garageCube

[Gstettner]

Hello, I have been using Madlaser for a long time, but since version 5.1.6 I always have an error with my Laserworld Shownet.
I can no longer connect in the program.
I have already tried it with Auto IP and a Static IP and it always fails to connect.

What could be the reason?

thanks for your help patrick.

[mad-matt]

First, you should use MadMapper 5.6.8. Minor updates are free and there are plenty of bug fixes since 5.1.

Things to check:
- If device is in auto-ip, your computer network adapter must be set to DHCP and have no other network interface in an Auto IP adress. If your device is in static IP, be sure your computer IP is different from any device IP on the network & with the good network mask, for instance if device is 192.168.1.11, set computer to 192.168.1.2 & ip mask 255.255.255.0
- Disable Firewall to see if firewall can be blocking MadMapper
- Disable other network interfaces to see if any can interfere (should not if you followed first check, but still good test)

Another issue that happened to a customer: he has a very old ShowNET DAC. "Very old interfaces may not have all licenses internally, so they don't open the connection. Most important info is the licensing screen of the admin tool. If it only shows the ShowEditor license and is missing the six dummy licenses, then the internal licensing of the card must be updated. Then you need to send the hardware ID of that ShowNET to LaserWorld and they will send you a code to add dummy licences"

[mw/mf0]

Hi Patrick,
i'm using ShowNet with MadLaser a fair bit and yes, it is fiddly to get it started, but eventually it always works.
Two "issues" overlap usually: computer not establishing DCHP to laser +and+ MadLaser shows an out-dated connection.

My usual steps:

** First check if ShowNet interface & laser are working:
1) Dip-switch pin8 is on: demo pattern should be lasered!
2) If nothing is lasered, check Key, Interlock and the Cap in front of the laser
(3) Of course power needs to be on, all cables connected.)

** Network link computer to ShowNet interface
1) ShowNet set to DHCP (Dip-switch pin6 is on, all other pins off)
2) Network adapter on computer set to DHCP
3) Check in ShowNET-admin-tool if it finds the laser! (very handy to have it installed)
4) If laser is not found - which happens often - reboot the computer. This is the only reliable solution that works for me.
Now check again in ShowNET-admin-tool. If it sees the laser, the network link is working.

** MadLaser connecting to ShowNet interface
1) On start-up MadLaser shows the last connection it had, like in your screenshot - this is usually not working!!
2) You need to select "None" first, then click on the dropbox again, now you should have your new connection available.
3) Select it and use MadLaser's testpattern to see that output works.
(4) Of course the little "Turn On/Off Laser" (formerly called "Arm Laser") icon needs to be clicked and Green.)

[Gstettner]

I still can't establish a connection to the interface.

The interface has a static IP address: 192.168.0.61.

I can see the interface in MadMapper, and I also verified the connection using CMD and a ping test, which was successful.
But I still can’t establish a proper connection to it.

i can finde the Interace with the Laserworld Interface and get on the newest Update.

Patrick

[mad-matt]

One thing to know: ShowNET might not connect if you have multiple network interfaces with in the same IP range (ie 192.168.0.xxx for ShowNET while a Wifi network adapter is on the same IP range - 192.168.0.xxx)

But in your case you should contact LaserWorld: it happened to another user that the ShowNET DAC could not connect with MadMapper but working with ShowNET admin tool or with ShowController. That was because the DAC didn't have a necessary license. I got this answer from laserworld: "That looks like a super old interface (which does not mean it is bad, only the firmware was updated a bit over time, but the hardware is still the same). I would need the Interface ID, you can read it with the Admin tool only. I can then process the license upgrade."
So provide them the interface ID in your email
And a screenshot of the ShowNET admin tool

[mw/mf0]

hi Gstettner,

i've seen this scenario before. basically your ShowNet Interface/DAC is found by MadMapper, that's already half the way!
but it's status is "disconnected" which in my case meant the interface itself didn't see an ILDA connection to the laser. at least that is how i read it.
we just replugged everything and restarted everything and it was working.

i am a little surprised tho, my ShowNet always auto-connected to the crazy IPs nowhere near 192.168.0.xxx range.
but with static IP can you use this. however, as 192.168.0.xxx is commonly used by much other stuff, i guess it's better to avoid.
ShowNet offers two different auto-IP modes as well as setting fixed IPs.
i case you haven't found them, the best overview over ShowNet Dipswitch settings are in this manual.
(the settings are the same for all ShowNet devices afaik, but documentation is often lacking/inconsitent.)