't working (anything from computer to dongle, dongle to hub, ...)
He also said that he took out a display item from last year that uses a SSC3 and it was working so that eliminates the issues with the ETD and cables up to the controller. Just because it can load the test firmware doesn't mean that it can load the running firmware properly. And speaking of firmware, I would look into re downloading the firmware to make sure that what you have is not corrupt. Having the correct checksum indicates that the file is good but..... BTW, what is the start channel that you are setting the SSC to?
-
if you cannot get the SSCv3 or v4 to do blinky before getting the channel assignment (xlights test mode set to do ALL channels), then it sounds like your pixelnet isn't working (anything from computer to dongle, dongle to hub, ...)
He also said that he took out a display item from last year that uses a SSC3 and it was working so that eliminates the issues with the ETD and cables up to the controller. Just because it can load the test firmware doesn't mean that it can load the running firmware properly. And speaking of firmware, I would look into re downloading the firmware to make sure that what you have is not corrupt. Having the correct checksum indicates that the file is good but..... BTW, what is the start channel that you are setting the SSC to?
Start Channel is 2305, however I have varied that from 1 up and still no difference. I am going to delete all hex files and uninstall the utility and start from scratch when I get home tonight/morning.
I will post the results.
Thanks Pete
-
...and your hub has the pair of jumpers on #1 pixelnet?
its been said that the SSCs needs to be programmed from Universe #1.
-
...and your hub has the pair of jumpers on #1 pixelnet?
its been said that the SSCs needs to be programmed from Universe #1.
Yes - all on universe 1
Pete
-
Good Morning to all - Thank you for your time and help.
This is where I am as of this morning, sorry it is long I want to be thorough:
Setup: ETD => Hub => SSC => Element (all tested good)
Computer: Dell laptop I5 with 8gb memory running Windows 8.1 pro 64 bit
I know these are good because I can hookup elements I have previously programed last year and they work. I used X-Lights and these all work correctly.
I have uninstalled the SSC utility, deleted the directory and cleaned up the registry. I have deleted all HEX files. I have also uninstalled the Pickit 3 programmer.
I have done a fresh download and install of the SSC utility and copied the exe file into the proper directory (checked for grouping - its there). Also a fresh download and install of the Pickit3 programmer (this time ver. 3.10 instead of ver. 1). I then downloaded a fresh copy of hex files for V2 modded and V4.
With the Pickit programmer I downloaded and installed the OS.
With that all done I again programmed the V3 and V4 SSC's firmware (first erased and blank check) the standard HEX files - successful.
I used the utility to set up my lights . . . I still do not get the lights to flash both V3 and V4 SSCs showing success.
I can load the test firmware to the V3 SSC and it successfully runs the light test. I can successfully program SSCs that were programmed last year and run them with X-Lights test
I cannot load standard firmware on any of my new V4's. I cannot load standard firmware on any V3's that have never been used before, however I can load test firmware on the V3's and it works.
I have even shut down my firewall and virus protection and tried . . . still no success.
I am beginning to think it may be my laptop and/or operating system. I am going to try a different computer using a different operating system.
I will post the results. Any suggestions? .... I am getting desperate.
Thanks,
Pete
-
Good morning?! 4pm here. ;D
I like Steve's idea to check connectivity of the ETD. Lights blinking etc? I have to disable wifi AND firewall on my Win7 machine. What to do see? Also, have you reflashed TDD firmware? I would for good measure.
-
It really sunds to me like the issue is with he new controllers. As said before, take some quality pictures of both the front and back of one of the controllers that is not working and post them. There seems to be an issue with the controller inputs since the test software doesn't use the input side of the controller. One other test would be to recheck the CRC of the controllers that you attempted to set up. If the CRC has not changed, then the controller is not receiving the data. Another thing to do is send us a screen shot of the config utility set up to program one of the controllers. Make sure that the confi utility is using the correct device to send the data to the SSC.
-
It really sunds to me like the issue is with he new controllers. As said before, take some quality pictures of both the front and back of one of the controllers that is not working and post them. There seems to be an issue with the controller inputs since the test software doesn't use the input side of the controller. One other test would be to recheck the CRC of the controllers that you attempted to set up. If the CRC has not changed, then the controller is not receiving the data. Another thing to do is send us a screen shot of the config utility set up to program one of the controllers. Make sure that the confi utility is using the correct device to send the data to the SSC.
Here are photos of one SSC and screen shot of the utility.
I am not sure what you mean by CRC.
I did try a different computer - lol - no change.
Thanks for your help,
Pete
-
I was having problems programming v2 modded to v3 SSC's before this year's show and I found that although I downloaded the latest version of the config utility, I still needed to download the updated exe here: http://diylightanimation.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=9752.0;attach=9716 (http://diylightanimation.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=9752.0;attach=9716) and copy that over the existing exe. Then I was able to successfully program.
-
I was having problems programming v2 modded to v3 SSC's before this year's show and I found that although I downloaded the latest version of the config utility, I still needed to download the updated exe here: http://diylightanimation.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=9752.0;attach=9716 (http://diylightanimation.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=9752.0;attach=9716) and copy that over the existing exe. Then I was able to successfully program.
Thanks - I have done that and still no blinky
-
When programming and configuring my devices, I like to do so from a "6' plant." This allows me to 1) ensure that everything is connected, 2) not have to run around to get things programmed, and Most importantly 3) stay inside where it's warm. Also, if you have a pixelnet donlge, you may want to try that instead of the etherdongle to eliminate some of the complexity.
-
You may need to check your data connections on the board. I can't see what connectors you are using on the data end or how you are connecting them to the hub but input position 1 is data positive. Black usually indicates a ground and you have that connected to input 1 but since I can't see where that connection is going to, I have no way to know if it a ground or not. If they are backwards, the unit will not function.
-
tbone beat me to it...
I like the pixelnet dongle idea if you have one. How did you go from cat 5 to 4 core (hub to SSC)? IE are you sure data lines are not swapped?
-
That's because I'm just lightning fast, LOL. ;D
-
Thank you -
No USB dongle
And yes I am indoors with my short programming harness.
I was finishing up my display knowing that the final step using the utility WAS the easiest and quickest step. How wrong was I.
I am using 2 Zeus 16's and these are a snap with the utility (thought they would be harder and go kicking and screaming). I used the same ETD to set the Zeus up and the ETD runs my abbreviated show at night so I know the ETD is good.
Pete
Hoping to add the rest of my display items soon just got to figure out why these don't want to play - lol.
-
You may need to check your data connections on the board. I can't see what connectors you are using on the data end or how you are connecting them to the hub but input position 1 is data positive. Black usually indicates a ground and you have that connected to input 1 but since I can't see where that connection is going to, I have no way to know if it a ground or not. If they are backwards, the unit will not function.
Hmmmmmm . . . .
I never paid any attention to the incoming data lines #1 is positive and #2 is negative??? Correct? I never considered the difference between the input and the output. What is the reason if I may ask - nothing in depth just a general why.
I never had any problems in the past but then it may have been pure luck with the hookup.
The 4 core is used as a quick disconnect, a cat5 cable hooks up to it and then the hub.
I will check this and post the results - THANKS
pete
-
That's because I'm just lightning fast, LOL. ;D
No, it's just that cannot put thoughts to words well or type... ;D
I spent an entire week with programming issues last year. Nearly gave up running a show several times during that week. Hang in there, you're close.
-
Yes, pin 1 (orange / white) is the positive and pin 2 (orange) is the negative. The chip is looking at line 1 for the signal and comparing it to line 2 to detect the high or on signal. Since both of these lines are high impedence, any noise induced on one should be duplicated on the other so the compare between the two should have the same difference. If you reverse the lines, then all it sees is zero and the negative going high is considered noise and is ignored.
-
Make sure your ETD is connected to your main NIC (network interface card). If you have several of those (like a USB to ethernet card) and your ETD is connected there, the utilities for the Lynx family will not work (well they will work but will not send commands through those cards)
-
Wooo Hooooo
All is working.
Thank you tbone321 and everyone who lent a hand to help me "see the light". That is what makes this forum so great - the willingness to help each other. Thank you again!
The input side of all my SSC's had the Data 1 and Data 2 swapped. Now I have a lot to correct.
Lesson learned follow directions. . . lol
Thank you Thank you,
Pete
-
RJ has good designes and in most cases, it's something simple. Glad to hear that you are good to go and have fun.