Avolites EDMX User Manual

eDMX and TUBE

Operators Manual

1. Avo eDMX Manual - Page 2

Useful Avolites phone numbers:-

Avolites England

Sales and service* (+44) (0) 20 8965 8522

Service out of hours* (+44) (0) 78 3117 8888

Fax (+44) (0) 20 8965 0290

Email [e-mail]

Website http://www.avolites.com

Distribution of Avolites products in USA:­Avolites America

Sales and service* ([phone]

Fax [phone]

*Before contacting Avolites for service enquiry please ensure that you have the
product serial number and the Software version.

The latest version of this manual (in Microsoft Word or PDF format) and
Console Software can be downloaded from the website
www.avolitesdownloads.com

The small print :

No Liability for Consequential Damages

Avolites has a policy of continuous product and documentation improvement. As such the
detail within this manual may not match the operation of the product this manual describes.

In no event shall Avolites be liable for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, or
consequential damages or loss whatsoever (including, without limitation, damages for loss of
profits, business interruption, or other pecuniary loss) arising out of the use or inability to
use the product this manual describes even if Avolites Ltd. has been advised of the
possibility of such damages. Because some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or
limitation of liability for consequential or incidental damages, the above limitation may not
apply to you.

Reprint and revision history:

First version CC 10 May 2004

RS Imported to Avolites Template 10 May 2004

Uploaded to web 10 May 2004

eDMX Operators Manual.doc 10/05/2004 13:37:00

1. Avo eDMX Manual - Page 3

1. AVO EDMX MANUAL 4

1.1 About 4

2. HOW TO SET UP AN EDMX SYSTEM FROM OUT OF THE BOX. 5

1.2 Working with the Tubes 5

1.3 TUBE facilities and connectors. 6

1.4 Connecting the Tubes to a PC. 7

1.5 Configuring the Tubes 12

1.6 Changing a TUBE from an Encoder to a Decoder and back again 13

3. WORKING WITH THE WAP 15

1.7 Configuring the WAP 16

4. A NOTE ON OTHER WIRELESS NETWORKS. 17

5. RUNNING A SHOW 17

6. SYSTEM CONFIGURATION OPTIONS. 18

1.8 Simple point to point 18

1.9 Multiple receivers from 1 transmitter. 18

1.10

Multiple Universe through 1 WAP 18

1.11

Multiple universes split across multiple waps 19

1.12

Extending WAP’s using cable 19

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1. Avo eDMX Manual

1.1 About

eDMX was designed to allow users to construct a wireless network over
which dmx could be streamed to enable said users to get over obstacles
that otherwise prevented them from deploying lights in certain locations.

The hardware and software were designed by dAFTdATA Ltd for Avolites
Limited.

dAFTdATA have considerable experience within the IT networks world as
well as lighting industry working in the fields of design and installation.

Avolites have considerable experience with the manufacture of lighting
related products, as such it seemed a natural partnership.

eDMX is designed to allow people everywhere to use the now readily
available IEEE standard of 802.11 wireless Ethernet as a transport
mechanism for USITT DMX 512.

The construction of a simple wireless network allows users to send their
dmx wirelessly within the constraints of the wireless network instantly with
no response difference from that of using cables.

1. Avo eDMX Manual - Page 4

As the standard for 802.11 differs for countries across the world
respectively it is the responsibility of the user to familiarise themselves
with the available local frequencies and to work with them accordingly.

Wireless Ethernet 802.11 systems can cause interference to and receive
interference from amongst other things:

• Other Wireless Ethernet Systems

• Microwave Ovens

• Bluetooth enabled devices

• Some football stadium floodlight ballasts

• Cordless Analogue and Digital Telephone Systems

Finally as a word of precaution, eDMX systems should ONLY be used where
it is not possible to run cable systems.

eDMX Operators Manual.doc 10/05/2004 13:37:00

2. How to set up an eDMX system from out of the box. - Page 5

2. How to set up an eDMX system from out of the box.

The Avolites eDMX kit is shipped containing the following components:

• 2 eDMX Tubes

• 1 Wireless Access Point (WAP)

• 3 Mains Cables

• 2 eDMX Serial Configuration Cables

Overview of the equipment:

• eDMX Tube: A device that takes in USITT DMX 512 and converts the data

into IP (Internet Protocol) packets embedded within Ethernet Frames for
delivery across a wireless Ethernet system.

• Wireless Access Point (WAP): A device that allows for the construction of

an infrastructure topology wireless Ethernet system. The WAP acts as the
central point for the wireless network.
The standard twin aerials of the Linksys WAP provides a diversity system
that allow for the signal to radiate in a circular fashion out from the WAP.
Provided the Tubes are placed within this area of coverage the system will
work.

300m 300m

One Tube is preconfigured to act as an encoder and one as a decoder. To
enable the system to work from the box the following steps need to be
followed:

• Connect the Tube labelled as the encoder to the lighting console.

• Connect the Tube labelled as the decoder to the lighting fixtures

• Install the WAP and power up.

• Power up the Tubes

The system should now transfer the dmx data from the encoder to the
decoder seamlessly. If the system seems to be performing less than
perfectly it might be that your system is experiencing interference from
another wireless network, to overcome this move to the section on
configuring the WAP and switch to another frequency.

1.2 Working with the Tubes

Some key points regarding the design of the Tubes:

• The Tubes are designed to be the entry and exit points for the dmx data

working over the wireless network.

• A wireless network as a single entity can support up to 250 Tubes.

eDMX Operators Manual.doc 10/05/2004 13:37:00

2. How to set up an eDMX system from out of the box. - Page 6

• It is possible for a Tube to act as either an encoder or a decoder

• It is possible to have one encoder talking to 249 decoders on the same

wireless network.

• It is possible to have 4 encoders talking to 60 decoders each all on the

same wireless network.

• It is possible to extend the system to cover more than 4 universes by the

addition of more wireless access points and the subsequent creation of
more wireless networks.

1.3 TUBE facilities and connectors.

• Mains voltage inlet connector: Provides a means to connect the Tube to a

mains power supply in the range of 90-260 v(AC)

• DC connector - for battery usage: Allows for the power for the Tube to

come from a DC battery source, this provides excellent range checking
facilities of the Tubes. The suggested battery supply is a PP9 battery.

• XLR Input connector – for usage when the Tube is acting as an encoder

• XLR Output connector – for usage when the Tube is acting as a decoder

• RS232 port – for usage as an initial configuration connection. The usage of

RS232 allows for the Tube to be configured by connection to any computer
with an RS232 9 pin Serial port, or via USB with the appropriate converter.

• 3 stack LED indicator – for analysis of system operation. The three LED’s

provide indication of termination, data receive or transmit rate, and
system status.

• Mode LED indicator – provides “at a glance” indication of encoder/decoder

selection

• Terminator Switch – to enable termination of the dmx line, when the Tube

is in encoder mode and is in line after some fixtures that require
termination.
Before shipping the Tubes are preconfigured to with their factory settings
that allows for usage straight from the box.

If the Tubes are to be used in a different configuration or in conjunction
with another system, or simply to extend the functionality of an existing
system then the Tubes must be reconfigured accordingly.

The configuration of the Tubes is dealt with overleaf…

eDMX Operators Manual.doc 10/05/2004 13:37:00