Stumped! E682 and WS2811

[ShaggySS]

I just hooked up my E682 to two strips of WS2811's and I am getting random test results. I am curious if anyone knows the answer to my likely newbie issue.

So I have the E682 hooked up and it configured for what I think is the 2811's, I read that I should use Chip 4 or 1804 (F).

Test 1 lights up about 1\2 the strip red

Test 2 lights up the whole strip green

Test 3 lights up about half the strip blue

Test 4 sparaticly lights up half the strip red and will randomly do a sparatic chase

Test 5 sparaticly lights up half the strip green and will randomly do a sparatic chase

Test 6 sparaticly lights up half the strip blue and will randomly do a sparatic chase

Test 1-3 should light up the whole strip Red, Green, Blue where as 4-6 should do a chase pattern. Randomly it will chase about half the strip.

I left the strip blue while I was researching and the strip slowly gets more blue. After about 5 minutes it's 3\4's of the way blue. Even more random if I light up the strip green and then blue it changes the first half of the strip blue and the second half remains green except a few random pixels. In this case 47 and 48 are off. Each time its differen pixels which are off. See attached. Now I have done a few tests and this only happens if I test green then switch to a different color.

What I find even more strange is that I have one strip hooked up to 1-1 and the other hooked up to 2-1 and the config is the same except when I light them up blue 2-1 lights 2 more pixels than 1-1.

I have tried another RGB strip but it had similar results. I have tried socket one and two and still similar results.

Any ideas?

E682 Config

SanDevices E1.31 Pixel Controller Model E682-6

CPUs Used: Main E1.31 TIMER Array PixA1 PixA2 PixA3 PixA4

Current Network Mode is: Normal STATIC

IP Address: 192.168.001.206 Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.000 Gateway: 192.168.001.001 DNS Server: 192.168.001.001

Mac Adrs: 4A:49:4D:48:18:1E

System Up-Time: 0000:25:14 Firmware Version: 2.040 Web Timeout in: ---

E1.31 Packet Statistics:

Socket s1 Socket s2 Socket s3 Socket s4 Socket s5 Socket s6

Universe Number 1 2 3 4 5 6

Packets Received 0 0 0 0 0 0

Sequence Errors 0 0 0 0 0 0

Invalid Packets 0 0 0 0 0 0

Global Configuration:

Static Network Information:

IP Address: 192.168.001.206 Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.000 Gateway: 192.168.001.001 DNS Server: 192.168.001.001

WEB Server Socket: 8 (DEDICATED) Last Firmware Update Status: None Tried

Default IP Mode: STATIC Web Srvr Mode: Boot+Auto No Data Timeout: Disabled Test Pattern: 03

Pixel String Configuration:

Cluster# Strings Chip Pixels Grp Str Len RGB DMX Address Range Reverse Zigs Null Pixels Refresh Gamma

1 4 1804(F) 050 001 0050 BRG s1-001 thru s2-090 NNNN 0000 0-0-0-0 0245

2 4 1804(F) 050 001 0050 BRG s2-091 thru s3-180 NNNN 0000 0-0-0-0 0245

3 4 WS2801 050 001 0050 RGB s3-181 thru s4-270 NNNN 0000 0-0-0-0 0212

4 4 WS2801 050 001 0050 RGB s4-271 thru s5-360 NNNN 0000 0-0-0-0 0212

Current Page is: 0

[ShaggySS]

I realized my mistake could be a simple as doing the jumpers wrong on the board so here is a picture of the board. I am using a 12V power supply. Jumpers are one 1-2 and 3-4. I left everything else alone

http://sawinlife.com/e682.JPG (Full Res Picture)

[heystew]

Several thoughts:

- set your # of strings to 1 for each cluster 1 and 2 [ "strings 1 1" and "strings 2 1" ]

- make sure you type "save 0" after making changes, i've seen odd things happen before you save the settings

- i've always had sporadic results with test 4-6, with some lights it does what it's supposed to, with other's it doesn't. but test 1-3 should work all the time.

Question: are the strips 50 pixels each? just make sure that is right in the config

dave

[ShaggySS]

Several thoughts:

- set your # of strings to 1 for each cluster 1 and 2 [ "strings 1 1" and "strings 2 1" ]

- make sure you type "save 0" after making changes, i've seen odd things happen before you save the settings

- i've always had sporadic results with test 4-6, with some lights it does what it's supposed to, with other's it doesn't. but test 1-3 should work all the time.

Question: are the strips 50 pixels each? just make sure that is right in the config

dave

Seriously?!? Can you explain what that did? I noticed the address range changed from s1-001 thru s2-090 to s1-001 thru s1-150 which mathematically made sense 50 pixel strip and 3 channels per pixel = 150. I guess I assumed that setting was for actually controlling the lights and during testing it would just turn them all on.

Thank you Thank you!

[heystew]

Here's a quick attempt to explain:

- the strings command changes the number of strings that you have hooked up to each Cluster. (each cluster is a group of 4 connectors on the board)

- the Sockets (s1-s6) are data connections that accept commands from the PC. each Socket is assigned to a DMX Universe so it can have up to 512 channels.

- when you do not specifically tell it otherwise (using the DMX command) it will auto assign socket channels based on how many strings/pixels you have configured the cluster for.

So what you were seeing is with 4 strings assigned to socket 1, it was allocating 600 channels (50 nodes x 3 ch per node x 4 strings = 200) to the first Cluster. This meant that the Cluster 1 needed all of socket 1 plus some channels from socket 2. Cluster 2 then received the remaining socket 2 channels and some of socket 3.

Why that affects the test 1-3 patterns I am not 100% sure. However I know that things behave very oddly when you do not have it configured exactly. If cluster 1 had not bled over into cluster 2, I think all would have worked normally. This behavior is most likely due to timing and how the data is sent to the pixels in serial, I'm not sure how the 2811 works but some expect data in pixel order, some in reverse.

hope that helps...

dave

[ShaggySS]

Thanks again for the help. I was out of ideas. Who would have thought it was that simple. I played around with it a little more and got two strings connected end to end working also. This setup is awesome. Though I did notice a color difference especially on the white I suspect thats becuase I simply extended it without injecting power.

LOR controls it flawlessly except my wife isn't too fond of me enabling multicast on the network....kinda kills the wireless. I guess configuring a dedicated network card is a must or a smarter switch.

[ChristmasCanada]

I just received my E682 today... How do you get to the configuration page for the E682.? I also have the 2811 strips. I only need to hook up 3 x 5m 2811 strips to my board for now. Any help would be great. Also did you supply power for the E682 through the pixel power supplies.?

[Tim Fischer]

I just received my E682 today... How do you get to the configuration page for the E682.? I also have the 2811 strips. I only need to hook up 3 x 5m 2811 strips to my board for now. Any help would be great. Also did you supply power for the E682 through the pixel power supplies.?

Please read the docu - there are several ways to get to the config screen depending on how you hook it up. I couldn't get the static address to work (without reconfiguring my home network) so I held down the button as instructed and put it in DHCP mode, with the laptop off my home network and directly configured to the E68x, and then used the default DHCP address indicated in the docu. I then reset the address to something I could use from the config screen.

To answer your second question, I'm powering my E68x through the pixel power supples. I'm not actually sure why you wouldn't, but I'm sure someone has a reason and the board can handle it either way.

[ShaggySS]

I just received my E682 today... How do you get to the configuration page for the E682.? I also have the 2811 strips. I only need to hook up 3 x 5m 2811 strips to my board for now. Any help would be great. Also did you supply power for the E682 through the pixel power supplies.?

To keep things simple I plugged the E682 into a switch that is connected to my computer. Powered it up and went to 192.168.1.206 whcih is the default static IP address. It does run multicast so the rest of my computer network was not pleased but it got me up and running initally. Make sure you power both sides of the E682 I powered the one side just for testing and I only got one light when I powered both sides it worked. Simple jumpper did the trick. Let me know if that helps.

Once you get it up and running type Chip 1 4 to update it to the WS2811. You'll need that command for each socket you plan on running off E682 "CHIP 2 4" for socket two and so on. Test 4 should be on by default.

Hope this helps.

[ChristmasCanada]

Thanks for the help... I'll be moving slow with this project. I'm a little confused about setting the IP address. Time for some more reading.

[ShaggySS]

Thanks for the help... I'll be moving slow with this project. I'm a little confused about setting the IP address. Time for some more reading.

It has a default address currently set and the IP typically fits into the average home users setup of 192.168.1.1 being your gateway. If you have any additional question or concerns please let me know. I can be frustrating at times until you understand it. After a day of playing with it I am feeling very good about this device.

[Tim Fischer]

It has a default address currently set and the IP typically fits into the average home users setup of 192.168.1.1

That was my problem, mine is 192.168.10.x

[ShaggySS]

So to set it up you need to plug it directly into your computer and set your computer IP address to 192.168.1.200, subnet mask 255.255.255.0 and a gateway of 192.168.1.206

Open up IE and go to http://192.168.1.206

In the bottom bar type the following

"IP 192.168.10.206"

"Gateway 192.168.10.x" (I would guess .1 but verify

"Save 0"

Then plug it back in and you'll be good. You could do the DHCP route but I personally prefer Static.

[ChristmasCanada]

So to set it up you need to plug it directly into your computer and set your computer IP address to 192.168.1.200, subnet mask 255.255.255.0 and a gateway of 192.168.1.206

Open up IE and go to http://192.168.1.206

In the bottom bar type the following

"IP 192.168.10.206"

"Gateway 192.168.10.x" (I would guess .1 but verify

"Save 0"

Then plug it back in and you'll be good. You could do the DHCP route but I personally prefer Static.

Thanks Shaggy.... I'll be giving it a shot tomorrow night.

[HiTechLights]

Don't forget to set your computers network settings back to DHCP or to your static subnet.

[ChristmasCanada]

So to set it up you need to plug it directly into your computer and set your computer IP address to 192.168.1.200, subnet mask 255.255.255.0 and a gateway of 192.168.1.206

Open up IE and go to http://192.168.1.206

In the bottom bar type the following

"IP 192.168.10.206"

"Gateway 192.168.10.x" (I would guess .1 but verify

"Save 0"

Then plug it back in and you'll be good. You could do the DHCP route but I personally prefer Static.

Sorry for all the dumb questions. I've never set an IP address. So the first thing I would do would be to use the control panel of my laptop to set an IP address of 192.168.1.200. subnet mask 255.255.255.0...gateway of 192.168.1.206. I would then use Internet Explore and enter .?? After I enter that I enter IP 192.168.10.206"

"Gateway 192.168.10.x" (I would guess .1 but verify

"Save 0"

Thanks Mark

[ShaggySS]

Go into your control panel and under "Network and Internet" click "View Network Status and tasks" Click "Change adapter settings" you should have a few things here if you have wireless. You can typically look at the name or the icon to tell which one is wired and which one is wireless. Right click on the NON wireless one and choose properties. Then look for "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click on it and choose properties. You should have it set to obtain IP address automaticly. Click use the following IP address and type it in.

Hope that helps. Let me know.

[ChristmasCanada]

I have the E682 configured thanks to your help. I think. Lol.... Do I have to go back into my network to change anything back.? Crossing my fingers that the strips work when I run a sequence. I still have to add a DMX universe tommy sequence and setup for multicast.??

Thanks Mark

[ChristmasCanada]

I can't seem to get any lights at all. I tried the test patterns from the web server and none of them work.? I've also tried to run the LOR sequence editor and no lights... How do you have your WS 2811 strips wired to the E682.? I have only 3 wires going back to the 682.. The two grounds that come off the strip back to the ground on the 632. 12v + to 12v + and the data. Is this right.? The other thing is when I try to change the chip on the web server to WS 2811 it keeps changing back to the WS 2801.??

[ShaggySS]

I can't seem to get any lights at all. I tried the test patterns from the web server and none of them work.? I've also tried to run the LOR sequence editor and no lights... How do you have your WS 2811 strips wired to the E682.? I have only 3 wires going back to the 682.. The two grounds that come off the strip back to the ground on the 632. 12v + to 12v + and the data. Is this right.? The other thing is when I try to change the chip on the web server to WS 2811 it keeps changing back to the WS 2801.??

I will answer you prior question when I am on a computer but as far as controlling the lights if you have 2811 and the chip is set to 2801 the lights won't light. You have them connected right you really only need one ground connected but to change the chip type " chip 1 4". After it refreshes type " save 0" then try the test.