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Ethernet Dmx


dominicgross

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Another answer to Dom's question about seeing ethernet connectors on newer fixtures is that a number of manufacturers are using the RJ-45 connector on fixtures for DMX connection. Colorkinetics ahve always used RJ-45 for DMX and now Martin have advised that on all of their products aimed at the architectural market they will only be fitting RJ-45 connectors for the DMX signal, the XLRs will be gone. Cable and connector wise, we use the Neutrik Ethercon, and TMB's Pro Plex cable, both as bullet proof as what we all use for DMX these days.

We are currently doing a number of small to medium size theatre installs and we are running DMX and Cat 5e networks to every data outlet around the theatre, so that there will be a DMX and an ethernet outlet at all the logical points around the theatre. Both terminate in their own patch field in the dimmer room with DMX splitter and powered hub for the ethernet.

On the subject of radio, we use the radion DMX units from Interactive Technologies, they have a buch of good tools for this type of thing. With the growth of ethernet products you can use radio ethernet units but still have to get to and from DMX unless you have an ethernet capable console, Strand 300, 500 series, MA, and a few others.

The other way is to use a Strand SN100 node to turn DMX to ethernet, into an transmitter, then another SN100 at the reciever end to turn the signal back to DMX, or even multiple recievers.......

 

Good Luck,

Chris McK

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Another answer to Dom's question about seeing ethernet connectors on newer fixtures is that a number of manufacturers are using the RJ-45 connector on fixtures for DMX connection.

Ye gods! Martin had only just come round to the fact that 5 pin XLRs are specified by the DMX standard. If people go putting RJ45 connectors on units for DMX connections and theatres are increasingly having RJ45 ethernet points, the chance of one being plugged into the other seems high. How many RJ45-5 pin XLR bodge leads will we need to use such units, in places that adhere to the DMX spec?

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I'm testing out the iColor Tile from Color Kinetics at the moment (144 tri-colour LEDs in a 600mm square tile, 432 DMX channels!) - it has an RJ45 for DMX, but at least they supplied a bodge lead.
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That's almost a whole universe per tile!

 

Evidently they expect to switch to a different protocol very shortly.

You can control them from Ethernet also, but only using their own control system, which is very biassed to architectural use.

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