Ready to put up lights but have one question!
Printed From: Aurora
Category: Aurora Sequencer Software
Forum Name: Questions About Aurora
Forum Discription: Considering ordering but want more info from other Aurora users?
URL: http://www.aurorashow.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=484
Printed Date: 01 May 2025 at 2:17pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.06 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Ready to put up lights but have one question!
Posted By: breakbenj
Subject: Ready to put up lights but have one question!
Date Posted: 12 Nov 2008 at 4:44pm
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As I have said somewhere in this forum, This is my first year animating lights and the only question I have now is,
Should I expect any delay from the computer to lights and if so what is the best way to handle that.  ------------- Jeff  
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Replies:
Posted By: Bigindian
Date Posted: 12 Nov 2008 at 4:50pm
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There should be no delay at all. Most of us use FM transmitters that braodcast the music to FM so that we can hear the music on our car stereos.
I cant ever remember any actually having a delay
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Posted By: LightChristmas
Date Posted: 12 Nov 2008 at 4:52pm
Provided you don't have more than a light-second of delay (thats about 186,262 miles), and using an FM transmitter; you should be fine.  ------------- http://www.aurorashow.com/"> 
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Posted By: breakbenj
Date Posted: 12 Nov 2008 at 8:30pm
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I'm using an FM transmitter also but all I have done so far is listen to the sequences without the lights going. I meant a delay from the sequence itself to the lights, I had heard that depending on the length of cords and cables you might experience delays. ------------- Jeff
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Posted By: ChrisL1976
Date Posted: 12 Nov 2008 at 9:03pm
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whats your longest run? I had 60' last year and no issues what so ever
------------- Chris www.lightsonsixth.com |
Posted By: Comporder1
Date Posted: 12 Nov 2008 at 10:05pm
| You have nothing to worry about. There is *NO* delay. The data on the CAT5 cables is moving at a rate of 200,000 km/sec. So even if you could have a delay, your cable would have to be 125,000 miles long (about 5 times around the equator) for 1 second of delay! Btw, the RS485 standard limits your cables to 4,000 feet ;) (I don't remember what the d-light/lor RS485 adaptor limitations are.) If you want to get real technical about it, worst case cenario, if you use a 4000 foot CAT5 cable, your delay would be .000006 seconds (or 6us)! |
Posted By: breakbenj
Date Posted: 12 Nov 2008 at 10:18pm
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Thanks for everyones reply, I'm not sure exactly how long my runs will be but I'm sure it is under 60ft. ------------- Jeff
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Posted By: kennyz06
Date Posted: 13 Nov 2008 at 9:21am
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I had runs of 100ft last year and had no issues.... ------------- http://www.McKinneyChristmas.com - http://www.McKinneyChristmas.com 
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Posted By: Pony_God
Date Posted: 13 Nov 2008 at 9:46am
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I haven't measured, but I'm sure that I'm over 100' and havent seen any issues yet. ------------- Fine. You're so smart you rig up the lights. http://www.frappr.com/dlight - D-Light users Unite! 
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Posted By: LightsOnLogan
Date Posted: 13 Nov 2008 at 10:20am
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The delay on the scale of our displays can be measured in nanoseconds (that's 0.000000001 seconds). The COM port speed introduces more delay than the wire ever will, and for most applications even that isn't noticable. There is more delay between the listener's ears and their car speakers than there is in the wire or COM port. Don't worry about it... there are plenty of other better things to worry about at this time of year.
Since someone else brought up the RS-485 spec, it should be noted that RS-485 technically requires a terminated line (which we aren't using). Any idea how many feet out of that 4000 we can really use before we should really terminate the last device? ------------- http://www.aurorashow.com/"> 
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Posted By: Pony_God
Date Posted: 13 Nov 2008 at 11:36am
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Does it really matter how far? What's entailed in termination? resister between wire X and Y? ------------- Fine. You're so smart you rig up the lights. http://www.frappr.com/dlight - D-Light users Unite!
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Posted By: JonB256
Date Posted: 13 Nov 2008 at 9:38pm
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Looked around and found one source that said the far end should be terminated with a 120 ohm resistor. It also said the total daisy chain could be 1.2kilometers long. I'll ignore both items. ------------- JonB - D-Light user |
Posted By: Pony_God
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2008 at 8:00am
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I'd be happy to build a little terminator that just plugs in if it fixes a single error, and it it follows the RS485 spec better. ------------- Fine. You're so smart you rig up the lights. http://www.frappr.com/dlight - D-Light users Unite!
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