Express + USB485 help please!

[Donny M. Carter]

Hello all! Here's what I'm trying to do. I'm running S3  ver 3.1.2, USB485 dongle. I want to run an express. I made a cable where one end on the cat5 was normal 568B and the other end I put 4,5 in place of 1,2 and 1,2 in place of 4,5. Please tell me what I'm doing wrong. And it's ok if you talk to me like a 3 year old, sometimes I just don't get it! Thanks for any help!

Donny

[JonB256]

You've got the right number pins 1, 2, 4 and 5.

if 1 to 4 and 2 to 5 don't work, try 1 to 5 and 2 to 4.  The data lines are DEFINITELY polarity sensitive.

If what you are seeing is all 16 green LEDs lighting with no input, then you have them reversed.
Voice of experience!

[Donny M. Carter]

I'm not sure whats up!. I can't get any LEDs on the Express to light up. Not sure where I have it wrong, but I will keep playing with it. Thanks!

Donny

[Jeffl]

This is the best pin out link I have found that make a LOR/Lynx universal cable.  Also make sure you watch pin numbers, not just colors because they can be different on some cables.

Cable diagram

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rj45 pint number plug diagram

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[Jeffl]

You should at least have two of three status LED's or else you have a power problem.  All your trying to get at first is the three status LED's to light showing you have power and a DMX signal.

[Donny M. Carter]

I do have the two status lights working, just no data! I have verified the cable is correct. I believe my issue is my setup in S3. I'm not sure I have that part correct! For some reason it's just not clicking for me yet!
Donny

[Jeffl]

Start the LOR Control panel if it's not running.  This will start the LORCommListener.  Other than this if you have the DMX universe setup in the network preferences you should be good.

[Donny M. Carter]

Ok. I'm only hooking up the LOR USB485 to a single Express. In the Network Preferences, I want to make sure I'm correct. The regular network comm port is none. Does the dmx universe network comm port get set to what I'm using? In my case comm port 3. Does the protocol need to say raw dmx? Thanks Jeff!

Donny

[Jeffl]

Yes, use "Raw DMX" for the USB485B.  I always had to have a LOR network defined as well to get it to work but I'm not sure it's a requirement.

[Donny M. Carter]

In the Network Preferences, How do I get the adapter to find the USB485? It's plugged in, but not showing up under adapter. Thanks!

Donny

[Jeffl]

It will show up in the drop down box with a unique id on the  FTDI chip inside.  Mine is something like DPE00PTX.  Yours will be unique to your USB485B.

The easy way I figured this out was connect just one dongle at a time.

[Donny M. Carter]

OK! I have the id for the LOR USB now showing up (don't ask me how). I have a 16 channel sequence open. I have device type (dmx universe), network (universe 1) and channels set 1 thru 16. S3 is running in system tray. I have a simple chase across 16 channels. When I hit play, nothing. Also the data link led on the express is not lighting. I do not have a Lynx Dongle built yet. I have 2 v2 kits ready to build, just thought I would try testing the USB485 during the day on my laptop. At night, I plug the USB485 in to my desk top show computer and run my show. Which is all LOR boards. Thanks for your help Jeff!

Donny

[Jeffl]

One more thing to check to make sure the PC is correct.

Is the LORCommListener running?  It should look like a program on the taskbar?  If you click on it to bring the window up you should see a message about a DMX adapter being opened.  If you don't see this then this is the first thing we need to get fixed.

If at all possible can you take a alt- prnt scrn of the network preferences window and attach it so we can see that the network preference looks correct.

[lightingboy82]

i was having issues with not getting any output on my LE the other night, using a standalone DMX controller.  It turned out, after a long time of head scratching, rewiring and swearing, that if i removed the terminator jumpper, it worked just fine.  Just another thought. 

[Jeffl]

On just one LE the terminator on should be ok.  If it's the last in the chain then it should be on as well.  Any in the middle of the chain and it should be off.