Wireless Client: Ion

Hi Sam,

ETC doesn't offer any hardware options for Wireless connection of your laptop to the Ion, but

it can be configured as you would a Wireless network at your home. Your Ion needs to be connected

via an ethernet cable to a WLAN switch which then will allow your laptop to connect to if your laptop has

a WLAN card inside.

Please keep in mind not to connect your Ion to any networks which are connected to the WWW, or

any other outside networks because they can put your console under unnecessary network

access.

Hi Corey,

Thanks a bunch! that sounds great!  After connect the Ion to the switch, and the laptop to the network, how would I connect the two? using the dongle, are there any certain settings that need to be made on the laptop, such as in the client software?

Thanks again -Sam

Hi Corey,

Thanks a bunch! that sounds great!  After connect the Ion to the switch, and the laptop to the network, how would I connect the two? using the dongle, are there any certain settings that need to be made on the laptop, such as in the client software?

Thanks again -Sam

Howdy Sam,

In the Ion Settings menu, you need to make sure that Network is on. Then in your laptop you need to make sure you have the same IP class as Ion (but not the same exact IP), for instance, if the Ion has an IP of 10.101.150.101, then your laptop could have an IP of 10.101.100.125 (subnet 255.255.0.0).

As for the dongle in the Laptop, if your Laptop recognizes it, when you start the Ion application, you should have the ability to select Client (sorry deal more with Congos, and can't recall how the dongle in Ion exactly works from the top of my head).

I will be back in the office on Wednesday, and if you still can't get it to connect by then, I can plug my Ion in the office to a laptop and see what the menu exactly looks like and we can talk thru it. send me your details to ccascio ( - a - t - ) etcconnect (- dot - ) com.

Or just call our helpful Tech Services folks at (608) 831 4116 and they will gladly help you also.

have fun! ;)

I have no problems connecting up when I have a new show. However, when I have a show that has a patch, cues and subs, it seems to not be able to load it fully. I always get to a certain percentage, then it loses the connection. I was fiddling around with my settings to make sure I had everything configured corrcetly and discovered this problem. Any thoughts?

Thanks a bunch Corey! I'll be getting to work on this as soon as i get some time to myself in the theatre. I'll let you know how it turns out. 

To you Brain and anyone else out there, What wireless switches have/are you using for this? and what have been most successful if any difference? thanks again -Sam!

I use the Linksys WRT-54g. You can get one on Newegg.com for around $60. I then use the DDWRT firmware for the router. The DDWRT firmware is nice because you can make changes to the settings on the router much easier than the Linksys firmware. For example: the Linksys firmware will not allow for non-conventional subnet masks. The DDWRT firmware will allow you to change it to whatever you want. ETC's subnet for the console is 255.255.0.0, which it will allow you to do.

What version of software are you using in your console?

You should upgade your console to 1.4.3 if you haven't already. We fixed a couple bugs to make wireless more reliable.

Thanks,

Dennis

I am running 1.4.3. However, the show that I tested it on was written with 1.4.2, and I never really saved the show since I updated the software. Would that cause it to not work correctly?

I am seeing the same problem with Ion 1.4.3. Once synchronization is established the communication is reliable, but synchronizing is often unsuccessful with anything but an empty show. The symptoms would indicate a problem related to the size of the show file, maybe with heartbeat/keepalive given the half-duplex nature of wireless,

I have attached a Wireshark packet capture that may provide some insight for your development team. It shows a number of cancel/reconnect attempts made by the operator while trying to synchronize. I can also provide a trace showing successful synchronization over wired ethernet using the same router if it is helpful.

Karl

Some more in for for the development team. I am seeing the same issue with 1.4.3. It worked fine the first time I connected after upgrading from 1.4.2. Now it does not sync. at all. I find that as the client is loading up, the Ion console tries to upload the show file as a quick burst as the client is on the ION Splash screen. It states that it uploaded 100% OK. After the client comes up all the way it then tries to sync with the console and then the console uploads the show file a second time. The console seems to just send the show information in a single burst and does not do any checking. The console states that it uploaded 100% OK however the client stops at about 16% and then just sits there. I click on "Abort" and try to reconnect to the master but it still only gets to about 16% and then stops. All the while it flashes about 4 or 5 times that it lost connection/regained connection with the master. The client can see the master on the network configuration screen but never downloads the show.  Hard Wire connection works fine every time. Only the wireless does not work. I tried it using 2 different laptops and 2 different Wireless APs. and get the same results. Vista Premium. Centrino 2ghz, 3gig memory, wireless G or N, (I've tried both) or XP Pro SP2, Dual core 2ghz, 2Gig Memory, Wireless G or N. Motorola Highspeed Wireless G/N Access Point. I have the same AP at home and my office and never have any issues connecting.  The show file only has 96 fixtures (all dimmers) and 10 cues. Not a very big show. If I reinstall the update to 1.4.3 the wireless connection works fine the first time only. I can then load shows fine until I disconnect and try to reconnect. Then it's back to the same problem. Hope this helps.

Ron