PocketScroller...

[dkulp]

I managed to find some time to assemble one of the prototype boards.   Worked fine when powered by USB, but once I flipped to the 5v external power the wifi didn't work.  Quick wire jumper and that is fixed.  (there's a reason it's called a prototype  )


I do have to update some boot stuff for the PocketBeagle.   The PB doesn't have eMMC at all so the boot loader checks are irrelevant.  Also, the pin names are different so I needed a new file for config-pin.  Once I fixed those few things, it works! 

[pixelpuppy]

THIS FORUM NEEDS A LIKE BUTTON!!!! 

[CaptainMurdoch]

Very nice.

[Voltorb]

I agree with pixelpuppy!  NICE!

[TxBillbr]

It makes me very happy    Looking forward to getting my grubby little fingers on one or more.

[mararunr]

glad you mentioned on FB so I can follow over here.

[dkulp]

Look what just arrived on at my door... 


I'm going to stick one out in my TuneTo sign this afternoon and let it run over the weekend.   We're supposed to have a few days with lows around 10degrees or so which should give me a good indication if it's working good in the cold temperature.   If things go well, I should have a few available to sell to folks willing to test next week and then start a group by shortly.   

[Emuney18]

I haven't seen this discussed regarding Beagles so forgive me if this is a dumb question.  Am I correct that the performance of the PB and BBB will be the same for a small number of panels?  I know we use almost none of the CPU on a BBB. I would rather put a PB with my 6 panel P5 sign and use the BBB to run an F8 board.  When people ask, why is a beagle better than a Pi to run panels?   My guess is it's not about the CPU or memory but about the OS structure that each uses. 

If you want me to test a board I can put in on my sign and let it run for a while which will be a good test for my panels as well.


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[dkulp]

I haven't seen this discussed regarding Beagles so forgive me if this is a dumb question.  Am I correct that the performance of the PB and BBB will be the same for a small number of panels?  I know we use almost none of the CPU on a BBB. I would rather put a PB with my 6 panel P5 sign and use the BBB to run an F8 board.  When people ask, why is a beagle better than a Pi to run panels?   My guess is it's not about the CPU or memory but about the OS structure that each uses. 

There shouldn't be any difference between using a BBB or PB other than the total number of outputs.   It's the same CPU, same PRU's, etc...  For the Panels, we do use quite a bit of the CPU, particularly for large panel.   For every panel/pixel, the CPU handles mapping the raw channels the appropriate output, handles the RGB order, etc...   With my code, the CPU also handles the bit packing (all the top bit together, all the next bit together, etc...) If you have a full 96 panel config, the cpu usage is near 50% for all of that.   


For Pi vs BB for Matrix panels, it's really a matter of size (BB can handle more outputs/panels).  For smaller matrices, it's just a matter of preference.   Some people prefer a Pi.   I personally prefer the BB as they are much easier/quicker to setup and, in general, don't have the corruption issues the Pi's have.  Much of that will improve with the newer Pi images based on Stretch and some of the code being ported from the BB to the Pi, but not all of it.  For example, setting up a BB via USB is a TON easier and consistent.  That cannot be done with the Pi as the Pi's USB is power only, no data.   


For ws2811 pixels, to me this is a no brainer:  BB all the way.      The Pi is much more limited (only 2 outputs currently, Captain thinks with new hats and new code, it might be possible to do 4).   The BB can drive up to 56 outputs (44 on the PB) if a cape is designed for that with each output having more than 1000 pixels (50ms sequences).   Basically, the BB can drive significantly more pixels than the F16v3 with expansions.   That said, no-one does that.    I designed and sold an F32B with 32 local ports and 16 differential ports, but didn't sell very many of them.   Right now, the F8's seem to hit the right balance between the more limited ESPPixelSticks's and Pi's on the lower end and the F16v3 and such on the higher end, yet provides expansion capabilities for more if needed.   The BBB can also drive 8 universes of DMX/Pixelnet at the same time.

[CaptainMurdoch]

What he said ^^^^^^^   

Great analysis for anyone looking at a comparison between BBB and Pi for various uses.

[Emuney18]

Great explanation. We have a local Carolina meeting this weekend where I'm gonna show off the F8B I just got.  I figure I will get questions.  If buying a new BBB is it worth it for the wireless version?  Do the hats interfere with the wifi like they do on the Pi3?


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[dkulp]

Great explanation. We have a local Carolina meeting this weekend where I'm gonna show off the F8B I just got.  I figure I will get questions.  If buying a new BBB is it worth it for the wireless version?  Do the hats interfere with the wifi like they do on the Pi3?

Depends on which wireless....   Do *NOT* get the BeagleBone Green Wireless.   The wireless on the BBGW consumes a bunch of pins so there are a bunch of things that won't work.  The original octo's won't work at all.   A couple of the ports on the F8B won't work, etc...   It's just not worth getting.   The BeagleBone Black Wireless is OK.   The wireless on there is implemented differently and doesn't interfere with capes we use.   That said, I'm not aware of anyone actually using the BBBW to actually run pixels or panels or anything.   I've done some testing with them and they seem fine, but I haven't done any long term tests.   For wireless, I've always just used a USB adapter (and normally with a 6" extension cord to get it away from the cape/BBB "just in case").   The nice thing about the BBBW is that it has two separate antenna's that stick way out away from the board.   That definitely helps. 

[jnealand]

My BBB with 16 P10 panels has an Edimax Nano Wifi adapter plugged directly in the BBB and it ran all last season without any issues.  I kept my fingers crossed for the first week or so, but it worked just fine.  Physically it is probably less than 15 ft from the show wifi router inside the house though.

[Cjaqua]

I was able to get my PocketScroller running today. These are pretty neat. Unfortunately, I experience the same ghosting/trailing with my p5 panels that I see using the Colorlight and Linsn cards. It's almost like the refresh rates on these panels cannot be turned down low enough to eliminate the ghosting/trailing. The panels I am using are P5 SMD3528 1/16 scan panels purchased from both Coreman and Ray Wu. The only part I have yet to eliminate is to drive these panels without a 24v to 5v buck converter. I have tried two different buck converters though. Let me know if anyone has any ideas to try or wants me to ship them some of these panels to test with. In the attached picture using the PocketScroller, I am only lighting up the pixel in the top left hand corner all white. The links I purchased these panels from are below.

https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/Indoor-die-casting-led-display-screen-rgb-led-module-p5-pixel-pitch-5mm-64x32-256x128mm-led/933144_32633426224.html?spm=2114.12010108.1000023.8.6618ce3frWiRSM

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/64x32pixel-P5mm-Indoor-SMD-3in1-full-color-LED-Display-Screen-unit-panel-module-size-320mm-x/32667937844.htm

[dkulp]

Can you try (temporarily for testing) setting the panel in the lower left to O3/P12 (or P14), restarting, and see if the ghosting goes away?   If so, try lowering it down step by step till the ghosting appears.   Let me know how it turns out.    If a higher panel count makes the ghosting go away, I can increase the delays a bit.