Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long does it take to put the display up and take it down?
A: For 2005, it took 5 days to put up and 2 1/2 days to take down.  I need to start earlier than Thanksgiving and normally take advantage of warmer days when I can.

Q: How does everything work?
A: I'm using a software and hardware platform called Light-o-rama (www.lightorama.com) made by Dan Baldwin.  It allows me to hook up all the lights to "channels" that can be dimmed, brighten, flickered, sparkled, or turned on or off.  It is controlled by a computer that allows me to sequence the lights to the music.

Q: How do you send the music to our radios?
A: I'm using a legal 25 milliwatt FM transmitter made by Hobbytron electronics (www.hobbytron.com).  It is the FM25B model and works great.

Q: How long does it take to sequence a song?
A: It takes anywhere from 10 to 15 hours sequencing each song.  It takes much longer now that I have to sequence video as well as the lights. I have 9 songs for 2008, so figure out a few full weeks.

Q: How much electrical cost does it take to run the display?
A: When I had all incandescent lighting, it cost an around $50 extra.  Yes...only $50!  The reason why is because the lights are not constantly on except for certain parts of the show.  This is another great reason to go computerized.   For 2008, I replaced most of my incandescent lighting with LED's which only use up to 20% of what incandescent is. Here are my actual electric bill costs for:

                  2005
                  $136.29 December's bill (for electricity used in November)
                  $190.68 January's bill (for electricity used in December)
                  $140.11 February's bill (for electricity used in January)

                  2006
                  $142.71 December's bill (for electricity used in November)
                  $188.99 January's bill (for electricity used in December)
                  $132.52 February's bill (for electricity used in January)