Newbie problems

[azzb]

Hi all,
I’m completely new to this. I know I’ve missed the boat for this years display, but I would still like to work out what I’m doing wrong.
I received my f16v4, pixels and have got that all sorted.
I’ve got on to the computer and typed in the IP address of the falcon controller. I watched some videos of setting it up, but they were the v3.
I’ve gone on to xLights and made an extremely basic sequence, plugged in 50 pixels into port 1 (just to see if it worked), run the sequence and it stays with just one blue pixel lit.
Soo, I’m stuck. How do I get the sequence to run through to the lights? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Katekate]

have you set an IP on the falcon to match your network?

 

[Mark_M]

I’ve got on to the computer and typed in the IP address of the falcon controller.

I assume it's on the network given this statement.


Falcon's only light pixels that they have been told to light.

You need to set the controller's vendor as Falcon and model as F16v4 for the next few steps:
1. In xlights, use the visualizer to put the string onto the right port.
2. Then upload input and output to the controller.

Now the controller has been told by xlights what the data represents and where it goes to (the port pixels are connected to).


Test from the Falcon (hold down test button) should light all pixels it has been told to light.
The Falcon will now also handle data from xLights properly.

 

[azzb]

Yes, i typed the IP address that came on the controller screen into the computer, that brought me to the falcon controller screen where I saved the IP address in the settings.
i also saved that IP address in the xLights settings.

 

[azzb]

I assume it's on the network given this statement.


Falcon's only light pixels that they have been told to light.

You need to set the controller's vendor as Falcon and model as F16v4 for the next few steps:
1. In xlights, use the visualizer to put the string onto the right port.
2. Then upload input and output to the controller.
View attachment 19024
Now the controller has been told by xlights what the data represents and where it goes to (the port pixels are connected to).


Test from the Falcon (hold down test button) should light all pixels it has been told to light.
The Falcon will now also handle data from xLights properly.

Thanks, I hadn’t changed the vender and model
i can’t upload input ? (As in your pic only output is a clickable option)
And when I hold the test button on the controller it goes to reboot.

 

[Mark_M]

i can’t upload input ? (As in your pic only output is a clickable option)
And when I hold the test button on the controller it goes to reboot.

If 'Input' is greyed out it means the two buttons are linked (saves clicking one after another), I thought it wasn't linked by default...

Hold test button for a second and the green status lights change.
The middle LED should go off and the right LED should come on.

Holding down for a few seconds tells the controller you want to reboot it.



You can also turn on test mode in the web interface on your computer (going to it's IP address).

 

[azzb]

Now I’m having trouble getting back on to the IP address page. It times out. I rebooted the controller, it still times out.

 

[Mark_M]

I'm guessing as you accidently rebooted before that it might have done a factory reset....

In xlights, open xScanner. Tools > xScanner.


Let it run and we'll see if your controller is on that IP address still.

 

[azzb]

I must need to update xLights

thanks for your help by the way

 

[Mark_M]

I must need to update xLights

thanks for your help by the way

Oh, you are on Mac version.
Mac doesn't have the app because it wasn't approved by Apple....

What does the controller's screen say it's IP address is on? If the screen is off, click a button to wake it up (it's in screensaver).

 

[azzb]

The IP address hasn’t changed. There’s also a Wifi address?

 

[azzb]

Would it give me a new IP address if I was to reset the controller, or reboot it?

 

[azzb]

Ok got that reset and I’m back on to the IP address page

 

[Notenoughlights]

One lit pixel at the start can also be a sign of crossover on the data/ground wires.

 

[azzb]

One lit pixel at the start can also be a sign of crossover on the data/ground wires.

Oh ok, it is the one at the start. How do I solve that issue if that’s it? I’ve plugged the female from the controller to the male of the lights (side where D I is)