Help Please No Response from Dongle to Express

[Dholley]

Okay Guys I call Uncle,

I can't figure it out. I tested my dongle and my express approximately one month ago and all was fine. Now when I run the test for all lights from vixen there is no respose. The lights do not come on. Here is what I have so far:

1. It is a LE 4 and the self test works fine, all leds light and lights that are plugged into channels light up
2. I have downloaded and install the correct FTDI driver for the usb port
3. I have matched the baud speed  in vixen with the com port
4. I have terminated the express, this is the only board I"m testing
5. The wireless jumper is on
6. I have tried with another computer with xp and with another computer with windows 7 no luck
7. I have power to both sides of the express
8. The dongle I'm using was successful in lighting a board approximately 1 month ago

Any words of wisdom are greatly appreciated.

Danny

[rrowan]

Hi Danny,

When you plug the dongle into the computer does the computer recognizes the dongle (connection noise)
Can you verify that you are using the correct com port? Is Enttec DMX Pro Attached plugin enabled?
Do you have the DMX add-ins plugin unchecked
Can you try different cables (maybe they got damaged)

Rick R.

[pk]

Do the dongle's LEDs come ON? 

[Dholley]

Hi Ron and PK,

Yes the computer does recognize the dongle  and it shows it be com port 3. I have the Entec DMX Pro Attached and enabled.

When you say DMX add-ins plugin unchecked, are you referring to the Entec DMX Pro plugin? If so it is checked.

I have tired another cat 5 cable with no luck. I swapped usb cables, the first time I swapped cables, the lights came on and stayed on WITHOUT a request from Vixen. I unplugged the board and the lights went off. I restarted Vixen, plugged in the board and tried the test again and no lights. I swapped cables again and no lights.

Pk the led red and green lights are on.

Should I try re-picing the dongle?

Thank you,

Danny

[lineman]

When you say DMX add-ins plugin unchecked, are you referring to the Entec DMX Pro plugin? If so it is checked.

I believe what they are referring to is in vixen under the add in tab make sure DMX is not check this is in the add in when you open up a sequence the tab is in between tools and triggers

[Dholley]

Hi Lineman,

I did have DMX checked under the Add-In Menu. I unchecked it but still no lights.

Thank you.

Danny

[Rainlover]

Danny,
Does the dongle have dmx or pixelnet firmware?
Is the LE set to channel 1?
Is Vixen sending to the same channels that the LE is set to?
If you do a channel test and select all channels, does anything happen?
It is probably something simple. We just need to help you find it.

John

[Dholley]

Hi John,

To the best of my understanding the firmware is DMX. I downloaded it from the wiki websites as instructed by RJ.

The LE is set to channel one. I am testing all channels for board 1.

In an effort to find the problem, I setup another board (let's call it board 2). I have it set to channel one, for testing purposes I have only one channel cord connected for board 2, when I try to test just channel one, nothing happens, when I test all channels it comes on and stays on, even when I close vixen. The only way I can get the string to turn off in turn off the the board.

To recap; when testing board 1 nothing happens even when testing all channels. When testing board 2 if I try to test one channel (which is channel 1 by the way) nothing happens, if I test all channels, channel one lights up and stays on.

Any suggestions are greatly welcomed.

Danny

[Dennis Cherry]

Can you take a picture of Board 1 please both front and back and post the pics here.  We have many eagle eyes here.   

Is the jumper for wireless installed on the LE?

[Dholley]

Hi Dennis,

It will take me a minute to get some pictures. The wireless jumper is on the board.

I have re-flashed the dongle and the express, board 2 with no luck.

When  testing board 2 via vixen all the lights come on and stay even after I close vixen.

[Dholley]

Pictures of Board 2

[Dholley]

Pictures of board 1 front and back

[bisquit476]

I can't see the boards very well, but board 1 has the wireless module on it, but also the remove for wireless jumper is attached. i think it makes a difference. Did the V4 have to have the 485 chip uninstalled to run wireless?

[Dholley]

I removed the wirless module from boad 1, no change no lights via vixen, the self test works fine

[bisquit476]

What version Dongle? What firmware on the Dongle and LE?