ETC Ethernet Install Plan - anywhere?

Hi Jacques,

thanks for contacting us about getting your Lighting Control System upgraded.

Naturally ETC has solutions for Lighting Control Network Systems. Its best to contact a dealer local to you to have them explain to you what's possible for your venue and to give you an offer.

Before you contact your local ETC Dealer, a few words of wisdom:

 ETC - as many other companies - use the following data protocols: DMX, RDM and sACN/ACN to communicate lighting control data through the lighting System. These four protocols are standardized, which means that you can source products from different manufacturers, and most professional manufacturers will be able to communicate with each other - which means as a customer you can source your Equipment from a plethora of Dealers.

DMX = DMX512 - Data Protocol used since 1986 to send Lighting Control Data over a 3-Wire DMX Wire using a 5-pin XLR Connector

RDM = Extension of DMX512 which allows Feedback to travel back and forth from DMX Receivers to DMX Controllors (Consoles) to allow for DMX Address Setting, Configuration, Feedback, Error Messages, etc.

sACN = Protocol to send DMX Information/Lighting Control Data (Light-weight, DMX over Network) over an Ethernet-Based System (Cat5/6/7 Cable/Switches/Network Cards)

ACN = Protocol to send Lighting Information over an Ethernet-Based System for Configuration, Feedback, etc (Cat5/6/7 Cable/Switches/Network)

ETC brands Data Distribution Products as "Net3" and "Response" - these products communicate with DMX, RDM and sACN/ACN.  

You can then source an RDM/Network console like one from our Eos Family Line such as Gio:

or one of our Cobalt Line Consoles like Cobalt 10

You want to be sure your DMX devices can also transmit RDM : From the Console to the DMX Gateways/Splitters to the fixtures - this allows you to patch the new fixtures in the console without any Manuals and figuring out modes, and then remotely changing dmx addresses, modes, and checking on Status like temperature, and errors. If your DMX devices in the System don't do RDM, then RDM won't go through those devices.  

Then you could take some of our Gateways (Network to DMX Translaters) - the Net3 or Response Products :

This Video may be helpful for you right now to watch:

Here is also a diagram of what a typical Lighting Control Network System could look like:

Eos Family Networking Example 20160516.pdf

Designing your new Lighting Control Network System can be somewhat complicated, so we really recommend you contact a local dealer who can help make sure your system is installed to effectively last for years. You can find local ETC Dealers here at this link:

If you have immediate questions you can call ETC or message me on here.

Have a great day!

Hi Jacques,

thanks for contacting us about getting your Lighting Control System upgraded.

Naturally ETC has solutions for Lighting Control Network Systems. Its best to contact a dealer local to you to have them explain to you what's possible for your venue and to give you an offer.

Before you contact your local ETC Dealer, a few words of wisdom:

 ETC - as many other companies - use the following data protocols: DMX, RDM and sACN/ACN to communicate lighting control data through the lighting System. These four protocols are standardized, which means that you can source products from different manufacturers, and most professional manufacturers will be able to communicate with each other - which means as a customer you can source your Equipment from a plethora of Dealers.

DMX = DMX512 - Data Protocol used since 1986 to send Lighting Control Data over a 3-Wire DMX Wire using a 5-pin XLR Connector

RDM = Extension of DMX512 which allows Feedback to travel back and forth from DMX Receivers to DMX Controllors (Consoles) to allow for DMX Address Setting, Configuration, Feedback, Error Messages, etc.

sACN = Protocol to send DMX Information/Lighting Control Data (Light-weight, DMX over Network) over an Ethernet-Based System (Cat5/6/7 Cable/Switches/Network Cards)

ACN = Protocol to send Lighting Information over an Ethernet-Based System for Configuration, Feedback, etc (Cat5/6/7 Cable/Switches/Network)

ETC brands Data Distribution Products as "Net3" and "Response" - these products communicate with DMX, RDM and sACN/ACN.  

You can then source an RDM/Network console like one from our Eos Family Line such as Gio:

or one of our Cobalt Line Consoles like Cobalt 10

You want to be sure your DMX devices can also transmit RDM : From the Console to the DMX Gateways/Splitters to the fixtures - this allows you to patch the new fixtures in the console without any Manuals and figuring out modes, and then remotely changing dmx addresses, modes, and checking on Status like temperature, and errors. If your DMX devices in the System don't do RDM, then RDM won't go through those devices.  

Then you could take some of our Gateways (Network to DMX Translaters) - the Net3 or Response Products :

This Video may be helpful for you right now to watch:

Here is also a diagram of what a typical Lighting Control Network System could look like:

Eos Family Networking Example 20160516.pdf

Designing your new Lighting Control Network System can be somewhat complicated, so we really recommend you contact a local dealer who can help make sure your system is installed to effectively last for years. You can find local ETC Dealers here at this link:

If you have immediate questions you can call ETC or message me on here.

Have a great day!