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I've had this problem in the past where I can't get communication between the PC and the MB but this couldn't have happened at a worse time. Tomorrow the local paper is coming down to do a story on the show and the show is dead. I was testing the lights and everything was working fine but there was some glitches I was trying to get out. I happened to chang the port settings to see if that would help but instead I lost everything. I know I can run this without the MB or at least I hope I can, I never tried before but have any of you other old pro's of the AL worl have any suggestions? I've been doing this for four years and have had similiar problems in the past but were able to work through and regain connection, but this time it seems like it doesn't want to. Greg P has helped me in the past on this issue as well as Drew H but I can't seem to get ahold of either of them currently I'll PM Greg. If anyone else has ideas let me know.
MB simulation is off and compile code is also off. Like I said it was working and then suddenly, nothing.
Man I feel your pain. I wish I could help you out....The same thing happened to me three days ago and I freaked out! I powered off the monster brain and and shut down the pc, restarted and reset the MB and all was ok. It may have just healed itself. It's very unnerving to think this could be a reoccuring problem.
Good luck!
well as usual Animated Lighting has come through again and we are back up and running with only a few minoe glitches to work out but they seem to have the answers to that as well so by the end of this week I think we'll be in pretty good shape.
In the past I had a maximum of 96 channels and this year I jumped to over 200, in doing so and using the older style monsterbrain and the a serial cable which I made I created a problem of delivering enough voltage through the length of cable to drive the show. The cable length was around 75' and have gotten away with it for 4 years. I cut the cable length to 35' and bang full communications again. AL suggested that a serial cable not exceed 20 ft. max but I needed to get across my garage to the breezeway so I needed a little extra but still shorter than in the past. What I didn't mention is, and this could possiblt be used as a diagnostics test to help others, is up the port speed to 115200 on the port and the hardware and see if you regain communications to the MB, I was able to do this but I could not test the show live, I could however compile and download it to the MB and run it from there but anyone who's used AL knows that this is a royal pain because ofthe time it takes with larger shows.
I don't have a Monster Brain, so this suggestion could be WAYYYYY off target. I know one of the MB owners will chime in and correct me..
Can you use RS485 and talk to the MB? RS485 is made to talk long distances, and would (IMHO) be the ideal solution. Yes, you have to buy another gadget (RS232 to RS485 adapter), but after that you would be all set. (RS 485 is how the MB talks to the controllers)
