Kulp K40D-PB - has anyone purchased and what are you experiences?

janastas

Full time elf
Joined
Nov 30, 2020
Messages
120
Hi All,

I was originally weighing up purchasing the Falcon F16v3 or the Kulp K16A-B.

The K16A-B is currently out of stock so my eye went across to the K40D-PB.

Was thinking the K40D-PB plus 4 smart receivers should be more than enough for what I'm after for ay least the next year or so compared priced wise against an F48 and 4 smart receivers.

My question is has anyone on the forum purchased the K40D-PB and can you point me to any reviews or how you're finding it so far?

The most I've found around reviews of this product is one video on Vimeo from extreme sequences and nothing much more.

I'm looking to setup my first light show for easter this year which should be pretty simple (Just a few chroma eggs and chroma trim outlining for the front entrance of my house)

I'm figuring if I do buy something I might as well get what I need now and can always buy more smart receivers later in the year if I need them.

Thanks
 

LawrenceDriveLights

Senior elf
Joined
Jan 16, 2018
Messages
581
Yes the Kulp board does seem very popular with many users.

I don’t wish to start a which pixel controller is better forum thread, just be aware the kulp boards do run on FPP platform which you need to flash this to a SD card and do some configurations etc (this is relevantly straight forward), however it is another step required in getting your pixel controller working.

The Falcon and Advatek pixel controllers don’t require this and as a new user it may be easier for you to use.

Note there is a new Falcon pixel controller going to be released so if you can hold off maybe try and wait for this new controller, the F16v3 is still a very solid controller and still very popular within the lighting community.
Just my thoughts that’s all
 

janastas

Full time elf
Joined
Nov 30, 2020
Messages
120
Yes the Kulp board does seem very popular with many users.

I don’t wish to start a which pixel controller is better forum thread, just be aware the kulp boards do run on FPP platform which you need to flash this to a SD card and do some configurations etc (this is relevantly straight forward), however it is another step required in getting your pixel controller working.

The Falcon and Advatek pixel controllers don’t require this and as a new user it may be easier for you to use.

Note there is a new Falcon pixel controller going to be released so if you can hold off maybe try and wait for this new controller, the F16v3 is still a very solid controller and still very popular within the lighting community.
Just my thoughts that’s all

Thanks for that.

The plan was to get the kulp with an SD card that already had the FFP software pre installed from Dan's store.

I've already had the joy of installing FPP on an RPi3 with an Rpi-28D+ hat so hoping this wouldn't be too much more complicated than that, just more ports.

The other question which I'm yet to find a simple answer on is a guide to FM transmitter setup on either falcon or kulp boards, is it just a matter of having an Rpi with FPP connected to either board and doing it that way?
 

LawrenceDriveLights

Senior elf
Joined
Jan 16, 2018
Messages
581
Ok that’s great you are familiar with FPP on your pi hat, maybe a Kulp board would be ok for you

Some of the Kulp boards you can fit a small FM transmitter, a couple of people have reported mix results with this.

I personally would get a standalone FM transmitter like the CZE-05B which you can connect to your show players audio output
 

Danielr

Lights On Botanical
Generous elf
Joined
Jul 13, 2019
Messages
98
I'm not sure about the K40, but I have a K32A-B and you can buy an FM transmitter from Dan which costs $18 USD and just plug it in (just solder a 75cm wire onto it first), it only takes a few seconds to do and then select the FM transmitter in FPP and config. You can also run audio from the board with the new K16s and K32s, so no need to buy a Pi and a sound blaster as the audio quality is excellent. If your props are spread out then go the K40, if everything is close then I would go the K16. With the K16 you also have plenty of room for expansion if you need to in the future as you can connect 12 smart receivers off it as well.

The F16s are also an incredible board with plenty of support as well. There is a new one coming out soon, so perhaps wait and have a look at the specs as it might suit you more as well.
 

janastas

Full time elf
Joined
Nov 30, 2020
Messages
120
Thanks All,

I was thinking originally about the F16v3 as I was going to keep everything central.

I've since looked at my front yard and highlighted all the areas in red that I'd like to eventually run props to, there's quite a bit there and I think it would make sense to have smart receivers at key points around the yard, even if I'm not going to set them up this year I can buy the receivers now and do it a piece at a time.

Saying this that's why I'm thinking about the K40D vs buying anF48 and having 4 smart receivers to start off with.


Happy to get some thoughts from everyone.

My chroma eggs, 40 meters of chroma trim and some chroma spiders along with 8 small arch's are due to be delivered today I belive so my next step is to buy a controller to really get started and work out how much I want to do for easter (also have some power injection tees coming any day now )
 

janastas

Full time elf
Joined
Nov 30, 2020
Messages
120
Ha! Just as I sent the above post my box from Extreme Lighting displays arrived with all my corro!

x3 Chroma Eggs
x2 Halloween black widow spiders
x8 small arch's
x40 chroma trim
x1 pixel pliers

There was even a stubby holder and a few coasters in there as well!
 

Jarrad33

150k of Pixels for 2023
Joined
Oct 8, 2019
Messages
238
Location
Brisbane
You should wait to buy a K16 or 32 as you can plug smart receivers to it and you can still use the 16/32 outputs
 

Old Salt

Apprentice elf
Joined
Dec 8, 2020
Messages
80
Note Kulp's standard naming method for their products. If it ends in a 'PB,' it uses a Pocket Beagle, if it's 'B,' a BeagleBone Black or Green is used. If it's an 'AB,' the board is audio capable, and uses a BeagleBone Black or Green. The transmitter Kulp sells mounts to a header installed on the K16-AB or K32-AB.

If you are buying a USB WiFi dongle, get the 1200MB versions. The 150 MB is more difficult to configure.

The Pocket Beagle on my K4-PB failed within a month. Dan has indicated that he'll send a replacement.

FPP is easy to install on a µSD card. You do need the formatting and etching software as described in the FPP manual. It took half an hour for me to download and install the software, and then etch my first µSD card. Subsequent formatting and etching takes about five minutes per card. If your computer does not have a slot for the µSD card, an USB adapter works. I use this one:

USB - SD adapter.JPG
 

janastas

Full time elf
Joined
Nov 30, 2020
Messages
120
Ended up buying the K40D and four smart receivers last night.

I figured I might as well buy the hardware and force myself to start using it instead of just reading online and reviews.

Hopefully next week I'll have everything I need and can start experimenting for my easter lights.
 

janastas

Full time elf
Joined
Nov 30, 2020
Messages
120
Order was dispatched on Friday and arrived Yestreday around midday. That was using UPS expidited as an option.
 

zshenry

New elf
Joined
Dec 3, 2022
Messages
3
I'm not sure about the K40, but I have a K32A-B and you can buy an FM transmitter from Dan which costs $18 USD and just plug it in (just solder a 75cm wire onto it first), it only takes a few seconds to do and then select the FM transmitter in FPP and config. You can also run audio from the board with the new K16s and K32s, so no need to buy a Pi and a sound blaster as the audio quality is excellent. If your props are spread out then go the K40, if everything is close then I would go the K16. With the K16 you also have plenty of room for expansion if you need to in the future as you can connect 12 smart receivers off it as well.

The F16s are also an incredible board with plenty of support as well. There is a new one coming out soon, so perhaps wait and have a look at the specs as it might suit you more as well.
Total newbie here. I have the Kulp 32A-B, as well as the Si4713 FM transmitter. The light show is turning out fantastic. But The FM transmission is *VERY* weak (like I can hear it in the driveway, but at the street, it is static), so I am taking the advice to use a CZE-05B. The manual for the Kulp 16 shows an audio output jack...however, I am not seeing the same thing on my Kulp 32. Am I missing something obvious?
 
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