DLS dmxPhone

[Chris Chapman]

Anybody have any experience with this little toy?

Check it out here:

http://www.digitallightingsolutions.com/

It's a dmx device that you plug an off the shelf cordless phone into to become an inexpensive wireless RFU. Seems like a great idea for those of ust stuck in ETC Net1 land or non ETC folks as well.

Anybody play with one?

-Chris Chapman
TD, Greenville Performing Arts Center

[Grog12]

There's a thread about this somewhere on these forums...

[gafftaper]

I think this is something new Grog. There's been a fairly full thumbs down discussion on ETC installing this feature on Congo and ION (I think). With the general feeling being if you're going to spend that much on a new console, you probably have the money to buy a real RFU with some features to it. Where Strand has the nice PDA remote on all of their systems. On the other hand, for those on a tight budget with an older console that won't be upgraded in the next two decades... for $500 you can add a remote... it's not a bad idea at all.

I'm kind of surprised this isn't a Doug Fleenor product.

[Grog12]

Originally Posted by gafftaper

I think this is something new Grog. There's been a fairly full thumbs down discussion on ETC installing this feature on Congo and ION (I think). With the general feeling being if you're going to spend that much on a new console, you probably have the money to buy a real RFU with some features to it. Where Strand has the nice PDA remote on all of their systems. On the other hand, for those on a tight budget with an older console that won't be upgraded in the next two decades... for $500 you can add a remote... it's not a bad idea at all.
I'm kind of surprised this isn't a Doug Fleenor product.

Bah...you may be right gaff...though I could have sworn I saw a picture of something...I'll have to look a little later on.

[Chris Chapman]

That's kind of my thoughts on it as well. I'm stuck in Net 1 running an Express 250. To upgrade to Net 2 functionality I'm looking at a minimum of $12,000. My ETC rep tells me that "some folks at ETC reccommend it as a decent RFU alternative." So for a little over $500, I can get a low cost, easily replaceable RFU. It can't run cues, but will do dimmer checks, and multiple channels for focus.

If I had a Congo or Obsession I would go for the PDA. BUT in educational settings, I'm also being advised that the PDA RFU's tend to take walks with students and sometimes get reformatted and don't come back. The repair cost on a Net1, ETCLink RFU is above the purchase price of this unit.

I'm wondering on range, and signal quality, etc. If I mount it at my DMX break out onstage, I hope it will have the range to make it to FOH 1 & FOH2 for focus.

[avkid]

Cough...
http://www.controlbooth.com/forums/s...ight=DMX+Phone

[Footer]

Originally Posted by Chris Chapman

That's kind of my thoughts on it as well. I'm stuck in Net 1 running an Express 250. To upgrade to Net 2 functionality I'm looking at a minimum of $12,000. My ETC rep tells me that "some folks at ETC reccommend it as a decent RFU alternative." So for a little over $500, I can get a low cost, easily replaceable RFU. It can't run cues, but will do dimmer checks, and multiple channels for focus.
If I had a Congo or Obsession I would go for the PDA. BUT in educational settings, I'm also being advised that the PDA RFU's tend to take walks with students and sometimes get reformatted and don't come back. The repair cost on a Net1, ETCLink RFU is above the purchase price of this unit.
I'm wondering on range, and signal quality, etc. If I mount it at my DMX break out onstage, I hope it will have the range to make it to FOH 1 & FOH2 for focus.

Get a 2.4ghz phone, you will be set. It would be interesting to get those phones that have multiple phones for one base station. Keep in mind, it only will turn on dimmers, it does not know what dimmers you have patched into any given channel on your console. If you keep your paperwork up and do not need the screen, its not a bad way to go. Also, it would not be bad to have around if you want to start lamp check and the console is not set up yet.

[Grog12]

Originally Posted by avkid

Cough...
http://www.controlbooth.com/forums/s...ight=DMX+Phone

HA! SEE GAFF! I'm not crazy!!!! I mean not seriously crazy...just a little...you know like only walks his dog in the rain crazy not chops up people and feeds them to his dog crazy!

[jmabray]

Originally Posted by gafftaper

I think this is something new Grog. There's been a fairly full thumbs down discussion on ETC installing this feature on Congo and ION (I think). With the general feeling being if you're going to spend that much on a new console, you probably have the money to buy a real RFU with some features to it. Where Strand has the nice PDA remote on all of their systems. On the other hand, for those on a tight budget with an older console that won't be upgraded in the next two decades... for $500 you can add a remote... it's not a bad idea at all.
I'm kind of surprised this isn't a Doug Fleenor product.

Hey everyone -

Just to be clear - the phone remote feature on the congo, congo Jr and Ion is not, by any means the only RFU option. There is a complete fully featured dedicated (non-PDA) remote available for both all of the units above. It's just that the phone remote comes on the consoles for those spaces who can't afford one of those devices at the time of purchase. They can always add the full featured remote later on, but if they buy a console, the have a cost-effective remote solution that will work for them in the meantime.

It is true that ETC is getting away from PDA based remotes. There are multiple reasons why this is (PDA's have a tendency to walk off, a reliance upon another manufacturer for device support, etc) but ultimately the PDA cannot offer all the features that a purpose built remote can. For instance, the new RFR has 2 encoders on it that allow you to control attributes for you moving lights or color scrollers or the like from the actual remote.

I just want everyone to be sure that they understand what was going on with the remotes for the new product line. Yes there is the phone remote option. No it is not the only one.

Let me know if you have any more questions. Thanks!

[gafftaper]

Sorry Jmabray... You caught me, I thought the phone was the only option and clearly I'm mistaken.

Nice work finding that old thread. Grog that thread's been around longer than you have. Nice work reading the archives there buddy.

Still have to say I'm surprised Doug Fleenor hasn't come up with a cheaper product.