Interesting, I got this in an email this morning, from a vendor: "ETC will not upgrade a student package" to a higher address count.
I'm faculty at the local university and have just ordered an ETCnomad Student 512 Package (Dongle & Gadget II) to use at the University's Theatre. I will also occasionally use it at a local community theatre as a client on their ETC Element 500/60 Console as this will allow me to do a bit more during tech runs than I can do now in Mirror Mode on my laptop. Yes, i'll still have only one User and one command line (this is an Element) but I think it will still be better than no ability to edit at all for the laptop.
Please read this ETC Webpage: https://www.etcconnect.com/Student-Package/
Especially this bit:
What's next?
There’s no need to worry — the dongle will not expire when you complete your studies and there will be nothing extra to pay. You do have the option to upgrade to more universes, although this will be at the regular price.
It seems I don't read that the way the local vendor does. Perhaps I misunderstood what ETC meant, or perhaps ETC has changed their policy on Student Package upgrades since this vendor last checked?
My plan doesn't involve an upgrade currently, it is more likely this new ETCnomad student (in this case faculty) package will eventually lead the local University Playhouse into purchasing their own ETC Element 500/60 Console sometime down the road, to replace their ageing Strand console.
Still, I'd like to be able to offer the use of my ETCnomad and Gadget II to the local community threatre in the unlikely event they had an issue with their own ETC Element 500/60 Console in the middle of a run and couldn't get a repair or replacement quickly enough (as we're out in the sticks).
As I understand it, in order for them to (temporarily) use my ETCnomad dongle / licence in such an emergency they would have to upgrade my licence to 1024 addresses as they are already using over 630 addresses in their standard hang for shows now. This would allow them to use all of their lights, instead of having the Elation Platinum Beam 5R's and Martin Atomic Strobes, etc. from dropping out of the show for being over the 512 address limit my ETCnomad would be constrained to without this (possible) address upgrade.
Yes, it would be my licence being upgraded, but they would be paying for the upgrade. I don't know that they will want to pay for the upgrade (I haven't asked them yet) but I think it likely they will be relieved to know they have an option here in town to save a show or two in the midst of a run. But I want to be able to tell them what it will cost for them to have this option when I make the offer to them.
So, can I upgrade a current new ETCnomad 512 Student Package to 1024 addresses by having the local theatre pay for a ETCnomad512 Up - 512 Outputs Upgrade (one universe) to be used on my ETCnomad dongle?
