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Unplug Cat5 or Remove SD Card first?


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Okay, for the LOR1602MP3 experts, I've been sequencing and running some "timed" test shows for a few days now, but I want to make sure I don't damage anything when wanting to add or change something on the SD card inserted into the LOR1602MP3 Showtime MP3 Director.

So since the unit gets power from the LOR Controller and you can insert the SD card into the unit with power on to start the show at the given time set to run everything.

But the question is, once the show is in operation during the test phase I'm doing to check out how some different types of lights/LEDs react to the music, should I unplug the CAT5 from the LOR1602MP3 director unit first?

Or is it okay to just remove the SD card while a show is still in operation? Shutting down the show abruptly.

I did remove it while I had a show that was in operation and it left a circuit (light) or two on and I had to go into the hardware utility to turn them (lights) off, so I'm thinking maybe it would be better to remove the CAT5 cable that supplies power to the LOR1602MP3, then remove the SD Card and plug the CAT5 cable back in.

Or does it really matter which way this is handled?

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Thanks William. :P

I wasn't sure, so I thought I'd ask the experts here to be sure I didn't "break". ummm, damage anything. For what this stuff costs, I sure don't want to damage any of my components!

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It would be best if, when a show is running, you just toggled the OFF switch on the controller before removing the memory card. Then you don't have to unplug the cat5 cable. It's a no-no to remove a memory card from the computer card reader without first making sure the computer is not reading the card at the moment you remove it. Nor do you remove one from a camera, etc., without first making sure it's not being read at the time you remove it. Can cause loss of data.

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James George wrote:

It would be best if, when a show is running, you just toggled the OFF switch on the controller before removing the memory card. Then you don't have to unplug the cat5 cable. It's a no-no to remove a memory card from the computer card reader without first making sure the computer is not reading the card at the moment you remove it. Nor do you remove one from a camera, etc., without first making sure it's not being read at the time you remove it. Can cause loss of data.




There are no off/on switches on the LOR1602MP3 Showtime Director. It receives its power from the CTB16PC, which by the way, also does not have any off/on switches either.



The only off/on on the Controller is either by unplugging it from the outlets it is plugged into, the only way to turn on or off the LOR1602MP3 Showtimes Director is by unplugging the Cat5e cable from it, since it is powered by the controller it is connected to or if using a 12vdc adapter/transformer, unplugging both the transformer and cat5e from the controller.


Sorry, no off/on switches on any of this stuff, with the exception of my FM transmitter, it's the only piece that has an actual on/off switch.

And I've yet to experience any loss of data from ANY SD card since it IS NOT being written too, that is where loss of data occurs, during the write process, the LOR1602MP3 Showtime Director DOES NOT WRITE to the SD Card, it only READS them. So no data loss should occur on the card itself from the LOR1602MP3, of course, you just pulled out the "memory" that tells the director how to operate the controller and lights via the controller they are all connected to.

My initial concern was by removing it during a show sequence, could it possibly do any type of damage to the controller, and no, it can't, it's just data being read in and removing the SD card may make a light or two stay on on the controller, but once the SD card gets re-inserted, it shuts everything off until showtime. Or I can just use the hardware utility to shut all the lights off that stay on.
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And, if even if you have 1602's, and the showtime director, the director will still be powered if there are any other controllers powered up near by on the LOR network. For reliable operation, they need to be less than 50 cable feet away, but I would not be surprised if up to 100 feet would still likely keep it running.. I can't imagine unscrewing the covers on a bunch of controllers just to turn off a director..

If you really want it off, just unplug the cat5... As for removing SD cards in use, it is writing that is an issue, as it is possible for the files to be updated, but the directory and allocation tables to not be updated, or mid write, which can mess up the ability to read the card. But just reading the card should never leave the card in an unusable state if interrupted mid read.. It is more of an issue in a PC, where you never know if a virus scan or backup software program might be updating attributes on the file, like the archive bit, if it has been backed up...

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Guest wbottomley

James George wrote:

It would be best if, when a show is running, you just toggled the OFF switch on the controller before removing the memory card. Then you don't have to unplug the cat5 cable. It's a no-no to remove a memory card from the computer card reader without first making sure the computer is not reading the card at the moment you remove it. Nor do you remove one from a camera, etc., without first making sure it's not being read at the time you remove it. Can cause loss of data.


James...

When I ran the director card full-time, I never turned off power. I would eject the card, write another show on it, then re-insert on the director unit.

Never had any problems.
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LightORamaDan wrote:

As mentioned by others, remove the SD card. SD cards are designed for hot insert and removal.

Dan


Thank you Dan! LOR to the rescue. I thought this is how they were designed, but I like to be sure as not to do something that could be detrimental to something.

So thanks again!
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