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| DMX Questions, and hopefully answers | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Wednesday December 21st, 2011 06:46 pm |
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1st Post |
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ydeardorff Member
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There is an abundant level of information on how to sequence christmas lights in the sequencer. However there seems to be a serious tech black hole when it comes to DMX. Lots of terms, like lynx, and dongles, dip switches etc. Yet no definitive information about setting up the DMX system in ones Christmas display. My hope in this post is that knowledgeable ppl with chime in, and help decode this bit of information. I personally have gone this into this train of thought due to making the setup on the roof a lot easier. One RGB LED rope light can represent, up to four individual light string strands. This helps in simplifying the setup of lights on the house. I know the 512 controllers have the Ethernet through point connections making them chain-able, whereas the little white 3 channel controllers that can be found for 3 bucks don't. So they would have to be on the end of said chain as the last element. The white controllers have been argued as not being addressable. Well I have found this making the claim it can make them addressable. http://www.holidaycoro.com/docs/DMXProgrammer.pdf This of course does not make the white controllers chain-able. However, this could make them like I had mentioned the last item in your daisy chain of DMX controllers, like a flood lamp, or last RGB LED string. How does the DMX system get setup? I know the sequencer has to know what items is what to properly issue commands to them. Im sure there are things that must be taken into consideration when using DMX and LOR boards. Here is a video on setting up a simple RGB flood lamp that helped me a lot. Perhaps it might help others too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1qS2pvSyBc What are the dip switches for? How are they configured? What do they do? It would be nice if the LOR boards were able to communicate natively to the DMX system, and you didn't need a dongle (whatever that is) to control them. This way we could just continue the daisy chain from the controller boards, directly into the DMX stuff. It would make life a lot easier. What does the DMX control look like in the sequencer? How do you sequence the RGB effects in it? How do you address the controller? What is a DMX universe, and how does that work in the sequencer? My personal hope is to be able to use DMX, and RGB LED light strips to outline my roof on the house and detached garage, as well as outline the 7 windows across the front of my home. While still using normal controller boards to control all the rest of the 80 to 96 channels in my yard. Here is a picture I have of the daisy chain on the 512 controllers. Again these are only for the RGB LED strips, not the 24 million color ones with a thousand effects. Attachment: DMX 512 common anode controller wiring layout.jpg (Downloaded 511 times) Last edited on Wednesday December 21st, 2011 07:22 pm by ydeardorff |
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| Posted: Wednesday December 21st, 2011 10:18 pm |
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2nd Post |
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bdeditch Member 
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It all depends on what you will be using to program all of this first. I am runng LOR S3 and using a doggle switch right after the computer Enttec Pro, it seems you need to have something like this if you are not using the LOR add for this.
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| Posted: Wednesday December 21st, 2011 10:23 pm |
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3rd Post |
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bdeditch Member
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Here's another good link as well http://www.lightuplawrence.net/Home/how-to-1/rgb-dmx-wiring
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| Posted: Thursday December 22nd, 2011 03:04 pm |
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4th Post |
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ydeardorff Member
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Is there a reasonably priced Dongle? To me 300 isn't reasonable to me. Im thinking of going light show pro V2 for the sequencer, as its not proprietary, and allows me more freedom of controller boards, while still retaining the same effect capabilities. Last edited on Thursday December 22nd, 2011 03:04 pm by ydeardorff |
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| Posted: Thursday December 22nd, 2011 03:26 pm |
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5th Post |
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zman Member 
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Check my website out for a couple of good presentations I did for Chicagoland Mini and Christmas Expo on DMX. These give a good background, Chicago covers LOR a bit more. Outside of RGB what would you like to do with DMX? You should get a foundation in DMX before launching into RGB control. Sequenceing is the same with DMX as with LOR. You just have to have your network set up to output DMX with the specific type of dongle. A dongle is needed to output the DMX signal, just like you need a USB dongle to have LOR talk to its boxes. Most LOR boxes with newer firmware will listen for both LOR and DMX. There are many ways to address the controllers. Some are dip switches, some is done with a programming interface. This is required to tell the light where it exists in the network. Send me a PM with your email.
____________________ ~ Mark Zembruski ~ http://www.woodinvillewonderland.com https://www.facebook.com/#!/Woodinville.Wonderland I have the CLAP - Christmas Light Addiction Problem - Do You? |
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| Posted: Thursday December 22nd, 2011 03:46 pm |
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6th Post |
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ydeardorff Member
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Im giving myself a crash course in DMX as fast as I can get the info. Ive pretty much got down the Ethernet portion of it, the addressing of the controllers Ive never done, but it sounds simple enough. Now It comes down to finding a cheap way of getting/making a dongle, then buying all the RGB strips. These dongles are VERY expensive. Is there a cheaper way to get one of these made/ bought? Plus what is needed? Would I need to use it via USB to Ethernet since Ill be running controller boxes as well with only one Ethernet port on the computer? I wont be doing anything more next year than just using DMX to control the RGB strips (this is to conserve the amount of light strings I will have to run, while gaining more control over the display). I will have plenty of other stuff to sequence and build. Perhaps , in the future Ill get more into the DMX control. But for now I just want the RGB control. PM sent Last edited on Thursday December 22nd, 2011 04:35 pm by ydeardorff |
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| Posted: Thursday December 22nd, 2011 05:07 pm |
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7th Post |
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geronc Member 
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These things are about as cheap as they come to having DMX. They are really easy to program and they are small. http://www.aliexpress.com/fm-store/701799/209915969-307297826/DMX-512-Module-decoder.html There really isn't an ethernet portion to DMX. It is just using Cat5 if you go that route for interconnecting your devices. I went a different route to hooking up these devices. I used the waterproof connector to hook mine up. I took off the cables that came with it and put 1 4 core waterproof connector for my DMX input and power and then used the connectors on the board for my DMX output and have a switch that i can turn on and off the power for the next DMX module depending on my power load. Yea, it takes some up front leg work, but to me, it is a lot better than using cat5. Just my opinion. The Enttec Open DMX is a cheaper option to get DMX from your computer. You can also just use the LOR USB 485 adapter which is half the cost of the Entec Open and it will do the same thing. You just have a different pin configuration. http://www.enttec.com/index.php?main_menu=Products&pn=70303&show=description http://store.lightorama.com/uscoad.html http://www.enttec.com/index.php?main_menu=Products&pn=70303&show=description Again, everyone does it different. It is just how you want to do it.
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| Posted: Thursday December 22nd, 2011 05:43 pm |
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8th Post |
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ydeardorff Member
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What about this? http://eshop.soh.cz/en/light-control/i110-module-usb-dmx-512 Or this? http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-Channel-LED-RGB-DMX-Controller-Dimmer-Common-Anode-/120825701738?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c21c5e56a Last edited on Thursday December 22nd, 2011 06:20 pm by ydeardorff |
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| Posted: Thursday December 22nd, 2011 06:19 pm |
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9th Post |
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bdeditch Member
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ydeardorff wrote: What about this? Looking at the bottom, I am not sure if would be supported by LOR
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| Posted: Thursday December 22nd, 2011 06:21 pm |
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10th Post |
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ydeardorff Member
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Possible, but Im going to be using Light show pro.
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| Posted: Thursday December 22nd, 2011 06:22 pm |
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11th Post |
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bdeditch Member
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geronc wrote: These things are about as cheap as they come to having DMX. They are really easy to program and they are small. Holiday coro sells the same DMX Module. Ray Wu is very highly recommended when it comes to buying from China. Holiday Coro also has a sample package that you can get to practise on. Just follow the directions for hooking up the USB to Cat5E cable. He has a small software program to use, but if you go to use it on LOR you have to make a change over so that it can be used .
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| Posted: Thursday December 22nd, 2011 06:23 pm |
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12th Post |
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bdeditch Member
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I forgot to mention the Enttec pro is now supported by LOR S3
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| Posted: Thursday December 22nd, 2011 06:25 pm |
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13th Post |
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bdeditch Member
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ydeardorff wrote: Possible, but Im going to be using Light show pro. OK, Inever noticed if it was there. Is it easier than LOR for programming? I have never seen it in use.
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| Posted: Thursday December 22nd, 2011 06:31 pm |
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14th Post |
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ydeardorff Member
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bdeditch wrote: ydeardorff wrote:Possible, but Im going to be using Light show pro. To me it looks damn near the same.
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| Posted: Thursday December 22nd, 2011 06:48 pm |
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15th Post |
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bdeditch Member
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ydeardorff wrote: There is an abundant level of information on how to sequence christmas lights in the sequencer. However there seems to be a serious tech black hole when it comes to DMX. Lots of terms, like lynx, and dongles, dip switches etc. Yet no definitive information about setting up the DMX system in ones Christmas display. Are you going to use a separate power source on each one?
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| Posted: Thursday December 22nd, 2011 07:17 pm |
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16th Post |
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ydeardorff Member
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Yes that the plan i was looking at the possibility of making a large enclosure for the 16 channel controller boards. And then make an individual controller enclosure for each of the power supplies and 3 channel enclosures to keep the weather off, and out of them. Just an external cat 5 connector, and a power plug in with the pig tail coming out for the RGB LED's LSP v2 is another sequencer like light o rama's. It appears to handle all the same things roughly the same way. But in the of season its less than 45 dollars. And the demo allows you to play with the first 16 channels I think. Last edited on Thursday December 22nd, 2011 07:28 pm by ydeardorff |
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| Posted: Thursday December 22nd, 2011 11:14 pm |
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17th Post |
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JBullard Member 
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Just a question, since this is a LOR equipment and software forum, sponsored by LOR, yet you say you will use another vendors software and hardware from somewhere else, none of it LOR, why are you posting here? Seems to me, that you would want to ask questions on the forums of the hardware vendors and software vendors that you will be purchasing from. If you get LOR software and LOR hardware, many of us will be glad to answer all your DMX with LOR questions. EDIT: I have Lynx controllers also as well as the 3 channel DMX modules as well as 30 LOR controllers and I use LOR S3 software. Last edited on Thursday December 22nd, 2011 11:16 pm by JBullard ____________________ John w/ 480 LOR Channels and 2 Cosmic Color Ribbons & 40,000 plus LEDs http://www.TennesseeLights.com |
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| Posted: Thursday December 22nd, 2011 11:32 pm |
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18th Post |
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ydeardorff Member
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Easy, I havent purchase anything yet, Im still testing the waters on both sides of the pond. Either way I need to know this info. So if it comes down to I have to buy a LOR system to talk to people here, and ask questions well then, yes I suppose I am in the wrong place. I would have thought this was about the displays, and making people happy.
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| Posted: Thursday December 22nd, 2011 11:38 pm |
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19th Post |
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wbottomley Member 
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ydeardorff wrote:Easy, I havent purchase anything yet, Im still testing the waters on both sides of the pond. Either way I need to know this info. I thought it was a Light-O-Rama Support Forums. I guess I've been fooled for 7 years now.
____________________ High Country Lights + Free Sequences |
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| Posted: Friday December 23rd, 2011 12:49 am |
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20th Post |
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friskybri Member
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wbottomley wrote:ydeardorff wrote: Lmao. Spit beer on monitor. Thats going to leave a mark.
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| Posted: Friday December 23rd, 2011 01:19 am |
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21st Post |
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Orville Member 
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wbottomley wrote: ydeardorff wrote: Only been here for almost 2 years now and I thought the same thing as William when I started reading this particular thread. So guess William wasn't the only one being fooled by the header "Light-O-Rama Support Forums"!!! And I'm not gonna swear to this, but I thought I read somewhere in the TOS of the LOR forums use about these types of posts were a no-no here. Or did I miss the memo that changed that?
____________________ ~Orville~ |
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| Posted: Friday December 23rd, 2011 01:52 am |
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22nd Post |
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friskybri Member
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Orville wrote:wbottomley wrote:ydeardorff wrote: You never got the new memo Orville. If you are new to the hobby, less then 100 posts. You can swear, demand everybody give them info and make sure they get their display up 2 days before Christmas. Now if you are over 600 posts you get blocked for a few days. Told not to be such a bully. SO be nice Orville.
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| Posted: Friday December 23rd, 2011 01:55 am |
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23rd Post |
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JBullard Member
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ydeardorff wrote:Easy, I havent purchase anything yet, Im still testing the waters on both sides of the pond. Either way I need to know this info. Well, guess when you said you would be using a competitor's software product in post 10 and every hardware link was for a non-LOR product, I thought I would ask, since this is not a general decorating forum like Planet Christmas is.
____________________ John w/ 480 LOR Channels and 2 Cosmic Color Ribbons & 40,000 plus LEDs http://www.TennesseeLights.com |
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| Posted: Friday December 23rd, 2011 03:56 am |
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24th Post |
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Greg Young Member 
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ydeardorff wrote:Easy, I havent purchase anything yet, Im still testing the waters on both sides of the pond. Either way I need to know this info. Given the fact that we see trolls here from time time, when the discussion in a post from a new poster seems to focus on other vendors' products primarily, in a forum that is known by all to be vendor specific, and additionally the poster has no real name/location identified, folks tend think the worst and become concerned that they might be dealing with another troll, trying to stir up business for a competing product. You would get the same concerns expressed from LSP users over on the LSP forum, if your posts focused primarily on LOR software. You may very well be sincere in your desire to learn about both systems, but when you posted that "Im thinking of going light show pro V2", and then 3 posts later say: "Possible, but Im going to be using Light show pro.." that certainly raises more concern to many reading your posts. If you are sincere, a better way to gather the information you seek is to ask about the LOR software/hardware here, and the other software/hardware on forums that focus on those. Often how we are perceived is how we present ourselves. Take my suggestions as just that, suggestions, from one who has been around all of the forums a while. Have a Merry Christmas! Greg
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| Posted: Friday December 23rd, 2011 04:12 am |
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25th Post |
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George Simmons Member 
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friskybri wrote: You never got the new memo Orville. And speaking of Orville and memos, did everyone see that they found the glitch in the forum software and we won't all be getting Orville's PMs anymore? Darn... some of those suckers were pretty juicy...
____________________ Just say NO to people who lack a sense of humor. http://www.clearwaterlights.org 2012 Custom Sequencing is SOLD OUT!. Waiting list now being populated... |
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