rpi-28D+ and DPIPixels

[cabrio]

My question would be, do i have to install a virtual eeprom with my 28D's? FPP shows no cape/hat at all if I don't.
On either pi.

[CaptainMurdoch]

My question would be, do i have to install a virtual eeprom with my 28D's? FPP shows no cape/hat at all if I don't.
On either pi.

I don't know if the rPi-28D+ has an onboard EEPROM or not.  Did you use the "EEPROM Upgrade" form on the Cape Info page to upload a .bin file or did you just use the install button on the Channel Outputs config page?  The fact that it says the location is physical on the other screenshots indicates that it has a physical EEPROM and you uploaded an image, but I want to make sure I'm looking in the right place.

I just committed a new virtual EEPROM for the rPi-28D that includes a 2-string DPIPixels option for users who don't want to use the WS2801 connector for 2 additional strings.  I don't think that will help your issue, but it would prevent you from having to switch configs around if you switch between the legacy RPIWS281x driver and the new DPIPixels driver.

Would it be it be possible to do a teamviewer session sometime so I can login and check some things out?  If so, PM me and we can try to set something up.

[CaptainMurdoch]

Just a follow-up on this thread.  I found/fixed the issue on a teamviewer session, it was a problem in the virtual EEPROM I had created which was then copied on the the rPi-28D+'s physical EEPROM.  It worked fine for the old legacy pixel driver on the Pi, but I missed one setting when updating it for DPIPixels which was causing it to disable DPIPixels at boot.

I am still troubleshooting one other Pi 4 related issue with color shift.  It looks like we have a bit shifting into the next pixel causing colors to be off.  I'm working on tracking that down currently and have an open bug report in github.

[CaptainMurdoch]

And another followup.


The color shift issue on the Pi 4 is fixed now after a math correction in one of the values in the DPI timing line.

[cabrio]

Thank you so much, unfortunately I will have to test it out in a few days because I am quarantined inside my bedroom due to a positive Covid test... Over two years I have evaded this thing, Last weekend we went to an engagement party for a nephew and everyone was double VAXed but clearly somebody was carrying it.

[cabrio]

I managed to be allowed out since I'm in the basement quarantining and my computer is down here as well. Colours are perfect. One strangeness now is when I adjust the number of pixels, save and restart fppd it triggers a reboot. I was worried it was going to disable the enabled box...it didn't so all is still good that way. Not sure if that matters or not.
Thanks a bunch!!

[Poporacer]

One strangeness now is when I adjust the number of pixels, save and restart fppd it triggers a reboot.

It isn't rebooting for me. How are you determining that it is rebooting?

[cabrio]

Sorry never mind.
Not doing it now.
Last night when I tried the new colour fix that was added, I upped the amount of pixels and when I restarted fppd it definitely triggered something on both of my Pi's. I know this because as soon as I restarted fppd, I went to test page and I had to wait for about 30s. Might not be a reboot sorry. Initially when I restart fppd, the page refreshes and it says fppd stopped. About 30s or so later it's back up and everything is good.

[CaptainMurdoch]

Sorry never mind.
Not doing it now.
Last night when I tried the new colour fix that was added, I upped the amount of pixels and when I restarted fppd it definitely triggered something on both of my Pi's. I know this because as soon as I restarted fppd, I went to test page and I had to wait for about 30s. Might not be a reboot sorry. Initially when I restart fppd, the page refreshes and it says fppd stopped. About 30s or so later it's back up and everything is good.

The DPIPixels channel output has a 800-pixel divider.  Whenever you cross that line, the Pi's DPI timings are adjusted which requires a reboot.  Below 800 pixels, the output always the Pi's DPI output at 40FPS even when the sequences are 20FPS.  Above 800 pixels, the Pi's DPI output always runs at 20FPS even when the sequences are above 20FPS.

[cabrio]

All is good. Now I'll have to wait and see if xLights updates maybe? Otherwise when i Upload Outputs from xLights to the controller it switches it back to the non DPIPixels driver. I can switch to the DPIPixels driver and all is still good, so its just a minor detail...that is an xLights problem i believe.
Thanks for the excellent work.
Anytime you need anther teamviewer session, I'm your guy!!

[Poporacer]

I had to wait for about 30s. Might not be a reboot sorry.

No, definitely not a reboot, but probably a Restart of fppd (which is commonly required for many settings changes)

[CaptainMurdoch]

All is good. Now I'll have to wait and see if xLights updates maybe? Otherwise when i Upload Outputs from xLights to the controller it switches it back to the non DPIPixels driver. I can switch to the DPIPixels driver and all is still good, so its just a minor detail...that is an xLights problem i believe.
Thanks for the excellent work.
Anytime you need anther teamviewer session, I'm your guy!!

Thanks.  Scott is working on some xLights updates to support FPP with DPIPixels and there may be other related FPP changes coming.

[cabrio]

Awesome, because my issue is now maybe somewhere between the two. In all my post and communication here all I have been doing is working with fpp, rpi's and rpi-28D+'s. So I've only been testing fpp and the driver and test lights until this evening I hadn't tried any sequences. When I use FPP Connect in xLights, I can upload all my sequences, and it also creates pixel overlay models on the main player. With previous versions I could enable test mode from my player(no physical pixels attached) and I could test all my strings. That doesn't work. Nor do any of my sequences. From xLights when I play a sequence, I can enable the output to lights button and they all light up. Not sure if I need another teamviewer or if it's a simple setting I've missed. The song plays just no lights at all. DPIPixels or standard rpi driver. I could probably pull out my previous sd cards and have it working real quick, but I'm keen to get it going with 6.

[cabrio]

Thanks.  Scott is working on some xLights updates to support FPP with DPIPixels and there may be other related FPP changes coming.

Can't wait!!!

[cabrio]

I don't know how or when you get the time but just updated this morning and bingo...all back to normal...either driver.
The xlights upload issue will get resolved I'm sure soon.
I don't know where you find the time but wow!!
thanks again