DiyLightAnimation
Hardware => Lynx Express => Topic started by: rrowan on February 25, 2009, 11:40:17 pm
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Hi Folks,
The attached zip file that RJ wrote needs to be unzipped and then run the Setup.msi program. This will install the configuration software for the Express on your PC.
Once that is done, click on the Settings menu and then click on Update Light List. This will download the light curves from the DLA website.
To use the program:
1 - Set the Com port in the Setting menu
2 - Set the start channel from the drop down list.
3 - Set the four curves to what you want from the drop down list
4 - Assign the 16 channels to one of the four curves from step 2.
5 - Put your Express in prg mode by hitting the mode button and when "PRG" shows up hit the edit button to turn the decimal on the right on. It should day "PRG."
6 - Now hit the Program button and the express should program and reboot.
The windows program will stay in transmit mode until you click on the stop button. This allows you to walk around your yard and program all of your Expresses if needed.
Rick R.
*Notes*
1 - From my technical advisor - Make sure a dongle is connected to the computer and Express
2 - Here is the link to the video of RJ showing the Express being setup with the Config program http://diylightanimation.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=957.0;attach=750
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Rick,
How long is the download suppose to take?
-Paul
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Rick,
How long is the download suppose to take?
-Paul
On my computer and Fios
A blink of the eye
Rick R.
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I am a little confused. Is this something that HAS to be done in addition to putting the firmware on the PIC?
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RJ a little request for the next upgrade to the config program. The screen on my netbook is to short to be able to see the start button. Not being a programmer I'm not going to propose a solution, just define the problem. I can drag the window up but can only see the very top edge of the button. I use the netbook when out in the yard and I keep it next to my workbench when upgrading and testing expresses.
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RJ a little request for the next upgrade to the config program. The screen on my netbook is to short to be able to see the start button. Not being a programmer I'm not going to propose a solution, just define the problem. I can drag the window up but can only see the very top edge of the button. I use the netbook when out in the yard and I keep it next to my workbench when upgrading and testing expresses.
Have you tried the maximize button in the upper right corner? Should maximize the window to your screen resolution and work unless you are using a very low resolution. If that fixes it you can set it up to auto maximize each time you run it by rt clicking the icon then, depending on which version of windows you use, you should see an area saying "Run" and a drop down that will probably say Normal, change that to maximized and apply. That will make it run that way from the start.
Hope that helps or gives you something to try. I run it on a netbook with no issues, but I did modify my netbook to run on 1024x768, which is a more standard resolution.
-JS
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Have you tried the maximize button in the upper right corner?
My screen is maximized and I can just barely see the top of the letters in the button. Clicking that works, but a better solution is to get this fixed which is what I suggested. Not critical, but good to do.
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I am having a problem trying to update my light list. It keeps saying "error downloading from site".
Any suggestions?
Kyle
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Kylec,
I just tried it and it worked for me.
Randy
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It works here also
Maybe you have a firewall or some program blocking it
Cheers
Rick R.
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I am having a problem trying to update my light list. It keeps saying "error downloading from site".
Any suggestions?
Kyle
RJ and Bill helped me get it working. It was a Windows7 issue. I had to right click on the program icon, and select "run as administrator".
Thanks guys,
Kyle ;D ;D
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I keep getting a message telling me I need to have .Net Framework 2.050727 will it only work with version 2 or will version 4 work?
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.NET framworks are independant of each other so if something says that it needs .Net2 then that is what it needs. .Net 4 is a whole different thing
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My screen is maximized and I can just barely see the top of the letters in the button. Clicking that works, but a better solution is to get this fixed which is what I suggested. Not critical, but good to do.
Jim,
Great minds think alike. I also use a netbook for these sorts of tasks (testing, firmware programming, etc) as I figure having a system that will easily go into the yard is a good thing. My system has a 1024 x 600 display and RJ's utilites (like the DMX Deck) all hang off the bottom the screen as he seems to have assumed 1024 x 768. You might even have 800 x 600 but unlikely. The best thing would be if RJ made them scale to the display size (hard) or pick a least common demoniator default size for the window of 800 x 600 which would work universally.
There may be another worakaround- set you screen resolution to 1024 x 768 and use panning to get around the screen. You bump your mouse into the bottom of the screen and the picture will pan up so you can get to the bottom. It gets a bit annoying but may work for you until we have a software solution.
Kirk
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I am a little confused. Is this something that HAS to be done in addition to putting the firmware on the PIC?
Any answer on this statement??
Mike
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I am a little confused. Is this something that HAS to be done in addition to putting the firmware on the PIC?
Any answer on this statement??
Mike
Hi Mike
one of the advance features of the LE is the LNT tech. You run this program and set what light curves you want and even the start address. Then on the LE you change the mode to program and then back to operation. The new start address will be set and any updates to all 16 channels for light curves. Its all pc based and a menu setting on the LE.
Light curves would be for types of LED strings, standard incandescent lights, with options from different light manufactures and string type - ie: CDI 70ct Blue LED
Hope that helps some
Rick R.
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I am a little confused. Is this something that HAS to be done in addition to putting the firmware on the PIC?
Any answer on this statement??
Mike
No the firmware has the curves set to default and the channel to channel #1 So you are good. This is for people wanting to change stuff.
RJ
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Thanks I understand.
Mike
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Is it possible for us to see some kind of a graft of the light curves? There are a lot of different labels or companies of lights out there. I think they even change from year to year. I think that if we had more knowledge of the light curves we could pick better. We would not have to pester RJ for annalist of something we already possibly have.
Scott
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I know this has been addressed but I cannot seem to download the light curves. I get the "error downloading from site" message. I am using Windows XP and have Norton Internet Security running. Can someone who is smarter than me give me some advice? I guess it is a firewall setting but I don't know how to change it.
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I just tried to download the curves from within the Lynx Express Configuration program and I am getting the same error. I did update the curves before the update to the site. Perhaps this is an issue with the update that RJ will address.
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Hi Guys
Yes I can confirm that the down of the light curves gives an error.
So wait until RJ gets home from work and see if he can fix the problem later today
Rick R.
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Have been extremely busy but ready to revisit this issue. Does anyone know if the download problem has been resolved?
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Should be working I had to add some files to the site after the upgrade to fix it. It works on mine.
RJ
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Greetings,,,
Did you try running as Administrator?
Keith
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I finally finished my Expresses last night and it downloaded the light curves just fine, after I did what Keith said and chaged to Run as Administrator, so it is working.
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Hi everytime i try to download this file it comes up as a php file? i am using vista
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Are you using firefox? I thought i read recently that if you are, you can "save as" to any filetype. I could be completely wrong about this though. Just passing on some heresay hoping it might help.
-Paul
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Can you use this utility of you have a wireless receiver installed on it. It does not seem to work for me on the ones that have it installed.
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I have used the configuration utility wirelessly with not problems. I used it the other night to change the starting channel of the unit at my neighbors house across the street. (I am still trying why I did it that way versus manually since I had to walk over there to put the unit in the PROG mode - LOL)
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i think so
this will assign address to controller so more than one controller can be placed on network
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No this is more for programming the light curves RJ has a bunch of different once already pre-programmed you could put the start address in but no need. That is part of what the 3 digit display is you can do it right at the controller with nothing hooked up to it. This meaning you can change the start address on the fly and not worry what controller goes where in your yard. Doesn't seam like a cool feature till you think about it and then you say "everybody should have that feature."
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i think so
this will assign address to controller so more than one controller can be placed on network
It can assigned an address to the LE but it also allows for custom dimming curves for LED lights and incandescent lights
Also you can assigned the address to the LE right on the board with the push buttons
btw: you can have more than one controller on the same address and they both will work. They will just duplicate each other
Rick R.
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I'm trying to use the config program to set light curves and the channel.
This is a new LE, I can set the channel using the push buttons. I can also see DMX successfully control the board by turning on lights.
The manual, and the instructions above are a little mixed up... for example:
Note Next two steps are swappable. - Put your Express in prg mode by hitting the mode button and when "PRG" shows up hit the edit button to turn the decimal on the right on. It should show "PRG."
- Now hit the Program button and the express should program and reboot.
The windows program will stay in transmit mode until you click on the stop button. This allows you to walk around your yard and program all of your Expresses if needed.
This are constructive suggestions...
I think the word "edit" above should be "Select"
Also, when working with two components, its useful to identify what is being referred to... especially if the terminology is similar at both ends...
"Now At the computer hit the Program button and the express should program and reboot. "
Next... the link to the video demonstrating the config utility no longer works. This is a problem in the posting above, and also in the manual.
http://diylightanimation.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=957.0;attach=750 (http://diylightanimation.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=957.0;attach=750)
Another problem... on my windows 7 machine I found that the utility aborted each time until I ran it as administrator.
Back to my original problem... I press Mode-then-Select getting the "PRG." state... I use the utility to set the COM port, the desired channel, and the curve info... I press "Program" at the utility but nothing happens at the LE... not blinky (like a SSC), the LED panel remains unchanged, and it does not reboot.
Suggestions?
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Steve if you have issues with the wiki just make changes. You have in the past and you have full member access there.
Are you using a USB dongle or the Etherdongle? The Lynx config program won't work with the Etherdongle or with the USB dongle with pixelnet firmware loaded.
Rick R.
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Steve if you have issues with the wiki just make changes. You have in the past and you have full member access there.
Are you using a USB dongle or the Etherdongle? The Lynx config program won't work with the Etherdongle or with the USB dongle with pixelnet firmware loaded.
Rick R.
I felt uncomfortable changing someone else's wiki posting. But I'll make these changes.
I WAS using a USB pixelnet dongle and a smart hub to get my DMX. I saw LED on the Express blinking with DMX activity, so I didn't suspect the pixelnet as my problem. I'll give a DMX dongle a try. Thanks!
Also, I didn't see a mention of pixelnet nor EtD in the manual... I'll add that tidbit as well.
Steve
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Steve if you have issues with the wiki just make changes. You have in the past and you have full member access there.
Are you using a USB dongle or the Etherdongle? The Lynx config program won't work with the Etherdongle or with the USB dongle with pixelnet firmware loaded.
Rick R.
I felt uncomfortable changing someone else's wiki posting. But I'll make these changes.
I WAS using a USB pixelnet dongle and a smart hub to get my DMX. I saw LED on the Express blinking with DMX activity, so I didn't suspect the pixelnet as my problem. I'll give a DMX dongle a try. Thanks!
Also, I didn't see a mention of pixelnet nor EtD in the manual... I'll add that tidbit as well.
Steve
Steve or anybody else. The whole reason for the manuals in the wiki format is to allow any DLA member to make updates where they see a problem. Trust me when I say that RJ and I are NOT word smiths. We do what we can to make it easy enough for anybody to build a device. That said there is always room for improvement. I get a lot of members telling me how to improve something and most times I will do it for them but at some point I need members help to with the wiki.
Rick R.
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In the software section of the wiki. I did this chart a while ago. In fact I need to see if it needs to be updated.
http://www.diylightanimation.com/wiki/index.php?title=Software#Lynx_Software
It does show that the LE conf program only works with the usb DMX Dongle.
Hope that helps
Rick R.
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that was it!
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I've updated the Express Wiki section "Lynx Express Configuration Utility":
http://www.diylightanimation.com/wiki/index.php?title=Manual_Express#Lynx_Express_Configuration_Utility (http://www.diylightanimation.com/wiki/index.php?title=Manual_Express#Lynx_Express_Configuration_Utility)
Please review, and let me know what should be corrected/improved.
- I've added some detail around the light curves, and explained the Strobe curve.
- I've added the note about admin rights in windows
- I've added the info about the USB DMX dongle requirements
- I've updated the procedure to configure the Express by calling out the place where the changes are made, and clarifying the names of the buttons as they appear on the PCB.
- I've added a debugging section
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Can't say enough good things about the config utility..its one of those little extra features that to me helps set the Lynx Express head and shoulders above any other AC controller out there.