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ETC JOB #101574 New DMX

I am considering a plan to overhaul and expand the field DMX outputs of our venue.

Our last full system renovation was in 1999.  ETC Job # 101574.  An infrastructure for catwalk and over stage DMX outputs along with wired (Expression) RFU ports was installed along with 192 dimmers, Source 4s, etc.

We have side coves, or box booms, that are split vertically.  As in upper and lower coves for a total of four. They currently do not have a DMX output.The lower coves each have an input for the classic RFU.

I would like to pull back all of the RFU wire from these positions and reuse the conduit for DMX over CAT 5.  I would place a DMX splitter of some kind perhaps an ENTTEC RDS4 (http://www.enttec.com/?main_menu=Products&pn=71004) in the attic and run lines to all four coves.

A colleague has suggested DMX nodes.  I am considering the ROI.  The cove positions are a limited amount of hanging space.  Anyone could suppose a future hang of  ten Source 4 LEDs or four MAC Vipers per side.  In this type of scenario it is arguable to make each cove a discrete universe.  Our current inventory of multichannel devices is relatively low and our potential for new acquisitions is thin.

However, we currently cannot fit all of our shared inventory of multichannel devices on the second DMX output.  That is provided all devices are set to operate on the maximum # of DMX channels.

Current inventory:  (6) Martin PAL 1200, (2) Martin MAC 700, (4) HES Technobeams, (4) HES Trackspots, (3) HES Dataflash AF 1000, (4) Vari Lite VL 1000 TS, (12) ETC D60 Lustr +, (16) Wyrbon Forerunner.

 

I also need advice on how to get a DMX output from our install dimmer racks.  We have 100 amp disconnects for portable dimmers just on the stage side of the wall from the dimmer room.

 

Parents

  • Are you planning to update the console as well? If you are, I would highly recommend looking at the distribution options that ETC offers, and going to an all ETCNet 3 system with DMX nodes as needed. We had our space renovated a few years back and the system is absolutely amazing. I love being able to configure what universe is coming out of what node from the console, and being able to, when needed, just throw things on their own universe. 

    Even without updating the console, a computer with the Gateway Configuration Editor is way better than having to climb into an attic to get to a DMX splitter to adjust things on it. 

    With a configurable system such as this, you could have a universe at each position if you wanted to, but better yet, while you still are woking with the Expression, you could keep your number of universes down and not have to worry about figuring out how to attach all of those universes to the console. 

    As far as your portable dimming situation,  I have a disconnect USR in my space with a network output right next to it, if you have Sensor Portable racks with new enough CEMs they can be configured to accept the network directly in and be controlled over ETCNet 3 or, if not, you could have a portable node, so that wherever your dimmers are, the node could be sitting there right with them, with a network cable running back to the disconnects/

     

    I tend to talk too much and make things more confusing than they need to be.

    Any questions, just ask.

     

    EDIT: I am really bad at paying attention to signatures, really really bad at it, I see that you already have an Ion and Gio. All of my other thoughts still stand though.



    [edited by: pjveltri at 10:58 PM (GMT -6) on Tue, Feb 11 2014] ...I can't read.
  • in reply to pjveltri

    SBC

    You should contact your local ETC Regional office for assistance.  They will be suited best to help you update your system.

  • in reply to pwiegand

    You may be able to run DMX down the RFU wires. I've done that in several venues to add a universe when they changed consoles. It depends on what you have in the conduit.

    Pricing for RDM splitters seems to about meet multiple port gateways. Individual or 2 port gateways seen to be the most expensive approach. So consider using an 8 port gateway where you would use a splitter.

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  • in reply to pwiegand

    You may be able to run DMX down the RFU wires. I've done that in several venues to add a universe when they changed consoles. It depends on what you have in the conduit.

    Pricing for RDM splitters seems to about meet multiple port gateways. Individual or 2 port gateways seen to be the most expensive approach. So consider using an 8 port gateway where you would use a splitter.

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