Newbie with RPI-28D+ and New Falcon

R

Reebdoog

New elf
Joined
Nov 20, 2022
Messages
2
Hi All,

Just getting some stuff coming through the mail soon and wanted to find out more info, I can't seem to piece it all together with all the changes lately.
With the new license needed (maybe?) for the Falcon Player and 28D+, how many LEDS (or Pixels) can I run off each Physical port? Also, can the WS2801 and WS2811 be used at the same time? Or it's one or the other only?

Thanks.
 
rPi28D+ can be used without a license on FPP 6.x by using the older RPI2811 code.
This will give you 2x WS2811 pixel strings, and 1x WS2801 pixel string from the board.
These can both be used simultaneously.

However, if you wish to use the onboard sound (ie. not through a Soundblaster etc) you will need to run the DPIpixels code, which is licensed.
By using DPI pixels code, you can run 4x WS2811 strings, sacrificing the WS2801 output (one string from the data port, and one from the clock port). This will require a license for 4 ports.

Each port can run around 800 pixels at 40fps.
 
Skymaster said:
rPi28D+ can be used without a license on FPP 6.x by using the older RPI2811 code.
This will give you 2x WS2811 pixel strings, and 1x WS2801 pixel string from the board.
These can both be used simultaneously.

However, if you wish to use the onboard sound (ie. not through a Soundblaster etc) you will need to run the DPIpixels code, which is licensed.
By using DPI pixels code, you can run 4x WS2811 strings, sacrificing the WS2801 output (one string from the data port, and one from the clock port). This will require a license for 4 ports.

Each port can run around 800 pixels at 40fps.
Click to expand...
Thanks, appreciate the quick response!

Is there a limit on 2801 pixels? I can't seem to find any info easily on how long I can run using Falcon
 
The
Reebdoog said:
Thanks, appreciate the quick response!

Is there a limit on 2801 pixels? I can't seem to find any info easily on how long I can run using Falcon
Click to expand...
The numbers for 2801 was 600, 800 or 1000 from memory. In theory it could actually be 1600+ because WS2801 can handle a faster data rate than WS2811. Only the gurus like @dkulp or @CaptainMurdoch would actually be able to say if the clock rate used for WS2801 is fixed or if it is adjusted to be as slow or fast as could be to fit the required fps and pixel count.
 
Is there a step by step guide sometwhere that I can use to setup from the ground up including the wiring to the PI, etc for a ws2812b leds and a RPI-28d+ with a rassberry pi. In the past I used lightshowpi but want to upgrade this year to a better show. ANy help would be appreciaited.
 
joewilliams said:
Is there a step by step guide sometwhere that I can use to setup from the ground up including the wiring to the PI, etc for a ws2812b leds and a RPI-28d+ with a rassberry pi. In the past I used lightshowpi but want to upgrade this year to a better show. ANy help would be appreciaited.
Click to expand...
There's a link off the rpi-28d+ product page to a video that Greg at PanelsRUs did of the board setup.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcj4Uqi9A9c
 
That is a great guide. For someone starting out it looks like I could get this pie hat, create a sequence in xlights, ul the file to the pie hat like in the demo, and then it will work with 3 or 4 small strings? Would this be a super simple proof of concept for a first timer dipping his toes in the water?
 
Back
Top