DMS D705B LED strip lights & Arduino Uno

Other Hardware LEDs and Multiplexing
1

Hi all,
I need some help with coding of the DMS D705B strip lights.
first I have some question?

  1. can you Program the Uno to do 2 thing at the same time, I want the Uno to sent a signal every 5 minute. To an external Source confirming that the Uno is ready. ( that it has Power and that the Uno is Undamaged)?
  2. how long can the LED strips be connected to the Uno. I have 8 of these Strips each one is 2.5 meters long making the total length 20 meters. is that 2 long?

thanks for your help with these questions.

the Idea that I have is to group the LED into groups of 8 LED's and have them switch on every 2 seconds but the LED train light must not be more that 2 Groups(16 LED's) long with a 3 group (24 LED) gap between the each train lights.

I also what the Uno to confirm that the Lights are working, ( this is a simple process of measuring the Current on the return of the LEDs

the LEDs train lights must be able to go forward or backwards but never at the same time. ( which is simple programming here)

this LED strip lights seems to work with the LPD8806.h library coding.

the part that I can't seem to figure out is how to group the LED's and how to make them work the way I want them to.

thank you all for your time.