ChamSys SnakeSys User Manual
SnakeSys User Manual i
SnakeSys User Manual
SnakeSys User Manual ii
REVISION HISTORY
NUMBER DATE DESCRIPTION NAME
v1.6.7.1 24/07/2015 ChamSys
SnakeSys User Manual iii
Contents
1 SnakeSys Products 1
1.1 SnakeSys Philosophy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.2 Networking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2 SnakeSys B4 3
2.1 Product Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.2 Art-Net Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.3 Art-Net Output + DMX Input . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.4 ACN Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.5 ACN Output + DMX Input . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2.6 Same Universe Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2.7 ChamNet Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2.8 DMX Buffer Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2.8.1 Rotary Encoder Function, DMX Buffer Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2.9 DMX Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2.9.1 DMX Output Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2.9.2 DMX Input Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2.10 Powering the SnakeSys B4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
3 SnakeSys R4 9
3.1 Product Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
3.2 Network Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
3.3 DMX Mode Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
3.4 Selection Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
3.5 Bypass Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
3.6 Address Switches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
3.7 Power Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
3.8 Clear Settings Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
3.9 Special Mode Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
3.10 Power Over Ethernet (PoE) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
3.11 Rear Panel Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
SnakeSys User Manual iv
3.12 RDM Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
3.13 ChamNet Mode Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
3.14 Powering the SnakeSys R4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
3.14.1 Thermal Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3.14.2 Battery Care Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
4 SnakeSys T2 15
4.1 Product Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
4.2 DMX Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
4.3 Network Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
4.4 Menu System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
4.4.1 Main Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
4.4.2 Network Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
4.4.3 Network Port Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
4.4.4 Settings Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
4.5 RDM Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
4.6 ChamNet Mode Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
4.7 T2 Truss Mounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
4.8 Powering the SnakeSys T2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
5 SnakeSys R8 26
5.1 Product Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
5.2 DMX Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
5.3 Network Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
5.4 Menu System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
5.4.1 Main Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
5.4.2 Network Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
5.4.3 Settings Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
5.4.4 DMX Settings Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
5.5 RDM Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
5.6 ChamNet Mode Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
5.7 Powering the SnakeSys R8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
5.8 Security Measure Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
6 Network Manager (SnakeSys) 37
6.1 Normal (non ChamNet mode) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
6.2 ChamNet Mode (MQ Net) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
6.3 Upgrading SnakeSys firmware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
6.4 Older ChamSys 4 Port Ethernet interfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
6.5 Output Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
SnakeSys User Manual v
7 SnakeSys Firmware Release Notes (B4, R4, T2) 40
7.1 Version V215 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
7.1.1 SnakeSys B4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
7.1.2 Other products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
7.2 Version V214 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
7.2.1 All Products (Changes to DMX output hold policy) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
7.3 Version V213 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
7.3.1 All Products (Improve Policy For Save Of Settings) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
7.4 Version V212 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
7.4.1 SnakeSys B4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
7.5 Version V211 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
7.5.1 SnakeSys T2 Version 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
7.6 Version V210 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
7.6.1 SnakeSys R4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
7.6.2 All Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
7.7 Version V209 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
7.7.1 All Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
7.8 Version V208 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
7.8.1 SnakeSys T2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
7.9 Version V206 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
7.9.1 SnakeSys B4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
7.10 Version V204 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
7.10.1 Snakesys R4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
7.10.2 Snakesys B4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
7.11 Version V203 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
7.11.1 Snakesys B4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
7.12 Version V202 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
7.12.1 Snakesys R4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
7.12.2 All Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
7.13 Version V201 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
7.13.1 Snakesys R4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
7.13.2 All Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
7.14 Version V200 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
8 SnakeSys Firmware Release Notes (R8) 44
8.1 Version 203 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
8.2 Version 204 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
8.3 Version 213 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
SnakeSys User Manual vi
ChamSys Ltd
The features and functions of the MagicQ software and consoles and SnakeSys products and the ideas contained therein are the
property of ChamSys Ltd. The console is intended for the control of lighting systems. No warranties are expressed or implied
regarding the use of the MagicQ software of lighting consoles. No liabilities are accepted for the accuracy of the information
contained within this manual.
MagicQ software and MagicQ lighting console products are supplied, designed and manufactured by ChamSys Ltd.
Products containing ChamSys Ltd software and firmware embody proprietary information and are licensed not sold and may not
be duplicated in any way.
ChamSys Ltd does not guarantee the accuracy, adequacy, suitability or completeness of any information or products and is not
responsible for any errors or omissions or the results obtained from use of such information or products.
ChamSys Ltd does not accept responsibility for the consequences of misuse or abuse of its equipment. The equipment is designed
to meet all current regulation requirements in the UK for electrical products.
None of the equipment or software supplied by ChamSys Ltd may be used in any life-critical or potentially life-endangering
situations or in situations where personal injury may result.
ChamSys Ltd reserves the right to make any changes and/or improvements or to discontinue any and all of their product’s or
service’s without prior notice, and advises customers to obtain the latest version of relevant information to verify, before placing
orders, that information being relied on is current and complete. All products are sold subject to the terms and conditions of sale
supplied at the time of order acknowledgement, including those pertaining to warranty, patent infringement, and limitation of
liability. Some of the available functions of products may be altered over the life of the product.
The ChamSys Ltd range of products meet EU directives where applicable, for example the EMC and LVD directives, as laid
down by the European Community and ChamSys Ltd has a policy of regularly testing samples to ensure that production units
continue to meet these specifications.
ChamSys Ltd will not accept goods back for repair if the serial number sticker is removed or defaced so that it is illegible. This
also applies to warranty repairs. See terms and conditions of sale for full details.
All other product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated
into any language in any form by any means without the prior written permission of ChamSys Ltd.
Copyright 2014 by ChamSys Ltd. All rights reserved.
www.chamsys.co.uk
SnakeSys User Manual 1 / 44
Chapter 1
SnakeSys Products
The SnakeSys Product range currently includes:
SnakeSys B4 A four universe Ethernet to DMX convertor. It supports
four DMX512 ports that are configurable as either inputs or
outputs, and one DMX port that is always assigned as an
input.
SnakeSys R4 A four universe multi-purpose network distribution node
comprising DMX output ports, DMX input ports and
multiple network ports in a 1U rack
SnakeSys T2 A truss mountable two universe Ethernet to DMX
convertor with an in-built network switch. Each universe
has three separate outputs removing the need for a separate
DMX buffer.
SnakeSys R8 An eight universe Ethernet to DMX convertor in a 1U rack.
It supports eight DMX512 ports that are configurable as
either inputs or outputs, and also features dual network
ports.
1.1 SnakeSys Philosophy
SnakeSys network products enable DMX data, media data and control data to be distributed throughout the lighting rig from
control consoles to fixtures. SnakeSys products can be used with any lighting console or media server - they are independent of
MagicQ products.
SnakeSys products are designed and manufactured in the UK using quality electronic components, and are designed for reliability.
Wherever possible, all components are mounted on a single circuit board to avoid the need for interconnecting cables. SnakeSys
products are designed at a "chip" level, rather than repackaging IT products.
SnakeSys products use professional locking Neutrik Ethercon connectors for all network connections, this avoiding the limited
lifetime associated with traditional RJ45 network plugs and sockets.
SnakeSys products use professional locking Neutrik Powercon connectors for power input, ensuring a reliable power input. All
SnakeSys products accept voltages from 90V to 250V AC without needing any changes.
Where appropriate, SnakeSys products have in-built battery backup to protect against unexpected power loss.
SnakeSys products support Power over Ethernet - the SnakeSys B4 and T2 can both be powered directly from the R4 rack nodes
and switches using Power over Ethernet rather than from the mains - this reduces the number of cables in the system.
SnakeSys products support firmware updates over the network, enabling the products to be easily upgraded to support new
features.
SnakeSys User Manual 2 / 44
1.2 Networking
SnakeSys products support Art-Net I, Art-Net II and Art-Net III, along with ACN Streaming DMX network protocols. The
DMX512 ports are fully configurable with DMX packet length, framing rate, and timings.
All SnakeSys products ship with a 2.X.X.X IP address and 255.0.0.0 Subnet Mask as standard. It is important that any consoles,
PCs or Macs that will be communicating with SnakeSys products are set within this IP address range. SnakeSys products have
inbuilt Ethernet switches with auto MDI/MDIX detection, so when connecting directly between a PC/Console and SnakeSys
products a cross over Ethernet cable is not required.
If you change the IP address of the SnakeSys product it will not show up again in Net Manager until you have reconfigured the
network on your system to be within the same range as the Interface. Wherever possible the IP address should be kept on the
2.x.x.x network. On a SnakeSys B4 and R4 there is no display panel to show the current IP address on the unit - so if you forget
the IP address range then you may need to factory reset the unit.
All SnakeSys products unlock MagicQ PC/Mac Software from Demo mode when connected over network regardless of the mode
set up on the SnakeSys product, allowing access to the restricted features of MagicQ.
SnakeSys products with USB ports are for initial factory programming and should not be connected under normal use.
SnakeSys User Manual 3 / 44
Chapter 2
SnakeSys B4
The SnakeSys B4 is a four universe DMX to Ethernet convertor. It supports four DMX512 ports that are configurable as either
inputs or outputs and one DMX port that is always assigned as an input. The SnakeSys B4 is designed as a multi purpose box to
be used in places where a small portable Ethernet to DMX conversion solution is required.
• Universal Ethernet to DMX Interface
• Four DMX512 Ports (configurable as input or output)
• One dedicated DMX512 input port
• Art-Net and ACN Streaming DMX support
• Can be used with any Art-Net or ACN compliant console
• Universe selectable by rotary switches
• ChamNet remote configuration
• Stand-alone DMX buffer mode
• Can be powered by Power over Ethernet
Multiple SnakeSys B4s can be used on a single network, either configured directly from the unit or by using ChamNet control
from a MagicQ console. Multiple SnakeSys B4s can be syncronised together to ensure that the DMX output from the console is
consistent and does not involve "tearing" either within universes or across multiple universes.
SnakeSys User Manual 4 / 44
2.1 Product Diagram
For simple Art-Net or ACN to DMX output conversion on the SnakeSys B4 the DIP switches/rotatory encoders can be used to
quickly configure the device for this mode.
2.2 Art-Net Output
On the DMX output end of the B4, the DIP switches are used to configure the device mode. For Art-Net to DMX output mode
DIP Switch 4 (switch nearest Socket 1) should be up and all other DIP switches should be in the down position.
The rotary encoders on the reverse side of the unit are used to configure the Art-net Subnet and Universe. In this mode universes
following sequentially, so for example when set to 0-0 the 4 DMX output ports would map to Subnet 0, Universes 0, 1, 2, 3
respectively. The LEDs next to the DMX output sockets will light in Blue when the DMX port is active and the unit is outputing
DMX.
SnakeSys User Manual 5 / 44
2.3 Art-Net Output + DMX Input
This mode is exactly the same as Art-Net Output except that the DMX Input connector on the rear of the unit is enabled, DIP
Switch 2 is used to enable the rear DMX Input.
The Input Art-Net Universe follows after the 4 Output Universes, so for example when the rotary encoders are set to 0-0 the 4
DMX Output Ports would map to Subnet 0, Universes 0, 1, 2, 3 and the DMX Input would generate Art-Net Universe 4.
The DMX Input LED will illuminate when the B4 is receiving DMX.
2.4 ACN Output
On the DMX output end of the B4, the DIP switches are used to configure the device mode. For ACN to DMX output mode DIP
Switch 3 should be up and all other DIP switches should be in the down position.
The rotary encoders on the reverse side of the unit are used to configure the ACN Universes. With the left hand encoder setting
the ten value and the right encoder setting the unit value.
In this mode universes following sequentially, so for example when set to 0-1 the 4 DMX output ports would map to ACN
Universes 1, 2, 3, 4 respectively. The LEDs next to the DMX output sockets will light in Blue when the DMX port is active and
the unit is outputing DMX.
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2.5 ACN Output + DMX Input
This mode is exactly the same as ACN Output except that the DMX Input connector on the rear of the unit is enabled, DIP switch
2 is used to enable the rear DMX Input.
The Input ACN Universe follows after the 4 Output Universes, so for example when the rotary encoders are set to 0-1 the 4 DMX
Output Ports would map to ACN Universes 1, 2, 3, 4 respectively, and the ACN Input Universe will be ACN Universe 5.
The DMX Input LED will illuminate when the B4 is receiving DMX.
2.6 Same Universe Output
When the B4 is operating in either Art-Net or ACN mode the DIP Switch Position 1 can be used to optionally enable all 4 DMX
Outputs to output the same universe, i.e. the first universe selected by the Rotary Encoders. The B4 will output the same universe
when DIP Switch Position 1 is in the UP position.
In the case where the DMX Input feature is also enabled, the DMX Input will generate DMX Output Universe + 1.
2.7 ChamNet Mode
Running the B4 in ChamNet Mode allows the device to be custom configured. In this mode MagicQ can be used configure each
port individually, set DMX timing and refresh rates along with setting the units IP Address and Subnet Mask. The unit can also
be firmware upgraded using MagicQ when in ChamNet mode. On the DMX output end of the B4, the dip switches are used to
configure the device mode.
For ChamNet Mode all DIP switches should be in the down position.
When the unit is in ChamNet mode the rotary encoders are used to set the units MagicQ box id. This is only useful if you
have more than one SnakeSys product attached to the network, as each SnakeSys product should have its own unique ChamNet
address. If you only have one SnakeSys device attached you can safely leave the rotary encoders both set to zero.
The Unit can be accessed within MagicQ under Net Manager, found under Setup > View DMX I/O > Net Manager.
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Note
If the unit product version is B4 MK2 or later the unit will remember the settings that you make in MagicQ Net Manager. Please
allow at least 40 seconds for the unit to store the information into flash memory before removing the power. If the unit is left in
MagicQ ChamNet mode it will boot up with the settings that you made previously in Net Manager (MagicQ will not be required
to be connected to keep the port settings). This is a useful work around if you need to pre-configure port settings outside
the options that are available through the normal DIP switch settings for use without MagicQ. This save to flash feature is not
available on B4 MK1.
2.8 DMX Buffer Mode
The SnakeSys B4 can also be used as a simple DMX buffer, giving 4 DMX outputs from a single DMX input.
For DMX buffer Mode DIP switch 1 should be in the up position with all other DIP switches down.
2.8.1 Rotary Encoder Function, DMX Buffer Mode
The rotary encoders when the unit is operating in DMX buffer mode allow some adjustments to the DMX output protocol,
including DMX packet rate, DMX packet length, DMX break length and overall DMX frame timing.
Note
These are advanced options, if you do not fully understand what the DMX packet timings actually adjust with regards to the
DMX output, or you would just like the default setting you should set both encoders to 0 when using DMX buffer mode.
Note
A version of the tables below is also written on the base of the B4 unit for quick reference in the field.
Table 2.1: Packet Rate and Length [Left Encoder]:
Num Channels Rate 40Hz Rate 33Hz Rate 25Hz
512 0 1 2
256 3 4 5
128 6 7 8
64 9
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Some examples using the above table:
• Setting position 2 on the Left Encoder will give 512 DMX output channels at a 25Hz update rate.
• Setting position 6 on the Left Encoder will give 128 DMX output channels at a 40Hz update rate.
Table 2.2: Frame Timing [Right Encoder]:
Break (uS) Frame 48uS Frame 56us Frame 64uS
92 0 1 2
176 3 4 5
256 6 7 8
384 9
Some examples using the above table:
• Setting position 3 on the Right Encoder will give DMX break of 176uS and the frame data bytes will take 48uS
• Setting position 8 on the Right Encoder will give DMX break of 256uS and the frame data bytes will take 64uS
2.9 DMX Connectors
2.9.1 DMX Output Connectors
The four DMX Output connectors are bi-directional and can be configured either as DMX Output or DMX Input however they
can only be set as Inputs when the unit is used in ChamNet mode through the Net Manager. When using any DMX Output
channel as a DMX Input a male to male 5 pin gender adaptor or equivalent cable may be required.
2.9.2 DMX Input Connector
The DMX Input connector on the rear of the unit can only be used as an Input. The DMX Input connector when enabled can be
used in Art-Net, ACN and ChamNet mode.
2.10 Powering the SnakeSys B4
The B4 can be powered either by the mains Powercon Input socket or via PoE (Power over Ethernet) from a compatible device
such as the SnakeSys R4, when running via PoE the B4 accepts between 37-57V and takes 6.5-12.9W.
The mains power supply is universal wide input range type and has the following specification: 85 to 264VAC @ 47 to 63 Hz or
120 to 370VDC
The SnakeSys B4 does not have an internal battery.
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Chapter 3
SnakeSys R4
The SnakeSys R4 is a multi-purpose network distribution node, comprising DMX output ports, DMX input ports and multiple
network ports in a 1U rack.
The SnakeSys R4 is designed to be used on stage for Ethernet to DMX conversion, at front of house for DMX to Ethernet
conversaion, and in any other location that requires conversion between DMX and Ethernet or Ethernet switching.
Using one SnakeSys R4 at front of house and one SnakeSys R4 at stage interconnected by a single CAT 5 network cable, the
system provides four DMX lines and three independant network lines all over one cable.
The SnakeSys R4 is a 1U rack featuring:
• Powercon input
• Battery backup
• Three Ethercon network connections on front (all can supply Power over Ethernet)
• Two Ethercon network connections on rear
• Four 5-pin DMX output sockets on the front
• Four 5-pin DMX input sockets on the rear
• Full break detect on all four DMX inputs
• Two remote contact inputs
• Relays to automatically connect inputs to outputs in the event of a power failure
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