I just acquired four Technobeams and...

[QUOTE=ih303;48561]Just recently I purchased four used Technobeams, four Trackspots, a Technobeam LCD controller, and an Intellibeam LCD controller. I've got some questions that hopefully you good people will be able to help me out with.

First, a few general questions:

1. What's the best approach to controlling these fixtures? Should I use the LCD controllers or should I get a USB to DMX interface so I can go PC-based? Ans: Go DMX! An MLC-16 or Light Jockey is my preferred means of control in a club.

2. If I want to use the LCD controllers, is it possible to upload preprogrammed scenes to the controller from an external source, i.e. memory card? And if so, can I get preprogrammed scenes from either someone here on the forum or somewhere else? Ans: Good luck on the memory card thing... Go DMX.

Now some specifics:

1. I'm running one version of the firmware on two of my TBeams and another version on the other two. I tried the process in the manual to update from another machine to no avail. Ans: There are two versions of T birds. Black stripe and Silver stripe. Earlier versions only go so far up.

2. On one of my TBeams, the colorwheel seems to be stuck in between two colors. It still rotates, but settles on the border rather than on the color itself. Ans: I'm betting the motor has a bad spot and is worn out. Replace it. Color motors get the dog crap abused out of them.

3. The Intellibeam controller has a problem with the intensity setting. When I try to crank it up, it always drops the value back down to zero. Ans: Go DMX problem solved.

4. The positioning laser on two of my TBeams work great, on one of them works ok, and on one of them doesn't work at all. Not sure where to even start on this one. Ans: Be glad they work at all. The lasers usually didn't last long and the replacements were $300 for a $10 4mw.


I understand this is a lot to ask and appreciate any information I can obtain regarding these issues. Thanks again.

Hope this helps. Go DMX!

[QUOTE=ih303;48561]Just recently I purchased four used Technobeams, four Trackspots, a Technobeam LCD controller, and an Intellibeam LCD controller. I've got some questions that hopefully you good people will be able to help me out with.

First, a few general questions:

1. What's the best approach to controlling these fixtures? Should I use the LCD controllers or should I get a USB to DMX interface so I can go PC-based? Ans: Go DMX! An MLC-16 or Light Jockey is my preferred means of control in a club.

2. If I want to use the LCD controllers, is it possible to upload preprogrammed scenes to the controller from an external source, i.e. memory card? And if so, can I get preprogrammed scenes from either someone here on the forum or somewhere else? Ans: Good luck on the memory card thing... Go DMX.

Now some specifics:

1. I'm running one version of the firmware on two of my TBeams and another version on the other two. I tried the process in the manual to update from another machine to no avail. Ans: There are two versions of T birds. Black stripe and Silver stripe. Earlier versions only go so far up.

2. On one of my TBeams, the colorwheel seems to be stuck in between two colors. It still rotates, but settles on the border rather than on the color itself. Ans: I'm betting the motor has a bad spot and is worn out. Replace it. Color motors get the dog crap abused out of them.

3. The Intellibeam controller has a problem with the intensity setting. When I try to crank it up, it always drops the value back down to zero. Ans: Go DMX problem solved.

4. The positioning laser on two of my TBeams work great, on one of them works ok, and on one of them doesn't work at all. Not sure where to even start on this one. Ans: Be glad they work at all. The lasers usually didn't last long and the replacements were $300 for a $10 4mw.


I understand this is a lot to ask and appreciate any information I can obtain regarding these issues. Thanks again.

Hope this helps. Go DMX!