FPP 6.x Matrix Issues

[cmndr brain]

You can berate me later but, my show controller (no capes or pixels connected to it)  is running FPP 4.6 and I'm starting to update my setup.  So, the first thing I started was my BBB Matrix.  Everything (sort of) worked fine when it too was v4.6.  I say sort of, because I could never get it to stop stuttering every once in a while.  The matrix would slow down, pause and then speed up to catch up with the rest of the show.  Never figured it out. 
So in an effort to fix that issue, I've upgraded the BBB Matrix to v6.x.  Now the Matrix starts out working fine but then pauses, shows random effects and color blotches on the matrix and freezes.  Sometimes it'll fix itself and other times I have to turn off/on the BBB and it'll start working fine for a while then problems again.  It doesn't seem to happen on any one particular sequence or time in the show.
So, I put the 4.6 sdcard back in and it works, just with the pause/speed up every once in a while.

Could this be an issue w/ the different versions?  A setting?  Weak network? (which is currently a edimax usb and BBB shows "Fair" for connection, which is baffling cause the matrix is only 30ft away through 2 walls). Any suggestions on a usb wifi w/ antenna?

[Poporacer]

I say sort of, because I could never get it to stop stuttering every once in a while.  The matrix would slow down, pause and then speed up to catch up with the rest of the show.  Never figured it out.

Are you using MultiSync for your Matrix? If not, that could be most of your problem. If you are, then you are likely outputting E1.31/DDP data AND Multisync commands so you are confusing the matrix where it should be.

[cmndr brain]

I say sort of, because I could never get it to stop stuttering every once in a while.  The matrix would slow down, pause and then speed up to catch up with the rest of the show.  Never figured it out.

Are you using MultiSync for your Matrix? If not, that could be most of your problem. If you are, then you are likely outputting E1.31/DDP data AND Multisync commands so you are confusing the matrix where it should be.

Multisync?  Do you mean Multicast?  All my devices are Unicast w/ a static IP.  LED output is Enabled and no other inputs or outputs are enabled.  I used the exact same settings w/ v6.x, just made the problem worse.

[rudybuddy]

Multisync?  Do you mean Multicast?

Multisync is having your show pi in Player mode and your BBB matrix in Remote mode. Is that the case?

[Poporacer]

Multisync?  Do you mean Multicast?

No, I meant MultiSync, that is the recommended method for displaying data on Matrices due to the high pixel counts. 
https://falconchristmas.github.io/FPP_Manual(6.0).pdf#page=168

LED output is Enabled and no other inputs or outputs are enabled

But what about other devices, like your show player?

[cmndr brain]

Yes, multisync.  I have my show player set to "Player (Master)" and my BBB set to "Player (Remote)".  The other devices I have are dedicated SanDevices E682 and E6804's in unicast. 
As I understood it, I have uploaded the sequences to the BBB to be played as remote and the Master just sends sync packets to keep the time.  On the BBB I'm only using 2 ports of the Octoscroller, each having 3 panels.

On my show player, I have E1.31 outputs enabled for all the universes/channels I'm using.

[cmndr brain]

Does the time setting have to be set on the remotes?  I did notice that my time and date were wrong on the BBB remote.  So I set the NTP server ip to my show Pi.  It fixed the date and time.  But, I didn't think that would make a difference if the remote is just receiving sync signals.

The only other thing I did was, on the output page of the BBB, even though the "Enable E1.31/ArtNet/DDP Output" box was un-checked, all the output channels were setup as if it was a controller and they were all checked.  I thought if the Enable was unchecked, the others wouldn't matter.  I unchecked them all and the matrix seems to still be working.  I'll monitor it and see if the delay/speed up issues goes away.  If it does, I'll copy the settings to the sdcard w/ v6.x and see if those problems go away too.

[cmndr brain]

Well that was an utter failure.  My show turned on and no matrix.  I guess you do have to have the channels active even though the "Enable E1.31 Ouput" is unchecked.  Re-activated the channels and all seems well again.  I just get a warning "WARNING, universe outputs are active, but the primary channel output is disabled. No data will be sent."
I admit, I'm not the most active in this hobby, so a lot of the terminology and feature sets allude my understanding.  Baby steps.

[Poporacer]

On my show player, I have E1.31 outputs enabled for all the universes/channels I'm using.

That is likely your problem. You do not want to send E1.31 outputs to your Matrix.

[Poporacer]

I guess you do have to have the channels active even though the "Enable E1.31 Ouput" is unchecked.

No, that is not correct, there is something else going on.

[cmndr brain]

I guess you do have to have the channels active even though the "Enable E1.31 Ouput" is unchecked.

No, that is not correct, there is something else going on.

Well, I'd love to know what that something else is.   These settings were the only way I was ever able to get the Matrix to work w/o it being directly wired via ethernet.
Show Output settings:
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BBB Status:
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BBB Output:
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[Poporacer]

You have some strangeness going on here especially with your networking and channel mismatches. You should really let xLights configure these things for you and make it so much easier.

On the E1.31 outputs you typically only need one output line per controller that you are going to send E1.31 data from that device unless you are doing something special. If you are using MultiSync, you do not want E1.31 outputs for your remotes. So on FPP1 you should have one line for your San Device 0.201 with Start Channel 1 (if that is correct?) Universe 1 and count of 12. Your San Device 0.202 would be start channel 6121 Universe 101 count 12 (are you really using 12 Universes on both controllers?) You do not want your P10 listed in the outputs on FPP1.

On your FPPBBB, what do you have connected to the eth0 port? What is this device doing? You probably do not need any outputs on this device.

Now the strangeness every network interface needs its own IP address, it looks like you have the following (not sure because you didn't post your network configs)

FPP1
wlan0 192.168.1.99?
eth0   192.168.0.100

FPPBBB
wlan0  192.168.1.99 This is the same as FPP1 and is not correct!
eth0    192.168.0.100  This is the same as FPP1 and is not correct!

You are accessing this device via a proxy but it is on the same Wi-Fi subnet so it isn't needed. 
Like the warning says, you have outputs active but not enabled so it is useless to have them enabled.
Your outputs on this device are not configured correctly, but it really doesn't matter since you are actually doing anything with them.
What do you have connected to the eth0 port on this device?

Since it sounds more like a network issue, how about posting screenshots of your network settings on both FPP devices? eth0 and wlan0.

[cmndr brain]

First, thank you for your help.

You have some strangeness going on here especially with your networking and channel mismatches. You should really let xLights configure these things for you and make it so much easier.

On the E1.31 outputs you typically only need one output line per controller that you are going to send E1.31 data from that device unless you are doing something special. If you are using MultiSync, you do not want E1.31 outputs for your remotes. So on FPP1 you should have one line for your San Device 0.201 with Start Channel 1 (if that is correct?) Universe 1 and count of 12. Your San Device 0.202 would be start channel 6121 Universe 101 count 12 (are you really using 12 Universes on both controllers?) You do not want your P10 listed in the outputs on FPP1.

The E1.31 outputs was left over from the beginnings of learning how to set everything up back w/ FPP v2.x when I started this hobby.  Yeah, there are a lot of individual lines, but it worked, so I never changed it (mostly out of ignorance).  I'm not "using" 12 universes per controller right now.  That is set for future expansion to maximize each  controller.  Currently 1 controller is using 7 universes and the other is using 11.  But I plan on adding some additional props at the end of some current ones.  E.g. I originally had 2 mini trees and last year I added 4 more.  2 daisy chained off of each of the 2 originals, so I wanted the universes "reserved".  I've tried in the past having xLights configure the settings several years back.  That was a total disaster.  After the "FPP connect" auto upload, nothing worked or the lights would be wrong.  Just never revisited the option.

On your FPPBBB, what do you have connected to the eth0 port? What is this device doing? You probably do not need any outputs on this device.
Now the strangeness every network interface needs its own IP address, it looks like you have the following (not sure because you didn't post your network configs)
FPP1
wlan0 192.168.1.99?
eth0  192.168.0.100
FPPBBB
wlan0  192.168.1.99 This is the same as FPP1 and is not correct!
eth0    192.168.0.100  This is the same as FPP1 and is not correct!
You are accessing this device via a proxy but it is on the same Wi-Fi subnet so it isn't needed.
 

What do you have connected to the eth0 port on this device?


Since it sounds more like a network issue, how about posting screenshots of your network settings on both FPP devices? eth0 and wlan0.

My devices are:
- FPP (Master) eth0 192.168.0.100 (show network) / wlan0 192.168.1.99 (wireless access from private network)
- E6804 192.168.0.201
- E682   192.14687.0.202
- FPPBBB (matrix) eth0 192.168.1.98 (direct access from private network should I lose wlan0) / wlan0 192.168.0.221 (show network remote wireless)
For some reason, when I proxy from my Master, it shows the Master IP addresses on the status page of the BBB.  But I assure you, it's different.

Master Network Settings:
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Remote BBB Matrix Network Settings: (via proxy)
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BBB Direct connect
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Like the warning says, you have outputs active but not enabled so it is useless to have them enabled.
Your outputs on this device are not configured correctly, but it really doesn't matter since you are actually doing anything with them.

I've disabled the outputs on Master FPP for the matrix channels and the matrix still seems to be working.  What about on the BBB?  I have to have the output define and active or the matrix will not show anything.  It doesn't matter if the Enable in checked or not.  With it NOT checked, I get a warning but it works.  If I check the Enable the warning goes away and the matrix still works.  What is the proper setting?
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[Poporacer]

That is set for future expansion to maximize each  controller. 

You don't need to do that and in doing so, you are only spamming your network with useless data.

But I plan on adding some additional props at the end of some current ones.

And by having each controller start on a new Universe range like you do, you will just add the universes that you need.
Did I mention that xLights will handle all of this for you and all of these issues will be gone?

so I wanted the universes "reserved"

Why do you need them reserved? If you add more props, add more universes, not a problem. Reserving them doesn't do anything except spam your network like I said.
Did I mention that xLights will handle all of this for you and all of these issues will be gone?

I've tried in the past having xLights configure the settings several years back.  That was a total disaster.

There have been a TON of improvements and if it didn't work, you likely had something configured incorrectly (just like you do now)

After the "FPP connect" auto upload, nothing worked or the lights would be wrong.  Just never revisited the option.

With all of the problems/errors that you have entered, I would highly recommend visiting it again. 

My devices are:

- FPP (Master) eth0 192.168.0.100 (show network) / wlan0 192.168.1.99 (wireless access from private network)

You are using a fairly old and outdated version of FPP.... Something to think about.
I see you have Tethering disabled? Is that for a specific reason? It is recommended to leave this to the default of "If No Connection"

- FPPBBB (matrix) eth0 192.168.1.98 (direct access from private network should I lose wlan0) / wlan0 192.168.0.221 (show network remote wireless)

Typically you only need one network interface unless you need it to bridge networks (Like your Show Player is doing) and only ONE of those interfaces should have a Gateway assigned.

If you are running a Show network (which is typically not needed) it is typically easier and cleaner to keep all of your show devices on the same network. I would suggest ditching the Wi-Fi and configuring the eth0 to be in your show network and then connecting the eth0 to your switch/Show Router and ditch the proxy access.

I have to have the output define and active or the matrix will not show anything.

That is probably due to your convoluted network configuration. But is it working correctly? I don't think it is or you wouldn't be here, LOL

What is the proper setting?

Is this FPP connected to a LED controller of some kind, like an octoplus? If so, I already said that you do NOT want any E1.31 outputs configured or enabled.

[cmndr brain]

Poporacer, Thank you for the reply.  I have some sd cards on order already for other projects.  When they come in, I'll burn new images and try to setup everything, correctly.  If anything goes wrong, I'll just put the original sd cards back in for the show until I can get everything straightened out.