Author Topic: Conductor Issues  (Read 2911 times)

Offline IndianaChristmas

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Conductor Issues
« on: November 11, 2012, »
I put my conductor kit together.  Followed advice and touched the pins of my CF card connector to attempt to ensure proper connections.
Mounted the conductor on a working EtD.
Updated firmware for conductor.
I get apparent power to the conductor as I see the red light on the MP3 module.

I have turned off my firewall

Placed a short sequence created from LSP v2.5 and an MP3 on my CF card.

When I start up the Conductor Panel the first thing I notice is that it seems to be sluggish to input.  I didn't see this happening in RJ's video.

Second, I don't get Panel to show that the conductor is connected.  However, when I eject my card, I get the "Card Error" message.

Any ideas what I'm doing wrong?

Thanks.

Offline Mickpat

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Re: Conductor Issues
« Reply #1 on: November 11, 2012, »
Have you created a schedule and copied all of your show files to the CF?

Offline rdebolt

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Re: Conductor Issues
« Reply #2 on: November 11, 2012, »

The control panel will not recognize the Conductor until you have created:

1) at least one *.seq and/or *.mp3 file on the compact flash (CF) card,
2) created a password, which will create a password.dat file on the CF card,
3) create at least one show, which will create a file *.sho on the CF card, and
4) schedule a show to run, which will create a playlist.dat file on the CF card.

All four of these must be met before the control panel will see the Conductor.

Thanks Denny aka dcwehw99

Offline kjam22

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Re: Conductor Issues
« Reply #3 on: November 11, 2012, »
I am having an issue getting the firmware to load (conductor14).  I get an error each time I try to flash the new firmware.  The regular pixelnet firmware loads with no issues and I have been using the ether dongle to run and test my controllers.  Ay ideas?

Offline rrowan

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Re: Conductor Issues
« Reply #4 on: November 11, 2012, »
Try re-downloading the firmware you might of got a corrupted one.

Rick R.
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Offline kjam22

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Re: Conductor Issues
« Reply #5 on: November 11, 2012, »
Thanks I will give that a try next

Offline IndianaChristmas

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Re: Conductor Issues
« Reply #6 on: November 11, 2012, »
I do have a show and schedule as well.
I place the card in and still get Card Error.
I see all the necessary files on the card.

I should also say that the control panel looks funny.  The "Disable Show" button does not display its text and button above "Rest Conductor" is missing.

I downloaded from the link for V1.5 of the control panel from the wiki twice!

I'm stuck.  The only thing I can think of is one of the pins for the CF card is still bad.

Offline rdebolt

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Re: Conductor Issues
« Reply #7 on: November 11, 2012, »
You might try connecting the cat5 cable to directly to you computer and see what it does.

Offline IndianaChristmas

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Re: Conductor Issues
« Reply #8 on: November 11, 2012, »
I'm not sure what you mean by connecting Cat5 directly to my computer.
My current connection is:

PC->Cat5->EtD conductor (while I am using the Control Panel).

I've swapped out Cat 5 cables as well.  No difference.

I never see the Conductor Info area show "Waiting."  It always shows "Not Connected" until I remove my card then I see "Card Error."  Returning card does not remove the "Card Error" display.

Offline rrowan

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Re: Conductor Issues
« Reply #9 on: November 11, 2012, »
I think it comes down to two possibilities

1 - all of the requires files are not on the CF or you have a file or files over 8 characters long
2 - you have a solder problem(s) on the CF connector

Rick R.
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Offline IndianaChristmas

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Re: Conductor Issues
« Reply #10 on: November 11, 2012, »
I've checked file names and lengths.
Reformated my CF card and added the files, created show and schedule and password to no avail.
I'm guessing it is solder joints.  Not going to be fun with everything assembled now but I'll hit the CF connectors again.
I've attached screen shots of both my CF Card files and what the Control Panel is showing with my CF card plugged in.  Just in case there is a hit there.

Offline IndianaChristmas

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Re: Conductor Issues
« Reply #11 on: November 11, 2012, »
It was a solder joint issue.  Fixed 3 on the CF card end of things and got it going!  Thanks.

Offline rdebolt

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Re: Conductor Issues
« Reply #12 on: November 11, 2012, »
Glad to hear that you got it going!

Offline dcwehw99

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Re: Conductor Issues
« Reply #13 on: November 11, 2012, »
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I think it comes down to two possibilities

1 - all of the requires files are not on the CF or you have a file or files over 8 characters long
2 - you have a solder problem(s) on the CF connector

Rick R.

If your EtherDongle had working communications prior to adding the Conductor daughter card and loading the Conductor firmware and it shows a status of "Not Connected" in the Conductor Control Panel when you try it, then as Rick said above it's either one or both of those two items that are preventing you from seeing a normal status of "Waiting".  This is not a network communications problem with the Conductor if the EtherDongle was working previously.

Denny

Denny

Offline IndianaChristmas

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Re: Conductor Issues
« Reply #14 on: November 12, 2012, »
I should also point out that the Conductor Control Panel was much more responsive and now its appearance is normal as well.  Not sure why but by simply getting all the solder points correct, the Panel behaved properly as well.

Thanks for the input and the excellent posts that dealt with this issue with others as well.