ESPixelSticks

Was able to flash 4 ESP01's with the puya chip - Hats off to DANV - Even stuck it on Google drive PM me if you need the link
 
Syd said:
Was able to flash 4 ESP01's with the puya chip - Hats off to DANV - Even stuck it on Google drive PM me if you need the link
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Can you post the google drive link here in the thread please Syd?
 
My comment about running Pixelsticks would be to be very wary of running a number of them if you are in a built up area with neighbours that have WiFi. I ran 23 of them last year using my own variation of level converter which used a CD40106 to achieve this with an on-board 3.3 Volt Regulator, they had from 50 to 600 Pixels attached to each, 5,000 Pixels in total, mostly on a 75 Pixel 24 strand Mega tree and a 50 x 24 Matrix, with the rest on roof lines and window frames. I used an upgraded Ubiquity LocoNano M2 as my access point, all running multicast from xLights scheduler. When everything was operating without interference, it all worked perfectly, but on occasions I experienced from 0.5 sec to 1 sec lag compared to the 800 or so AC controlled channels that the Pixels were sequenced against. This lag could stay in for 30 secs to 10/15 mins plus, with no indication of if/when it might/could occur. I was totally frustrated, almost to the point of pulling the plug which really took the joy out of putting on a display.

I will not be running ESPixel sticks again, apart from one place that I have to get to by wireless, and if that ESPixel stick shows any indication of lag, I will revert to the original wireless unit that was reliable, namely an XBee pair. After last seasons disaster I have already purchased, via this website, Falcon wired gear to replace all but one of the ESP's as I cannot tolerate the stress of putting on a sub-standard display to the public, even if they think it looks "OK"!!.

As a rider to this diatribe :-( The ESP's worked virtually perfectly the previous year after I changed over to Multicast, but I only had 2,000 pixels on 14 of them in use.

Terry
 
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At the moment I'm leaning towards more a Pi Zero W. The drawback is that it's slightly more expensive ($20 + SD card) and harder to get bulk quantities (most places are limited to one per customer). The benefits are that it's infinitely more flexible and opens up a lot more options than just squirting pixel data over WiFi.
 
danv said:
Can you post the google drive link here in the thread please Syd?
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Well - I have been quite busy with Wemos Minis and the Fruya install code is buried somewhere - I tried wiring up a soldered circuit with the esp01 chips - but that failed for some unknown reason ... I would seriously recommend the D1 Minis - they are cheaper that the combined parts for the Pixelstick - and a joy to use ... I have 4 scattered around in test modes - I also got a ESPixNode which is built around a node MCU - another joy to use - I have sidelined the esp01 development and Strongly suggest you do the same ...

If you were making a suggestion to put a link in for the installation for other newbies like me - I still will - but I think it sends them down the wrong path ...
 
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Wixel PRO v1.1 coming soon. Great signal strength and the ability to use an external antenna!
 
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