DMX limit

Not sure if this is the place for this or not but I was wondering if anybody knows why DMX is limited to 512 addresses per universe. I'm guessing it probably had to do with the limitation of the early computers but that's just a guess.

JeffMabray over 13 years ago

I believe it's actually because it's based on RS-485 protocol and an 8 bit language.
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Richard over 13 years ago in reply to JeffMabray

It's nothing to do with the underlying protocol or anything like that.

When creating the standard, an address count limit had to be set. The limit is always going to be found by picking a number out of the air.

So they had to pick a big number - but not too big, or the refresh rate with all channels in use would be too slow.

After all, nobody needs more than 512 dimmers, right?
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