LOR CCR Ribbons and Pixels with Falcon Controller

[DaSarge]

Hello All:
  I currently am using LOR controllers and Pixels and Cosmic Color Ribbons.  I want to start making the plunge to leave LOR and move over to Falcon Controllers.  Will these products (Pixels/CCRs) work with Falcon Controllers.  I want to move over to xLights from LOR Software.  (I think xLights allow more flexibility than LOR software)  How do I do this, and what do I need to purchase to allow this to work?

Thanks

Dave

[JonD]

You may not need to buy anything.  In general most things are compatible.  Xlights can support LOR products without a Falcon, and you can use Falcon controllers to run your LOR display.  You probably have everything you need to switch, but you might want to wait until next season.

[DaSarge]

You may not need to buy anything.  In general most things are compatible.  Xlights can support LOR products without a Falcon, and you can use Falcon controllers to run your LOR display.  You probably have everything you need to switch, but you might want to wait until next season.

The plan is to run LOR this season, and do the conversion over to xLights for next season.  Has anyone tried to get the LOR controllers to work with xLights?  I tried last year unsuccessfully.

Dave

[K-State Fan]

I have 4 LOR controllers in my show that are programed with xLights. Three of them run off a serial port on my F4V3 and one of them I use a LOR dongle hooked to a raspberry pi.

[JonD]

Since you are not listing specific LOR model numbers... generically there is a good chance everything you have now will work in xlights.  There are some exceptions, but typically even then there are workarounds.  For example, the Pixielink and other converters are available.  Now whether if you will want to go through the hassle is another story.  I had a LOR pixel controller that would work fine in xlights, but it was kind of a pain to configure, so I replaced with a Falcon to keep things simple and consistent. 

[DaSarge]

Since you are not listing specific LOR model numbers... generically there is a good chance everything you have now will work in xlights.  There are some exceptions, but typically even then there are workarounds.  For example, the Pixielink and other converters are available.  Now whether if you will want to go through the hassle is another story.  I had a LOR pixel controller that would work fine in xlights, but it was kind of a pain to configure, so I replaced with a Falcon to keep things simple and consistent. 

2 of my Pixel controllers are 1. A 2 channel that drives 2x100 Pixel strings, and the other is a Pixcon16 that controls 16 CCR's.  All currently under LOR control

[JonD]

Not familiar with "2 of my Pixel controllers are 1. A 2 channel that drives 2x100 Pixel strings".  Is that a model number??  The pixiecon16 should be E1.31 compatible and fully complaint. 

[DaSarge]

Not familiar with "2 of my Pixel controllers are 1. A 2 channel that drives 2x100 Pixel strings".  Is that a model number??  The pixiecon16 should be E1.31 compatible and fully complaint. 

ok, let me get a little further in the weeds......no pun intended with this one.  I have these 2 items
https://store.lightorama.com/collections/rgb-packages/products/pixie-2-bundle
https://store.lightorama.com/collections/rgb-controllers-mounted/products/pixie16-12v-complete

[JonD]

As for the pixie2, I had the Pixie4d and threw it in the trash.  The LOR protocol sucks, and to convert from LOR to DMX you lose ports in the conversion.  They were limited to 1 universe at 512 channels (170 pixels), basically limited to 3 ports of 50 pixels.  200 pixels equals 600 channels, so you would need to use them in LOR mode to run 200 pixels.

The pixie16d is different than the Pixiecon16 and not in a good way.  You would have less issues with that one, but that series is not a great product. 

If you're on a tight budget you could make them work.  If you enjoy life and have some spare change around, you would be happier with a Falcon F16v4 with a Smart Receiver or two.