Not identifying controllers

[Norm Ivey]

This may take a while to explain.

I am using three CTB16PC controllers. 2 are three years old; the third was purchased last year. All controllers worked fine last year.

This year, I was getting some odd channel behavior (on at the wrong time; shimmering after show ended, etc.) Following the advice of posts on this forum, I re-routed my CAT5 cables so they did not run with my power cords. After that, controllers 2&3 were no longer recognized by the Hardware Utility. I purchased all new Cat5 cables and installed them. Controllers 2&3 still were not being picked up by HU.

I tried a hard reset (removed the jumper and replaced it) on units 2&3. Now none of the controllers are being recognized, even when I connect to them individually.

I've also tried swearing at and threatening the controllers to no avail.

Any help?

[cmoore60]

What happens if you connect one at at time and then use on the right hand side to set the unit id. Select the lower option with ONE controller at a time connected that says change any ID to (the address you wish).

Try that and see what is the result.

Chuck

[Norm Ivey]

Actually, I tried that already. Nothing. I should also have mentioned that the LEDs flash and never go solid like they should when awaiting a command from the network.

[pabryang]

i am trying to hook up my new laptop that i have spent sequencing on and when I run the hardware utility it will not locate new unit same thing blinking light wont turn solid

[jfelix]

This may sound dumb but you don't have the show enable or the sequencer open while you have the HU open? if the show is enabled the HU will not pick up anything.

Other little things to try restart the PC. Maybe reseat the comm port connector (whatever you are using).

[ItsMeBobO]

I agree with Chuck. The same thing happened to me a few days ago when it first got very cold. Finally I found a Cat5 cable with a little clod of frozen mud. It was conducting fine when not freezing. Shorting when it got cold. Replaced that run and they were all found.

[Norm Ivey]

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions.

I disconnected all cables and reconnected, including Com port.
I rebooted the computer.
Not running any software except the HU. Shows are disabled.
Did a hard reset on controller 1 as I had not tried that earlier.

No luck except bad luck.

Any more ideas?

[Max-Paul]

You say that at first it was 2 n 3 not talking. Then your replaced all cables and now its all 3 not talking. You did purchase patch cables and not CROSSOVER cables, right? Or the cable between the USB adapter to controller #1 is bad right out of the box. Can you swap cable between lets say controller 1 and 2?

Every once in awhile a new cable from the factory is bad.

[ItsMeBobO]

Are you sure you are using the correct com port?
Hopefully you didnt upgrade any drivers which could assign a new number. Verify the com port in Device manager.

Do you have any spare cat5 cables. You said you reconnected them. Did you replace any or move them.

Please only connect ONE. If have a bad cable anywhere in the chain HWU may see none of them. With one connected if it still is not seen. Get the cable used for #2 and try it on #1. Run it out the door or window if you need to. Inspect each end carefully to be sure there is no dirt on it.

[Norm Ivey]

Replaced all 3 cables with patch. At first, controller 1 was identified, which leads me to believe at least that cable is good. HU would not identify 2 or 3, even when I connected the cord from #1 directly to each of them. After I attempted the reset on 2 and 3, none of the controllers were identified.

[Norm Ivey]

Using the same com port (and computer) as last year, and I verified just now. The lights were working last weekend, just with some aberrations. All of the cables are new. The cable from my computer to controller 1 is good, because it recognized #1 before I tried the reset on 2&3. Now nothing is recognized.

[ItsMeBobO]

Sorry for your troubles. I am getting desperate for you and I am not even there.

I think should skip over number 1 and concentrate on 2 directly from your adapter. Work one at a time.
Full power down, wait, and reset again. Please dont repeat that it worked before so they must work now. We cant assume any part works right now.

Another thing I want you to do is CLOSE down HWU. I found that sometimes it doesnt clear out. Each time you try to see if they are found CLOSE DOWN hwu and open it again. Please do this... Close down HWU each time.

In your first post you said that simply rearranging the cables caused the problem. That means something. You either broke the cable inside, broke the end or pulled out the jack from the board or something like that. Again you said the cables are 'new' maybe I missed it but are they new since the outage or new this year? With a flash light make sure your jacks on the board are not pulled away and there are no crossed wires or touching wires in there.

[Norm Ivey]

I appreciate all of your help, sincerely.

I think I am going to pull all the controllers back inside the house where I can work with them in closer quarters rather than running up and down the stairs and in and out of the house.

I have tried shutting down HU several times, but I will do as you suggest and restart it between attempts. The cables are new as of today.

I also figured the problem was the act of rearranging. If I have damaged the jacks in some way, is this an easy fix for a not-so-handyman? Or will I need to ship the controller to LOR for repair?

[Norm Ivey]

A solution, of a sort. Perhaps this may help others with the same problem.

Turns out the pins inside the CAT5 jack on controllers 2&3 were damaged. I suspect I subsequently damaged the new CAT5 cable itself by plugging it into the damaged jack.

A spare cable worked in controller 1. Now here's something I just discovered. Both of the CAT5 jacks inside the controllers are input-output. I daisy chained controller 1 to controller 2 using the second jack (this jack normally would have been daisy-chained to controller 3). Controllers 1&2 are working perfectly. Even the misfiring that started this whole episode is gone.

I was able to identify controller 3 by also using the second jack, but have no way of daisy-chaining it in. Now I just have to figure out how to replace one of the bad jacks or split the signal. I'm open to suggestions.

Thanks again to everyone for all your help.

[Max-Paul]

Need summory.
I understand that the RJ-45 in and out on #1 is working. I think that the RJ-45 jacks both in and out on #2 is working? Not sure about the RJ-45 jacks on #3.

Please correct and let us know for sure the status of the RJ-45 jacks on all 3 controllers. There is a way, but rather know what you have before commenting further.
Thanks

[Norm Ivey]

Controller 1 has 2 good RJ45 jacks.
Controller 2 has 1 bad RJ45 and 1 good RJ45.
Controller 3 has 1 bad RJ45 and 1 good RJ45.

What I discovered this afternoon is that the RJ45 jacks are not "in" and "out". They can both be used as either "in" or "out". I used the good jack on controller 2 as "in", but there is no way to daisy chain to controller 3.

Right now I an running only 2 controllers.

I think I found a solution. I've posted a new topic here:

http://forums.lightorama.com/forum76/30616.html