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    tdjohn
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ETC ION Ethernet out > sACN > dmx converter > many many devices

Hi,

I have access to some dmx converters that can output any dmx universe in the whole spectrum. They speak sACN.

I read, " The ETC ION can control up to 10000 universes of DMX "

My ION outputs 2 universes in dmx. I do not need the ION to do this if I can solve this output issue on Ethernet. So, if I can output to 10000 universes through ethernet, or rather a wifi access point. I can address these boxes to any of the available unverses. I really only need 3 right now, but so what?

Does anyone know if and how I can go out through the ethernet capabilities of ION to generate data on any DMX universe? A reference to a white paper would do me just fine.




Thanks,

John

  • 0

    I believe if your gateways are properly configured and networked, and enabled sACN on the Ion, then once you patch a channel to whatever universe the gateway is listening for, it should just work. Since I don't own a gateway I can't say for sure, but a foggy memory of Wireshark traces seem to indicate that it works. I know I have no issues sending sACN to my Sensor rack and I didn't do anything special.

  • 0

    Ensure that sACN is turned on and "Default" in the Ion shell.
    - This is the default Ion factory setting.

    Now patch your show as required up to the maximum Output count.
    Easiest patch syntax to use is "Universe / Address"

    Examples (Patch screen in patch-by-channel Format):

    • To patch Desk Channel 1 to DMX 1 on Universe 2:
      [Channel] [1] [@] [2] [/] [1]
    • To patch Desk Channel 2 to DMX 6 on Universe 105:
      [Channel] [2] [@] [1] [0] [5] [/] [6]
      - Shows as "Channel 2 Address 105/6" on the command line.

    The Output Count limit is the total count of patched DMX addresses, and you can spread them over a great many Universes if you wish.

    Note that controlling lights via WiFi is not recommended because WiFi latency is unknown and highly variable.
    - In other words, fades are likely to be steppy at times, and time-critical changes may be late.



    [edited by: Richard at 7:37 AM (GMT -6) on Fri, Mar 2 2012]
  • 0

    Hi John,

    I think there may be some confusion here -- a few clarifying points:  (EDIT: Thanks Richard and sk8rs_dad for excellent posts as well. Didn't see them when I hit Send. :)  )

     

    • The Ion can have up to 10,000 channels of control however, it can only output to a maximum of 3,072 addresses. 
      • Ions are sold based on their output count. Thus, an Ion 1000 can output to 1024 addresses (equivalent to 2 DMX universes). Upgrades can be purchased in 512 address groups (i.e., Ion 1500, Ion 2000, Ion 2500, Ion 3000).
    • The two bigger consoles in the Eos family than the Ion are the Gio and the Eos.
      • The Gio starts at 2048 addresses (2k / 2000), but can be upgraded in 2k segments to 8k.
      • The Eos starts at 4096 addresses (4k), but can be upgraded to 16k.
    • The Eos family can currently output to sACN universes 1 to 128. 
    • We don't recommend the transmission of show-critical data over wi-fi, and recommend using wired Ethernet when something is show-critical like sACN output.
    • To patch to a different sACN universe for a channel on Ion, you can use either the universe/address format, or absolute address.
      • Thus, in patch channel mode, [1] [At] [2] [/] [1] [Enter]  OR [1] [At] [5][1][3] [Enter] would patch channel 1 to sACN universe 2, address 1.
      • You can always view the alternate view by pressing and holding the [Data] key in the Patch view.
    • By default, the Ion will output sACN (and EDMX (Net2), and hardline DMX).  This can be changed, if needed, in the shell. 

     

     



    [edited by: Hans.Hinrichsen at 7:31 AM (GMT -6) on Fri, Mar 2 2012]
  • 0 in reply to Hans.Hinrichsen

    Oh Thanks,

     

    All the answers were very useful. Default set up, good. The Ion does not care if the universe is the 1 or 2 universe that is wired, or any of the others it can address through ethernet networking (1-128).

     

    For "show critical" data on wired ac units I plan to be wired. For non-wired wagons running on DC, I need to go wireless.

     

    I plan to use Oregon Tech's Ariel box for Wireless applications, and the Prospero for 4 universes (per box) of wired Ethernet expansion.

     

    Should I talk to my dealer about those upgrades to Ion 1500 or 2000? Is it in the software?

     

    Thanks again,

     

    John

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