RC4Magic Series 2 R3 User Manual R1.0 - movie
Contents
1. 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 pre existing 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 on a receiver dimmer or dmx RFc on a DMXioR3 led 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 will 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 bandw2. as described later in this manual Using a small screwdriver connect a power supply usually a 12V battery to the DC IN screw terminals Connect a load usually an MR16 or MR11 12V lamp to the DimA terminals After power up it can take anywhere from 3 to 15 seconds for the receiver to connect with the transmitter Fade DMX channel 1 up and down on the DMX controller connected to your DMXio transmitter See your lamp dim up and down You now have a wireless DMX controlled lamp Now it s time to read through this manual to learn how to set dimmer channels change system IDs interpret the leds and more Thank you for choosing RC4Magjic Series 2 RC4Magic 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 previously available A DMXio 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
3. 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 14 DMX2dimR3 Receiver Dimmer Setup The DMX2dim is a completely standalone unit that includes a built in RC4Magic Series 2 radio receiver and 2 low voltage pulse width modulation dimmers Any number of DMX2dim receiver dimmers can be used in an RC4Magic Series 2 system The radio operates identically to the DMXio in receiver mode Line of sight is NOT required for RC4Magic but dense objects between RC4Magic units like concrete walls will attenuate the radio signal and reduce the available range It can take 10 seconds or more for the DMX2dim to connect to the associated DMXio transmitter and begin powering the dimmer outputs but it will often connect much faster Connections Small screw terminals are provided for connection of the power supply DC IN and load devices DimA and DimB The power supply operates both the internal electronics and the connected loads and must be powerful enoug
4. and check the screw terminals and solder joints on the circuit board connector pins and solder joints can break under heavy use particularly after over tightening Some users may choose to remove the original screw terminals and solder 16 or 18 gauge wires directly to the circuit board Done neatly and carefully this will not void your product warranty Both of the dimmers on a DMX2dim occasionally shut off at the same time and stay off for quite a long time Why The radio receiver is resetting and then takes 10 seconds or more to reconnect to the DMxXio transmitter This is usually a power supply or battery problem but could also be an electrical interference problem or a DMX fault before the DMXio transmitter First be sure the DMX data source at the DMXio transmitter is operating properly If DMX input data disappears for more than 1 second dimmer levels will drop to zero and DMXio receivers will stop outputting data Next confirm that the radio link is reliable 1 The RF Con indicator on the dimmer should be blinking to indicate it is connected to a transmitter If this indicator stays solidly on the unit may be assigned to the wrong system ID 2 The RSSI led is blinking reasonably fast to indicate adequate rf signal strength 3 The Data indicator is blinking and shimmering with DMX data Finally be sure the battery is in good condition is fully charged if rechargeable and is large enough to power the connecte
5. first turned on but then turns off Later it comes back on by itself It seems to cycle or oscillate this way Why This is the over temperature or over current protection stepping in to avoid electronic failure of the dimmer It means that either a the load you are using is too large for the dimmer or b the ambient temperature in the dimmer is too high Overloading can occur without blowing the fuse on dimmers that use a fuse The maximum device current for the DMX2dim and DMX4dim is 15A but each individual dimmer can often deliver as much as 10A If you put a 15A load on one dimmer the fuse will not blow but that dimmer will over heat When the dimmer overheats it turns itself off Then because it is off it cools down When it cools down enough it comes back on Of course it then overheats again And this cycle continues on and on All dimmers generate heat when operating In addition internal voltage regulators produce some heat If the dimmer pack is sealed in a tight space with very little airflow the temperature of the entire unit will slowly rise Eventually it will thermally shutdown even if the loads are not too high In this case more airflow is required One of the dimmers in a pack is occasionally blinking or flickering The other is fine Why This is most likely caused by loose wiring faulty or poorly mated connectors or broken solder joints If everything outside the dimmer seems fine take the dimmer apart
6. notice 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 The above warranty policies will not apply if equipment has 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 return shipping 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 payment 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 exact
7. of 4 available IDs only 3 are available on the DMX2dim When using DMX2dim dimmers do not use ID2 on the DMXio transmitter To select IDO hold down the SetA IDO button while powering on the DMX2dim unit The RSSI led will blink 10 times rapidly to confirm the setting Immediately release the button when the blink confirmation appears To select ID1 hold down the SetB ID1 button while powering on the unit The middle Data led will blink 10 times rapidly to confirm the setting Immediately release the button when the blink confirmation appears To select ID3 the public ID hold down both buttons together while powering on The three left most leds RSSI Data and RF Con will blink together 10 times rapidly to confirm the setting Immediately release the buttons when the blink confirmation appears Note Failure to release buttons before the blinking confirmation completes could invoke other features and functions Due to the small size of the DMX2dim dimmer various functions and operations have been multiplexed onto these two buttons The ID setting is stored in non volatile eeprom memory and will be used for all subsequent operations until the ID is changed using this same procedure Assigning DMX Channels to DMX2dim Dimmers e e Assigning DMX channels and dimmer curves is easy The process requires a powered and functioning DMXio in transmitter mode a DMX data source and the DMX2dim dimmer It is easiest if you s
8. 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 25 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 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 r
9. 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 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 13 DMXio 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
10. up while radio channels are being scanned When valid data from an associated DMXio transmitter is found this indicator will blink steadily In normal operation this led should be blinking 17 DMX4dim Receiver Dimmer Setup The DMX4dim is a completely standalone unit that includes a built in RC4Magic Series 2 radio receiver and 4 low voltage pulse width modulation dimmers Any number of DMX4dim receiver dimmers can be used in an RC4Magic Series 2 system The radio operates identically to the DMXio in receiver mode Line of sight is NOT required for RC4Magic but dense objects between RC4Magic units like concrete walls will attenuate the radio signal and reduce the available range It can take 10 seconds or more for the DMX4dim to connect to the DMXio transmitter and begin powering the dimmer outputs but it will often connect much faster Connections Small screw terminals are provided for connection of the power supply DC IN and load devices DimA DimB DimC DimD The power supply operates both the internal electronics and the connected loads and must be powerful enough to run the load without significant voltage drop The dimmers use high frequency pulse width modulation switching on the negative side of the circuit The most typical power supply is a 12V rechargeable sealed lead acid SLA battery sometimes called a gel cell The maximum voltage for the DMX4dim is 18V 12V nominal A
11. A IDO button while powering on the DMX2dim unit The left most RSSI led will blink 10 times rapidly to confirm the setting Immediately release the button when the blink confirmation appears 18 To select ID1 hold down the SetB ID1 button while powering on the unit The middle Data led will blink 10 times rapidly to confirm the setting Immediately release the button when the blink confirmation appears To select ID2 hold down the SetC ID2 button while powering on the unit The right RF Con led will blink 10 times rapidly to confirm the setting Immediately release the button when the blink confirmation appears To select the public ID ID3 hold down the SetD ID3 button while powering on the unit The three left most leds RSSI Data and RF Con will blink together 10 times rapidly to confirm the setting Immediately release the button when the blink confirmation appears The ID setting is stored in non volatile eeprom memory and will be used for all subsequent operations until the ID is changed using this same procedure Assigning DMX Channels to DMX4dim Dimmers Assigning DMX channels and dimmer curves is easy The process requires a powered and functioning DMXio in transmitter mode a DMX data source and the DMX4dim dimmer It is easiest if you set everything up together near your DMX console If you are not using a console useful alternatives include a DMXter a Pocket Console DMX or any similar DMX tester or controller cap
12. CTORS AND OR PINS ARE RUNNING HOT THE CONNECTIONS ARE INADEQUATE OR THE WRONG PIN SIZE HAS BEEN USED DMX4dim 500 dimmer components will get warm when driving 125W A cooling fan keeps air passing over the drivers to prevent thermal shutdown In the event that the fan fails or the ventilation path is blocked the drivers will overheat and turn themselves off IF DIMMERS ARE TURNING OFF BY THEMSELVES THEY ARE PROBABLY OVERHEATING AND THERMALLY SHUTTING DOWN TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM FAILURE In this case you have either overloaded the dimmer outputs or ventilation is inadequate WIRING AND INSTALLATION OF BATTERIES DIMMERS AND LOADS MUST BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LOCAL AND NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODES Low voltage circuitry CAN be dangerous 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 21 Dimmer Resolution and Curves Dimmer Resolution All RC4Magic Series2 dimmers provide 14 bit digital resolution 16 384 steps When all dimmers are set for the linear curve the PWM frequency is 92Hz This low frequency provides greater efficiency than high frequency switching reducing heating in the output circuitry and allowing larger loads to be used before thermal shutdown occurs Higher efficiency provides longer battery life a very important consideration for wireless dimming Altho
13. Curves and Output Resolution section of this manual for more information about curves slow and fast ISL response etc Channel and dimmer curve assignments are stored in non volatile eeprom memory and will remain until you change them using this same procedure LED Indicators Seven LED indicators on the narrow front side of the DMX4dim assist with troubleshooting The left most DimA B C D indicators are directly connected to the dimmer outputs after the power fuse Thus a blown fuse will disable these indicators They appear to dim more smoothly and linearly when using the inverse square law dimming curve this is because leds have a square law response The RSSI led provides Receiver Signal Strength Indication by blinking faster when the rf signal is stronger With the strongest signal it appears to be almost solidly on with a slight shimmer With no signal at all it blinks with the same pattern as a DMXio transmitter n normal operation this led should be blinking or flickering The Data indicator is on while a data packet is received by radio In normal operation this LED appears to blink rapidly and will shimmer or flicker while DMX levels are changing The RF Con indicator will light continuously after power up while radio channels are being scanned When valid data from an associated DMXio transmitter is found this indicator will blink at double the speed of the RF Active LED on the transmitter n normal operation
14. RC4 Magic Series 2 R3 Wireless DMX and Wireless Dimming System DMXI0oR3 DMX4dim 500 DMX4aim DMX2dimR3 User Manual RC4 RC4Magic Series 2 R3 User Manual Table of Contents DI SCIAUMGES siaaa aaaeeeaa aaa a aaaea A EEEN aer Ea aAa Ee aa saaab iaiia 4 Not for Use Where Human Safety May Be At Hisk cece eee eeeeeeeeeeaeeaaaeeeeeeeeeeeees 4 Not for Control of Pyrotechnical Devices eee eee e eee e eee e teed teeeeeeeeaaaees 4 Product Safety e nenen 4 Statements of RF Conformity ssssansnnnneennnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn nnne n nnmnnn nnmnnn 4 United States FOC EE 4 Canada de 4 MAC AN Ere E A E EEEE 4 Europe E E EE 4 Other Countries and B ID EE 4 RC4Magic Quick Start IWS Easy cccescccccccesccccsssiscccesagesansanacueneseuddcdeescteceeeessenxanseaannennnsunssceteeeesesecats 5 DMX Le un UE 5 DMX eM E 5 identifying Transmitters TE 5 Wireless DIMMING EE 5 RC4Magic An e E E E 6 DMX Cable Replacement DMX Dstrbuton EEN 6 Wireless Low Voltage DIMIIMUING viccsn025s5cdcccccceccececsseceandasenstasshececccdyeeceede deeeeee20545440 4aeddddd hooneeneeceeeeee 6 System ID Numbers Ultimate Data Zelle gesessesstergeegeg eddi geEeEEee ee 7 Power Up Sequence and Radio Channel Assignments s sssnsssnesssetrrrrrrrnrrrrrrrssrrssrrtrerrtret nnen 7 Advanced Rue GE 8 DMXio R3 User Interface xxsssssssacessanedddddssaasnnaaansvnnntnszenscnenndecdssubsuuauasunvbnuunaesensnsssinssbiabih
15. able of outputting a DMX level on a specific channel Follow these simple steps 1 Apply power to your DMXio transmitter and DMX4dim dimmer Wait for the scanning and connection process to complete The RF Con indicator on the receiver should be blinking 2 At your DMX source set all DMX channels to zero Ensure that special channels like house lights are also at zero it is important that all channels are off The most common causes of problems are house lights or work lights on a low DMX channel or moving light profile channels going to non zero values when the console is cleared All DMX channels must be off actually zero 3 Bring up the level of a single channel you wish to assign to a DMX4dim dimmer This is the channel you will be assigning to the dimmer The level you use determines the dimmer curve that will be assigned Non dim 100 80 or higher Linear dimming 70 anywhere from 60 to 79 Inverse square law ISL fast 50 40 to 59 Inverse square law ISL slow 30 20 to 39 4 On the DMX4dim use the end of a bent paper clip or other small tool to press and hold the SetA SetB SetC or SetD recessed button for one second or until the corresponding dimmer led comes on The selected dimmer will be assigned to the lowest non zero DMX channel currently being broadcast from the associated DMXio transmitter Channels below 12 are ignored by the channel assignment process 19 See the Dimmer
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17. 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 transmitter 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
18. cally 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 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 additional 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 RC4Magic Quick Start It s Easy RC4Magic Series 2 is truly Plu
19. ckets and trying other RF Channels by turning the DMXio transmitter off and on forcing a new scan for the clearest channel 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 receiver RF Data indicator It should blink and shimmer with DMX activity If it occasionally drops out or appears dim then some DMxX 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
20. d Curve cccccsccsssssccesseeensseeeeseeecessecuseeeeneeeeeneseusnseeneseeensseeenseeenenseeeseees 22 EDI e Ee EE 22 By ogi gated en ee 22 Optimizing agdtoertottraneg ss 23 ele VS Le 8 WEE 24 Select a different ID for a DAMIAN oarcapalmananedsensanesuaneanedeubsbussbeitedeuadbbeeebbathys 24 Select a different ID for a DMX2dim or DMSAdm 24 Combine multiple RC4Magic Series 2 systems for a large project ccceccsseseeseeseeeeees 24 Troubleshooting and Frequently Asked QuestionS sssssssssnnnnneennnnennnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn KEEN 24 COTS EE 24 Rad O P eO aO EE EE 25 leie dl Le MAG Se Ce nien DE 26 Biel AKO DI CIS EE 26 LEE eg EE e d E 28 RC4Magic RF Technology EE 28 Se Ee IER Seel ee Eelere 28 BK 4 0 e EE 28 Re et PVCU ele EE 28 EEN he capt ct case Rance e Leed 28 DMX2dimR3 E Re TEE 29 DMX4dim FRECCIVEN Re it EE 29 DMX4dim 500 Heceiver Dmmer nioni runna orno nA oA rE ora A rE raa nanara 29 Warranty ol esche anana ereet aeaaea aaan ananena aada aeaaea aara Ebet hE auauua daaa ddaa 30 Seven D y EE 30 Thirty Day Replacement or Fast Turn Service Guarantee EE 30 One Year Parts and Labor General Guarantee 0 0 ccecccccccccceeceeeeceeueeeeeeeceeseueeeeueueeueneeeueeeeeeees 30 Out of Warranty Service le EE 30 Disclaimers We Must Make roca can tuancannSemmamnaalnnawnnath cule rnrn nn nnna ra nnna ra nana ra ct alas 30 How to Reach RC4 WirelesS annsunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
21. d load Measure the battery voltage with a volt meter while you bring up the dimmer channels If the voltage drops substantially under load the battery is inadequate for the task at hand Connect your load devices directly to your battery If this doesn t work or the battery dies out quickly it will not work any better with a dimmer 27 RC4Magjic 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 OOSNYCA0378 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 Minimum number of DMX channels per packet 1 Maximum number of DMX channels per packet 512 Maximum packet per second rate 44pps with 512 channels 10000pps with 1 cha
22. e between receivers in a 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 T 23 How dol 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 powering on the unit When you see the leds chase let go of the button Details are provided earlier in this manual Select a different ID for a DMX2dim or DMX4dim This is done by holding down one or more of the recessed pushbuttons while powering up the unit The DMX2dim can be set to IDO ID1 or ID3 no access to ID2 The DMX4dim and DMX4dim 500 provides access to all four IDs Further 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 togethe
23. eceiver 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 At 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 wor
24. eived a small number of reports that dimmers changed IDs spontaneously In most cases this was traced to either dropping the unit while it was powered or severe mechanical stress Any circumstance that causes a button to momentarily depress at the same time power is briefly interrupted could cause an ID change Hardware design improvements as of January 2010 have largely eliminated these issues Updates are available for older units 24 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 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 so
25. elivered new to you within the previous thirty days fails to perform to published specifications while being used for its intended application we will ship a replacement unit to you and arrange for return of your original unit You will usually have a functioning unit within two business days including Saturday where delivery services are available at no charge to you If a replacement unit is not in stock we will service your unit in our shop with 48 hour turnaround One Year Parts and Labor General Guarantee If RC4 Wireless technology you have received during the last twelve months fails to perform to published specifications while being used for its intended application we will service it in our own shop with no charge to you for parts or labor You pay the shipping to return the unit to us We pay the shipping to send it back to you fully repaired Service work is guaranteed for thirty days during which our fast turn policy applies Out of Warranty Service Policy If your RC4 Wireless technology requires servicing after the first year our regular shop rate will apply and parts will be billed at nominal costs You pay the shipping charges both ways Service work is guaranteed for thirty days during which our fast turn policy applies Disclaimers We Must Make All repair periods are subject to parts availability and do not apply to holidays or our corporate vacation times usually the last two weeks of August subject to change without
26. et everything up together near your DMX console If you are not using a console useful alternatives include a DMXter a Pocket Console DMX or any similar DMX tester or controller capable of outputting a DMX level on one specific channel Follow these simple steps 1 Apply power to your DMXio transmitter and DMX2dim dimmer Wait for the scanning and connection process to complete The RF Con indicator on the receiver should be blinking 2 At your DMX source set all DMX channels to zero Ensure that special channels like house lights are also at zero it is important that all DMX channels are off The most common causes of problems are house lights or work lights on a low DMX channel or moving light profile channels going to non zero values when the console is cleared All DMX channels must be off actually zero 3 Bring up the level of a single channel you wish to assign to a DMX2dim dimmer This is the channel you will be assigning to the dimmer The level you use determines the dimmer curve that will be assigned Non dim 100 80 or higher Linear dimming 70 anywhere from 60 to 79 Inverse square law ISL fast 50 40 to 59 Inverse square law ISL slow 30 20 to 39 4 On the DMX2dim use the end of a bent paper clip or other small tool to press and hold the SetA or SetB recessed button for one second or until the corresponding dimmer led comes on The selected dimmer will be assigned to the lowest
27. fication of 200 feet is realistic in most situations Range is affected by 1 The orientation of the antennas RF Hotspots relative to each other The number of obstructions between radios The density of obstructions between radios Other activity in the 2 4GHz radio band including leaky microwave ovens 5 General electrical interference from ac dimmer racks and other power equipment AWN 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 tend 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 performanc
28. g 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 anywhere from 3 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 left signal coming in indicates a receiver Wireless Dimming DMX2dim DMX4dim and DMX4dim 500 receiver dimmers are complete standalone devices New DMX2dim units are pre assigned to DMX channels 1 and 2 with a linear dimming curve DMX4dim units both sizes are pre assigned to DMX channels 1 2 3 and 4 with a linear dimming curve It s easy to change channel and curve assignments
29. h to run the load without significant voltage drop The dimmers use high frequency pulse width modulation switching on the negative side of the circuit The most typical power supply is a 12V rechargeable sealed lead acid SLA battery sometimes called a gel cell The maximum voltage for the DMX2dimR3 is 24V 12V nominal An internal self resetting circuit breaker protects the microcontroller radio and dimmer electronics The internal circuitry of the DMX2dim requires a minimum of 5V to operate efficiently It will run at voltages as low as 3 5V but this is not recommended because the dimmer power drivers may overheat 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 WIRING AND INSTALLATION OF BATTERIES DIMMERS AND LOADS MUST BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LOCAL AND NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODES Low voltage circuitry CAN be dangerous 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 selecting System IDs Each RC4Magic Series 2 DMX2dim has 3 system IDs programmed internally IDs are selected by holding down a recessed pushbutton during power up Note Although the associated DMXio transmitter can be set to any
30. idden 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 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 11 Buttons at Power Up During 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 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 quickly pressed and released Tapping any of the three Set buttons will invoke Edit Mode which is indicated by 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 pw
31. idth in the 2 4GHz band to support up to 15 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 DMXio transmitter on a separate ID is required for each different DMX universe you broadcast Thus 3 System IDs provide 3 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 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 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 tran
32. ity A system ID is a unique code similar to a password or encryption key When multiple RC4Magic Series 2 devices are configured with the same ID they form a Private Area Network PAN Other devices on other IDs can form their own PANs and up to 15 independent PANs can operate in the same physical space defined by the range of the rf signal typically 200 to 300 feet Every RC4Magic user is assigned 3 unique private system ID codes more than 3 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 reliability 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
33. ks well indoors in a theatre but doesn t work as well outdoors Dimmer Problems Following the steps to assign a DMX channel to a dimmer the dimmer came on the Set button was pressed but now it doesn t track the channel have up It stays on all the time 26 This is by far the most common problem encountered when first using an RC4Magic system There is another DMX channel up that you don t know about It s a lower channel than the one you re trying to assign For example house lights might be running on DMX channel 1 but are currently being controlled from elsewhere You ve got the board cleared and all faders down but the houselights are on DMX channel 1 is up Your RC4Magic dimmer has assigned itself to the houselights channel Profiles for moving lights can also cause a problem Some systems will send motor channels to a central position when the console is cleared This results in some channels being up You might find your RC4Magic dimmer fades up and down with the first motor axis of your first moving instrument If clearing all channels to be true zero is difficult using your main console generate a DMX signal some other way There are numerous DMX test instruments on the market that will output a level on a single DMX channel Once your RC4Magic dimmers are assigned you can go back to your main system All the assignments will be remembered by the dimmers until you change them One or more dimmers works fine when
34. ly what you need Thank You 30 How to Reach RC4 Wireless Physical Address RC4 Wireless is a registered trade name of Soundsculpture I ncorporated Soundsculpture Incorporated RC4 Wireless 88 St George St Near Islington amp Evans Etobicoke ON Canada M8Z 3Y7 Telephone Fax Toll Free 1 866 258 4577 North America only Toronto 416 259 8499 London UK 44 0 20 3289 8765 Emergency Cellular 416 720 5802 Toll Free Fax 1 866 237 6641 North America only Internet Email techsupport theatrewireless com Skype theatrewireless Website www theatrewireless com 31 RC4Magic Series 2 R3 Wireless DMX and Wireless Dimming System R3 User Manual v1 0 Jan 2011 2010 Soundsculpture Incorporated RC4 Wireless 32
35. mmer channels each with assignable DMX channel and dimmer curve screw terminal connections Dimmer Technology MOSFET PWM pulse width modulation pwm resolution 14 bit 16 384 steps pwm frequency linear curve 92Hz pwm frequency ISL curve 738Hz will not beat with video frame rates maximum output power per dimmer 10A maximum total device output power 15A Circuit Protection each dimmer output is individually protected against over current and over temperature DMX4dim Receiver Dimmer RF Specifications as indicated above Hidden internal antenna Any number of DMX4dim receiver dimmers may be used in a system Dimensions 3 15 x 1 55 x 0 8 nominal approx 80mm x 40mm x 20mm Power Input 6VDC 18VDC 12V typical 70mA minimum screw terminal connections Dimmer Outputs 4 individual dimmer channels each with assignable DMX channel and dimmer curve screw terminal connections Dimmer Technology MOSFET PWM pulse width modulation pwm resolution 14 bit 16 384 steps pwm frequency linear curve 92Hz pwm frequency ISL curves 738Hz will not beat with video frame rates maximum output power per dimmer 10A maximum total device output power 15A Circuit Protection each dimmer output is individually protected against over current and over temperature User changeable Bussmann ATC load fuse should not exceed 15A and should be fast blow type DMX4dim 500 Receiver Dimmer RF Specifications as indicated above Hidde
36. n 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 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 a SCH El GAN Yel RF pow ID1 RF pow aa at om SECH Green RF data ID2 RF Data eS ee ees WM 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 TTT Rx receive mode blink pattern Tx Rx 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 patter
37. n internal self resetting circuit breaker protects the microcontroller radio and dimmer electronics A user accessible blade type automotive fuse Bussmann ATC series protects the connected wiring and loads and is in the positive side of the circuit The maximum fuse size is 15A ATC 15 and should be the fast blow type Always use the smallest possible fuse value for the connected load and be sure the wire gauge you are using is suitable for the fuse rating chosen The internal circuitry of the DMX4dim requires a minimum of 5V to operate efficiently It will run at voltages as low as 3 5V but this is not recommended because the dimmer circuitry may overheat 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 WIRING AND INSTALLATION OF BATTERIES DIMMERS AND LOADS MUST BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LOCAL AND NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODES Low voltage circuitry CAN be dangerous 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 Selecting System IDs Each RC4Magic Series 2 DMX4dim has 4 system IDs programmed internally IDs are selected by holding down a recessed pushbutton during power up To select IDO hold down the Set
38. n internal antenna Any number of DMX4dim 500 receiver dimmers may be used ina system Dimensions 4 5 x 2 5 x 1 25 nominal approx 115mm x 64mm x 32mm Power Input 6VDC 30VDC 12V or 24V typical 85mA minimum screw terminal connections Dimmer Outputs 4 individual dimmer channels each with assignable DMX channel and dimmer curve screw terminal connections Dimmer Technology MOSFET PWM pulse width modulation pwm resolution 14 bit 16 384 steps pwm frequency linear curve 92Hz pwm frequency ISL curves 738Hz will not beat with video frame rates maximum output power per dimmer 12A maximum total device output power 42A Circuit Protection each dimmer output is individually protected against over current and over temperature User changeable internal Bussmann ATC load fuse should not exceed 40A and should be fast blow type RC4Magic Series 2 technical specifications are subject to change without notice 29 Warranty Policy Seven Day Easy Return You may return any RC4 Wireless Products delivered to you new 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 Thirty Day Replacement or Fast Turn Service Guarantee If RC4 Wireless technology d
39. nnel 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 28 DMX2dimR3 Receiver Dimmer RF Specifications as indicated above Hidden internal antenna Any number of DMX2dim receiver dimmers may be used in a system Dimensions 2 4 x 1 4 x 0 8 nominal approx 61mm x 36mm x 20mm Power Input 6VDC 24VDC 12V typical 70mA minimum screw terminal connections Dimmer Outputs 2 individual di
40. nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn nnmnnn nnna 31 EE Eesen EN Telephone V GETT 31 ed EE 31 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 Wireless 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 typi
41. non zero DMX channel currently being broadcast from the associated DMXio transmitter DMX channels at a level below 12 are ignored by the dimmer channel assignment process See the Dimmer Curves and Output Resolution section of this manual for more information about curves slow and fast ISL response etc 16 Channel and dimmer curve assignments are stored in non volatile eeprom memory and will remain until you change them using this same procedure LED Indicators The DMX2dim has five leds three logic indicators on the short side with the power input connections and two output indicators on the short side with the dimmer connections On the dimmer output end The DimA and DimB leds are directly connected to dimmer outputs They appear to dim more smoothly and linearly when using the inverse square law dimming curve This is because leds have a square law response On the power input end The RSSI led provides Receiver Signal Strength Indication by blinking faster when the rf signal is stronger With the strongest signal it appears to be almost solidly on with a slight shimmer With no signal at all it blinks slowly n normal operation this led should be blinking quickly or flickering The Data indicator is on while a data packet is received by radio n normal operation this LED appears to blink rapidly and will shimmer or flicker while DMX levels are changing The RF Con indicator will light continuously after power
42. ns Channel Group blink pattern for 128 channels Ch grps Channel Group blink CS for 256 channels Ch grps wit Channel Group blink Ki for 384 channels Ch grps D D E H a H Channel Group is solidly on for all channels default setting Ch grps EE ge 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 14dBm RF pow aa aa aa DEE 16dBm RFpow ad ad Sai 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 Strong Signal continuous blinking FFpwR RRR EEE ARD RFpow III DEE fewer and fewer blinks RFpow_ HR oe 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 can 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 R ee sr pata 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 afte
43. r ID3 is the Public ID and is the same for all RC4Magic Series 2 units Troubleshooting and Frequently Asked Questions General What simple actions can try if 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 The most common cause of problems with DMX2dim dimmers and all other wireless dimmers on the market is weak or dead batteries or batteries that are too small to reliably operate the radio electronics and the external load Replace recharge or upgrade your batteries to resolve the issue Test your batteries and loads by directly connecting them together If they dont work on their own or they don t last very long they will not work any better with the dimmer One of my dimmers has stopped responding The RF Con indicator stays solidly lit What is wrong The dimmer is probably set to the wrong system ID Check to see which ID your transmitter is set to the Power Up led sequence tell you this Then follow the instructions for setting the same ID on your dimmer by holding down one or more recessed buttons while powering on the unit Additional instructions for each of these steps is provided earlier in this manual We have rec
44. r 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 settings 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 12 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 wi
45. r one second if DMX data is no longer present Tx DMX Input Present indicator ON Tx DMX Input Absent indicator OFF dmx RFce 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 10 Rx No Transmitter Found indicator OFF dmx RFc Rx Transmitter Found and Connected dmx RFc 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 RFc 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 G dmx RFce eis 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 h
46. smit 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 total of four 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 that occur only during Power Up Nie 6 18VDC In DMX Wireless Transceiver 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 A set Tx Rx set Ch grps lt set RF pwr lt Q save amp ru
47. th 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 12V 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
48. 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 to 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 Wireless Low Voltage Dimming The DMX2dim DMX4dim and DMX4dim 500 receiver dimmers decode the rf signal from the DMXio transmitter and send user selected DMX channel levels to built in low voltage dimmers In addition to DMX channel each dimmer can be assigned a linear inverse square law ISL or non dim power curve Any number and combination of RC4Magic Series 2 receiver dimmers can be used in a system system ID Numbers Ultimate Data Secur
49. this led should be blinking DMX4dim 500 High Power Receiver Dimmer Setup The DMX4dim 500 is functionally identical to the DMX4dim but in a larger package with higher power handling Buttons and led labels and functions are the same but are all located on the top surface Refer to the previous section about the DMX4dim for specific instructions on setting DMX channels and dimmer curves The DMX4dim 500 uses an internal switching power supply for maximum power efficiency and an extended voltage range This is the only RC4Magic Series 2 device that will run efficiently with an input voltage as high as 30VDC Each dimmer output on the DMX4dim 500 can handle a 125W load for a total power handling of 500W 20 At 12 Volts 500 Watts is 42 Amps Handling 42A requires special precautions starting with high current Anderson connections for power input Anderson shell and pin part numbers are provided in a separate document When running at maximum capacity you must use 45A Anderson pins for input power These pins are LARGE for a reason passing 42A requires a large wire gauge thick and heavy IF WIRES ARE HOT THE WIRE GAUGE IS TOO THIN Use a crimping tool intended for Anderson pins or solder the wires to the pins An appropriate crimping tool can commonly be found online for less than 60 Soldering a large wire to a large pin requires a high wattage soldering iron Cold solder joints will not do the job IF CONNE
50. ugh a quiet but audible filament buzz can sometimes be heard from incandescent lamps modulated at 92Hz this sound is comparable to what is heard from traditional high voltage AC fixtures with 50 60Hz chopped wave dimming If any channel is configured for an inverse square law ISL curve the PWM frequency is 738Hz This eliminates visible flicker and strobing with LEDs and ensures there will be no beating with video frame rates This higher frequency can be audible with incandescent lamps and is intended only for use with LEDs and other solid state devices that do not physically vibrate Because LEDs have no inherent filament persistence and respond quickly to changes in power level low resolution dimming with a small number of steps results in noticeable jumps in LED brightness particularly when viewed peripherally RC4Magic Series 2 smoothing is provided with the slow ISL curve Smoothing makes use of the high resolution of RC4Magic dimmers by gliding through in between steps Although DMX channels provide a range of only 256 steps 0 255 having a higher resolution at the dimmer ensures accuracy at the bottom of the ISL curve where changes in power level are very small The slow ISL curve provides a long glide time to emulate the filament persistence of a large incandescent lamp The fast ISL curve does a simple mathematical translation linear to ISL without added smoothing In general large LED light sources including arrays of man
51. y emitters will look more pleasing with slow ISL Smaller sources will look fine with fast ISL response Fast ISL should be used if quick blinks and flashes are desired Dimmer Curves When setting dimmer channels and curves channel level ranges provide the following curves Level Percentage Level Dec 0 255 Level in Hex 0 FF 100 80 or higher 255 205 or higher OxFF OxCD or higher Linear no smoothing 70 60 79 180 154 204 0xB4 Ox9A 0xCC ISL Fast Smoothing 50 40 59 128 103 153 0x80 0x67 0x99 ISL Slow Smoothing 30 20 30 77 52 102 0x4D 0x34 0x66 Channel Ignored Less than 12 Less than 32 Less than 0x20 Use ISL Slow for large high power LED devices to reduce stepping during fades Use ISL Fast for smaller LED devices or when fast blinks and flashes are required Linear is ideal for incandescent loads including halogen MR16s and MR11s Non Dim is intended for use with relays solenoids air brakes and other on off devices Hysteresis ensures there will be no noise or oscillation even if the source DMX level is slowly changing or is noisy The DMX level must rise above 54 dec 138 hex 0x8A to turn on Then the level must fall below 46 dec 117 hex 0x75 to turn off 22 Optimizing Radio Performance Under ideal 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 speci
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