Preferred range of use:

It is a reduced version of the Ethernet /DMX512 Control Box without a DMX input. The capabilities of DMX transmission are almost equivalent.

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Command-/Control interface:

Alternatively the Generator may be operated with binary commands formatted as MIDI channel messages. Because Ethernet works baudrate independent, this binary data format is also well applicable to control the Generator by PLC or similar equipment, which has few or no capabilities to convert numeric values into ASCII text.

In a most simple case - preferably for setup or debugging of installations - manual and interactive operation by keyboard and Telnet terminal is possible.

Data traffic is signalled with the red/green duo-LED "Data", which shows the active mode of operation, too. Whenever the Generator is in TCP "connected" state, the blue LED "TCP" is on.

Additional features:

This way the following special functions are available:

• Application specific configuration of the Generator: individual setup of network parameters (IP addressing, ports), baudrates and timing parameters via RS-232 or via Ethernet/Telnet (default IP at delivery 192.168.0.240).

• Use as Ethernet client with RS-232 or MIDI input.

• Bidirectional transmission of MIDI data via Ethernet incl. possibility of format transformation RS-232/ASCII <--> MIDI.

• With these features, the Ethernet / DMX512 Generator is useful as a low cost counterpart to access the Ethernet / DMX512 Control Box from "legacy" client hardware (like PLC, MIDI sequencers, media controllers without Ethernet feature) via Ethernet.

The most essential commands for DMX control:

• Any DMX channel 1 to 512 can be set to any level by sending a short sequence of ASCII text to the Generator (8 bit of resolution).

• Any DMX channel 1 to 512 can be set arbitrarily by means of a single or several MIDI channel messages (one MIDI message results in up to 8 bit resolution).

• Alternatively upload of bigger blocks of DMX data is possible in a compact binary format.

• For any DMX channel a fade ramp can be executed automatically, duration programmable up to 31 seconds. This diminuishes the expense of programming considerably. Any number of fade processes can be active simultaneously on all DMX channels. When a new preset (=lighting scene) is loaded, a soft fade is performed from the actual scene into the new one.

• One ASCII or MIDI command can poll the levels of 1 to 16 successive DMX channels of the recently transmitted DMX packet via Ethernet.

• The actual state of the Ethernet / DMX Generator (transmit buffer, some mode of operation) can be saved permanently as a preset (=lighting scene). Up to 100 presets can be stored and be reloaded at any time. During power-on always preset no.0 is loaded.

• The cycle of DMX data packets can be set by command between 24 and 512 channels. If a DMX channel out of the active DMX cycle is adressed, the packet length is readjusted automatically.

DMX interface:

The DMX output is not galvanically isolated from the controller electronics.

The serial (MIDI-)input however, which is active at some positions of the code switch, is opto-isolated.
In modes of non-DMX operation following serial baudrates are selectable: 9600, 19200, 38400, 57600, 115200 and MIDI(31250) - all use byte format 8N1 without handshake.

Ethernet interface:

Power supply:

Electromechanical Features:

Similar products made by Cinetix:

• If you want to read or analyse a DMX bus via Ethernet, too, we recommend the Ethernet / DMX512 Control Box. To control and analyse a DMX bus by means of a conventional RS232 interface, we supply the RS-232 / DMX512 Control Box. To control and analyse a DMX bus by means of MIDI channel messages, we supply the MIDI / DMX512 Control Box.

• For applications of computer based lighting control without ethernet access, we supply devices with features similar to those of the Ethernet / DMX512 Generator: the RS-232/DMX512 Generator and the MIDI / DMX512 Generator.

• The Ethernet / DMX512 GenIO combines the features of the Ethernet / DMX512 Generator with additional features of 8 analog inputs and 8 programmable digital I/O lines.

Manual of the Ethernet / DMX512 Generator
     (PDF format)