How Do Smart Receivers Work in Christmas Light Controllers?

[@TheGamerReviewVideosbyLlama]

This was an informative video. Thanks for posting.

[@ronm6585]

Thanks.

[@johnpaffett8816]

I think you are missing one of the main points about daisy chaining smart receivers for the number of pixels it can drive. Assuming F48V4 for numbers One output to a smart receiver will give 4x704pixles @40 fps, or a total of 2816pixles per output on the F48V4 If you put a chain of 6 smart receivers in a row, you can't add anymore pixels than the original output from the F48 of 2816pixels on that chain. It just divides the total number of pixels by channels. Meaning for 6 smart receiver you will have 24x117pixels @ fps, totaling 2818pixels (with rounding) While this may be a benefit to some, its a point worth knowing in advance when planning your show.

[@johnmayer4747]

As a suggestion, how about showing a chart on what controllers you are referencing? Got confused 2 minutes in and really did not know what point was being made. Suggest a more simple approach as what are smart receivers and then do a differences. At the end of the video, I finally got what you were trying to do but it seemed like you took the long road around it. Could you do one on wireless links to increase distances between controllers?

[@sid65811]

No, smart receivers are not ethernet devices. They happen to use the same cabling and connectors, but they can’t be attached to network equipment (wireless or otherwise).

[@johnmayer4747]

@@sid65811 I got that part, just did not know what he was leading to.

[@sid65811]

@@johnmayer4747 ok I was just answering your question about wireless links. These are for point to point dedicated wired connections.

[@johnmayer4747]

@@sid65811 I understood the video was for wired links not wireless links. Was asking if he could do a video on wireless links. Most of the wireless links researched do not offer a fast enough speed to do a couple of houses with many controllers. Seems for now, we still have to go with wired with some distance that creates lag. Thanks for clearing it up as I sometimes do now make my words in a coherent sentence....LOL

[@LearnChristmasLighting]

Hi John - it's always tough to try and simplify a concept that works across many controller brands. I'm glad it sunk in by the end of the video :)

[@zski1]

Do the ports on the smart receivers share the pixel count from the original board?

[@LearnChristmasLighting]

yes

[@zski1]

@@LearnChristmasLighting oh, I thought the ports on a smart receiver are additional ports.

[@Brandon-youtube]

@@zski1 nope, they are basically like adding a few ports away from your main board but they take some of the pixel headroom with them.

[@pointdexter5215]

Would using a smart controller make more sense compared to power injection. For example for roof outlines. Is it better to add a few smart controllers in spots and run lights from there, compared to running additional wire for power injection.

[@sid65811]

You can do that but you’d still need to have a power supply connected at each smart receiver. So you wouldn’t have to worry about a long DC power injection wire run.

[@RandomakerYT]

You can make simple power injection boxes that only have a power supply and a distro board, a smart receiver isn't really needed for that purpose.

[@sid65811]

@@RandomakerYT Exactly right - you have to put a power supply there no matter what, so the smart receiver may not be of any benefit depending on the situation.

[@LearnChristmasLighting]

Yes, absolutely. I think the simplicity over doing a bunch of power injection makes sense for a lot of people!