A pile of ION Questions (Wireless Client, NET3 hardware, Data parameters)

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rhdgs Posted: 10-07-2008 8:03 PM

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I have been using the ion for a few weeksnow and It continues amaze me. It’s a great desk and I am really happywith my purchase.

 I do have a few more questionshowever.

 1. I see inthe release notes for the new version it listwireless offline support, what are thetechnical/ip setup requirements in orderto configure my wireless network. I really would like to set this upbecause next summer I hope to be able to configure a tablet to use as basiclighting control (well I hope to be able to control both sound and lights fromthe sweet spot of the outdoor venue I work at)

2. Right now I am using the built inDMX ports however I would like to set upa net3 network in the near future. Is there a list of recommended networkhardware I can start with? I know I need a POE switch andcable to start with. Since I will be doing some one offs and other small gigswhat are the cabling options? Once upon a time I did a bitof networking and own a R45 crimper and what not. But what issues are therewith making my own cables? Does anyone know of a vendor that sells cableand connectors that can withstand rental type abuse?

3. When updating a cue is there an easy wayto tell weather the data being updated is a palate or absolute data? Whenprogramming the show I found that I was constantly updating position data formy I-Cue. Each time I moved the pan and tilt I would have to try to rememberweather or not I had used a palette in this cue or not. I am sure its just myignorance but it seams like the only thing I get in any view I saw was a red Xtelling me I had changed the parameter but not a way to tell specifically whatdata is actually being recorded.

4. With the release of the ION RPU how doesthis effect system output? I have an ION 1000 if I purchase an ION RPU (2000outputs) how many DMX channels can I actually control and still have reasonablebackup? Is this just a matter of weather I use the ION to control the RPU orrun the RPU as a backup for the ION?

5. Tabs rock. We need tabs on ION. What willit take to get EOS tabs on the ION? For now I can just run EOS Offline with acouple of the tabs that I find the most useful however really it would bebetter to be able to have a tab of Direct selects under my output view.

6. What version is the phone remote slatedto be enabled? While I wish I was made of money and could just purchase the RFUI cant for a while and the phone remote was a deciding factor in purchasing myION.

Ok I think that’s it for now. Thanks inadvance for the help.

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Richard replied on 10-08-2008 3:04 AM

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With regards to the Ethernet cable, most touring and rental houses go down one of two routes:

1. Buy some 'really tough' STP flexible Cat5e cable, and terminate each end into a small stagebox with female Neutrik Ethercon connector(s).
• If needed, you can get 'multicore' for Ethernet networking to allow two or four Cat5e lines down the same multi.
2. Buy a few big drums of dirt-cheap Cat5e stuff, and then cut to length and terminate normal RJ45s for each job and throw it after each run.
• Remember that you should never terminate a male RJ45 onto solid-core, or a female onto stranded.
  

Which one's better? Dunno - depends what you're doing and how much time it takes you to terminate a few RJ45's.

At most of the 'outdoor' shows I've worked on (admittedly product launches rather than music!) we went for the throwaway approach, mostly because nobody had time to clean the crud off a few hundred metres of Cat5 in the warehouse afterwards.

As to suppliers of tough stuff - it's fairly specialist.

I know that Belden have a few varieties under the tradename "DataTuff" supposedly designed for harsh environments, although I've never used them in anger.

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Anne Valentino replied on 10-08-2008 3:16 AM

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Randall, the update dialogue box that appears in the CIA during an update will tell you (on a channel basis) if you are modifying palettes.  This information is currently at a summary level.  We've been discussing organizing the data (which is currently by cue by channel) in a different way to put priority on more detailed palette data.  

Whenever you have a primary/backup setup, the output count is determined by the lowest available between the two.  If you have a 1K Ion and a 2K Ion (or Ion RPU), one set as primary and the other as backup, your system output potential is 1K (its not that we only backup 1K, we only ALLOW 1K).  When a device comes on the network as a client, its control capability is based on the primary/backup.  So, if you have a 2K Ion, 2K Ion RPU, and bring a 1K Ion in as a client, that 1K Ion can control all 2K outputs.     Since a client isn't tasked with the job of assuming responsibility for the rig, we ignore its native output count.  

Good questions.  Hope this helps!

a 

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Pat Immel replied on 10-08-2008 7:15 PM

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Wireless Client.

 Tabs.

Phone Remote.

YES PLEASE!!!!!!!

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Anne Valentino replied on 10-08-2008 9:54 PM

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Pat... wireless client works now.  Tabs.... maybe (we are making some changes to display mapping that may help with the reasons that ya'll are asking for tabs).  Phone remote.... on the list.  No ETA yet.  

Thanks!!

a 

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Pat Immel replied on 10-09-2008 6:33 AM

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Thanks Anne,

Regarding wireless...I seem to recall that Brian Weber posted some pretty detailed instructions a while back.  Unless some exist, I would really like to see some ETC approved instructions (like in the manual). If they do exist...just point me in the right direction!

Pat