PixelSticks and WLED (DIG QUAD)

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Gmick

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Jan 8, 2021
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This is the third year of running an xLight show. Up to now I have been running xLights through the WLED software on the DIg-Quad controllers.
So I have been doing some reading on the Pixelstick software running on the Dig-Quad controllers. I like the idea and would like to look further about setting it up. But, (there is always a but), one of the contrrollers is running my house Eaves lights and I would like to run them throughout the year as just nice lighting and patterns off the WLED app.
Question 1 - Can you combine Pixelstick controllers and WLED controllers together in the XLIGHTS controller section?

Question 2 - Also, I am trying to understand how the complete controller setup works in that if you use pixelsticks, is it still controlled by running the XLIGHTS software i.e. scheduler?

Any good information that I can lookt to fully understand how to setup . This year I have 6 DIGQuad controllers and next year it could double. (after I convince my wife).

Suggestions, comments , useful information?
 
You can add WLED as a controller in xLights,

On windows you can use xScheduler on your computer but many people prefer to use something called FPP which is on a Raspberry Pi to manage the show playing as it's a dedicated device.
 
So if WLED is performing fine for you already, I don’t think I’d bother trying to change the firmware.

But if that’s not the case - there’s a few things:
  • ESPixel stick can run as an “FPP Remote” so instead of streaming all show data to it, you upload the files ahead of time and just stream sync packets. Much more efficient over wifi.
  • There’s no way to run both firmwares on a controller at once. You would have to either: just use espixelstick firmware all year, flash it back to WLED in January, have a replacement controller ready to swap out
  • The FPP remote mode requires storage (SD card) on your controller. My Dig-quads don’t have this (and it’s not the default)
  • XLights can mix and match controllers. You can have some from a bunch of different technologies and vendors all working together.
  • If you are looking at seasonal lighting (and not all year round where WLED shines) may find some of the larger controllers better value. Something like the Baldrick8 or even larger to a Falcon or Kulp may work out cheaper/easier than buying a bunch of new dig-quads.
 
Thank you all for the information. I do run XSchedule on a dedicate cube compter with auto updates tuurned off and it works great . As far as the Controlers go, I was just wondering if using WLED on all of them is going to create a lot of traffic once I expand it next year. I do hve Cat6 connections into each and will be looking at using that next year rather than wifi. The only issue I saw last year was that once in a while, the matrix would hicup. I was running the matrix on a single dig-octa but have changed it to be 2 dig-octas now . (I gave the wrong controllers in the original post. I am running all Dig-octa's) If I have time before december I may look and see if I can run a cat6 cable to the boxes before it gets too cold and the snow flies.

It is good to know that I can mix and match the controllers in xLights, I thought I could but its great to get that confrmation. Getting ready for Halloween show starting on sunday so I will see how things are working with the changes I made to the controllers and then decide what to do ..

Thank you for you help and comments..
 
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