PIXCON 16 UNIT ID SETTINGS

[cam308]

Hi,

I've been trying to change the UNIT ID numbers for an existing LOR Universe on a PixCon 16 using the latest version of LOR software. The PixCon 16 is an original board and running latest firmware. I need to run this on LOR AUX B network with starting ID of 30. I have the settings set as following as the unit is not responding to software. All lights run perfectly fine when tested directly from board and PixCon 16 setup utility. What am I missing here? Any help is appreciated.

 

Do I have to change a setting to tell the board it's on AUX B?

[Don]

Are you running in LOR mode or DMX/E1.31 mode?

[cam308]

LOR Mode is the setting selected in settings

[cam308]

The terminator jumper is set to OFF. I tried setting to ON, still did not respond.

[k6ccc]

2 hours ago, cam308 said:

Do I have to change a setting to tell the board it's on AUX B?

You don't.  Any controller has no idea what LOR network it's on.  What network a particular controller is on is in the network configuration in LOR.

 

[cam308]

Aside from the Advanced Output Configuration panel in the PixCon16 Settings window, is there any other place I need to confirm the UNIT ID / UNIVERSE settings? I have all the channels matching what I posted in the pic, to exactly how the LOR prop is configured. For some reason, the unit won't light up the pixels on those channels. All network B wires have been checked and ran in sequence. I've tried to connect directly to the LOR jacks on the PixCon to test some effects on those channels, still no luck running sequences. The lights only work when tested directly from the board on in PicCon settings panel.

Is there a way to test an effect on PixCon channels like how you connect directly to a Pixie and test pixel effects right from the sequencer?

[cam308]

How should the LOR prop be numbered if the PixCon won’t take any HEX values?

[dgrant]

Here is the manual for it, assuming you have a 1st gen model. There are several things to be looked at on it...dmx ports, jumper and etc...

https://www1.lightorama.com/PDF/Pixcon16 Manual V1.8 - Showtime (S4 & S5).pdf

[Mr. P]

3 hours ago, cam308 said:

How should the LOR prop be numbered if the PixCon won’t take any HEX values?

The Pixcon is a beast and very confusing to most. As you probably know, the Pixcon must be programmed in E1.31 mode after programming you must move the LOR/ESTA jumper from ESTA to LOR and move the cat5 cable from the silver metal connector to either J3 or J4 which are LOR connectors. Since you are not using the Pixcon on a E1.31 network you have to convert the Universes to Unit ID's so your addressing is correct. Your first port is labeled Universe 30 so that converts to to Unit ID 1E, port 2 labeled Universe 31 converts to Unit ID 1F and so on. Make sure you Unit ID's set in your preview with match up with the props. You also need to use a high speed network and ELOR is mandatory with a Pixcon.

[k6ccc]

18 hours ago, Mr. P said:

As you probably know, the Pixcon must be programmed in E1.31 mode after programming you must move the LOR/ESTA jumper from ESTA to LOR and move the cat5 cable from the silver metal connector to either J3 or J4 which are LOR connectors.

Flag on the play!

I've never use a Pixcon16, but as I understand it, that procedure is not correct.  You program it via Ethernet (traditional LAN) with a LAN connection to the metal RJ-45 connector.  However that has nothing to do with the LOR/ESTI jumpers that only affect wiring standard for the black RJ-45 connectors.  Since you are running the card in LOR mode, a Cat-5 cable needs to be run from a high speed USB to RS-485 adapter.  BIG WARNING!  If you use the same cable for both configuration via Ethernet LAN and operation via RS-485 make sure you never have that one cable plugged into different interface types at the two ends.  In other words, if you are configuring via Ethernet LAN, disconnect the cable at one end (for example disconnect from your Ethernet switch / router / or computer), then move the other end (at the Pixcon16) from the metal RJ-45 to the appropriate black RJ-45, and only then plug the first end into the USB to RS-485 adapter.  Reverse if going from operation to configuration.

And as I said, I have never use a Pixcon16 so I could be wrong - but that's what I remember from when the Pixcon16 first came out and there was a lot of discussion about it.

 

[Mr. P]

That is correct, maybe my wording isn't being understood. The Pixcon16 comes with the jumpers set on ESTA by default, in order to use the black J3 or J4 RJ-45 connector so the Pixcon can be daisy chained on a RS485 network the jumpers must be moved to LOR.

 

[cam308]

Got it!

My issue was with the PixCon16 Universe numbering (DMX) matching the LOR Unit ID (HEX) numbering. I had to convert the 30, 31, 32... to corresponding LOR ID. So 1E, 1F, 20... in my case. This was bit confusing and took a while to understand the issue.

BIG THANKS to all who monitor these threads to help out those in need this chaotic time of year! Appreciate all the help.

[sysco]

found this may help