SOLVED!! - no results with Vixen->ED->LE

[Halstaff]

I'm just getting started and built my first EtherDongle and Express.  Had it connected to the computer and couldn't get Vixen to even run the test sequence until I increased my channel count in my Vixen routine to 2048.  Did that and it's running fine now.

[smartcontrols]

RAN VIXEN SEQUENCE:

o Laptop and ETD Ethernet jack yellow activity LEDs blink.
o Tried different ETD->LE Cat5 cable

Does the green LED activity light on the ETD also come on and flash as the sequence runs?

Be sure the “Remove for wireless” jumper on the LE is jumped as you are not wireless and need it on.

You do not need to configuar anything else in vixen for the ETD. I would try to create a test sequence of 4096 channels in vixen. Then use vixens channel tester function and click the select all channels button. Than as you move the slider up and down you should see all the activity lights flash (well shimmer it is very quick but is noticeable)
In doing it this way it does not matter what channel your LE is set to as all channels are getting the command.

Just some things I would check for.

Jeffry

[mmorlan62]

Jeffry,

Yep, done all that.  All connections and lights are playing between laptop and ETD.  We're now suspecting the LE but I don't have another DMX device with which to check the ETD so I can be sure.

Meh.

M

[pk]

Does the Lynx Express power up with the "Lynx express... 60Hz" scrolling on the LED display?  After power up it should show "001" as the starting channel number.

[mmorlan62]

PK,

Yep, LE boots just find and passes the test sequence as described in the build webpage.

M

[caretaker]

Try this sequence and see if it works for you.

[mmorlan62]

Jeff,

I will. Thanks.

M

[mmorlan62]

No joy with Jeff's sequence.   

So, to bring everyone up to date:

Vixen 2.1.4 -> Lynx_EtherDongle 2.1 plugin -> cat5 cable -> ETD -> cat5 cable -> LE

VIXEN:
o 2048 channel sequence
o EtherDongle plugin
o random sparkle set up in channels 1-16

ETD:
o all chips installed correctly
o power LED is on
o eNet jack link LED is on
o eNet data LED blinks when sequence running

LE:
o PIC chip successfully flashed for DMX
o all chips installed correctly
o when on-board test is run, LED3/DMX is lit
o data link LED lit (when Cat5 connected)
o 5v OK LED lit
o 3.3v OK LED lit
o 7-segment LED reads "001"
o terminator and power jumpers are bridged
o no lights connected to 120v outputs yet

When running sequence, Laptop and ETD eNet jack data LEDs blink but no other activity.

A BIG NOTE:  I have yet to attach a load to the LE.  I've just been relying on the channel LED's to light up as they do during the on-board diagnostic.

[bisquit476]

Have you tried the "all lights on" feature of the LE, to verify the LED's are all working?

[JoeFromOzarks]

This probably sounds silly, but put the ETD board against a bright light – I used a 100W incandescent - component side towards you and solder side towards the light so you can see (sorta) through the PCB. 

One of my ETD’s had a solder bridge between pin 1 and pin 2 on the PIC (and a pair of other PIC pins) and with the light shining through, I could see the ever-so-tiny bridges!   (Believe it or not, I inspected every pin over and over with a fairly powerful magnifying glass and a microscope and I still missed the bridge!)   

A little flux, a little solder wick and whoosh, the bridges were gone!   ETD works perfectly now!

joe

[mmorlan62]

bisquit - All the LED's light during the on-board test.  Is that what you mean?

joe - I took a high-rez photo of the solder side and zoomed in to review everything.  Maybe, I'll take another look.  (That image is linked in a previous post.)

M

[mmorlan62]

In an interesting turn of events, the LE on-board test now results in a "Led 3 / DMX" light NOT illuminated at the end of the test (although the "DATA LINK" LED still lights up when I connect the DMX input to the ETD.}

Might I have a marginal RS485 chip?  I have some extras in my personal inventory.

M

[RJ]

Try a different Cable also.

RJ

[mmorlan62]

Of course.  More A/B testing.

Also, I need to eliminate a variable and rent a DMX instrument to test the ETD by itself.

M

[mmorlan62]

I'm going to build an RJ45-XLR adapter cable.  I noted the single-universe diagram but couldn't find the 4-universe RJ45 pin-outs.  (I thought I saw that somewhere but have lost track.)

M