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Electronic Theatre Controls Inc

Obsession 1 Console Configuration and Hardware

The Obsession (now generally known as Obsession 1 to differentiate it from Obsession 2) was a console produced by ETC from around 1992 to 1997, being obsoleted by the introduction of the Obsession 2. It was a natively tracking console with support for cue-only modes of operation.

Obsession I.png

There were two console variants, the Obsession 600 and the Obsession 1200. The 600 and 1200 refer to the number of channels available. Both consoles support up to 1024 Dimmers, via three physical DMX outputs.

Other accessories that worked with the console included a Designers Remote Console (DRC), the Net1 RVI, a Remote Focus Unit(RFU) and a Touchpad RFU.

The console supported /Support/Articles/Consoles/Legacy-Consoles/ for network communication and could work as a tracking backup pair with a second console.

Configuring Obsession Networking and Tracking

The Obsession 1 uses either a BNC(Thinnet) or RJ45(10baseT) connection for networking. To configure which connector is used you need to alter jumper or dip switch settings inside the console. The changes you need to make depend on the revision of your console's serf board; the revision number is visible on the board.

There are also DIP switches to configure redundant tracking.

Revision C Serf Board

Revision C Serf Board.png

Main DIP Switch Settings :

Switch Default Position Function
1 Off Factory Use Only
2 Off Unused
3 Off Unused
4 Off Unused
5 Off Unused
6 Off Console mode on startup if tracking. On = Backup, Off = Master
7 Off Full Tracking Backup. On = Tracking Enabled, Off = Tracking Disabled
8 On Network installed. On = Yes, Off = No

The net jumpers define which network connection is used, BNC (ThinNet) or RJ45 (10BaseT).

ThinNet Install jumpers 1 through 6 only
RJ45/10BaseT Install jumpers 7 through 12 only

Revision D and E Serf Boards

Revision D and E Serf Boards.png

On revision D and E Serf Boards, the network jumpers are replaced by DIP switches.

The network DIP switches define which network connection is used, BNC (ThinNet) or RJ45 (10BaseT). The operation of the main DIP switches is the same for both boards.

ThinNet

Back 6 DIP switches turned on only

RJ45/10BaseT

Front 6 DIP switches turned on only

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