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uDMX dongle problem

Posted: November 24th, 2014, 8:55 am
by nightrider
hi all,
a while ago I bought one of these:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/DMX512-USB-t ... 417001eadf

I never got it working, so I bought another one (DMX king) which works fine. Now I need to get the uDMX one working cos my lights for some reason go haywire if Freestyler is sending out over 256ch. And uDMX is the only one that offers 92 or 128ch output.

So I've searched the net, and got the dongle responding to Freestyler (little green light flashes when its sending out). But my lights dont do anything. I have tried various different ones (not just dodgy chinese, I have brand name 100% working ones) but no luck.

Any hints?
Thanks!

uDMX dongle problem

Posted: November 24th, 2014, 5:56 pm
by spud1511
The instructions, including a manual copy of files after they are uncompressed, is all in the advert you linked. Normally these things are a case of following sequence it gives you carefully (such as copying file at time listed and not at end of installation sequence).

Although I use the dmxking ultradmx pro micro, and that has never had a problem with either freestyler, or a whole variety of lights I have used with it. And I normally run 5 moving heads, 10 scanners, 12 LED parcans, a pair of miracled's, a pair of big Martin barrel effects, and other all at the same time!

I would also point out though that dmxking provide a configuration utility (download from here http://dmxking.com/usbdmx/ultradmxmicro ) and once you select the virtual comport you are using the second tab allows you to select from some timing presets already created for you, and there is one there that works very well called something like 'maximum compatibility' or something like that you can send to the device that just seems to work with about anything and still keep a good 40Hz frame rate.

Also from experience, never use a usb extension cable on a usb-dmx controller, they seem to lose frame rate or worse have communication issues that can sometimes be intermittent (but you can have a massive dmx cable coming off other end with no problems though).
When all your fixtures/channels are being output from freestyler start with only one actual fixture plugged in. If this works fine then any further issues are with cabling and are usually caused by one of the following issues;
* Bad connection/dry joint in cable.
* microphone cable used in place of dmx cable (although you can sometimes get away with it if you only use a dozen or less fixtures).
* cables tangled or twisted around mains cables, or other sources of interference.
* cables coiled up trying to be neat nearby a mains cable (or mains cable is coiled even worse).
* lack of proper 120 ohm resistor at the end of run (last fixture) can cause a wired echo type thing which causes interference in the line.
* more than 36 or so fixtures in a single line without an isolator or amplifier between them.
* a bad fixture with a dry joint or forced connection.

Note. After the timing, is is nearly always cables.

Re: uDMX dongle problem

Posted: November 25th, 2014, 10:33 am
by nightrider
Hi.
I've been playing around with the DMXKing one today and have worked out from the DMX King config program (yes I have been using it to troubleshoot) that it works fine as it only outputs precisely 255 channels from the first (as in numerically) lights address. Ie, if it has 2 lights with dipswitches '3' and '112' it will go from the '3'. Anything over and it appears to bounce between no signal and the value (also shown by flickering cursor in dmxKing config). Interestingly, if I select all channels at 100%, it will happily broadcast all 512 channels constantly, no flickering at all.
I've swapped cables, lights, usb lead, etc. Its most definitely these lights. Especially seeing as the dmx table for the lights is opposite. (dmx address '1' is actually '255'. '239' is '17'.) But my CASA brand laser works fine on the DMX King, no response on the udmx. It also has a signal light on it, which is normally lit up if all is working. On the uDMX it flickers for a split second when I first plug it in, then its dead. I'm just wondering if the xlr plug on the udmx has the wires the wrong way around, seeing as the green light on it seems to respond to commands from Freestyler.

Re: uDMX dongle problem

Posted: November 25th, 2014, 5:37 pm
by spud1511
Out of interest what dmxking unit and what light fixtures are you using? I haven't heard of any that only do 255 channels, always been 512 so far as I knew of.

Re: uDMX dongle problem

Posted: November 26th, 2014, 6:37 am
by buttza
DMX King Dongle should be ok.

Is the fixture an older light?
How old is your DMX King Dongle?
If USB I did have a problem with the USB connecter dry Joints fracturing but they offered to fix it even after the 1 year warranty. :) This is why I changed to ArtNet and eDMX-2 Interface. :)

Re: uDMX dongle problem

Posted: December 1st, 2014, 7:07 pm
by djSupport
Dmx king are good friends of ours here on the forum, if your on facebook hit them up on there and I'm sure they'll make sure your device is 110%

Re: uDMX dongle problem

Posted: January 24th, 2016, 10:57 am
by MusicSync
I recommend below ArtNet to DMX interface and give up all the USB to DMX dongles.

http://hz.aliexpress.com/store/product/ ... 20451.html

Re: uDMX dongle problem

Posted: October 25th, 2017, 6:03 am
by mrstretch
just posted the solution to the udmx issue.. its because of drivers signature ... im on windows 8 and 10 . both worked.

Re: uDMX dongle problem

Posted: April 4th, 2020, 3:57 pm
by Bikash Saha
signal fail avery 60 second

Re: uDMX dongle problem

Posted: April 23rd, 2020, 9:27 am
by Romford62
Good morning
I have a Lixada USB to DMX512 Interface how do I know if a signal is being sent from it?
I have installed drivers from the supplied CD device manager is happy so should LED flash or change colour I've tried to connect to a Chinese 36 Par hopefully using the correct settings from the enclosed manual but nothing happens.
HELP!!
Regards
Nigel