Colorlight P5 in FPP

[breese]

I just built my first colorlight P5 display. 3 across and 2 down.
while it took some time, I was able to make it work and test properly in the LedVision software.
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I then connected it to my Pi 3B+ and started the configuration of the LED Panels.
It is a direct Ethernet connection between the Pi and Colorlight card.

The problem I am having is the Channel Testing will not work.
I have spent 2 days watching video's, and reading thru the FPP manuals (a little dated as they are).
Also is an error that showed up in the syslog.log file.

[ChannelOut] /opt/fpp/src/channeloutput/channeloutput.cpp:356: ColorLight5a75 0:  Determined range needed 0 - 36863

Feb  3 16:20:11 PiDisplay01 fppd[1312]: 2022-02-03 16:07:38.743 (1312) [ChannelOut] /opt/fpp/src/channeloutput/channeloutput.cpp:395: Determined range needed 0 - 36863

I have run out of ideas and am turning to you all for assistance.
I have also included all the log files.


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[breese]

Turns out I had to put a network switch between the display and my Pi 3b+
Even a Crossover cable failed to allow the connection between the Pi and display.

[CaptainMurdoch]

The ColorLight should work fine with a cable directly to the Pi, it does not need a network switch.  I have one setup in my office this way for testing.  Were you getting a link light on the Pi when connected directly to the ColorLight?  You should not need to use a crossover cable.

[k6ccc]

Turns out I had to put a network switch between the display and my Pi 3b+
Even a Crossover cable failed to allow the connection between the Pi and display.

The ColorLight absolutely requires a gigabit Ethernet connection.  The amount of data is not all that high, but it will only work at gigabit.  You said you were using a Pi 3B+ which as I recall does have gigabit capability, but wondering if you were using the built in Ethernet port or a USB to Ethernet adapter (very common for those of us that use a Pi 3B which does not have gigE).

[breese]

I was using the built in Gig ethernet port.
The Pi was sending data (could see it on the nic).
The Colorlight card showed No Connection or traffic.
Tried with a standard Cat 6 and a crossover Cat 5
Same results.

I do plan to retest this as I had believed it should have worked.
Thing is, I wanted to get my First Sequence (ever made) uploaded to the Pi and get it running, so I installed a switch......

[breese]

One other thing.....
Is there a way to set an IP address on the Colorlight controller?

[k6ccc]

One other thing.....
Is there a way to set an IP address on the Colorlight controller?

No.  The communication to the ColorLight card is not IP.

[JonB256]

Check the settings of your computer's NIC. Make sure it is set for Gigabit. I ran across a laptop awhile back where somebody or some program had set it for 100mpbs maximum.

If you have a Gigabit switch (you must), then the Colorlight would no longer care about your computer NIC speed.

[breese]

Well, as it turns out I discovered I have a Raspberry Pi 3 Model B Rev 1.2
Not a B+ so it is only 100meg, not a gig.

[k6ccc]

Well, as it turns out I discovered I have a Raspberry Pi 3 Model B Rev 1.2
Not a B+ so it is only 100meg, not a gig.

That will do it, all right...

[breese]

I managed to get my P5 3X2 panel working in LedVision and Xlights.
As I started sending sequences to it I happen to see (randomly) lines of LED's flashing that were not part of what I was pushing to it.
Remembering that I had seen a number of posts about getting a config file for LedVision, I sent an email to Wired Watts requesting one.

A Mr. Ken McMaster emailed me the next day (today):
"We do not have files. Please take a look at this page.
https://www.wiredwatts.com/colorlight-setup-for-indoor-p5-panels"


I know in the process of setting up the panel, I used that info from their web site and started a new hunt....

Note: I have not seen this info anywhere. If it is, sorry I missed it. I am hoping it will help someone else.

With the little knowledge I have, I started thinking that the file everyone refers to has a connection to some chip.
Low and behold it turns out it is the driver chip (and there are multiple on every panel) that drive the LED's.

Cool.... Pull out the magnifying glass and what do I see?
DP5125C
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With this info, I went into LedVision, Went to the Receiver Parameters, and clicked on the Intelligent Setting....
Clicked on the Select Driver IC
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and found the DP5125 file!
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While there might be a newer file out there someplace, this is all I have right now.

Back at the Receiver Parameters I started testing with different DCLK MHz settings and Refresh Rates.
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For my panels, the settings of Refresh Rate: 1920 and DCLK 25.0MHz gave me outstanding performance (for the little I am doing on it right now) and Removed ALL the random flashing I was seeing before.

Now if anyone knows of a driver file for the DP5125C, I would love to see what it loads and runs like.
I am also looking for ways to test / push the display to see what it can and cannot do.

[Kensington Graves]

Try looking at this list.  It's pretty comprehensive and refers to a 5125 driver chip on P5 panels.
https://www.ledcontrollercard.com/english/blog/colorlight-rcvbp-rcvp-file-ledvision-configuration-files-free-download/