V1 vs V2 with Renard output

[Lyonsupe1]

Doing my first pixel tree this coming year (if I don't start early I won't get it done ) and trying to decide on the best setup! Right now I have two Pi 3s running FPP for 80 AC Renard channels. 

I'm planning a tree of 16 strings, 80 nodes per string for 1280 nodes. I'll split it between two outputs. And may want some wiggle room for a star topper (but have an EsPixelStick laying around too if I need it and a spare RPI 2 somewhere).


1. I'm not going to strain a RPI 3 too much by having it be a master, with a picap running the tree, sending Renard data directly out to 24 channels, and doing USB audio to an FM transmitter for the show am I?


2. What's the difference in PiCap V1 vs V2? I can't find much info on V2. Will either be better for my setup? V2 would give me more port wiggle room, but is the RS485 data out the same? Is there a cat5 output on V2 (there is on V1, right?)


I'll grab a couple F8 distro boards for power and hopefully that gets me running!


Appreciate any insight or other thoughts/things to think about!



Sent from my Pixel 7 using Tapatalk

[MikeKrebs]

I use my FPP as a master without a cap so take my advice with a grain of salt...you will be fine with what you are planning.

You might consider one of the larger caps such as https://kulplights.com/product/k8-pi/ This would give you much flexibility and say with 320 nodes per port plus a topper, still leaves room for another 3 ports of something.