Pathway DMX Dart User Manual

Gray Interfaces

DMXDart

Users Manual

August 2000.

1

Table of Contents

ABOUT DMX DART 5

WHAT CAN IT DO? 5

DMXDART PHYSICAL ARRANGEMENT 6

THE FRONT PANEL 6
THE TOP PANEL 6
THE REAR PANEL 7
INCLUDED ACCESSORIES: 7
OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES: 7

QUICK START 8

NAVIGATING THE MENUS 8
CONTROLLING DIMMERS 9

DMXDART OPERATION 10

MENUS 10
NAVIGATING THE MENUS 10

FUNCTION SUMMARY 10

MENU 1 10
MENU 2 11

GETTING STARTED 12

JOYSTICK 12

TRANSMITTING DMX 13

CHANGING THE DMX TRANSMIT MODE 13

ADVANCED DMX512 TRANSMIT OPTIONS 14

TRANSMIT SETUP 14
1 - %/DEC 14

2

Table of Contents

2 – HEX 15
3 – BUMP 15
4 – POWER UP 15
5 – PARAMETERS 16

PRINTING DMX DATA 16

MOVING LIGHT CONTROL 17

MOVING LIGHT SETUP 18
MOVING LIGHT MODEL 19
DMX ADDRESS (DMX OFFSET) 20
GROUP OFFSET 20
TOTAL NUMBER OF MOVING LIGHTS 21

CONTROLLING MOVING LIGHTS 21

PAN / TILT SHORTCUT 23
BRINGING FIXTURES “HOME” 23
CONTROLLING DIMMERS WHILE IN MOVING LIGHT MODE 24

CUE MODE 24

MISCELLANEOUS TOOLS 24

TESTING CABLES 24
DOUBLE ENDED CONTINUITY TESTING 25
DOUBLE-ENDED DATA TEST 25
SINGLE ENDED DATA TEST 26
ONBOARD CLOCK 26
SELF TEST 27

DMX RECEIVE FUNCTIONS 27

RECEIVE DMX ANALYZER 28
RECEIVE DMX SETUP 29
FLICKER FINDER 29
PRINTING RECEIVED DMX DATA 31
OSCILLOSCOPE SYNC 32
DMX 512 MONITOR 32
IDS TALKBACK 33

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Table of Contents

INTERNAL UTILITIES 33

POWER MANAGEMENT AND BACKLIGHT 34
CHANGING THE BATTERY 35

SOFTWARE UPDATES 35

CONNECTING TO A PC 35
INSTALLING SOFTWARE UPGRADES 36

DARTFLASH 36

TECHNICAL SUPPORT 36

APPENDIX A – MOVING LIGHT LIBRARY 37

APPENDIX B: CONNECTOR PINOUTS 39

DMX512 – 5 PIN XLR MALE 39
RS232 PC COMM / ENCODER EXPANSION PORT – RJ 45 FEMALE, 8 PIN 39
DMX LOOPBACK TEST CONNECTOR 39

APPENDIX C – TROUBLESHOOTING 39

4

About DMX Dart

The Gray Interfaces DMX Dart is a fully featured DMX test tool that incorporates
DMX reception and transmission tools, as well as a set of functions completely
dedicated to moving lights. Complete cue recording and playback features are
also provided so that the DMXDart can be used as a miniature standalone
controller or as an inline backup DMX source. The DMX Dart’s features, as well
as its intuitive handheld design make it the ideal tool for theatre, concert touring,
and themed entertainment users.

What can it do?

A few of the things that you can use your DMXDart to do!

• Handheld lamp check

• Verify console output

• Control dimmers directly

• Test DMX cables

• View DMX levels as %, hex or decimal values

• Synchronize a DMX signal to an oscilloscope

• Control moving lights individually or in groups

• Test “in wall” DMX wiring

• “Tweak” DMX output parameters

• Print out reports (with optional printer)

• Analyze incoming DMX signals

• Act as a DMX “Flicker finder”

5

DMXDart Physical Arrangement

The front panel

1 Keypad
2 Backlit LCD Display
3 Joystick

The top panel

4 DMX 512 output (5 Pin female XLR type connector)
5 DMX 512 input (5 Pin male XLR type connector)
6 RS 232 PC serial port (RJ45 receptacle)
7 DC power Input / Scope Sync output (1/8” mini phone receptacle)
8 IR transmitter
9 Future DartFlash slot
10 Encoder panel mounts

6

The rear panel

11 Battery compartment
12 Reset switch
13 Belt clip mounting hole

Included Accessories:

• Soft carry case 7702

• Belt clip kit

• PC adapter kit with RJ11 – RJ45 cable, and RJ11 to DB9 adapter

• 9 Volt AC adapter

Optional Accessories:

7704 DMXDart moving Light Encoder Panel

Ericom Powerterm Software

7

Quick Start

Turning on the DMX Dart is as simple as pressing any of the 4 top row keys on
the keypad. When one of these keys is pressed, the DMX Dart will power up in
the mode that it was in when it was turned off.

NOTE: The DMXDart may transmit DMX immediately upon power up.
Please insure that all equipment (such as moving lights) is safe prior to
starting

The PWR/BKLT key provides access to the DMXDart’s power management
features, as well as operation of the LCD display. Pressing the PWR/BKLT key
accesses the top-level power functions menu. This menu appears like this:

MENU-continueMENU-continue
OFF- power downOFF- power down
BKLT-backlightBKLT-backlight
view angle , moreview angle , more

From this display, pressing the MENU key returns to the previous menu.
Pressing the OFF key turns the unit off, and pressing the PWR/BKLT key toggles
the LCD backlight on and off.

NOTE:

The backlight is set to automatically turn off after 2 minutes of inactivity.

NOTE:

While this is the only menu that allows the operator to power down the DMXDart
it can be accessed directly at any time by pressing the PWR/BKLT key.

Navigating the menus

The MENU key, located in the top right corner of the keypad, is the key that
allows for the navigation through the DMXDart’s menu system. At any time

during operation of the DMX Dart, the pressing the MENU key will exit a function
and display the associated function menu. Pressing MENU key while in a menu
screen will advance to the next page of the current menu.

To choose a function, press the number key that corresponds with the number
displayed beside the desired function. This will call the function, and jump
directly to the function screen. Repeated presses of the MENU key from within a
function submenu will rotate through the associated function menu, returning to
the function display.

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QUICK START

Controlling Dimmers

From the main menu select screen choose 1 to load Main Menu 1. From Main
Menu 1, select 2 - Transmit DMX512. The DMX 512 transmit function is now

displayed:

Transmit DMX512Transmit DMX512
Data EntryData Entry
CH??? CH??? @??%@??%

From this screen, standard level setting commands can be used to transmit DMX
dimmer levels. Enter 1 THRU 40 @ 30 OK. DMX channels 1 through 40 are

now being transmitted at 30%. Subsequent commands will pile on levels to
previous entries on a last take precedence basis while in data entry mode.

Enter 41 AND 75 @ 15 OK. DMX channels 41 and 75 are now being transmitted
at 15%, while channels 1 through 40 are held at 30%.

To blackout or turn all dimmers off, enter 1 THRU 512 @ OFF OK.

9

DMXDart Operation

Menus

The DMX Dart’s operating software is a menu-based system that provides quick
access to all of the unit’s functions. The system consists of 2 main menus, one
for DMX transmit functions and one for DMX receive functions. From each of the
main menus, functions are chosen by pressing the number corresponding to the
item desired. To swap main menus, choose the ‘main menu select ‘ option from
either of the main menus. This will display the main menu selection screen:

Main Menu SelectMain Menu Select
1-Transmit Functions1-Transmit Functions
2-Receive Functions2-Receive Functions
1 or 2 select1 or 2 select

Pressing the 1 key from this menu loads main menu 1, and the 2 key loads main
menu 2.

Navigating the menus

The MENU key, located in the top right corner of the keypad, is the key that
allows for the navigation through the DMXDart’s menu system. At any time

during operation of the DMX Dart, the pressing the MENU key will exit a function
and display the associated function menu. Pressing MENU key while in a menu

screen will advance to the next page of the current menu.
To choose a function, press the number key that corresponds with the number

displayed beside the desired function. This will call the function, and jump
directly to the function screen. To set up the parameters of any function, or to
access function options, press MENU from the function display. This will access
the function’s submenu. Repeated presses of the MENU key from within a

function submenu will rotate through the associated function menu, returning to
the function display.

Function Summary

Menu 1

1 - About Dart

Displays information about the DMXDart software, including software version,
and the software serial number.

2 - Transmit DMX512

10

DMXDart Operation

Command line setting of DMX levels. Controls conventional DMX equipment.
Transmits variable DMX ‘flavors’ for testing DMX reception equipment.

3 - Moving Light Tx

Dedicated control of moving lights, complete with fixture library, and attributes.
Encoders and integrated pointing device provide direct access to attributes.

4 - Cue Mode

Playback of cues in standard DMX or moving light mode. Also contains backup
mode for operation inline with a DMX console.

5 - Misc Tools

Cable tester, real time clock, and DMXDart self-test functions.

6 - Main Menu Select

Allows for the swapping of main menus between receive and transmit functions.

Menu 2

1-About DART

Displays information about the DMXDart software, including software version,
and the software serial number.

2-Receive DMX512

Analyzes incoming DMX signal for signal integrity, as well as displays all
incoming DMX data by channel. User configurable extended features include
alternate start codes, DMX termination, and pass-through regeneration.

3-DMX512 Monitor

Extends the Receive DMX functionality by displaying all signal parameters and
full 512 bytes of DMX data on a single display via connection to a PC.

4-IDS Talkback

Monitors and translates messages sent by products supporting DMX talkback on
pair 2 of the DMX cable.

5-Main Menu Select

Allows for the swapping of main menus between receive and transmit functions.

11

DMXDart Operation

Getting Started

Turning on the DMX Dart is as simple as pressing any of the 4 top row keys on
the keypad. When one of these keys is pressed, the DMX Dart will power up in
the mode that it was in when it was turned off.

NOTE: The DMXDart may transmit DMX immediately upon power up.
Please insure that all equipment (such as moving lights) is safe prior to
starting

Joystick

The DMX Dart features an integrated pointing device located at the center of the
front panel. This device will respond to very small pressures applied to the entire
outside diameter, as well as straight downward. While it is the first instinct for the
user to press hard to create large changes in the on-screen values, it is actually
more effective to press lightly. Operating the pointing device very gently will give
the best results when operating moving lights, or manipulating values within other
menus.

If you are having difficulty with the joystick, try the following exercise:
Go to Main Menu 1. Choose 5 - Misc Tools, and then 3 - Misc. Self Test.

Finally press 1 – Keypad Joystick.
You should see something like this:

Keypad/JoystickKeypad/Joystick
Keypad:Keypad:
X:+001 Y:+003 Z:+000X:+001 Y:+003 Z:+000
press menu to exitpress menu to exit

The part of the display that we are interested in for this exercise, are the X & Y
readouts. These show how much ‘action’ your joystick pressure is generating.
Give it a try using very little pressure. Observe just how little pressure it takes to
get a response. A little practice in this display should be all it takes to improve
your joystick technique.

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