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    jsarge36
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Can Net3 talk to Net2?

Hello all,

 

I know this has to be answered somewhere already but I can't find it.

 

My venue is currently running primarily on a Net2 System.  I believe my 4 port Gateway in FOH is going bad. We purchased a new one but of course we got a Net3 one not knowing they were no longer backwards compatible. Can I leave all the nodes that are running ETC Net2 and swap out the Gateway and still have everything work together, or do I need the Net2 nodes converted to Net3, to make it work. What about my CEM + Modules?  Do they need to be changed or software updated?

 

Thanks

  • Net3 and Net2 devices do not talk to each other, but many products can talk to both. What console are you using?

    CEM + can receive both Net2 and Net3, but would need to be configured so that they are responding to the same addresses.

    Was the bad gateway used for input or output?
  • in reply to tdrga
    Cem+ can only respond to sACN if it has the proper software version.
  • in reply to corey cascio
    Right - updating software on all devices to current versions with Updaterator would be a good idea.
  • in reply to tdrga
    I don't recommend end-users updating their CEM+. If something goes wrong and the CEM+ bricks, then the rack won't work anymore.
    Plus UpdateAtor doesn't see all versions of CEM+. Its best to have an authorized ETC Technician update the CEM+.
  • in reply to corey cascio
    That being said - maybe the CEM+ doesn't need updating and already receives sACN. Which version of software is on the CEM+? You can see this on its display when booting up, irvin its about Window. Or in UpdatAtor/Concert Software if the CEM+ have certain software version.
  • in reply to tdrga
    Console is an Avo Lite. My FOH gateway is my primary input to my other nodes, that I change between Outout and Input as needed. I'll need to check my CEM's version.
  • in reply to jsarge36

    Which particular Avolites console?

    Most of the Avolites consoles natively speak sACN.
    - I believe that all the "Titan" family with an RJ45 network jack can speak sACN/E1.31 (Net3's DMX), though it may need a software update. If it's a "classic" console then it probably won't.

    So it's likely that your console can talk directly to the CEM+ and Net3 DMX Gateways across the network with a little bit of configuration (possibly with software and firmware updates).

    However, Avolites consoles don't speak ETC-Net2 (EDMX) and so would need an ETCNet2 Node/Gateway to be able to talk to ETCNet2-only Nodes.

    I'd recommend that you do a quick hardware survey, and find out exactly which network-connected hardware you've got and the software/firmware it's running.
    Then get in touch with ETC technical services via email, they can help you figure out the best (most performant/lowest cost) approaches to upgrade.

  • I'm not seeing that your question really got answered in this, though a lot of good points were raised.
    Question 1) - the 4 port gateway at FOH, were those input sleds (male XLR) that took the DMX out of the AVO board and transmitted NET2 to the rest of your system?
    Question 2) - did your dimmers with the CEM+ controllers take DMX from one of the NET2 output nodes around your venue?

    If Q1 and Q2 are both yes, then my answer to your question is that truly you need to swap the rest of your EDMX based NET2 nodes over to NET3 - OR - hit up EBAY or another used gear site and find an older generation NET3 gateway that can support NET2.
    Most probably your dimmers are just taking DMX from a node and don't know (or care) about what is feeding that node.
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