Building an Octoscroller Matrix Display - Revision history

Dirknerkle: /* Sources/Places to get more information */

2018-12-10T21:26:43Z

Sources/Places to get more information

Dirknerkle: /* Sources/Places to get more information */

2018-12-10T21:25:49Z

Sources/Places to get more information

Dirknerkle: /* Configuring XLights/Nutcracker */

2016-06-04T15:41:54Z

Configuring XLights/Nutcracker

Dirknerkle: /* Sources/Places to get more information */

2016-06-04T15:41:04Z

Sources/Places to get more information

Dirknerkle: /* Software tools you'll need */

2016-06-04T15:40:53Z

Software tools you'll need

Dirknerkle: /* Skills you'll need to have */

2016-06-04T15:40:31Z

Skills you'll need to have

Dirknerkle: /* Overview */

2016-06-04T15:40:06Z

Overview

Admin: /* Step-by-step Panel Assembly */

2016-05-16T17:15:12Z

Step-by-step Panel Assembly

Admin: /* Step-by-step Panel Assembly */

2016-05-16T17:14:16Z

Step-by-step Panel Assembly

Admin: /* Overview */

2016-05-16T17:11:04Z

Overview

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:26, 10 December 2018
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	:* xLights/Nutcracker software downloads and information		:* xLights/Nutcracker software downloads and information
−	~~::http://nutcracker123.com/nutcracker/releases/~~
	::http://www.xlights.org/		::http://www.xlights.org/

@@ Line 44: / Line 44: @@
 :* xLights/Nutcracker software downloads and information
 ::http://nutcracker123.com/nutcracker/releases/
 :* Putty SSH Terminal. You may or may not need this telnet client, but it's very handy to have if you find you do need it.

@@ Line 86: / Line 86: @@
 ::* You might consider turning off "logging" in the Falcon Player. This is found on the FPP Settings page: uncheck any boxes that may contain checkmarks. You'll probably discover that the display will run a little smoother with logging turned off.
-== Configuring XLights/Nutcracker ==
+== Configuring xLights/Nutcracker ==
-This document will not address the details in how to use XLights/Nutcracker software, and the author claims no expertise whatsoever in using this powerful sequencing tool. However, the following settings worked for this 4x1 Octoscroller matrix display.
+This document will not address the details in how to use xLights/Nutcracker software, and the author claims no expertise whatsoever in using this powerful sequencing tool. However, the following settings worked for this 4x1 Octoscroller matrix display.
-:* Create the lighting network/infrastructure that XLights will use for the matrix. For simplicity, this setup incorporates only the matrix itself. Note that the settings are consistent with what was defined earlier in the Falcon Player: starting with universe #1, total of 12 universes, in this case only ONE output and the last channel is 6144. Use MULTICAST for convenience, and afterward, be sure that each of them is "enabled" (far right column).
+:* Create the lighting network/infrastructure that xLights will use for the matrix. For simplicity, this setup incorporates only the matrix itself. Note that the settings are consistent with what was defined earlier in the Falcon Player: starting with universe #1, total of 12 universes, in this case only ONE output and the last channel is 6144. Use MULTICAST for convenience, and afterward, be sure that each of them is "enabled" (far right column).
 [[File:Xlights-networksetup.png | 1000px | center]]
@@ Line 98: / Line 98: @@
 [[File:Xlights-layout model.png | 800px | center]]
-:* At the XLights sequencer screen, add the matrix to the sequence and click on the timing area to drag open a duration for the display to run (you can adjust it later). Then complete the details for your sign, including the font, font size, color and movement direction it's to scroll. (Note: Your display screen may appear different.) Anytime you make a change to these settings, click the Update button (or press F5).
+:* At the xLights sequencer screen, add the matrix to the sequence and click on the timing area to drag open a duration for the display to run (you can adjust it later). Then complete the details for your sign, including the font, font size, color and movement direction it's to scroll. (Note: Your display screen may appear different.) Anytime you make a change to these settings, click the Update button (or press F5).
 [[File:Xlights-sequencer.png | 1000px | center]]
 :* All that's left to do is "save" the sequence, upload the corresponding .fseq file to the Falcon Player, include that .fseq in a playlist and then "play" it in FPP to display it on the matrix panel. See the Falcon Christmas site for more information on using the Falcon Player.

@@ Line 42: / Line 42: @@
 ::http://falconchristmas.com/forum/index.php/topic,2742.0.html
-:* XLights/Nutcracker software downloads and information
+:* xLights/Nutcracker software downloads and information
 ::http://nutcracker123.com/nutcracker/releases/

@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 == Software tools you'll need ==
-:* XLights/Nutcracker
+:* xLights/Nutcracker
 :* Falcon Player
 :* Appropriate version of Linux for the Falcon Player

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 == Skills you'll need to have ==
-:* Working understanding of using XLights/Nutcracker to create and save sequences.
+:* Working understanding of using xLights/Nutcracker to create and save sequences.
 :* Working understanding of how to use your Internet browser
 :* Working understanding of basic TCP/IP networking

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 == Overview ==
-:An "octoscroller" is simply a message display that happens to use a BeagleBoneBlack microcomputer (abbreviated BBB in this document), an 8-port "octoscroller" daughter card that plugs onto the BBB, and inexpensive RGB LED panels of the P-10 type that use the Hub75 connection method. Powered by low-voltage DC power supplies (5vdc), these units are connected together by short ribbon cables with plug-in IDC connectors and controlled by the same marvelous Falcon Player that runs on the Raspberry Pi. The P-10 panels are particularly well suited for displaying moving text but can also display low-definition pictures and video. The budget for the project outlined here was a very affordable $200. Understand that this Wiki document is only ONE way to build a matrix display; it is not the ONLY way. Note that construction of the Octoscroller board itself is not addressed here -- it's a rather simple board to assemble as it has mostly header connectors. Attaching it to the BBB is a matter of plugging it onto the top of the BBB. It's called an "octoscroller" because it can accommodate up to 8 panels per output, and as it has 8 outputs, it can "scroll" messages or text across 8x8=64 panels.
+:An "octoscroller" is simply a message display that happens to use a BeagleBoneBlack microcomputer (abbreviated BBB in this document), an 8-port "octoscroller" daughter card that plugs onto the BBB, and inexpensive RGB LED panels of the P-10 type that use the Hub75 connection method. Powered by low-voltage DC power supplies (5vdc), these units are connected together by short ribbon cables with plug-in IDC connectors and controlled by the same marvelous Falcon Player that runs on the Raspberry Pi. The P-10 panels are particularly well suited for displaying moving text but can also display low-definition pictures and video. The budget for the project outlined here was a very affordable $200. Understand that this Wiki document is only ONE way to build a matrix display; ''it is not the ONLY way''. Note that construction of the Octoscroller board itself is not addressed here -- it's a rather simple board to assemble as it has mostly header connectors. Attaching it to the BBB is a matter of plugging it onto the top of the BBB. It's called an "octoscroller" because it can accommodate up to 8 panels per output, and as it has 8 outputs, it can "scroll" messages or text across 8x8=64 panels.
 [[File:Octo-2.jpg | 500px | center]]

@@ Line 54: / Line 54: @@
 :2. Gather the materials, equipment and the software you'll need. If you don't have any experience with the Raspberry Pi or Linux in general, buy a beginner's book and learn a little bit about it. Linux is a much different animal than Windows. You may need to use Putty at some time, although the Falcon Player is pretty complete in its ability to transfer files and organize things. Putty works at the command-line level and it gives you flexibility and control that GUI tools for Linux often don't have.
-:3. Once you have all the materials, you can proceed. '''Reminder: make sure nothing is powered on when you connect or disconnect any cables!''' Connecting the panels is dirt-simple as long as you understand how they relate to one another. To do that, assemble the panels in the orientation the Falcon Player requires, which is shown at the top of this photo: O-1 refers to octoscroller port 1 and all four panels are connected to that port.
+:3. Once you have all the materials, you can proceed. '''Reminder: make sure nothing is powered on when you connect or disconnect any cables!''' Connecting the panels is dirt-simple as long as you understand how they relate to one another. To do that, assemble the panels in the orientation the Falcon Player requires, which is shown at the top of this photo: O-1 refers to octoscroller port 1 and all four panels are connected to that port. If your display is 2 panels tall, the second row would connect to O-2, etc.
 [[File:Panel orientation data flow.jpg | 1000px]]