Experience Lights InOutPIHat

[Juddge]

quick question does anyone know, if you can assign the cape as the DPI Version PI Hat or can it only be the PiHat Cape only ?
just curious as it brings up both as an option in the output settings
is there any advantages of one over the otheror is it pure just as DPI you can also have audio ?

 

[merryoncherry]

I run mine as Pi hat, the Pi audio is useless anyway. Guessing you'd need a license for any DPIPixels too, so if you need more than 2 pixel strings put a Baldrick and network in the enclosure with it... then it can do lots of pixels, lots of sensors, and be a player.

 

[Skymaster]

Guessing you'd need a license for any DPIPixels too

Correct. Except on a Raspberry Pi 5 where RPIWS281x no longer works and I believe basic 2 channel functionality is provided by DPIPixels only.

is there any advantages of one over the otheror is it pure just as DPI you can also have audio ?

The advantage of DPI Pixels is it doesn't use the PWM driver. This means the PWM can be used for the (no so great) audio output on the Pi, which ordinarily is disabled when running pixels.
DPIPixels also isn't limited to the 2x GPIO ports. Meaning the rPi can drive up to 24 outputs. But you need a special Hat for that to happen (Such as the Kulp K8-Pi, which has a licence inbuilt)

So for a 2 port Hat, like the In & Out hat from Experience Lights, the only benefit is onboard audio & having to spend an additional $5USD to use it.

 

[Juddge]

as im using over 50 pixels - i needed a licence regardless ? standard 2 outputs are still limited to the 50 pixels max

 

[thewanderingpine]

Standard 2 outputs don’t require DPI and thus don’t require a license.
I run my EL pi hat with 2 500px outputs without a license

 

[Skymaster]

as im using over 50 pixels - i needed a licence regardless ? standard 2 outputs are still limited to the 50 pixels max

Only DPI pixels is licensed. They other code is the original open source library that FPP uses and is not locked behind a paywall.

Only DPI pixels on Pi and all BBB pixel code is locked up.

 

[Juddge]

so i brought a 2 channel licence for no reason ?
dammit i thought all FPP devices had the 50 light limit on all Capes
so first thing i did was add a 2 port licence

 

[Skymaster]

How to tell if you actually need a License Key – Shop.FalconPlayer.com

https://shop.falconplayer.com/ufaq/...controller-com-do-i-still-need-a-license-key/ << This applies to all 2 port output boards for Pi's including your Experience lights board, the Hanson rPi-28D+ etc

Keep the key as a spare and dont apply it to this cape. Use it for something when you need sound or as an upgrade for another cape (it's based on dollar amounts)

 

[Juddge]

ha, so i just got it because i didnt pay attention
oh well, ill just enable DPI pixels as it has the key now anyway