Intro to the Octoscroller

[Mickyh]

Help, I have a bbb with the octoplus daughter board, I can get the panels to come on in test mode but I can't get lights to display anything. What are the settings in xlights to add it. I seen some old videos but the newer software has changed. Any help would be appreciated!!
Thanks,
Micky

[Mickyh]

I was able to find my mistake and resolved it....

[Stormyblade]

I was able to find my mistake and resolved it....

Please tell us the mistake and the resolution...so if someone else has the same issue...we can point to this.

[kiseremail]

Hello!  Does it matter whether the 5v power is hooked up to the BBB or the octoplus? 

reason I'm asking is, I have a bunch of panels set up w/power to the BBB with attached octoscrolla.  I'm having issues with it, so while troubleshooting I swapped in an octoplus instead.  The octoplus was from another working set of panels, but it's power was run through the octoplus, not the BBB.  FPP recognizes the octoplus and the display OLED is working, but the panels don't light up at all.  I would think since it's being recognized, it wouldn't matter whether power ran through BBB or octoplus, but I don't want to totally discount it as I troubleshoot.  thank you for your help!

[Kensington Graves]

My recollection is that the BBB draws power from the OctoPlus.  But there are a number of other reasons why panels won't light besides power.

[plaethos75]

Hoping this will help:  I have a 5v power connection going ONLY to my Oct.  it powers on my BBB.

Other venues I have done, literally this morning as i had to do a full reinstall from 2 years ago and I didn't want to restore backups...

In Xlights:  

Created a Matrix; since I'm running 2 P5 panels, horizontally, I set # Strings to 32; Nodes/String to 128; Strand s/String to 1 

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Because I am running this separately from everything else, I had to assign separate universe's, supporting 512 channels - which totaled 24 Universes (width x height of total panel [128 x 32] *3, divided by 512 = 24

In Xlights, I had to go to the controllers tab and under my Oct controller, set the protocol to E131; set my start universe 5 from my ending universe of my F16v3 (40); then set my Universe Count to 24; lastly editing my Channels per Universe from 510 to 512

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From here, I selected Visualize to ensure I had the proper amount of channels (12288 from above equation). 

Then I uploaded to config to my controller going from tools -->  Bulk Controller Upload
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From FPP - BB; I just made sure my panels were laid out correctly.  

I'd attach a screenshot, but I'm having some power issues atm.  at the very least, I hope the above helps.  It will allow you to use your OctScroller within the same sequence for the rest of your lights, but control the Oct separately is what I am finding.  

[Poporacer]

Created a Matrix; since I'm running 2 P5 panels, horizontally, I set # Strings to 32; Nodes/String to 128; Strand s/String to 1 

Typically, LED panels are defined with the Starting location as Top Left.

Because I am running this separately from everything else, I had to assign separate universe's, supporting 512 channels - which totaled 24 Universes

xLights is smart enough to actually calculate this for you...

In Xlights, I had to go to the controllers tab and under my Oct controller, set the protocol to E131; set my start universe 5 from my ending universe of my F16v3 (40)

The Universes don't have to be contiguous, it is very common to start each controller on an increment of 100 to allow for future expansion. First controller starts at 100, second controller starts at 201, third controller at 301, etc...

then set my Universe Count to 24

Again, let xLights do this for you so that it will always be correct.

From here, I selected Visualize to ensure I had the proper amount of channels

You do not have Auto Layout Models enabled (This setting allows you to actually use the Visualizer to manage your controllers for you and is highly recommended as it saves a TON of time and eliminates just about every channel assignment error.) Checking the Auto Layout Models also give you the option of Auto Size which will automatically keep the correct number of Universes/Channels that you need when you add, delete, or move models around.

[jnealand]

All my matrices start at bottom left.  The original nutcracker which became xlights both started as mega tree effects generators and allways started at bottom left.  As other effects were built, most of them all started at bottom left.  That has changed over the years as the developers created option to start matrices and other props from other locations.  I for one will always start at the bottom left.  Starting at the top often means cables then have to physically drop down to the bottom anyway so why not start at the bottom.

But then I am one of the old timers that have doing animated lighting before xlights even existed.  sigh

[Poporacer]

All my matrices start at bottom left. 

Yeah, but you are a rebel! LOL

I for one will always start at the bottom left.  Starting at the top often means cables then have to physically drop down to the bottom anyway so why not start at the bottom.

I was referring to LED panels. Typically you do want the starting location to be where you are physically wiring to the first "pixel" and the bottom for pixel matrices is typically where you are wired to, but for LED panels, you are not physically wiring to the first pixel so there are no "dangling cables" involved. Most LED panels/controllers have the first "pixel" defined as the upper left corner....yes, you can make it work, but it isn't as easy....

[k6ccc]

I for one will always start at the bottom left.  Starting at the top often means cables then have to physically drop down to the bottom anyway so why not start at the bottom.

When I built my first pixel tree in 2012, I put the controller in a box behind the star, so it made sense to have the pixel strings start from the top left.  I have rebuilt the tree several times since then, but I always left the controller box behind the star..  Here you can see the wires running from the top of each string and disappearing behind the star:

[jnealand]

Ah, k6ccc.  Looks like I have company in being a rebel.  LOL   Is that a Jim trait??? 

[k6ccc]

Ah, k6ccc.  Looks like I have company in being a rebel.  LOL  Is that a Jim trait??? 

Sure, let's go with that!

[Keebler]

Dan,
Thank you for this page. it has been a great deal of help over the years

One thing i noticed, and I am sure i am looking at it incorrectly...  so please set me straight

in the Octosctroller Capabilities section it states " The Octoscroller supports various types of panels including 1:4 and 1:2 scan "outdoor" panels, various ways panels multiplex rows, etc... "

then in the notes section it states " The Octoscroller only has 4 address lines and thus can only support up to 1:16 scan panels.  There are no extra pins on the BBB to be able to add support. "

so, am i reading this incorrectly that the octoscroller can only support 1/16 scan panels, or does it support the other scan panels; (of course the scan is brightness - -1/4 is half as bright as 1/2, and 1/8 is half as bright as 1/4, since current (I) is split...)

I am sure that I am wrong somewhere, please tell me where I got this wrong...

[dkulp]

Generally "Up To" the 1:16 scan rates.   There are 1:32 scan (64 pixel tall) panels that cannot be supported as there isn't a 5th address line.