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When to add a second network


Al Saunders

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Hi Everyone,

 

The other day after getting my order in on the mad grab sale that included one of the red HS 485 USB connectors that including that one I have 3 total USB connector/converters. I have the original black from when I started in 2009, a 485B that I got to power a set of ELL that I haven't used yet and now this new red HS 485. My current set up is 5 1602 pro AC controllers, 3 CCR's and one set of ELL's. Would it be a good time to split this into two networks as I grow my display? Also, I'm thinking the new red 485 should be used for the CCR's and any new RGB items I get in the future. I saw Brian's Bruderer's video and he split a 12 CCR arrangement into 6 on each network. Should I change the speed of everything to 500K while I'm making these changes?

 

While I'm posting, I'm trying to get my brain around the group/track posting earlier. For some reason I'm having a problem understanding this but I'll eventually get it. Since CCR's and I guess CCP/CCB's too want the strips/strings to be in consecutive order how do you guys/gals number everything. Why I ask this is originally I thought I would NEVER have more than 4 AC controllers (yeah right) so I made my first CCR unit #5 but now that I have 5 AC controllers and 3 CCR's I need to do some rearranging. And I'll need to redo a few of my sequences from last year too. This goes back to my original question about setting up a second network.

 

Maybe it's all the Easter candy messing up my thought pattern but I'm really not getting this.

 

Thanks for any help.

 

Al

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First, when it comes to tracks, see this article I wrote. One thing I need to add to it, though. Do *not* delete channels from the master track. Hopefully that article can give you some idea of tracks. I know George has some inf

 

As for networks - the ELL devices, or any Generation 1 device can not handle 500k. (Someone correct me if I missed a firmware update for the ELL.) You can not mix/match 500k and non 500k devices on a LOR network. If you are going to use 500k and non 500k together, you would need to place them on different networks.

 

Put your 500k devices on the red HS 485. Everything else could go on the 485b. Any controller that you place on the HS485 would need to be changed to an Aux network, and that network configured for 500k. Make sure you have the recent firmware updates on the CCRs and 1602 (g3's)

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Hi Don,

 

Thanks for the very helpfull info. After I posted this I was wondering if the ELL would "talk" 500k speed or not. You mentioned about firmware on my devices and in particular the 1602's being G3. My first one is G2 I believe as it is not digital. I select the unit number by turning the little white dial. Is the G2 able to handle the 500k speed?

 

I read George's article/post as well and it was very informative but I guess I'm slow at getting this idea of tracks and groups. Right now I have only 3 controllers (48 chanells) so as I got a new controller I just added it to the bottom of SE and scrolled up and down as I sequenced. They are numbered 1-3 on the regular network and I had 2 CCR's the last 2 years and they are numbered units 5 & 6 on same regular network. So in reading over your article and your above post I think what I will do is seperate the 1602 controllers and leave them at normal speed and setup an aux network for the CCR's and any future RGB devices like CCP's. If I move the current two CCR's from the regular network to an aux network will that change the savedindex on them? If so how does that effect me if at all?

 

Thanks!

Al

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Hey Don, I have 9 controllers that I am currently using. I purchased 6 CCR's and a G3-MP3 Director this last sale. I plan on adding another 6 CCR's for this year to make a 12 CCR tree. My question is will the G3-MP3 Director run all of my components and also do I need to separate them into two networks?

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Hi Don,

Is the G2 able to handle the 500k speed?

 

Only G3 equipment (and CCR's with recent firmware) can handle 500k.

 

I read George's article/post as well and it was very informative but I guess I'm slow at getting this idea of tracks and groups. Right now I have only 3 controllers (48 chanells) so as I got a new controller I just added it to the bottom of SE and scrolled up and down as I sequenced. They are numbered 1-3 on the regular network and I had 2 CCR's the last 2 years and they are numbered units 5 & 6 on same regular network. So in reading over your article and your above post I think what I will do is seperate the 1602 controllers and leave them at normal speed and setup an aux network for the CCR's and any future RGB devices like CCP's. If I move the current two CCR's from the regular network to an aux network will that change the savedindex on them? If so how does that effect me if at all?

 

Thanks!

Al

Changing networks doesn't change the savedIndex. Deleting channels and re-adding will interfere, but not changing the network information.

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There can be various reasons to run multiple networks. I will shortly be adding another network that believe it or not will have only one controller and use only 3 channels, but in this case it will be because of cable locations. The one controller will be in the completely opposite direction. It was easier for me to run another network rather than a lot of cable out and back and then connect to the existing cable. For Christmas this year I will add a 3rd network running at 500K for 6 strings of CCPs. That will be in addition to 1200 - 1500 RGB pixels on E1.31

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I ran 37 controllers and 6 Pixel Ribbons and 4000 pixels all on one network with fairly fast songs.  Until your set-up expands I would keep things simple on one network.

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