Hi all
My set up is an ETC Ion running 2.2 c/w 2 x 20 fader wing. I also run an ETC Net 3 Dmx/Network 4 way node.
I often use the node and just come out from the desk via cat 5 etc. Convenient for a variety of reasons etc.
I have a weird one with some LED pars that i possess earlier today.
I have 8 x RGBW cheapish pars. I, normally, run these in groups of 4. Four overhead and four on the deck. That is just the way things have worked out etc. For the next show, I have to have the full compliment of eight on the same bar. This is straight forward to do. I have daisy chained the 8 x led pars together and found that they are pulsing/flashing as if there was some dodgy DMX on the line. I did the usual fault finding and discovered that the issue lay in the 4 port gateway. When I ran them straight into the desk, the problem stopped. I also controlled them locally with a little 6 way desk I have and again the problem disappeared.
To my knowledge, this is the first time all eight have ended up in the same DMX chain in this manner. I am thinking that placing a terminator on the line might be a start and something for tomorrow but the problem does not exist with local dmx control or the DMX port 1 on the Ion. I have set the port speed to maximum on port 1.
My feeling is that the network/DMX conversion is "spiking" the sauce.....? But I am wondering why this is the case? RDM is turned off to my knowledge but will check.
I have perfect control over 4 units but as soon as I add 1 more.... Kabooom!
Any thoughts?
List of actions:
1) Had 8no. LED pars pulsing when daisy chained together.
2) Plugged DMX lead from gateway into the desk and pulsing stopped.
3) Had full control at this point.
4) Tried local 6 way desk and problem disappeared.
5) Something in the network/dmx gateway is not liking the 8 x pars plugged into the same DMX line.
6) I have these through in configurations of 4 to a DMX line but never exceeded that number since I got the ion (1 year).
7) Will try terminator but does not seem right!
All cables were checked and in good condition. Led Pars in good condition.
cheers
eamon
