Testing beyond 4,096 channels with 1 dongle

[zwiller]

Tried a few ways, can this not be done?  Can someone point me in the right direction.  THANKS

[onesmoothhead]

I guess it would depend on what device you are using beyond the 4096 and the type of Dongle?  I use a multiple active hubs on different universes and can test all the way through.  I use xLights test and test everything. the next 4096 channels will start at 4097 in your software, but in the hardware it would be Universe 2 channel 1. I hope that helps and does not confuse you.  Maybe we should start with the type of Dongle you are using?

[zwiller]

DMX dongle flashed pixelnet.  In xlights I setup 2 pixelnet dongles 1-4096 and 4,096-8,192 and set hub to Universe 2 and expected it to work but it didn't.  In fact, it crashed xlights. 

[Steve Gase]

a usb only generates one universe on the first pair of wires (#1 orange/white and #2 orange)


an EtD generates 4 universes across the 4 pairs.


if you need 2 universes and don't have an EtD, then you could use 2 USB dongles, and a combiner -- which combines the output for up to 4 USB dongles into a single cat5 cable... from there a smart hub extracts data from one pair (which you select with jumpers)

[zwiller]

I was aware of the 4,096 channel limitation, was just hoping to get around it somehow.  I am not going to disturb my conductor setup.  Can I somehow use only the 2nd universe?

[onesmoothhead]

I would think you could move your jumpers on the 2nd universe to universe 1 and use the 4096 channels just to make sure lights are working. Then move them back for your show.  I am assuming much here, like you are using a hub or Zues or something you can select universes on.

[Steve Gase]

if you REALLY needed to test the lights receiving data over universe #2 -- and have only one USB dongle, then you can put that dongle onto the second pair of wires using the instructions below.

but I'm not really sure why you'd need to do this -- except as an exercise.  if you have (for instance) a LOR dongle, that dongle is one a different network and its channels will not conflict with the pixelnet channels that come over the USB dongle.  each are separate networks defined in software.

so... lets say you really want to use the 2nd universe... 

1) if you have a combiner, insert it between the dongle and the first hub.  if you want the dongle to be handled as universe #1, then plug the cable from the dongle into input port #1.  if you want universe #2, then move it to port #2.

2) no combiner? then make a cable...  cut a small cat5 in half, and reconnect one end (that connect to the dongle)  using wires #1 (orange/white) and #2 (orange) to the other piece (which connects to the hub) using wires #3 (green/white) and #6 (green).

[zwiller]

Thanks Steve.  You hit it the nail on the head.  Great explanation btw.  I need a combiner to switch the wires/universes or rig a cable.  THANKS. 

[onesmoothhead]

wow, that right there is pretty cool. 

[zwiller]

Had a few universe 2 SSCs to program.  I programmed as the SS utility requires (subtract 4096, plus one)  Then I decided to test in xlights on the channel I used in the SS utility with hub on universe 1 and it worked.  Tried this before and it didn't work but I think I changed hub to universe 2...  Can I be assured that it is programmed correctly (in universe 2) when I test this way?  (no need to mod a cable)  I just like to verify programming before setting it up outside.  THANKS

[Steve Gase]

If you only have one dongle and you want it to be the 2nd dongle in xlights...  Then, create a dummy dongle that is configured as disconnected instead of a specific com port.  It will consume channels 1-4096 so that dongle 2 takes 4097-8192.

[zwiller]

Didn't realize there was a not connected option...  Set this up at lunch and it works with hub set to universe 1 but not when set to universe 2.  Do I still need the combiner/modded cable for the 2nd pair? 

[chrisatpsu]

worst case scenario, setup E.131 for the first 4096 channels.
then setup your usb dongle for channels 4097 +

[zwiller]

Same deal...  Works in universe 1 and not 2. 

[CaptainMurdoch]

Same deal...  Works in universe 1 and not 2.

You're only going to get output with the hub set to universe 2 if you have an EtherDongle and you're sending data on Universe 2, or you have a USB Dongle and as Steve suggested, you've plugged that into the combiner or made your own adapter cable.

I'm not sure what you want to accomplish by doing that though.  There is no logic on the hub or SSC's that know what universe they are on, the only thing that makes a universe 1 hub different from a universe 2 hub is the two jumpers installed to connect the correct pixelnet pair from the input RJ45 connector to the chips on the hub.  If you build your own cable or use the combiner, you're effectively just testing the combiner or home-made cable and that the jumpers on your active hub work (and also your sequencer/xLights is sending data on universe 2).  You're not really testing universe 2 on the hub or SSC's any more than you were testing universe 1 since the devices don't know the difference, it's all controlled by the pixelnet pair they are wired/jumpered to.

I am curious about this comment as well:

Had a few universe 2 SSCs to program.  I programmed as the SS utility requires (subtract 4096, plus one)

I haven't seen the "plus one" mentioned before.  If you want logical channel 4097 on your SSC, that would be channel #1 in universe #2.  By your formula above, you would use 4097 - 4096 + 1 which equals 2 which is incorrect AFAIK.