arduino and fpp

[andrewm659]

I'm trying to move to FPP from LightShowPi.  I have FPP running on a RasPi 4 4GB.  However with LightShowPi I was using Arduino to drive the lights.  Can I do that with FPP?

The arduino is using the code used for LightShowPi still.

[CaptainMurdoch]

It depends on what format data LightShowPi can take as input (if it can even do that).  FPP can output the raw channel data in a multitude of formats including over a serial connection.   You might be better off trying to switch to something like WLED or one of the other apps that are designed to run on the arduino and relay/bridge data from one input out to pixels.

[andrewm659]

It depends on what format data LightShowPi can take as input (if it can even do that).  FPP can output the raw channel data in a multitude of formats including over a serial connection.  You might be better off trying to switch to something like WLED or one of the other apps that are designed to run on the arduino and relay/bridge data from one input out to pixels.

So on the Arduino Uno I have a set of WS2812b and WS2811.  These are on 2 different Arduinos.  How would I properly integrate this into FPP?    I don't have any of the boards for FPP...YET.  But I want to make this easy on me for right now.  Ideally I want to get this set up for Halloween.  So by Sept 1.

[CaptainMurdoch]

If you want to use LightShowPi, you'll have to check to see what kinds of input data it can take and then can see if FPP supports outputting data in that format.  If you want to use WLED or some other software, you'll have to check to see if that is compatible with your Arduino and figure out what methods you could use to get the data input (ie, serial, network, etc.)

[andrewm659]

If you want to use LightShowPi, you'll have to check to see what kinds of input data it can take and then can see if FPP supports outputting data in that format.  If you want to use WLED or some other software, you'll have to check to see if that is compatible with your Arduino and figure out what methods you could use to get the data input (ie, serial, network, etc.)

I'm fine with ditching it completely and using JUST FPP. 

Can I use the arduino the same way with FPP but using diff code on the arduino obviously?

Sorry if i'm being a pain...

[CaptainMurdoch]

Yeah, WLED and other programs could possibly work on your arduino and would provide a way to take data from FPP and send it out to pixels directly attached to the arduino.  If you are only using a few strings of pixels, you could also directly attach them to a Pi or Beagle or get a cape/hat for a Pi/Beagle and have lots of pixels directly attached.

[dkulp]

If it's two separate strings of lights, I'd just ditch the arduino's entirely and wire the data line (and gnd) from the pixels directly to the Pi.   On the Channel Outputs -> Pixel Strings page, install the "PiHat" virtual eeprom.     With that, the two pins you would need are:

Data String #1	Pin 12 - GPIO18
Data String #2	Pin 35 - GPIO19

[andrewm659]

If it's two separate strings of lights, I'd just ditch the arduino's entirely and wire the data line (and gnd) from the pixels directly to the Pi.  On the Channel Outputs -> Pixel Strings page, install the "PiHat" virtual eeprom.    With that, the two pins you would need are:

Data String #1	Pin 12 - GPIO18
Data String #2	Pin 35 - GPIO19

Even if I don't have the PiHat?

Just making sure.

[dkulp]

The PiHat just level shifts from the Pi'2 3.3V to 5V (and provides fuses and such).   If the run isn't very far from the Pi to the lights, it should work OK, at least as an initial test.

[andrewm659]

As of right now the lights are right next to the RasPis'.  And when outside they will technically be same setup.

[MikeKrebs]

Back to the original question for a quick question. What is the sketch that you loaded on the arduino to be controlled by LSP? Curious to see what it is doing.

dkulp has you on the right path to step up to running off the RaspPi.  

There are lots of ways to get to blinky lights. One alternative is a device like this that is running WLED. There is even a sound reactive version of WLED if you liked that part of LSP. WLED has 100+ built-in effects you can select from a phone app and it will take in e1.31 so the RaspPi running FPP could send to it.
https://shop.allnetchina.cn/collections/quinled/products/quinled-dig-quad-v3-digital-led-controller-new-improved-release?variant=39475881771110

There is also a bit more bare bones model but it has a sdcard so you can program it with .fseq files and make it do what you want. FSEQ files are created by xLights or Vixen. They enable you to do a show without lag caused by the wifi being a problem.
https://shop.allnetchina.cn/products/quinled-esp32-ae?variant=39670110847078

[andrewm659]

Back to the original question for a quick question. What is the sketch that you loaded on the arduino to be controlled by LSP? Curious to see what it is doing.

dkulp has you on the right path to step up to running off the RaspPi. 

There are lots of ways to get to blinky lights. One alternative is a device like this that is running WLED. There is even a sound reactive version of WLED if you liked that part of LSP. WLED has 100+ built-in effects you can select from a phone app and it will take in e1.31 so the RaspPi running FPP could send to it.
https://shop.allnetchina.cn/collections/quinled/products/quinled-dig-quad-v3-digital-led-controller-new-improved-release?variant=39475881771110

There is also a bit more bare bones model but it has a sdcard so you can program it with .fseq files and make it do what you want. FSEQ files are created by xLights or Vixen. They enable you to do a show without lag caused by the wifi being a problem.
https://shop.allnetchina.cn/products/quinled-esp32-ae?variant=39670110847078

The device looks cool.  How do you configure it to work on the network?  Do I just use the arduino software? 

Also I'm a bit green to this set up.  So using vixen and xLights is a bit overwhelming. 

Ok so I have the WS2811 (2 sets connected to each other) on GPIO 18.  I have an external power supply for this.  So it is all setup. 

Do I configure this on the server/main or remote?


Here is the sketch from LSPi

#include <Wire.h> 
#include <LiquidCrystal_I2C.h>
#include <Keypad.h>

const byte ROWS = 4; 
const byte COLS = 4; 

char hexaKeys[ROWS][COLS] = {
  {'1', '2', '3', 'A'},
  {'4', '5', '6', 'B'},
  {'7', '8', '9', 'C'},
  {'*', '0', '#', 'D'}
};

byte rowPins[ROWS] = {9, 8, 7, 6}; 
byte colPins[COLS] = {5, 4, 3, 2}; 

Keypad customKeypad = Keypad(makeKeymap(hexaKeys), rowPins, colPins, ROWS, COLS); 

LiquidCrystal_I2C lcd(0x27, 16, 2); 

void setup(){
  Serial.begin(9600);
  lcd.backlight();
  lcd.init();
}
  
void loop(){
  char customKey = customKeypad.getKey();
  if (customKey){
    Serial.println(customKey);
    lcd.clear();
    lcd.setCursor(0, 0);
    lcd.print(customKey);
  }
}

[MikeKrebs]

Let's get FPP running your pixels. Did you load up the virtual eeprom? You do this from the menu Input/Output Setup, Channel Outputs, an then the Pixel Strings tab. Click the button to install EEProm and choose PiHat.

Once installed you have you two outputs to configure with the number of pixels you are running. You only need configure whatever you have attached.

Once you have that, you can use the test function under Status/Control.

[MikeKrebs]

Here is the sketch from LSPi

The sketch you copied in doesn't look like it is doing any interaction with LSPi. It is some generic telephone keypad simulator? It is not outputting any WS2811 protocol so it couldn't be driving your pixels.

[MikeKrebs]

The device looks cool.  How do you configure it to work on the network?  Do I just use the arduino software? 

If you are going to use WLED, it comes pre-flashed with a version of that software. The configuration is via an web browser on your phone or any web browser that can connect to the special access point. The first thing you do with WLED is tell it how to connect to your network (in this case wireless). From there, control is via the phone app or browser. So, no "programming" required. If you do have to install a version of the software, you flash the binary not compile it from Arduino. If you want to do programming, then yes, the source code is available and you mess with it as you see fit using an Arduino compatible editor/compiler/up-loader.