Light O Rama Aurora Core User manual

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Aurora Core
E1.31/Artnet 16 Port Smart Pixel Controller
2 DMX Ports and 2 Long Range Receiver Outputs
User Manual
November 2023
V1.0
Copyright © Light O Rama, Inc. 2023

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Table of Contents
Introduction 3
Hardware Overview 4
Getting Started - Connecting to a Network 7
The term “DHCP” and why it is relevant for the Aurora Core 7
How to Connect 7
Isolated Network 7
Part of your Existing DHCP Network 16
Configuring Over Wifi 18
Controller Setup - Web Interface 20
Home Page 20
Inputs 22
Outputs 25
Column Details 26
Receivers Output 26
Name 26
Start Universe 26
Start Channel 27
Type 27
Count 28
End Universe 28
End Channel 29
Start and End Nulls 30
Reverse 30
Brightness 30
Gamma 31
Virtual Strings 31
Long Range Receivers 32
DMX Output 34
Testing 35
Power 39
Network 41
Wired Ethernet Network 42
Wifi Hotspot 43
Update 45
Hardware Details 47
Pixels Per Port 60
Example Configurations 61
Pixels and AC Controller 61
Appendix A - LOR Controllers and DMX 69

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Introduction
The Aurora Core is a member of the smart pixel controller line of Light-O-Rama (LOR) products
and is designed for advanced users.
The Aurora Core requires an ethernet connection for communication and can be sent either
E1.31 (sACN) or Art-Net command data. Using ethernet to command your show has many
advantages, especially in large, complex shows as ethernet allows for a large amount of
command data to be sent very fast and efficiently. Configuration of this controller is done in a
web browser on a computer or on your mobile device connected directly to the Aurora Core via
its built-in wifi hotspot.
Note: The Aurora Core can NOT be used with a Showtime MP3 Director.
The 16 pixel ports on the controller are capable of controlling WS281X pixels only, so make a
note of this when purchasing pixels to use with the Aurora Core. Pixel outputs can be used with
either 5VDC or 12VDC pixels (requires the corresponding power supply to be used).
The Aurora Core has 2 DMX output ports, each allowing 1 universe of DMX data to be sent to
any serial DMX capable device. This includes LOR AC controllers, CMD24D floor light
controllers, and many more. LOR controllers can be hooked up directly to the DMX output using
a regular cat5/6 cable and no special adapters. There are also 2 long range pixel receiver
outputs for future use.
The Aurora Core is capable of handling up to 58 universes of E1.31/Art-Net data (~10,000
pixels). The amount of pixels that can be connected to each port is limited by power
consumption and is not a fixed limit like other pixel controllers. This will be discussed later in the
manual.

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Hardware Overview
This section of the manual is meant to provide a base level tour of the hardware interfaces on
the Aurora Core. Later in the manual, more details will be provided about these elements.

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1. Replaceable Mini Blade Fuses
Each of the 16 ports is protected by a 4 amp mini blade fuse (pink).
2. Factory Reset Button
Allows the user the ability to reset the controller to default settings. This includes the IP
address of the controller.
3. Pixel Outputs with Removable 3-Pin Connectors
Each of the 16 pixel outputs has a 3-pin connector capable of accepting 18-22 AWG
pixel string cables. The pin/pitch spacing on these connectors is 3.81mm.
4. Ethernet Port
Used to connect the Aurora Core to an ethernet network switch or your computer’s
ethernet port. This port must be connected to the same ethernet network as your
computer for the controller to function during a show. This port also allows your computer
to configure the controller in addition to the ability to configure the controller via wifi.
Note: Do NOT connect this port to a USB-RS485 adapter.
5. DMX Output Wiring Configuration Jumpers
These jumpers allow for selection between 2 different wiring standards for the DMX
outputs. “LOR” allows for the direct connection to LOR-branded DMX capable
controllers. ESTA is used for the entertainment industry standard DMX wiring used in
many widely-available DMX devices.
6. Micro SD Card Slot
The micro SD card slot is reserved for future functionality and is not currently used.
7. DMX Output Ports
These ports allow the Aurora Core to send serial DMX commands to any DMX capable
device, including LOR controllers.
8. DMX Output and Long Range Receiver Communication Driver Chips
These removable components are replaceable in the event of damage occurring from
electrical surges or similar accidental electrical damage.

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9. Long Range Receiver Output Ports
These ports are used (future use) to connect to long range pixel receivers.
10. Information Screen
This screen will show important controller information such as IP addresses and a QR
code to connect the controller via wifi to configure. Note: It will go to sleep after a certain
amount of time. Press the test button momentarily to wake up the screen.
11. Test Button and Test Light
This button is used to activate test mode by holding down for 1 second. The test light will
be illuminated when test mode is active (Note: test mode can also be activated from the
configuration webpage). Holding the test button down for 1 second also turns off test
mode.
12. Pixel Output Communication Driver Chips
These removable components are replaceable in the event of damage occurring from
electrical surges or similar accidental electrical damage.
13. Power Input Connections
There are 2 power banks on the Aurora Core, Ports 1-8 (left) and Ports 9-16 (right). The
left (ports 1-8) power input is required to have power for the board to power up. Both left
and right power banks can be fed either 5VDC or 12VDC. There is a status light for the
left and right side to allow confirmation that each bank is receiving power.

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Getting Started - Connecting to a Network
The Aurora Core must be connected to a wired ethernet network to run a show and access the
configuration interface. Note that this connection is different from an LOR USB-RS485 adapter.
Most computers have an ethernet network port built in. USB to ethernet adapters are available
from many sources if your computer does not have one built in.
Note: Ethernet devices use IP addresses to identify themselves on the network. These are very
similar to LOR Unit IDs in the sense that it is the identifier that the controller uses to respond to
commands with. The main difference is that you can’t have duplicate IP addresses on the same
ethernet network, as you can with LOR Unit IDs.
The term “DHCP” and why it is relevant for the Aurora Core
Ethernet devices are intelligent when it comes to their IP address. Most ethernet devices that
are typical in a home (smartphone connected to wifi, computer connected to wifi, etc) have IP
addresses but we may never see or care what those addresses are because they use DHCP
(Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol). DHCP means that a device was told what IP address to
use, typically by a router in a home setup. If a device is not using DHCP on an ethernet network,
it has to be told what IP address to use, which is typically called “static IP”. The Aurora Core is
capable of being on a network with DHCP or using a static IP address. Either way, the IP
address of the Aurora Core is always shown on the information screen on the board.
How to Connect
There are 2 main options to connect the Aurora Core to your ethernet network.
1. Standalone/isolated network.
2. Part of your existing network/router.
Isolated Network
This is the most common approach to setting up ethernet networks for light shows. This method
utilizes the ethernet network port on your computer connected to a network switch and the
ethernet port on the Aurora Core connected to the same switch. You could connect the Aurora
Core ethernet connection directly to the computer’s ethernet port, but it is shown in this manner
to illustrate the advantages of ethernet networks in physical hookup and future expansion.

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Isolated Example 1
Isolated Example 2

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In this scenario, DHCP is not present, so the Aurora Core is not “given” an address and will just
default to its factory default static IP address, 192.168.1.50. This IP address will be displayed on
the information screen as well as the designation that this is its static address.
In order for your computer to be able to talk to the Aurora Core at this IP address, your
computer’s IP address must be set to match the first 3 sections (commonly called network ID) of
the Aurora Core’s IP address.
In this example setup, it is important to remember that all devices on this “isolated” ethernet
network must all have unique IP addresses. In this sample setup, we will give our show
computer an IP address of 192.168.1.200. Note: Specific to this example, you must use an IP
address Host ID between 1 and 253.
Below is an example of how to set your computer’s static IP address. Note: these screenshots
and steps are specific to Windows 10, so if you are using a different operating system, you may
need to refer to online tutorials for how to set a static IP address on your operating system.
Setting Static IP Address on Windows 10
1. Search for Network Status in the bottom left search bar in Windows.

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2. Open Network Status selection.
3. Select Ethernet Properties.
4. You will then see another window appear. Click “edit” under the IP Assignment area.

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5. Change the drop down selection from Automatic (DHCP) to Manual (static).
6. Click ON the IPv4 button.

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7. For this example, we decided to give our computer address 192.168.1.200. The Subnet
prefix length should be set to 24 and the Gateway to 192.168.1.1 if using the IP address
style from this example. These values can be different for more advanced network
setups.
8. Hit save. Ensure that your Aurora Core ethernet port is connected to your computer's
ethernet port or to the same switch/network.
9. Open LOR Control Panel and go to the Controller Setup tab. Click the option for
“Configure a controller with a web-based setup page.”

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10. Select your wired ethernet network, noted in this example by the IP address
192.168.1.200 that was just setup in the previous steps. You will most likely have
another network adapter selection, which most often will be referencing your wifi
ethernet network, which you will not be using to connect to your Aurora Core.
11. Press Scan and your network will be searched for any available controllers. In this
example, we only have a factory default, out of the box Aurora Core connected to the
isolated ethernet network.

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12. Clicking on the IP address 192.168.1.50 in the scan results will take you to the setup
page of the Aurora Core.
13. Now you can decide to leave the Aurora Core on the 192.168.1.50 address or change it.
We will talk more about network settings on the Aurora Core in another section.

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Part of your Existing DHCP Network
It is also an option to plug your Aurora Core into your existing ethernet network. Most wifi
routers are set up to utilize DHCP to automatically assign IP addresses to devices. There are
some potential issues with running your show with the below setup in terms of having it on the
same network as your home and all of its devices, but it is a valid setup.
Note: In the above example, your computer can be connected to your existing network either
hardwired as shown above OR via wifi to configure the Aurora Core, but a hardwire connected
from your show computer to your ethernet network is required while running a show.
When the Aurora Core is plugged into a network with DHCP and receives an IP address
automatically, the information screen will reflect this information and note that the address is a
DHCP IP.

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In this scenario, as long as your computer is on the same network as the Aurora Core, the
Aurora Core setup page can be accessed by either using the scanner in Controller Setup in
Control Panel (same step as the previous section) or typing the IP address of the Aurora Core
directly into a web browser.

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Configuring Over Wifi
The Aurora Core also has the ability to allow configuration of the controller via its own wifi
hotspot. The primary use of this feature is to allow direct connection to the Aurora Core from a
mobile device no matter the status of the ethernet connection.
In order to connect to the Aurora Core via wifi hotspot, reference the information screen on the
board. There is a QR code that will appear on the screen (typically mobile phones require
opening the camera app to scan a QR code). Scanning of the QR code allows your mobile
device to directly prompt you to join the direct wifi connection to the Aurora Core. By default, the
wifi name will be set to “AuroraXXXX” (where XXXX are the last 4 digits of the unique MAC
hardware address of the Aurora). This wifi hotspot network name is configurable on the
configuration options (this will be covered in another section in the manual).
You can also see the direct wifi network name and password on the information screen to use to
connect instead of using the QR code:
Once you have connected your device to the direct wifi (AuroraXXXX), reference the information
screen to find the hotspot IP.

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Open the web browser on your device and enter the hotspot IP in the address bar and the
configuration page will load. Having this page open will not affect the controller’s operation while
running a show and this method of connecting can be used to check on the controller’s status
during a show if you are within range of the controller.ome sections of the configuration page
(Outputs) will only offer a simplified version without all options as the wifi hotspot configuration
feature is not meant for performing full out of the box setup.

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Controller Setup - Web Interface
Once you have the Aurora Core powered up and successfully connected to your computer, it is
time to set your controller settings for your specific use.
Home Page
The home page allows for navigation to all of the specific configuration pages. The gray row
under the navigation tabs shows the IP address of the controller and the name of the controller.
The name of the controller can be changed to a custom name, allowing for easy confirmation of
the controller when you log into the webpage. Note that the IP address shown on the top of this
page is the IP address that is used for LOR to send show commands. If configuring via wifi
hotspot, the IP address used to get to this webpage may be different, but this IP address at the
top of the page is always what LOR should be using to send show commands.
The home page also offers the ability to perform 3 maintenance functions:

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Download Config File
Clicking this option will download 1 file to your computer that contains a copy of all of the
settings on your Aurora Core for backup purposes. It is always a good idea to keep a backup
copy of your controller settings.
Upload Config File
Clicking this option will allow you to use a backup config file that you previously saved to set all
the configuration options. This feature would be used in the case of replacing a controller and
simply uploading the backup config file to a brand new controller to copy all of your settings.
Reboot Controller
This option will turn off the controller and have it boot back up. This option is helpful when
troubleshooting to restart the controller.