Description
The HE123 is a pixel board based on the single board computer BeagleBone Black (BBB). A Beaglebone Green (BBG) can be used instead of a BBB. The HE123 uses design elements of the RGB123 48 output pixel board that can be controlled with Falcon Player (FPP). The HE123 is the motherboard that the BBB plugs into. There are 3 daughter board options. The 48 outputs are for 2811 and compatible pixels.
NOTE: A photo shows a Beaglebone Black installed in place. The Beaglebone Black is NOT supplied. The same photo shows a HE123 rather than the HE123Mk2
The number of pixels per output are the same across all outputs and it doesn’t matter if they are standard outputs or differential output.
Under Falcon Player (FPP) version 4.x and later the maximum pixels per output are 800 per output at 40fps and 1600 at 20fps. This gives a maximum number of pixels of 38,400 at 40fps or 76,800 at 20fps. That’s with all 48 ports fully loaded. The HE123 has 16 outputs on the main board and there’s 16 each on the 2 plug on daughterboards.
Earlier versions of FPP limited the maximum number of pixels to about 600 at 40fps and 1200 at 20fps due to different timing.
HE123Mk2 motherboard -16 fused pixel outputs with 4 outputs per 30A (max) power input -power leds on 4 power inputs -2 expansion headers of 16 each -inbuilt real time clock -connects to HE123RJ, HE123TX, HE123PX -2 user inputs for triggering Falcon Player scripts *** -switch for on/off-oled status display *** -Falcon Player oled navigation keys *** -mini fuses (HE123 uses ATO fuses) *** -temperature sensor *** -blown fuse leds on 16 outputs *** *** these features exist on HE123Mk2 but not the HE123
The preliminary user manual is still in progress but it’s available here
A revised user manual which is still very much a work in progress is at HE123-User-Manual-V1.4-beta1.pdf
When setting up under Xlights there is now a number of features that allow easier integration.
On the controllers tab there’s effectively 7 steps to add a HE123.
- Add an Ethernet.
- Assign as either multicast or a static IP.
- Add FPP as the Vendor
- Select RGBCape48 as the Model
- Select Revision F as the variant
- Select the universe/s
- Save
On the Layout tab the 1st step will generally be to add a background picture. After a model is created and the start channel is created it can be assigned a Port. The port range is 1-48 and there is no need to configure smart remote or differential.
Drivers for the Beaglebone Green can be downloaded from https://wiki.seeedstudio.com/BeagleBone_Green/ or here. The zip file contains both 32bit and 64bit Windows drivers. Daughterboards HE123-PX powered pixel expansion daughterboard -16 outputs. 4 power inputs. 4 fuses per outputHE123-RJ pixel breakout daughterboard -16 outputs. no electronics. pixel outputs match standard RJ45 pairs -mates with 4 HE123EX
HE123-TX pixel differential expansion daughterboard
-16 RS422 balanced pair outputs for long range tx
-16 outputs. pixel outputs on standard RJ45 pairs
-mates with 4 HE123RX
Receivers
HE123-EX 4 channel pixel power breakout (available now)
-RJ45 connector to 4 channels fused pixel outputs
-mates with HE123RJ
-can be used for as a breakout to power unfused pixel outputs like on rPi-28D or J1Sys P2
HE123-RX 4 channel RS422 to pixel receiver
-RJ45 connector to 4 channels powered, buffered pixel outputs
-mates with HE123-TX
Standalone transmitter
HE123-4T 4 channel pixel to 4 RS422 balanced pair outputs for long range transmission
-connects to any 2811 pixel board to allow long range transmission.
-mates with 1 HE123-RX
