RC4Magic Magic Series 2 R3 System User Manual
Contents
1. Channel Groups Normally the DMXioR3 transmits the complete incoming DMX universe up to 512 channels You can limit transmission to the first 128 256 or 384 DMX channels coming in This increases the rf bandwidth allocated to the selected group increasing data fidelity and demanding less of RC4Magic data compression RF Power DMXio transmitters shipped within North America are preset to transmit 100 mW 18 dBm of RF power Units shipped to Europe Japan and jurisdictions with similar regulations are preset to transmit 10mW 10dBm Only the lowest power level is permitted in most locations outside North America Within North America a range of user selectable power levels are available ID Select By default all RC4Magic Series 2 devices are set to their first unique System ID identified as IDO ID zero Any of 3 unique IDs or the common public ID ID3 can be selected except on the DMX2dim which cannot select ID2 The actual alphanumeric values for IDO ID1 and ID2 are labeled on each RC4Magic Series 2 device Only ID3 is the same for every unit sold that code the Public ID is 999 Additional information about device configuration is provided later in this manual DMXio R3 User Interface The DMXio R3 provides five LED indicators and four recessed pushbuttons for access to all settings These LEDs and buttons the user interface or Ul have one set of functions during normal Running mode and other functions t2. RC4Magic DMX Protocol Compliance DMXioR3 Transmitter Mode Receiver Mode Warranty Policy Page 2 ARAHRAHAAL AAR HL annua ONDOD RC4Magic DMXioR3 R3 Wireless Transceiver User Manual Seven Day Easy Return 19 We Guarantee Your Satisfaction 19 Disclaimers We Must Make 19 How to Reach RC4 Wireless 20 Physical Address 20 Telephone Fax 20 Internet 20 Page 3 RC4Magic DMXioR3 R3 Wireless Transceiver User Manual Disclaimers WIRING AND INSTALLATION OF BATTERIES DIMMERS AND LOADS MUST BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LOCAL AND NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODES RC4 Wireless devices and equipment are operated at the user s own risk and RC4 Wireless accepts no liability either direct or consequential as a result of using this equipment Not for Use Where Human Safety May Be At Risk RC4 Wireless accepts no liability for direct indirect or consequential damages resulting from the use of any RC4 Wireless product or group of products RC4 Wireless does not guarantee the suitability of any product for any purpose user assumes all risk RC4 dimmers must be used strictly in accordance with manufacturer s instructions and cannot be used for unsupervised operation RC4 Wireless products must be installed and operated only by qualified technicians as outlined in the manufacturer s documentation and should be inspected and tested on a regular basis to ensure proper and safe operation Not for Control of Pyrotechnical Devices RC4 W
3. after Power Up will invoke that button s Running function The new system ID is immediately saved in non volatile Flash memory During Power Up the LED sequence will indicate the selected ID as described above in LEDs at Power Up Buttons in Running Mode In Running mode buttons should be tapped rather than held that is they should be gently pressed until they click then released Tapping any of the three Set buttons will invoke Edit Mode which is indicated by a pair of toggling LEDs as described on the previous page While in Edit Mode the unit is not a functioning transmitter or receiver You must exit Edit Mode to resume normal Running operation The Tx Rx Ch grps and RF pwr LEDs indicate settings being selected by the buttons Each tap of the Set Tx Rx button will toggle the mode changing the blink pattern of the Tx Rx LED Tap it until the desired mode is indicated Each tap of the Set Ch grps button will increment through the available channel group settings Repeatedly tap the button until the Ch grps LED indicates the desired setting When the Ch grps LED is continuously on not blinking all incoming DMX channels are transmitted This is the default and most commonly used setting Each tap of the Set RF pwr button will increment through the available rf power settings Repeatedly tap the button until the RF pwr LED indicates the desired setting When the Tx Rx Ch grps and RF pwr LED all indicate the desired settin
4. and avoid that channel Very few rf devices are as accommodating as RC4Magic most are user or factory configured for a particular rf channel and stay there Thus it is often best to turn on your RC4Magic system last after all other systems are up and running Mounting and Positioning Can I put an RC4Magic receiver inside a metal prop practical or wagon If a radio receiver is completely surrounded by metal particularly grounded metal it is unlikely to work well Our product cases are made of tough ABS plastic because it is transparent to radio waves non metallic materials should be used whenever possible When this is not possible some signal will usually get through openings in metal framework Mesh does not pass radio at all frequencies The spacing of the mesh relative to the radio wavelength determines how much signal will pass through this is why a carefully engineered glass and mesh window can be used in the door of a microwave oven If you build a box out of old microwave oven doors and put an RC4Magic device inside you ll be able to see it but it won t pick up any signal If possible build your set pieces out of fibreglass wood and plastic These materials are more transparent to radio than metal is Minimize the use of metal Metal framing is fine but a non metallic covering over the frame is preferred How critical is RF Hotspot positioning Page 17 RC4Magic DMXioR3 R3 Wireless Transceiver User Manual At
5. distances under 100 feet RF hotspot positioning is usually not critical at all When trying to operate at the greatest possible distances positioning becomes much more important Performance is usually best when all Hotspots face up but there are some cases where it is better to face them towards a clear nearby surface like the theatre back wall In general a common reflective surface helps the signal propagate Thus facing everything up works well indoors in a theatre but doesn t work as well outdoors RC4Magic Series 2 Specifications RC4Magic RF Technology Indoor Urban Range Up to 300 100 m 200 66 m typical Outdoor Line of Sight Range Up to 1 mile 1 6 km Transmit Power Output Up to 100 mW 20 dBm EIRP Receiver Sensitivity 100dBm Operating Frequency 2 4 GHz ISM band Agency Approvals United States FCC OUR XBEEPRO Canada IC 4214A XBEEPRO Europe CE ETSI Japan 005NYCA0378 1 RC4Magic radio modules must be configured for 10dBm output in Europe Japan and some other jurisdictions Output power is configurable using the recessed Set RF pwr button RC4Magic DMX Protocol Compliance DMX inputs and outputs comply with USITT DMX512 1990 4us Packets with non zero start codes are not transmitted RC4Magic cannot transfer proprietary data or RDM packets DMxio receiver output closely mimics DMXio transmitter input providing the same number of DMX channels and the same number of packets per second pps Min
6. left signal coming in indicates a receiver Now it s time to read through this manual to learn how to change system IDs interpret the LEDs and more Thank you for choosing RC4Magjic Series 2 Page 5 RC4Magic DMXioR3 R3 Wireless Transceiver User Manual RC4 Magic An Overview DMX Cable Replacement DMX Distribution The heart of RC4Magic Series 2 RC4M S2 is the DMXio module This manual refers specifically to the DMXioR3 which provides several features not available in earlier versions A DMxXio can act as a wireless transmitter or receiver and any number of receivers can be used in a system A pair of DMXio units configured as transmitter and receiver replaces a standard DMX cable RC4Magic modules work reliably to distances beyond 200 feet within most theatres and performance spaces Any number of receivers can be used in an RC4Magic system taking the place of splitters and distribution boxes providing superior electrical isolation along with uncluttered convenience Configured as a transmitter the DMXio encodes and encrypts the incoming DMX universe and broadcasts it using Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum DSSS digital radio Unlike wired DMX the broadcast signal includes error checking and correction codes and is not affected by minor interruptions and interference Incoming DMX channels are broadcast with appropriate speed redundancy and accuracy additional bandwidth is dynamically allocated t
7. 2V battery can be used for portable operation with for example a battery powered DMXter Pocket Console DMX or other mobile DMX signal source The power inlet is a standard 2 1mm receptacle center positive The DMX output jack is ideal for inserting the DMXio in a wired DMX network With a short DMX cable the DMXio can be positioned at the output of your lighting console or other controller before your DMX signal continues to other devices in your system Internally the DMX input connects directly to the DMX output so the data will always pass through even if the DMXio is not powered Once everything is connected position the red circle RF Hotspots on all RC4Magic devices so they are all facing upward If this is difficult face the RF Hotspots towards any common reflective surface like a wall ceiling or open floor area Line of sight is NOT required for RC4Magic but dense objects between units like concrete walls will attenuate the radio signal and reduce the available range Most DMX controllers output a full universe of 512 channels Some controllers output a smaller universe of 128 256 or other number channels The maximum packet rate for 512 channels is 44 packets per second Many controllers output fewer than 44 packets per second 30 packets per second is somewhat common With all channel groups enabled the Ch grp LED indicator solidly on not blinking the DMXio transmits all DMX channels that are coming
8. RC4 Magic Series 2 R3 Wireless DMX and Wireless Dimming System iel DMXioR3 R3 Data Transceiver User Manual an oe All RC4Magic devices are warranted for life If it stops working and you have not misused or abused it we fix For free Forever Details on page 30 RC4Magic DMXioR3 R3 Wireless Transceiver User Manual Disclaimers Not for Use Where Human Safety May Be At Risk Not for Control of Pyrotechnical Devices Product Safety Statements of RF Conformity United States FCC Canada IC Japan Europe ETSI Other Countries and Jurisdictions RC4Magic Quick Start It s Easy DMX Transmitter DMX Receiver Identifying Transmitters and Receivers RC4Magic An Overview DMX Cable Replacement DMX Distribution Power Up Sequence and Radio Channel Assignments Advanced Settings DMXio R3 User Interface LEDs at Power Up LEDs in Running Mode LEDs in Edit Mode Recessed Buttons Buttons at Power Up Buttons in Running Mode DMXioR3 Transmitter Setup Mode Selection and Connections DMXio Receiver Setup Mode Selection and Connections Optimizing Radio Performance How dol Change a DMXioR3 from transmitter to receiver or receiver to transmitter Select a different ID for a DMXioR3 Combine multiple RC4Magic Series 2 systems for a large project Troubleshooting and Frequently Asked Questions General Mounting and Positioning RC4Magic Series 2 Specifications RC4Magic RF Technology
9. al information please contact RC4 Wireless Other Countries and Jurisdictions XBeePro radios used in RC4Magic Series 2 devices have also been issued Declarations of RF Conformity for Australia New Zealand and Korea For additional information please contact RC4 Wireless Page 4 RC4Magic DMXioR3 R3 Wireless Transceiver User Manual RC4Magic Quick Start It s Easy RC4Magic Series 2 is truly Plug n Play you can start using it right away DMX Transmitter If your system has just one DMXio module it will be factory configured as a transmitter If you have multiple DMXio modules only one is configured as a transmitter the rest are configured as receivers A temporary label has been provided to identify the transmitter Connect a supplied wall transformer power supply to your DMXio transmitter Plug ina DMX data source and see that the dmx RFc LED comes on That s it you re on the air DMX Receiver Connect a supplied wall transformer power supply to a DMXio receiver It can take up to 15 seconds for the receiver to connect with the transmitter When the RF data LED starts blinking and shimmering you have DMX data coming out You now have a 200 foot wireless DMX link Identifying Transmitters and Receivers If you ve lost track of which DMXio is your transmitter watch the LEDs during power up An LED chase from left to right signal going out indicates a transmitter A chase from right to
10. c toggle back and forth to indicate that settings are in the process of being altered and have not yet been saved Edit Mode RF Data asi dmx RFc When the save amp run button is pressed new settings are stored in Flash memory the LEDs do a quick back and forth chase and the unit restarts with a full Power Up sequence Recessed Buttons The four DMXioR3 buttons are recessed behind small holes in the case to the right of the LED indicators directly above the female DMX connector They are hidden to avoid unwanted changes to settings which most users never need to adjust To operate these buttons use a bent paperclip or other slim tool or DMXio buttons are very small and are not intended for rough handling Press them gently You will feel a slight click or gentle pop as they depress Do not poke anything into the LED openings Doing so may damage the LEDs and other circuitry Such damage is NOT covered under warranty Page 11 RC4Magic DMXioR3 R3 Wireless Transceiver User Manual Buttons at Power Up If a button is pressed while a unit is powered up it invoked a secret key function During DMXioR3 power up each recessed button selects a System ID Set Tx Rx selects IDO Set Ch grps select ID1 Set RF pwr selects ID2 save amp run selects ID3 Public ID Press and hold the desired button then apply power As soon as the Power Up LED sequence appears release the button Continuing to hold the button
11. d to reflect more than penetrate This means that more of the signal will bounce around a room rather than radiate through the walls to an adjacent space This helps improve performance between receivers ina performance space even when line of sight between devices is not possible Even so some of the radio signal does penetrate walls and other objects Provided the transmitter is not too far away you can successfully place receivers inside theatrical props and practicals behind flats and under risers In these cases try to place the transmitter as close as possible to these pieces An inexpensive RF spectrum analyzer like the Metageek WiSpy can be used to inspect the 2 4Ghz radio band and see how well the RC4Magic signal and other signals are getting around your space WiSpy analyzers are available from RC4Wireless at www theatrewireless com www metageek net and elsewhere Page 15 RC4Magic DMXioR3 R3 Wireless Transceiver User Manual How dol Change a DMXioR3 from transmitter to receiver or receiver to transmitter Using a bent paperclip or other small tool press the Tx Rx recessed button Then press the save amp run button See the DMXio section earlier in the manual for additional information including how to read the LEDs indicating the currently selected mode Select a different ID for a DMXioR3 You choose between 4 different IDs IDO ID1 ID2 or ID3 by holding down a recessed button while power
12. deal circumstances the range of RC4Magic Series 2 radios exceeds 300 feet and has been reported to be as far as 700 feet But ideal circumstances are rare Our published specification of 200 feet is realistic in most situations Range is affected by 1 The orientation of the antennas RF Hotspots relative to each other 2 The number of obstructions between radios 3 The density of obstructions between radios 4 Other activity in the 2 4GHz radio band including leaky microwave ovens 5 General electrical interference from ac dimmer racks and other power equipment Each piece of the RC4Magic Series 2 system has a radio antenna inside which must not be obstructed with metal or other dense objects This is why the cases are made of tough ABS plastic they must be transparent to radio waves The position of the internal antenna is indicated with red circles on the device label this is called the RF Hotspot For best performance face all RF Hotspots in the same direction usually upward Often there are numerous obstructions between the transmitter and receivers or there are several receivers positioned in various locations and orientations around the performance space In this case try to aim all the RF Hotspots toward a common reflective surface like a ceiling or wall The closer the receiver is to the transmitter the less important orientation becomes The high frequency radio signals used by the RC4Magic system ten
13. ers We Must Make All repair periods are subject to parts availability and do not apply to holidays or our corporate vacation times For critical projects we recommend purchasing spare equipment You cannot use our equipment in a show then return it for a refund our warranty is not a free rental program Our warranty does not apply to devices that have been abused misused or mishandled We will not be responsible for physical damage failures caused by incorrect wiring electrical overloading and or over voltage overheating caused by insufficient ventilation or damage caused by insufficient packaging during shipping We will not be responsible for counterfeit or look alike products not originally manufactured by RC4 Wireless We will not be responsible for consequential damages to other equipment or for lost revenues We do not guarantee our equipment to be suitable for applications other than those discussed in our application notes and brochures In particular no RC4 products should ever be used to control pyro devices Published power output ratings of some items are accurate only at specific voltages duty cycles and operating temperatures Some items may require additional cooling and or protection circuitry to operate reliably with certain loads Call RC4 Wireless for advice if you are unsure about any operating characteristics If your account payments are not up to date we reserve the right to withhold service until paymen
14. for additional information Is it possible to extend the range of the RC4Magic radio link Range can be improved by reducing obstructions aiming the RF Hotspots differently eliminating sources of electrical interference moving devices away from sources of electrical interference like dimmer racks and dirty arcing lamp sockets and trying other RF Channels by turning the DMXio transmitter off and on forcing a new scan for the clearest channel Page 16 RC4Magic DMXioR3 R3 Wireless Transceiver User Manual In particular substantial improvements can be achieved by placing the transmitter high enough to radiate over people s heads It is also possible to use high gain and or directional external antennas with the DMXio This requires returning the units to the factory for modifications at additional cost or purchasing the DMXioR3 HG Wireless data can be transmitted over very long distances using precisely aimed directional antennas Contact RC4 Wireless for additional information Note that most users do not require the DMXioR3 HG with external antenna our internal antennas are very efficient despite being hidden within the device enclosure How can tell if a performance problem is related to radio interference or not Watch the LED indicators on the RC4Magic units See that the RF Con indicator is blinking steadily on the receiver If it is then the receiver has found and connected with the transmitter Now check the receive
15. gs tap the save amp run button This saves the new settings to non volatile Flash memory and restarts the unit You will see the Power Up LED sequence followed by normal Running mode with the selected settings p Page 12 RC4Magic DMXioR3 R3 Wireless Transceiver User Manual DMXioR3 Transmitter Setup Only one DMXio should be operated in transmitter mode on each system ID Multiple transmitters on the same ID will produce undesirable and unpredictable results if they are within 300 feet of each other Mode Selection and Connections To use an RC4Magic DMXioR3 as a transmitter it must be in Tx mode This mode is indicated at Power Up by LEDs chasing left to right After power up Tx mode is indicated by the Tx Rx LED being predominantly on with short blips off approximately once per second The short blips are a Computer Operating Properly COP indication With power and DMX data connected the DMXioR3 in Tx mode will begin transmitting The DMX input is compliant with USITT DMX512 1990 4us with no internal termination If you are putting the DMXio at the end of a long DMX cable a terminator plug should be inserted in the DMX output jack or inline at the input jack For short cable runs termination is often but not always unnecessary Power should be 6 18VDC normally 9 12V and can come from the power supply provided wall transformer or batteries A small pack of 6 AA or AAA batteries or a 9V or 1
16. hat occur only during Power Up LEDs at Power Up During power up the five LEDs chase blink and chase again The direction of the chase indicates Tx transmit or Rx receive mode The blinking between the two chases indicates which System ID is currently selected For example LEDs on a transmitter set to System IDO ID zero will chase left to right briefly blink the red Ch grps LED then chase left to right again The unit then proceeds to Running mode Blink chase direction is as viewed with mounting flanges down and connectors LEDs and buttons facing you Page 8 RC4Magic DMXioR3 R3 Wireless Transceiver User Manual DMXioR3 LED indicators use blink patterns to indicate various settings Between power up chase patterns the System ID indicators are Red Ch grps IDO Ch grps Yel RF pow ID1 RF pow Green RF data ID2 RF Data B All four LEDs together ID3 the Public ID Ch grps RF pow RF Data dmx RFc LEDs in Running Mode The blue Tx Rx indicator is closest to the DC power inlet In Tx mode it is ON with a short blip off approximately once per second In Rx mode it is OFF with a short blip on approximately once per second The short blips serves as a Computer Operating Properly COP indicator The presence of these blips tells us that the microprocessor is running even if no other LEDs are currently on Tx transmit mode blink pattern Tx Rx Rx receive mode bl
17. imum number of DMX channels per packet i Maximum number of DMX channels per packet 512 Maximum packet per second rate 44pps with 512 channels 10000pps with 1 channel DMXioR3 RF Specifications as indicated above Hidden internal antenna external high gain antenna option available Dimensions 3 4 x 2 2 x 1 6 nominal approx 86mm x 56mm x 40mm Power Input 6VDC 18VDC 300mA from a battery or power adaptor standard 2 1mm power receptacle center positive a power adaptor is provided with each DMXio unit Transmitter Mode Only 1 DMXio transmitter should be operated on each system ID 4 selectable RF output power levels 4 selectable DMX channel ranges default is ALL channels DMX Input meets USITT DMX512 1990 4us with 1 second data hold after data dropout NO INTERNAL DMX TERMINATION DMX Output straight thru hardware connection from DMX input to output Receiver Mode Any number of DMXio receivers may be used in a system DMX Output meets USITT DMX512 1990 closely mimics DMX data coming into the associated DMXio transmitter providing the same number of DMX channels with the same number of packets per second straight thru hardware connection from DMX input to output output signal is present on both DMX connectors Page 18 RC4Magic DMXioR3 R3 Wireless Transceiver User Manual Warranty Policy RC4 Wireless warranty policies are the best in the business If you don t agree let us know why Seve
18. in Associated DMXio receivers will output the same number of channels and packet rate as is arriving at the transmitter You can change the Channel Group setting so that the DMXioR3 transmits 128 256 or 384 channels regardless of how many channels are arriving at the DMX input jack This is useful if you do not require the full universe over a wireless link Fewer channels reduces rf bandwidth and increases data fidelity Page 13 RC4Magic DMXioR3 R3 Wireless Transceiver User Manual DMKXio Receiver Setup Any number of DMXio units in receiver mode can be used in an RC4Magic Series 2 system Mode Selection and Connections To use an RC4Magic DMXioR3 as a receiver it must be in Rx mode This mode is indicated at Power Up by LEDs chasing right to left After power up Tx mode is indicated by the Tx Rx LED being predominantly off with short blips on approximately once per second The short blips are a Computer Operating Properly COP indication Connect the supplied power adaptor and connect the DMX output to your DMX devices It can sometimes take 10 seconds or more for a DMXio receiver to find and connect to a transmitter and begin outputting DMX data but it will often connect much faster DMX output is compliant with USITT DMX512 1990 and closely mimics the data going into the associated DMXio transmitter With all channel groups enabled the Ch grp LED indicator is solidly on not blinking on the associated tran
19. ing on the unit When you see the LEDs chase let go of the button Details are provided earlier in this manual Combine multiple RC4Magic Series 2 systems for a large project You can do this by selecting ID3 on all devices being used together ID3 is the Public ID and is the same ID 999 for all RC4Magic Series 2 units Troubleshooting and Frequently Asked Questions General What simple actions can try if I am having performance difficulties with my RC4Magic Series 2 system First turn your DMXio transmitter off and on This will force it to rescan the 2 4GHz radio band and find a new radio channel Receivers that are already running will take approximately 10 seconds to respond to the loss of data and find the transmitter on the new channel Radio Performance How common are radio interference problems Not common at all We give this issue a fair amount of attention because users fear radio problems and are very concerned about them In fact RC4Magic radios are among the best available and rarely suffer problems Their ability to automatically seek out and use unoccupied frequencies virtually eliminates radio related issues and makes it very easy to overcome them when they do arise What is the maximum range of the RC4Magic radio link Under ideal circumstances range exceeds 300 feet More typically it is around 200 feet Depending on your situation range could be less See Optimizing Radio Performance in this manual
20. ink pattern Tx Rx I The red Ch grps LED indicates how many DMX channels are being broadcast in Tx mode Normally this LED is solidly on not blinking to indicate that all incoming channels are being transmitted exactly as they arrive at the DMX input Limited groups of channels are indicated by blink patterns Channel Group 1 blink pattern for 128 channels ch grps I Channel Group 2 blink pattern for 256 channels Ch grps Channel Group 3 blink pattern for 384 channels Ch grps Channel Group is solidly on for all channels default setting Ch grps yi Page 9 RC4Magic DMXioR3 R3 Wireless Transceiver User Manual The yellow RF pow indicator shows transmitter output power in Tx mode or received signal strength in Rx mode In Tx mode power level blink patterns are 10dBm default for Europe and Japan RF pow i 14dBm RF pow it il 16dBm RF pow Lil Bil 18dBm default for North America RF pow In Rx mode receive signal strength indication RSSI blink patterns range from Very Strong Signal no blinking LED solidly on RF pow Strong Signal continuous blinking RF pow rFpw HRB RRRREE SERRE rFpw HH BERGEE BORE fewer and fewer blinks RF pow il Ib Weak Signal single blinks RF pow Very Weak Signal no blinking LED off RF pow The green RF Data LED blinks with each data packet either transmitted or received When no DMX channels are changing this ca
21. ireless products should not be used to control pyrotechnics of any kind A brief output surge on dimmer outputs during power up could trigger these devices RC4 Wireless accepts no liability if RC4 equipment is used for this or any other purpose Product Safety RC4 receiver dimmers are capable of controlling very large currents at up to 30VDC typically 12V Dimmers should not be allowed to operate at dangerous temperatures Appropriately sized wire and connectors must be used along with suitable ventilation and external fuses rated for the load being operated Additional information is provided in this manual but this manual is not intended to be a comprehensive electrical safety guide Statements of RF Conformity United States FCC RC4Magic Series 2 devices contain XBeePro radios FCC ID OUR XBEEPRO and comply with Part 15 of the FCC Rules Operation is subject to the following two conditions i these devices may not cause harmful interference and ii these devices must accept any interference received including interference that may cause undesired operation Canada IC RC4Magic Series 2 devices contain XBeePro radios IC 4214A XBEEPRO Japan RC4Magic Series 2 devices contain XBeePro radios ID OOSNYCA0378 Europe ETSI XBeePro radios used in RC4Magic Series 2 devices have been certified for use in most European countries Norway prohibits operation near Ny Alesund in Svalbard Other restrictions may apply For addition
22. ll rescan and reconnect Thus receivers always follow transmitters on the same System ID Multiple RC4Magic Series 2 systems using different IDs can operate at the same time in the same space and each system will provide a separate wireless DMX universe In a space with little or no other radio activity there is enough bandwidth in the 2 4GHz band to support up to 15 full speed RC4Magic Series 2 systems each with any number of receivers and dimmers Even in crowded rf environments there will usually be enough bandwidth for 3 or more separate RC4Magic systems One wireless DMX universe with up to 512 channels uses one RC4Magic system ID A DMxXio transmitter on a separate ID is required for each different DMX universe you broadcast Thus 4 System IDs provide 4 individual wireless universes provided you have enough RC4Magic hardware to make use of them You can add RC4Magic devices to your system at any time just tell us your System IDs when you order Page 7 RC4Magic DMXioR3 R3 Wireless Transceiver User Manual Advanced Settings The DMxioR3 transceiver provides several advanced features that are selected by pushing recessed pushbuttons with a bent paperclip or other slim tool Few users do anything beyond selecting between Tx transmitter mode and Rx receiver mode Available settings include Tx Rx Mode Select whether a DMXio is transmitting DMX data arriving on a cable Tx or receiving rf data and outputting DMX on a cable Rx
23. n Day Easy Return You may return any new RC4 Wireless Products delivered to you within the last seven days for a refund excluding custom engineered and or custom manufactured items We regret that we cannot refund the shipping charges or pay for shipping the item back to us We will not hassle you with mountains of paperwork but we do require that items be returned unused in the original packaging We Guarantee Your Satisfaction The RC4 Wireless RC4Magic Series 2 warranty is the best in the business If your RC4Magic Series 2 product is not working properly and you didn t misuse or abuse it we ll fix it For Free Forever We announced our lifetime warranty policy in March 2013 It is retroactive to all users of RC4Magic Series 2 devices no matter when they were purchased For the first year that you own our products we will even cover the shipping costs for ground service within North America continental USA Canada and Mexico not including customs fees when crossing any international border After the first year shipping costs are your responsibility In most cases solely at the discretion of RC4 Wireless when you notify us of a problem we promptly ship a replacement unit along with packaging for return of your old one The replacement may be refurbished rather than new but will be in like new condition The same lifetime warranty applies to the replacement just as if it was the unit you originally purchased Disclaim
24. n appear as a very rapid blink Changing DMX levels will cause this LED to shimmer or even appear solidly on because there are many data packets very close together RF Data DE E E E l E E E Ar ote ee The blue dmx RFc LED indicates the presence of incoming DMX data dmx in Tx mode or connection with an associated transmitter RFc in Rx mode In Tx mode this indicator is solidly on when DMX data is present It will go off after one second if DMX data is no longer present Tx DMX Input Present indicator ON dmx RFc Tx DMX Input Absent indicator OFF dmx RFc In Rx mode this indicator is off when there is no active PAN connection to a transmitter When the unit has successfully connected to a DMXio transmitter with the correct System ID number this indicator will continuously blink at moderate speed Rx No Transmitter Found indicator OFF dmx RFc Page 10 RC4Magic DMXioR3 R3 Wireless Transceiver User Manual Rx Transmitter Found and Connected dmx RFce LEDs in Edit Mode When recessed buttons are used to change settings in Running mode the unit temporarily enters Edit Mode When desired settings are correctly indicated on the LEDs these new settings are saved to non volatile Flash memory by pressing the save amp run button further details are provided later in this manual While in Edit Mode the Tx Rx Ch grps and RF pwr indicators work as described above The remaining two LEDs RF data and dmx RF
25. o channels that are changing This allows RC4Magic to use less radio bandwidth than competing systems while still delivering excellent DMX data performance As a receiver the DMXio decodes the rf signal from the associated transmitter rebuilds the DMX universe and generates a DMX signal with the same channels and packet timing as the original input DMX in and out are compliant with the USITT DMX512 1990 standard RC4Magic Series 2 does not transmit DMX messages with start codes other than zero Thus it can only be used for dimmer data It will not work with non zero packets carrying proprietary data or RDM packets Every RC4Magic user is initially assigned 3 unique private system ID codes and more can be assigned if needed No other user in the world has the same unique codes you have RC4Magic ID codes are managed by RC4 Wireless and authorized representatives through a worldwide online database system No other wireless DMX system in the world at any cost provides this level of data security Each of your RC4Magic Series 2 devices is programmed with 3 unique private ID codes that belong to you plus a public ID PAN ID 999 Your IDs are labelled on the outside of each unit along with the device serial number When ordering additional devices for an existing RC4Magic Series 2 system you specify the ID numbers to be installed which can be any combination of IDs previously assigned to you and or new IDs To ensure the reliabili
26. r RF Data indicator It should blink and shimmer with DMX activity If it occasionally drops out or appears dim then some DMX data packets are getting lost In this case try aiming the RF Hotspot differently and or reducing the distance between the transmitter and receiver Also watch the speed of the receiver RSSI LED which indicates the strength of the radio signal The faster the blink the better the signal If it is blinking so rapidly that it looks more like a flicker than a blink then signal is excellent You can also monitor radio activity with external test equipment The low cost Wi Spy spectrum analyzer from www metageek net is particularly useful and is available from RC4 Wireless What causes radio interference Radio interference is caused by other radio signals on or near the same frequency and sometimes by harmonics of lower radio frequencies Sources include other radio devices including WiFi Bluetooth and Zigbee devices and leaky microwave ovens Many radio devices including WiFi Bluetooth and Zigbee only transmit when they need to Thus it is possible that the RC4Magic could find a free channel that is not actually free all the time intermittent interference could occur when the other device occasionally transmits In this case turn the RC4Magic DMXio transmitter off and on forcing it to find a new channel Ideally turn it on when other devices are transmitting This ensure that the DMXio will see the signal
27. smitter the DMXioR3 receiver will output the same number of channels and packets per second that are arriving at the transmitter input DMX packets can contain anywhere from 1 to 512 channels with a frame rate of anywhere from 12 packets to thousands of packets per second Of course high frame rates require fewer channels in each packet If you are putting the DMXio receiver at the beginning of a long DMX cable run a terminator should be used at the far end For short cable runs termination is often but not always unnecessary Remember The DMXio receiver is a DMX data source and acts as a controller just like the DMX output on your console or DMX controller Power should be 6V 18VDC and can come from the power supply provided wall transformer or batteries A small pack of 6 AA or AAA batteries or a 9V or 12V battery can be used for portable operation The power inlet is a standard 2 1mm receptacle center positive Once everything is connected position the red circle RF Hotspots on all RC4Magic devices so they are all facing upward If this is difficult face the RF Hotspots towards any common reflective surface like a wall ceiling or open floor area Line of sight is NOT required for RC4Magic but dense objects between units like concrete walls will attenuate the radio signal and reduce the available range Page 14 RC4Magic DMXioR3 R3 Wireless Transceiver User Manual Optimizing Radio Performance Under i
28. t is received RC4 Wireless pricing warranty terms and technical specifications are subject to change without notice We want you to be a happy and satisfied customer Please help us serve you better by letting us know exactly what you need Thank You Page 19 RC4Magic DMXioR3 R3 Wireless Transceiver User Manual How to Reach RC4 Wireless Physical Address RC4 Wireless is a registered trade name of Soundsculpture Incorporated of North Carolina Soundsculpture Incorporated RC4 Wireless 13604 Heathwood Court Raleigh NC 27615 USA Telephone Fax Toll Free 1 866 258 4577 North America North Carolina USA Local 919 229 9950 London UK 44 0 20 3289 8765 Emergency Cellular 919 400 3961 Toll Free Fax 1 866 237 6641 North America Internet Email techsupport theatrewireless com Skype re4acw Website www theatrewireless com RC4Magic Series 2 R3 Wireless DMX and Wireless Dimming System DMXioR3 R3 User Manual v1 0 USA Aug 2014 2010 2014 Soundsculpture Incorporated RC4 Wireless Page 20
29. ty and security of all RC4Magic Series 2 systems for all users every new system for a new user is assigned its own set of new private IDs In the rare case where multiple RC4 Magic Series 2 users need to share or pool their equipment the common public ID can be used Page 6 RC4Magic DMXioR3 R3 Wireless Transceiver User Manual Power Up Sequence and Radio Channel Assignments When an RC4Magic Series 2 DMXio transmitter first powers up it scans the 2 4Ghz radio band which is quite large and supports many radio channels looking for an area with the least traffic and lowest rf power levels It then sets itself to operate on that frequency and begins transmitting DMX packets encoded with a specific system ID number When this power up process is complete the RF data LED blinks rapidly or shimmers indicating data being sent When a DMXio receiver or DMX2dim 4dim receiver dimmer powers up it scans the 2 4GHz band looking for signals from a DMXio transmitter on the selected ID number When the PAN connection is established the RF Con LED on a receiver dimmer or dmx RFc LED ona DMXioR39 will blink steadily When DMX channel data starts flowing the RF data LED will blink and shimmer If a receiver does not receive valid data for 10 seconds the start up scan procedure repeats Thus if the transmitter has been turned off and back on or there has been a power failure and it selects a different frequency range to transmit in the receiver wi
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