Smart String Dreaming

[rrowan]

Hi Folks,

Since its a "busy" day at work. During my "lunch" I put together a possible layout plan for next year. Going with its never too early to plan.

Anyway I can only go by what RJ has already posted and maybe just maybe these plans will stay the same or really change. So this is only a start point mixing in some of what I already have and how I understand the Smart Strings work and interconnect.

Using Visio 2007 I threw this together.

So what you do you? Good starting point or not

Cheers

Rick R.

[rrowan]

Hi Rick

Looks ok but I/We forgot to mention something

OOPs,

So the Smart String coop could go like this for me/us (whatever)
1 - PixelNet Hub
5 - SSC
300 - Nodes (need 260 but and extra 40 just in case)

Cheers

Rick R. or the other Rick R.

[Night Owl]

Do you need the splitter before going out to the expresses?  Somehow I got the impression that you could connect an express to the PixelNet hub. 

[rrowan]

Do you need the splitter before going out to the expresses?  Somehow I got the impression that you could connect an express to the PixelNet hub.  

Nope the splitter just allows me to run cat5 to different parts of the yard. Its really not need since the first controllers are now the LE's with onboard splitter. I have one so its still there. I could easily go away.

Cheers

Rick R>

[batdive]

Looks good.. i like the idea of the SS around windows and trees for the chasing (barber pole effect).

Dont forget about a matrix add some scrolling text/graphics also 

[rrowan]

Looks good.. i like the idea of the SS around windows and trees for the chasing (barber pole effect).

Dont forget about a matrix add some scrolling text/graphics also 

Good idea, I have two columns in front of my front door which I could do the barber pole effect)

Thanks

Rick R.

[fjaust]

looks good !!

there are going to be so many great things you can do with these SmartStrings it's going to be hard to know where to start. 
i don't have a megatree yet (this is my first year doing lights) so that's what i want for next year - somewhere in the 10-15ft range. plus a matrix or two for text, pictures etc.

forward planning is a great idea, especially since the coop will be open sometime early next year.

[rrowan]

looks good !!

there are going to be so many great things you can do with these SmartStrings it's going to be hard to know where to start. 
i don't have a megatree yet (this is my first year doing lights) so that's what i want for next year - somewhere in the 10-15ft range. plus a matrix or two for text, pictures etc.

forward planning is a great idea, especially since the coop will be open sometime early next year.

Totally agree,

I am a visual person so that is the reason for the layout diagram

This is my 3rd year doing a light show and I don't have a mega tree

and RJ still has a few more surprises so things will be added

It does come down to time and money. I have some time and less money LOL

Cheers

Rick R.

[Greg]

Hi Rick

Looks ok but I/We forgot to mention something

OOPs,

So the Smart String coop could go like this for me/us (whatever)
1 - PixelNet Hub
5 - SSC
300 - Nodes (need 260 but and extra 40 just in case)

Cheers

Rick R. or the other Rick R.

Uh Rick, (yes, both of you Ricks) you know you shoudn't be sneaking those green and black pills... Just stick with the white ones with the little cross on them until your display is up and running okay?

Greg

[rrowan]

Sure Greg

the other me took the blue pill

I took the red pill

and boy do I hate it when my show runs away

Cheers

Rick R.

[csf]

Glad to know I am not the only one thinking about next year... I am currently thinking of using 20 strings, 2,192 nods for next year

[mahoo313]

Glad to know I am not the only one thinking about next year... I am currently thinking of using 20 strings, 2,192 nods for next year

Is there any ball park figure on the cost to set up the "Smart String Dream."

[rrowan]

Glad to know I am not the only one thinking about next year... I am currently thinking of using 20 strings, 2,192 nods for next year

Is there any ball park figure on the cost to set up the "Smart String Dream."

RJ posted estimates in the main SS thread. Of course the prices will change in a coop

Going by memory
Hub 16 - @ $30 each
SSC - @ $8 each
Nodes - @ $0.63 each (nodes = each RGB LED)

Of course this is also the cost of cat5 cables and a power supply for the hub if you don't have them. Oh and something weather tight for the hub/power supply to go into and the pvc pipe and end caps for the SSC.

Hope that helps

Rick R.

[Night Owl]

I was in the process of building my megatree and was going to order a ton of LED lights when I first read about the Smart Strings.  I am SO happy I didn't place my order earlier.  I went to Walmart and got 16 strings of the cheap minis to put on the megatree just so I didn't end up with a lonely metal pole in the yard.

16 strings with 48 nodes each, 16 SSC, one hub, power supply etc looks to be around $700.  Which initially looks like a huge number until you take into account that I was looking at almost $200 for each color I wanted on the tree for the LEDs.

Of course my wife won't see it that way.   

[ronniek]

I would like to see a common size tree that we could exchange programming with each other. I’m sure it will take a lot of time to program smart strings and this would save a lot of time for everyone. Do you think this could be possible?