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| Anyone use a USB485B for DMX this year? | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Monday January 2nd, 2012 05:00 am |
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1st Post |
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jeffl Member 
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I ran this whole year on an Enttec DMX Pro and it worked flawless. Now that hat my show is over for the year I thought I would test my other adapters, a USB485B and Lynx. I was testing and watching 8 pipes (fountain style), with the USB485B adapter did not work at all. Scattered results. The Lynx however worked just as the Enttec Pro and very smooth. Unfortunately after tonight I won't have a display to test, but I'm curious what others had for results. This was with LOR 3.1.4, 1 LOR network and 1 DMX. The DMX devices are Lynx Express v5.
____________________ You know you're addicted when the cost of everything you purchase is compared to a string of lights! Almost 600 Channels for 2011. http://www.ChristmasInBrandon.com |
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| Posted: Monday January 2nd, 2012 09:23 am |
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2nd Post |
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-klb- Member
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Possibly offset 1 channel?
____________________ http://www.LightsOnHarbor.org |
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| Posted: Monday January 2nd, 2012 01:51 pm |
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3rd Post |
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GoofyGuy Member 
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This is a lingering question to me too, as most of my display will be DC next year Im trying now to get the list together.
____________________ William S. |
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| Posted: Monday January 2nd, 2012 02:03 pm |
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4th Post |
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Paul Roberson Member 
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jeffl wrote: I ran this whole year on an Enttec DMX Pro and it worked flawless. Now that hat my show is over for the year I thought I would test my other adapters, a USB485B and Lynx. The USB485B adapter by itself can not do DMX. You would have to also have the LOR iDMX 1000. From the LOR iDMX 1000 out would be your DMX. EDIT I stand corrected I guess the LOR iDMX 1000 is not needed.  Last edited on Monday January 2nd, 2012 02:11 pm by Paul Roberson ____________________ Thanks Paul http://christmaswiththerobersons.com/ |
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| Posted: Monday January 2nd, 2012 02:04 pm |
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5th Post |
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heystew Member 
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while i did not used it in my final show.. i have used the LOR USB485 adapter multiple times to control various DMX fixtures.. these include: - several cheap RGB stars that would have made up about 30 channels (10 stars) - some moving head yoke lights - RGB Pixel strings the last would have been the most demanding.. i ran 126 pixels which would be 378 channels. didn't have any issues with any of the above.. but then again i only ran them in my basement to test for a while.. some for hours at a time.. but not mixed in with the rest of my LOR setup.. see this thread for the adapter cable I used http://forums.lightorama.com/forum75/30466.html (4th post) Note: the reason that i did not use this in my final show is that I wanted the processing offload capability that the Enttec Pro provided. I used 12 of them (plus 4 LOR networks) so I needed to offload as much from the show computer as possible Last edited on Monday January 2nd, 2012 02:17 pm by heystew ____________________  http://www.rockyrunchristmas.com |
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| Posted: Monday January 2nd, 2012 02:14 pm |
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6th Post |
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-klb- Member
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Paul Roberson wrote:
Reference this list of supported DMX adapters. It is listed as supported raw mode device. http://forums.lightorama.com/forum75/28546.html
____________________ http://www.LightsOnHarbor.org |
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| Posted: Monday January 2nd, 2012 02:26 pm |
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7th Post |
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Paul Roberson Member
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-klb- wrote: Paul Roberson wrote: I stand corrected.  I need to do a better job keeping up with things. Thanks klb!Last edited on Monday January 2nd, 2012 02:27 pm by Paul Roberson ____________________ Thanks Paul http://christmaswiththerobersons.com/ |
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| Posted: Monday January 2nd, 2012 02:28 pm |
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8th Post |
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heystew Member
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Paul, there are definitely reasons to use an iDMX however. If you use an MP3 director to run the show, i believe you need an iDMX.. also it can do standalone shows etc. So they are definitely still a useful product, but by no means the only way to do DMX anymore. dave
____________________ http://www.rockyrunchristmas.com |
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| Posted: Monday January 2nd, 2012 03:09 pm |
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9th Post |
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GoofyGuy Member
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My lingering question is if the LOR controllers can be used in a raw DMX universe, and Im aware the wires for the LOR controllers are not the same pinset as a true DMX controller. With a simple crossover cable out of the LOR controller to the rest of a true DMX controller would solve the wiring conflict. Why cant you run DMX throughout the setup? For example 4 LOR 16 channel controllers and for example sake those would be addressed 1,17,34,41 and from there your DMX devices from the forward addresses. Once again example a DC 27 channel controller at 58,86,114 and so on. In between the Lor controllers becuase of the wiring being on 4,5,6 pins from the daisy chain to switch to 1,2,3 as the DMX setup would require? Or am I overthinking the process.
____________________ William S. |
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| Posted: Monday January 2nd, 2012 03:14 pm |
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10th Post |
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heystew Member
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Goofyguy, I've never tried the LOR controllers in DMX mode.. simply because i'm new to DMX as of 2 years ago.. whereas i had used LOR for much longer than that. I think what you say should work just fine with the proper wiring. My display is complex enough that I actually like having the two different protocols because it helps me break the display into different segments and I can keep things straight in my head more easily. dave
____________________ http://www.rockyrunchristmas.com |
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| Posted: Monday January 2nd, 2012 05:13 pm |
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11th Post |
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GoofyGuy Member
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heystew wrote: Goofyguy, With 2800 channels I would need a crew to try and keep everything straight. For me with the idea of about 500, once the software is setup the protocol is no longer and issue. Setting up 2800 channels with universes and controllers I bet it would get a tad overwhelming. Im going to attempt it with some cheap hardware here in the next month or so. I think I have the right idea on making it all a DMX network only needing to change the output after the last LOR controller to match a DMX output. Only time will tell. Of course Im also in the thread about the pixels and thats tempting to figure out as well.
____________________ William S. |
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| Posted: Monday January 2nd, 2012 05:24 pm |
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12th Post |
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bretk Member 
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Paul, I had the same problem as you, except I was using those $6.00 dmx decoders. A usb485, and standard lor controller. Btw what dmx pipes are you using?
____________________ Bret   
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| Posted: Monday January 2nd, 2012 10:46 pm |
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13th Post |
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jeffl Member
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The LOR units can listen for LOR or DMX and will operate accordingly. very slick.
____________________ You know you're addicted when the cost of everything you purchase is compared to a string of lights! Almost 600 Channels for 2011. http://www.ChristmasInBrandon.com |
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| Posted: Saturday January 21st, 2012 04:12 am |
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14th Post |
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Cracker Member 
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I don’t know what the heck I’m doing wrong, but I’ve read several post over and over to make sure I was doing this right. Trying to run USB485B adapter in DMX raw and all that is happening is the lights are going crazy. Here is how I’m connecting... I connected the 485B to the PC and is recognized on Comm3. I opened the Sequence Editor and changed the network preference so the adapter connected is on DMX universe 1, Raw DMX and changed the LOR network Regular to None. Closed Sequence Editor so it takes affect and reopened. I then connected RJ45 pins 4 & 5 out of the 485B to pins 2 & 3 of the DMX device. (4 to 3 and 5 to 2). Next I opened the Control Panel. The CommListener shows Listening on port 8837, Connection accepted (352), A8007Lzf Adapter opened and Connection accepted (628). So far everything looks good. I verified the “Control Lights” is checked under the Play button. I opened up a sequence and made sure that the RGB channel I was testing is set to DMX Universe 1, channels 1-3. The DMX device is also set to 1-3. But when I play a sequence, the lights go crazy. Just flashing on and off. Tried reversing the pins, same result. To verify nothing wrong with the adapter or the DMX device, I connected using an iDMX...works perfect first try. WHAT AM I MISSING??
____________________ http://www.creativelightingdisplays.com |
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| Posted: Saturday January 21st, 2012 04:25 am |
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15th Post |
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jeffl Member
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Have you tried connecting the 485 device straight to a lor controller ctb16pc or 1602w to make sure it works there before experimenting with the pin changes? The software setup sounds correct.
____________________ You know you're addicted when the cost of everything you purchase is compared to a string of lights! Almost 600 Channels for 2011. http://www.ChristmasInBrandon.com |
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| Posted: Saturday January 21st, 2012 04:31 am |
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16th Post |
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Cracker Member
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jeffl wrote:Have you tried connecting the 485 device straight to a lor controller ctb16pc or 1602w to make sure it works there before experimenting with the pin changes? In my post I stated I connected to an iDMX and worked perfect. I didnt try a ctb16pc or 1602w, but thinking the iDMX should be good enough test? I can try it, but dont think its the adapter. I have 3 USB485B and all 3 had the same results. Wish I had a ENTTEC to try.
____________________ http://www.creativelightingdisplays.com |
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| Posted: Saturday January 21st, 2012 04:42 am |
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17th Post |
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jeffl Member
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Sorry. I guess I'm not following how you tested with the iDMX. Can you do a picture like this so I get it straight. PC -> USB485B -> iDMX -> DMX Device
____________________ You know you're addicted when the cost of everything you purchase is compared to a string of lights! Almost 600 Channels for 2011. http://www.ChristmasInBrandon.com |
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| Posted: Saturday January 21st, 2012 05:00 am |
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18th Post |
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Cracker Member
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jeffl wrote:Sorry. I guess I'm not following how you tested with the iDMX. Can you do a picture like this so I get it straight. Your picture is correct. With iDMX: PC -> USB485B -> iDMX -> DMX Device 485B (Raw) PC -> USB485B -> DMX Device
____________________ http://www.creativelightingdisplays.com |
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| Posted: Saturday January 21st, 2012 05:03 am |
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19th Post |
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Cracker Member
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To clarfy, when I used the iDMX...I changed the network pref for the 485B to Comm3 Reg.
____________________ http://www.creativelightingdisplays.com |
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| Posted: Saturday January 21st, 2012 05:06 am |
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20th Post |
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bretk Member
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I had a similar issue with the usb485. I just got tired of trying to figure it out and got an enttec. No probs scince.
____________________ Bret
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| Posted: Saturday January 21st, 2012 05:17 am |
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21st Post |
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Cracker Member
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bretk wrote:I had a similar issue with the usb485. I just got tired of trying to figure it out and got an enttec. No probs scince. I was hoping that wasn't the case. Each Enttec is only 1 universe (512chs) correct? Well $60 is better than $250 (iDMX).
____________________ http://www.creativelightingdisplays.com |
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| Posted: Saturday January 21st, 2012 05:39 am |
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22nd Post |
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heystew Member
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For whatever reason the usb485 has just worked for me (i'm using the booster version). I seem to remember someone mentioned maybe problems with an old version of the FTDI driver? another thing you could try is connecting the ground line.. although I've never had a problem not doing so. and yes each Enttec is 1 universe. Ran 12 of them this year with no issue.
____________________ http://www.rockyrunchristmas.com |
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| Posted: Saturday January 21st, 2012 06:06 am |
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23rd Post |
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Cracker Member
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heystew wrote:For whatever reason the usb485 has just worked for me (i'm using the booster version). I seem to remember someone mentioned maybe problems with an old version of the FTDI driver? FTDI driver sounds like a good idea. My driver is 2.8.2. The current verion is 2.8.14. Wont hurt to try. I'll check it out tomorrow. Release notes for the different versons: http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/CDM/CDM%202%2008%2014%20Release%20Info.rtf
____________________ http://www.creativelightingdisplays.com |
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| Posted: Saturday January 21st, 2012 04:30 pm |
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24th Post |
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jeffl Member
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Did you by chance try this. If you did please forgive me. PC -> USB485B -> plain cat5 cable -> ctb16pc or 1602W Setting the USB485B as a DMX raw device and removing it as a LOR network. I have not had much luck with the USB485B doing DMX. My results were scrambled as well. I have had good results with and Enttec Pro and Lynx USB dongle but I was testing on Lynx Express controllers.
____________________ You know you're addicted when the cost of everything you purchase is compared to a string of lights! Almost 600 Channels for 2011. http://www.ChristmasInBrandon.com |
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| Posted: Saturday January 21st, 2012 04:50 pm |
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25th Post |
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GoofyGuy Member
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Double check the LOR setting for networks. Best thing is to remove all adapters from the setup so the computer has none, reinstall 1 of them so you know there is only 1 set of addresses and then use the Sequencer network setting for the DMX/Lor adapter. Dont forget output in Raw!
____________________ William S. |
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