Pixcon16's not syncing with G4-MP3

[BubbaWilkins]

Setup is a G4-Mp3 -> CTB16C ->Pixcon16 (#1) -> Pixcon16(#2)

Connect to G4-MP3 with dongle and Cat5

Network was configured as ELOR, 500k.

Direct control via Sequencer and all controllers link, sync, operate correctly.

In hardware utility, G4-MP3 and CTB16C are both detected.

Disconnect Dongle and Network Cable from PC to G4-Mp3

Using Hub to export shows to SD card for stand alone controller (Advanced options for 500k ELOR network utilized, match PC settings).

Insert SD Card into G4-MP3, and only CTB16C syncs.  Pixcon16's don't sync.  

Reconnect PC to G4-Mp3.

Bring Sequencer back up, total control on all units and no issues.

I had a mini director last year that I never got working and just slaved my laptop to run the shows.  That's not an option this year and I'm at my wits end on how to get the setup to work without PC supervision.

 

Any ideas?

 

Edited September 23, 2020 by BubbaWilkins
typo

[Mr. P]

Did you first connect the Pixcon to your computer via the ethernet port and set it up?

Follow the Pixcon checklist step by step:

• 1.  Some pixels have a front and a back. Ensure you know which side data goes IN to.  Pixels from LOR can accept data from either end, are plainly marked, or are pre-wired.
• 2.  Pixels have a voltage. Ensure you have the proper power supply.  LOR Pixels are 5v.  If your pixel package from LOR included a power supply, you do not need to worry about this step.
• 3.  Pixels have current draw (amperage). Ensure you are not exceeding the amps per channel/power supply/etc.  Pixels from LOR will draw 3A per 50 pixels at 5V (15 Watts).  If your pixel package from LOR included a power supply, you do not need to worry about this step.
• 4.  Wire power supply to PixCon16, if not already wired.
• 5.  Remember – never connect or disconnect anything from PixCon16 with power applied.
• 6.  Power up board. Follow instructions in DMX and E1.31 for pixel control document if needed.  Open Network Preferences/Find Configure PixCon16/Click on PixCon16 in list, and open the PixCon16 configuration window.  
  Only work with a SINGLE Pixcon16 connected to your network at one time until properly configured -- IP address conflicts can occur if you attempt to configure 2 or more.  
  Do not continue until you are able to reliably talk to the board and configure it.
• 7.  Ensure board firmware is AT LEAST 1.4.8. Do NOT downgrade if higher. Do not continue until firmware is updated to at least 1.4.8. Instructions are found in the manual.  If you have the LOR Control Panel loaded, UNLOAD IT before attempting to update firmware.  Updating the firmware while the Control Panel/Comm listener are running can cause the board to FAIL.
• 8.  Properly set up Pixel Type and Pixel Speed in configuration. Ignore all other parameters.
• 9.  Properly wire 1 pixel string to 4 wire connector. Follow pin-outs in the manual.   Note -- Some pixels do not have/require the clock signal.
• 10.  Connect pixels to a single port, power up. Pixels may briefly flash. Pixels that stay ON indicate incorrect pixel type or speed selected on #8
• 11.  Run hardware test from manual using buttons on the PixCon16. If pixels do not work, problem is most likely #8. Go back there. 
  Do not continue until the Hardware Test works properly.
• 12.  Wire the rest of your pixels to the 4 wire connectors. Connect them to the PixCon16. Run the hardware test again. Ensure all pixels are working correctly. Pixels that are not working indicate a problem with the pixel itself, or an under-rated power supply.
  Do not continue until the Hardware Test works properly for ALL pixels.
• 13.  On the first tab of PixCon16 configuration, ensure you have the correct option specified for J3/J4. If you will use the board in ELOR mode, turn this option ON. For E1.31 ensure this option is OFF.
• 14.  On the Second tab set up each port of the PixCon16 properly. You can use simple mode or advanced mode. All options are documented in the help file for the software or in the manual for the PixCon16. Remember, for E1.31 universes must also be set up in Net Prefs (the software will also offer to do it for you), for ELOR, 500K speed and Enhanced Light-O-Rama network (done in step 16). It is best to write down the settings.
• 15.  Ensure you have the LOR Control Panel loaded (which will load the LOR COMM Listener).  The COMM Listener is ALWAYS required to control pixels.
• 16.  Properly configure your network preferences.
  • E1.31: Ensure Universe matches universe on the board & Set IP address correctly (multi or unicast- specify).  It is easiest to use multicast.
  • ELOR: Ensure the COM port is set to at least 500K and ELOR mode is turned ON.
• 17.  E1.31: Do not disconnect anything. 
  • Both LEDs should be SOLID ON. 
    Do not continue until they are.
  • ELOR: Disconnect Network cable, ensure jumpers on PixCon16 for J3/J4 are set to LOR. Connect HS USB adapter to computer, CAT5 from USB adapter to J4 of Pixcon16. 
    Both LEDs should be SOLID ON. 
    Do not continue until they are.
• 18.  Start Hardware Utility. If asked if the HWU should take control of a port say NO. Open the pixel console. Set Pixel Console params correctly and test pixels with sliders.  
  Do not continue until you can successfully control pixels.
• 19.  Your board is now ready to use.

[BubbaWilkins]

4 hours ago, Mr. P said:

Did you first connect the Pixcon to your computer via the ethernet port and set it up?

 

Yes, both Pixcon16's were configured via the ethernet port prior to being linked with the CTB16 and G4-MP3.  

I did not run through the setup sequence you posted.  These are the pre-assembled Plug-N-show versions, so most of the assembly related steps don't apply.  I assigned static IP's to both units and configured the network settings.  What I haven't ever been able to get work is having HWU be able to assume control of them.  I'll try to work through those steps, but don't understand how I can control everything correctly through the sequencer via the PC/Dongle through the J3/J4 connections, but not through the G4-MP3 for the same show using the same settings.

 

Edited September 23, 2020 by BubbaWilkins

[Orville]

6 hours ago, BubbaWilkins said:

Yes, both Pixcon16's were configured via the ethernet port prior to being linked with the CTB16 and G4-MP3.  

I did not run through the setup sequence you posted.  These are the pre-assembled Plug-N-show versions, so most of the assembly related steps don't apply.  I assigned static IP's to both units and configured the network settings.  What I haven't ever been able to get work is having HWU be able to assume control of them.  I'll try to work through those steps, but don't understand how I can control everything correctly through the sequencer via the PC/Dongle through the J3/J4 connections, but not through the G4-MP3 for the same show using the same settings.

 

I'd try setting the Pixcon16's to 1,000K and putting them on Network 2, Enhanced, Aux A of the N4-G3 MP3 Director, keeping them separate from the CTB16PC Controllers.  I don't have a Pixcon16, but my older RGB CCB100-D Controllers are on Network 2, Enhanced, 500K, Aux A and my singing Trees are on Network 3, Enhanced, 1,000K, Aux B and my CTB16PC Controllers {V2} are on Network 1, NON-Enhanced, Regular, 115K,  If your CTB16PC Controllers are G3, then your settings for them would be like my Network 2 settings.

Just a suggestion, it might work to get everything in sync together.

 

[BubbaWilkins]

Thanks for the suggestions.

Got all controllers synced and working under the the G4-MP3 as a standalone setup.  

I worked through P's list and kept running into a roadblock at #17.  I never received a heartbeat sync indicator on either Pixcon16 at the end of #16.  It might be related to home network or router perhaps, I'm not sure.  After fiddling with the network settings a bit, I did manage to at least get them to sync under the com listener.  Never got the Pixcon16's to work under the Hardware utility.  

Also tried O's suggestion, which failed as well.  (it would probably work now though if I wanted to try)

My end solution was to set up a single network with ELOR/500K.  At this point, I had full control through the sequencer and the units remained synced under the com listener.  Just couldn't get the G4-MP3 to do it's job.

In my search for an answer, I came across a couple different posts mentioning that the Director's are very finicky about which SD card's are in them.  Namely Kingston seems to be the only one that works.  I was using a Kingston SD card, but it wasn't the one sent with the G4-MP3.  It was actually the one I received last year with the Mini-Director that I never got to work.  As kind of a last ditch attempt, I swapped the SD card with the new one and loaded up the sequence and network settings.  Plugged it into the G4-MP3 and everything syncs up.

Why this would make a difference, I have no idea, just happy it's working the way I want it to.

 

Edited September 24, 2020 by BubbaWilkins

[Orville]

On 9/23/2020 at 9:41 PM, BubbaWilkins said:

Thanks for the suggestions.

Got all controllers synced and working under the the G4-MP3 as a standalone setup.  

I worked through P's list and kept running into a roadblock at #17.  I never received a heartbeat sync indicator on either Pixcon16 at the end of #16.  It might be related to home network or router perhaps, I'm not sure.  After fiddling with the network settings a bit, I did manage to at least get them to sync under the com listener.  Never got the Pixcon16's to work under the Hardware utility.  

Also tried O's suggestion, which failed as well.  (it would probably work now though if I wanted to try)

My end solution was to set up a single network with ELOR/500K.  At this point, I had full control through the sequencer and the units remained synced under the com listener.  Just couldn't get the G4-MP3 to do it's job.

In my search for an answer, I came across a couple different posts mentioning that the Director's are very finicky about which SD card's are in them.  Namely Kingston seems to be the only one that works.  I was using a Kingston SD card, but it wasn't the one sent with the G4-MP3.  It was actually the one I received last year with the Mini-Director that I never got to work.  As kind of a last ditch attempt, I swapped the SD card with the new one and loaded up the sequence and network settings.  Plugged it into the G4-MP3 and everything syncs up.

Why this would make a difference, I have no idea, just happy it's working the way I want it to.

 

I had forgotten about this, but I had the same SD Card issue you had with one of the original DC-MP3 Directors.   Believe it or not, SD Cards do go bad, I had a few go bad over a couple years continuous use, and that was the results I got from them.  Things out of sync or things just not functioning at all.  Ran fine on the computer via the dongles, but as soon as I'd write the SD Card and plug it in, had issues like you had.   I forgot about having those problems with having some SD cards that went bad.   But that happened several years ago on an older DC-MP3 Director, so I had forgotten about having those specific issues.  What was weird is how I could write a show to the SD Card using the writer/reader unit, but the Director ran things out of sync or not at all at times.   It was also very sporadic, sometimes they'd work, other times they wouldn't.

So that one SD Card you had issue with, even though it's a Kingston, may have just worn out {my SD cards got a real workout, 365/24/7}.   And when I got my new N4-G3 {G4} MP3 Director this year {2020}, it won't even read those bad SD Cards.  But it will read some other SanDisk SD Cards I have, but they don't function very reliably in the G4 Director at all.   Bought extra brand new 32GB Kingston Cards direct from the Kingston website for my G4, tested and all worked perfectly.  Had a brand new 64GB Kingston SD card and it worked, but was also unreliable.     I think the G4 {N4-G3} MP3 Director is maximized at 32GB for the SD Card.

But glad you found the issue and got it corrected.   And thanks for reminding me what problems a bad SD Card or the wrong sized SD Card can  cause in a Director unit.

Edited September 25, 2020 by Orville