Device not found

[Florvis]

Hi

I'm using this usb - dmx cable : https://www.steinigke.de/en/mpn51860118-eurolite-usb-dmx512-interface-update-adaptor.html

First I had troubles installing the node, but after folowing the instructions on https://github.com/tessel/node-usb#readme
I was able to install the node.

But now, I've tried restaring node-red, and also my raspberry pi, but node-red doesn't find my device, is there maybe something I still have to do?

Thanks in advance for the help.

[Florvis]

This is de device id of my dongle, it's not the same as the one you are looking for, did I do something wrong with the installation, or is this not a good dongle?

[smadds]

Your device is not the same as the one this node is written for. If I do a lsusb of my server this is what I get:

If you want the node to recognise your device you need to edit line 7 in udmx.js to the USB ID of your device. Change it from
var udev = usb.findByIds(0x16c0, 0x5dc);
to
var udev = usb.findByIds(0x0403, 0x6001);

I can't guarantee it will work in the same way, but at least it will recognise the USB device.

[Florvis]

Hi

Thanks for the quick response. I'll try that later today.
If that would not work, do you have a link were I could order the same device as you have?

KR
Floris

[smadds]

If you search ebay, amazon or aliexpress for usb dmx or udmx you'll see plenty. Some examples:-

• https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PC-Satge-USB-to-DMX-Lighting-Computer-Controller-Dimmer-Interface-Adapter-DMX512/323561358462
• https://www.amazon.co.uk/Enyu-Lighting-Controller-Interface-Computer/dp/B07KKGJLGF
• https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Lixada-USB-to-DMX-Interface-Adapter-LED-DMX512-Computer-PC-Stage-Lighting-Controller-Dimmer/32793890146.html

[Florvis]

Hi

Thanks, for the links.
I changed the code in udmx.js as you said, but I stil get the "not found" feedback.

[ozett]

i did it like you advised, changed the vendor-id and product-id for my nano-dmx usb-dongle and it showed: connected.

thankx,
i will now test if it is working...

[ozett]

12 Feb 20:40:21 - [error] [udmx:ae2ad85f.494a98] Error: LIBUSB_TRANSFER_STALL
12 Feb 20:40:21 - [red] Uncaught Exception:
12 Feb 20:40:21 - TypeError: this.status is not a function
    at Device.<anonymous> (/home/olaf/.node-red/node_modules/node-red-contrib-udmx/udmx.js:19:25)
    at Transfer.<anonymous> (/home/olaf/.node-red/node_modules/usb/usb.js:133:15)

😿

the end...

[NickvanZon]

f you want the node to recognise your device you need to edit line 7 in udmx.js to the USB ID of your device. Change it from
var udev = usb.findByIds(0x16c0, 0x5dc);
to
var udev = usb.findByIds(0x0403, 0x6001);

I can't guarantee it will work in the same way, but at least it will recognise the USB device.

how do i change the udmx.js?

[PizzaProgram]

how do i change the udmx.js?

Dear @NickvanZon ,

1. You need to locate your .node-red directory. On linux tipically :
   /home/YOUR_USER_NAME/.node-red/node_modules/node-red-contrib-udmx
2. make a copy from the udmx.js file first,
3. edit it,
4. save it back to that directory, overwrite old one
5. restart node-red. (In the terminal, type: sudo node-red-stop , than sudo node-red-start)
6. reload the page in the browser [F5], or even click Deploy FULL.

[McBene]

Thanks for your instructions. It seems to work.
But I can´t see any output at the DMX Port of The USB-Gateway.
At node-red it looks like (Screenshot).
Can i get any diagnostic for the Node?

[smadds]

Are you using this under Linux? Maybe try the lsusb command to find the id of your device?

[ozett]

Can i get any diagnostic for the Node?

there is a log output: node-red-log
https://nodered.org/docs/user-guide/runtime/logging

[McBene]

Yes, using Linux at a Raspberry Pi4 :

Here is the lsusb:

Before the change from 0x16c0, 0x5dc to 0x0403, 0x6001 the Node show not the state "connect" or "CH001:219"

[proffalken]

FWIW, I'm getting close to an answer for this running in Docker at https://www.reddit.com/r/AlpineLinux/comments/165t1th/running_mdev_s_to_scan_for_devices_on_container/

I'm wondering if a config box could be created to allow for input of the device/vendor ID in future as many of the USB dongles from Amazon etc appear to be the 0x0403, 0x6001 variants these days rather than the original intended.

Better yet, the ability to select from a drop-down of plugged-in USB devices would be fantastic!

[christophengelmayer]

The USB Dongle you are using (Manufacturer: FTDI) is not compatible with the uDMX driver.
Instead you have to use the OpenDMX driver to "talk" to that device.

Try the https://github.com/node-dmx/dmx package, especially the enttec-open-usb-dmx.js driver.

const DMX = require('dmx');
const dmx = new DMX();
const universe = dmx.addUniverse('demo', 'enttec-open-usb-dmx', '/dev/tty.usbserial-A50285BI');

universe.updateAll(255);

(Replace /dev/tty.usbserial-A50285BI with your device mountpoint.)

I am not aware of any node-red node that supports the OpenDMX driver out of the box. You could use the code above to get started and write your own.

[proffalken]

Amazing, thanks @christophengelmayer !

[proffalken]

FWIW I worked around this by switching from Docker to a raspberry Pi, installing OLA from the standard APT repositories, enabling USB FTDI in the OLA config and then using NodeRed OLA to send messages to the OLA server.

This isn't as "nice" as being able to talk directly to my cheap chinese USB DMX dongle, but it is working well, so I figured I'd put this here in case someone who also has a cheap chinese dongle tries to use nodered uDMX.

[christophengelmayer]

@proffalken Thanks for your update. How is the "performance" using OLA with the USB FTDI Stick?

My solution works but it is only capable of updating DMX values at about 30 times/second.
If I fade a light from 0 to 255 in 500ms it "stutters" a little bit.

I'm wondering if the 30Hz limit comes from the FTDI-Stick or the driver?
@proffalken Have you tried fading lights? How is your performance?

[proffalken]

@christophengelmayer - I only got it working this morning, and haven't tried more than alternating colours once a second so far.

I'll try the gradient stuff later on today if I get a chance - my goal is to use this to react to messages on an MQTT bus and change the lights accordingly for an Escape Room-style setup.

[proffalken]

@christophengelmayer try the below, there's a delay of just 5ms between steps and my cheap chinese light seems to fade up without jitter:

[
    {
        "id": "9c99abb435339285",
        "type": "tab",
        "label": "Flow 1",
        "disabled": false,
        "info": "",
        "env": []
    },
    {
        "id": "78cb4b068737cc2c",
        "type": "function",
        "z": "9c99abb435339285",
        "name": "Fade",
        "func": "var colour = [0,0,0];\nvar brightness = 0;\nvar total_fade_length = 1;\nvar step_size = 1;\n\nfunction sleep(ms) {\n    return new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, ms));\n}\n\nif (msg.payload.total_fade_length){\n    total_fade_length = msg.payload.total_fade_length;\n    node.warn(\"Fade length set to \" + total_fade_length + \"based on message\");\n}\n\nif (msg.payload.colour){\n    colour = msg.payload.colour;\n}\n\nstep_size = 255 / total_fade_length;\n\nnode.warn(step_size);\n\nfor (let seconds_passed = 0; seconds_passed < total_fade_length; seconds_passed++) {\n  brightness = brightness + step_size;\n  msg.payload = {\n    \"channels\":[ {\n            \"channel\": 13,\n            \"value\": brightness,\n        },\n        {\n            \"channel\": 14,\n            \"value\": colour[0],\n        },\n        {\n            \"channel\": 15,\n            \"value\": colour[1],\n        },\n        {\n            \"channel\": 16,\n            \"value\": colour[2],\n        }\n        ]\n    };\n    node.send(msg);\n    await sleep(5);\n}\nreturn;",
        "outputs": 1,
        "timeout": 0,
        "noerr": 0,
        "initialize": "",
        "finalize": "",
        "libs": [],
        "x": 990,
        "y": 500,
        "wires": [
            [
                "93075025a6189a9a",
                "360b821f24d7d0df"
            ]
        ]
    },
    {
        "id": "93075025a6189a9a",
        "type": "debug",
        "z": "9c99abb435339285",
        "name": "Payload",
        "active": true,
        "tosidebar": true,
        "console": false,
        "tostatus": false,
        "complete": "payload",
        "targetType": "msg",
        "statusVal": "",
        "statusType": "auto",
        "x": 1380,
        "y": 420,
        "wires": []
    },
    {
        "id": "637d47e8196ba65e",
        "type": "inject",
        "z": "9c99abb435339285",
        "name": "",
        "props": [
            {
                "p": "payload"
            },
            {
                "p": "topic",
                "vt": "str"
            }
        ],
        "repeat": "",
        "crontab": "",
        "once": false,
        "onceDelay": 0.1,
        "topic": "",
        "payload": "{\"colour\":[123,0,123],\"total_fade_length\":255}",
        "payloadType": "json",
        "x": 750,
        "y": 500,
        "wires": [
            [
                "78cb4b068737cc2c"
            ]
        ]
    },
    {
        "id": "360b821f24d7d0df",
        "type": "ola",
        "z": "9c99abb435339285",
        "name": "",
        "host": "127.0.0.1",
        "port": 9090,
        "universe": 1,
        "size": 512,
        "x": 1370,
        "y": 520,
        "wires": []
    }
]