dnachristen Posted November 20, 2020 Share Posted November 20, 2020 Hello, I have been scouring the web looking for answers, but all I am is confused now. I have a CTB16pc (self built) controller, ver 4.4.2 software (Basic Plus license, no license for superstar yet) and a headache... I really want to buy the 599.00 pixel tree from the LOR site. From what I was told I would need a generation 3 controller in order to run the tree... Is that correct? I have a generation 1 or two (Red LED on right of network plugs, Header block on right) Are there ANY current LED products that will run off of this controller? They say all of the Pixel trees and CCR's are gen 3. Second part - Do I really need a pro license to use a pixel tree or CCR? Third Part - Any issues with updating from Ver 4.4.2 to current? Thank you in advance! Doug in Oregon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k6ccc Posted November 20, 2020 Share Posted November 20, 2020 36 minutes ago, dnachristen said: I really want to buy the 599.00 pixel tree from the LOR site. From what I was told I would need a generation 3 controller in order to run the tree... Is that correct? I have a generation 1 or two The only reason you would need a Gen-3 CTB16 is that the pixel tree requires at least a 500K network speed and the older CT16 controllers can't handle that speed (or an Enhanced LOR network). If you had all Gen-3 AC controllers, you can run those at a higher speed and on an Enhanced LOR network. The solution is to use two LOR networks. One at 115K non-enhanced for your older controller(s), and a second LOR network at 500K enhanced. 37 minutes ago, dnachristen said: Second part - Do I really need a pro license to use a pixel tree or CCR? For the most part, the answer to that is yes. Although officially the Pixie controllers will run on a non-enhanced LOR network, most of the Pixie experts (I'm not one) say that they really require an Enhanced LOR network. In order to run ELOR, you need the Pro license. 39 minutes ago, dnachristen said: Third Part - Any issues with updating from Ver 4.4.2 to current? DO NOT update to S5 today! There is a large learning curve going from S4 to S5. We are WAY Too close to Christmas show time to start to learn it. However as soon as you are completed with your 2020 Christmas show, THEN would be the time to upgrade to S5 and start learning it. That way you will have most of the year to figure it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDucks Posted November 21, 2020 Share Posted November 21, 2020 1 hour ago, dnachristen said: Hello, I have been scouring the web looking for answers, but all I am is confused now. I have a CTB16pc (self built) controller, ver 4.4.2 software (Basic Plus license, no license for superstar yet) and a headache... I really want to buy the 599.00 pixel tree from the LOR site. From what I was told I would need a generation 3 controller in order to run the tree... Is that correct? I have a generation 1 or two (Red LED on right of network plugs, Header block on right) Are there ANY current LED products that will run off of this controller? They say all of the Pixel trees and CCR's are gen 3. Second part - Do I really need a pro license to use a pixel tree or CCR? Third Part - Any issues with updating from Ver 4.4.2 to current? Thank you in advance! Doug in Oregon You need a Pixie8 (included in the package),16 or Pixcon to run the Tree part. Pixels are not AC strings The Gen 3 issue is if you want to use only 1 Network, because Pixies need 500K+ (and you need a red adapter). Either way PRO (a pixie8 uses ID's, added to your 1 ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dnachristen Posted November 21, 2020 Author Share Posted November 21, 2020 Thank you so much for the replies! So, I do have the Red Adapter already. Could I run a network hub to split the signal to the CTB16 and the full pixel tree (one on the site with controller) ? Or would I need a special adapter to do so? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDucks Posted November 21, 2020 Share Posted November 21, 2020 2 minutes ago, dnachristen said: Thank you so much for the replies! So, I do have the Red Adapter already. Could I run a network hub to split the signal to the CTB16 and the full pixel tree (one on the site with controller) ? Or would I need a special adapter to do so? RS485 IS NT Ethernet. Never connect a LOR network to one. RS485 is made to daisy chain up to 4000' (4K), No 'Ys' or 'Ts' If your last controller (latest Pixies), there is a Terminate jumper. But only the Last should terminate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilMassey Posted November 21, 2020 Share Posted November 21, 2020 Absolutely not. The lor RS 485 is not ethernet and cannot be connected to network switches, routers etc. NEVER connect lor equipment to your LAN. Doing so may let the magic smoke out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilMassey Posted November 21, 2020 Share Posted November 21, 2020 Talk about deja vu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dnachristen Posted November 21, 2020 Author Share Posted November 21, 2020 Ok, so are these guys trying to fry stuff? From LOR website. I assume the third connection in the attached diagram is DMX. But it is hooked to a hub. Ok, so the proper way to do it would be to have a second USB485HS to Ethernet connector? Sorry, I'm a noob but do learn fast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDucks Posted November 21, 2020 Share Posted November 21, 2020 Pixcons (item 7) are the only LOR device that can do Ethernet OR LOR (RS 485) Note there IS a separate Ethernet jack (the metal one) from the RS485 input NOTE the text on the last Tree package says PIXCON Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilMassey Posted November 21, 2020 Share Posted November 21, 2020 No. There is one lor controller which can use actual Ethernet. The Pixcon 16 is an advanced controller which can use an RS 485 network or Ethernet. It has two sets of connections, for both network types. E1.31 is a form of dmx which rides on Ethernet. There are many third party E1.31 controllers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilMassey Posted November 21, 2020 Share Posted November 21, 2020 Oh, come on..... I give up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dnachristen Posted November 21, 2020 Author Share Posted November 21, 2020 Got ya. Ok so for my situation, with the Gen 2 controller and wanting to buy the pixel tree, would I need a second RS485HS and run separate network lines from the two 485's to the controller and pixel tree? I know I can't use the passthrough on the CTB controller due to network speed. 2 minutes ago, PhilMassey said: Oh, come on..... I give up. Did I do something wrong? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilMassey Posted November 21, 2020 Share Posted November 21, 2020 Nah, I was commenting on myself and Ducks typing the same answers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilMassey Posted November 21, 2020 Share Posted November 21, 2020 Yes. You would need two networks and two adaptors connected to two USB ports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dnachristen Posted November 23, 2020 Author Share Posted November 23, 2020 Thank you so much! I am so excited to finally start expanding my show. I appreciate all of the help here! Thanks again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allen555 Posted December 5, 2020 Share Posted December 5, 2020 I am looking into going right to the RBG life. If I am going to do it I am going to do it correctly the first time. If I get any addressable RGB pixels can they be run off any of these controllers they sell? I am not interested in building a controller, I just want to buy one already built. I was interested in the pigtails but I am not exactly sure how to do it. Should put a permanent controller in the garage and then go expand off of that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. P Posted December 5, 2020 Share Posted December 5, 2020 Learn everything you can about pixels so you get it right the first time. Pixels and their controllers are too expensive to screw it up. http://www.doityourselfchristmas.com/wiki/index.php?title=Different_Styles_of_Pixels Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilMassey Posted December 5, 2020 Share Posted December 5, 2020 LOR sells ready to run controllers with pigtails and pixels with the matching male ends. Other folks do too. If you don't want to do it yourself that is a good but more expensive option, however you will get really good support from LOR. RGB from the garage is problematic depending on distance. Pixels are very sensitive to distance so the controllers need to be fairly close to the props and as short as possible. It depends on a number of variables, but I consider 25 to 30 ft to be the outer edge of the range, and shorter than that is preferred. Many of us do our own wiring and soldering to make custom leads to keep everything as short as possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allen555 Posted December 5, 2020 Share Posted December 5, 2020 What is everyone using for software to run the light? I have seen x-lights and light o rama Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDucks Posted December 5, 2020 Share Posted December 5, 2020 (edited) LOR has a few RTG controller systems (I said it that way because they sell BOARDS and lots of folk add the PSU, case and pigtails themselves) Pixie series (easy) and Pxcon16 (advanced) are the assembled boards. Note Pixels do not like long runs from the controller. Smaller units (you can leave any PORTS unused, but ports are $) at POINT OF USE is more the way. 12V vs 5V: 12V allows longer strings without power injection Edited December 5, 2020 by TheDucks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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