If he were to convert his network run to a dmx run (bypassing all appropriate switches/routers/etc) then cable length would not likely be an issue. The length of the cable is not so much determined by the cable type, in this instance, as it is by the signal running down said cable. TCP/IP is limited to approx. 300 feet (100 M) either side of the switch (for a total length of 600 feet), but DMX can run for approx. 1500 feet.
That being said, I would too recommend taking a node and putting DMX into the front end converting it to shownet and then using a node to convert it to DMX on the back end.
It would go something like this -
CONSOLE--->DMX Cable--->NODE--->NETWORK CABLE---->WALL JACK-PHYSICAL CABLE PLANT-WALL JACK--->NETWORK CABLE--->NODE--->DMX CABLE--->FIXTURES, ETC.
If he has two nodes, more than likely they are physically set up to be DMX outputs. This shouldn't matter. While the physical connector may be that of an output, what signal the node handles is a function of the software. If he has the Strand 110 Nodes that were discussed earlier, he can hit those nodes with any web browser to adjust the software settings. He would just have to make sure that his IP addresses were set up properly to do so. All that being said, however, I would be very careful in trying to do this. If he doesn't know that much about his network and how it is set up, he could render that part of his system useless. But that's about what it is right now to him anyway....
I would suspect that the reason those nodes are not going to support ACN has more to do with the fact that during the buyout of Strand, they let all those software engineers that had worked on that product line of code go rather than any actual plans of Strand to discontinue the line, (If that makes any sense at all), but I wouldn't really know for sure.....
Thank you sounds great but seeing as we have two nodes I will try that first before I order or cut cables but even so in the long run what you described sounds like it would work best.jerekb, follow the links I posted above. One of the ESTA studies (Part 1 "Results of these tests indicated that Category 5 UTP cable performed as well as conventional DMX512 cable,") even showed DMX over UTP cable to be slightly MORE robust than the recommended Belden 2c +shld cable in some tests. Much of Nick Mobsby's book, Practical DMX recommends installing CAT5 UTP cable now and replacing the ends in the further when Ethernet is desired.
The only drawbacks to CAT5 cable are: 1]It has solid conductors and cannot withstand the flexing that stage cables endure, (not an issue if it's with conduit inside walls), and 2]The RJ-45 connectors are not designed for repeated plugging/unplugging (EtherCon is a ruggedized connector).
The fact that DMX512A is an asynchronous serial digital signal makes it inherently invulnerable to interference. The Pin1 portion is needed as a ground reference, but is not required to be an overall shield.
edit: BSR E1.27-2, Entertainment Technology - Recommended Practice for Permanently Installed Control Cables for Use with ANSI E1.11 (DMX512-A) and USITT DMX512/1990 Products, is a recommended practice for permanent data cabling installations for interconnecting lighting equipment that comply with ANSI E1.11 (DMX512-A) or with USITT DMX512/1990. The recommendations include definitions of acceptable cable and connector types and the ways in which they may be used. is currently under public review until 11/28/08. The review form, document, and review instructions are here: TSP - Published Documents - About TSP Documents, Published Documents, Public Review Documents, Procedural Documents.
Meanwhile what are some of the things that I would want to be careful about doing that I could accidently mess something up?? All I need to do is change the output to input on one of the nodes correct? The manual makes it sound very easy.
P.S. Thank you everyone you've all been tons of help!!
So I just tried plugging the node into the PoE injector and plugged the laptop in every configuration imaginable and every time when I typed the IP of the node it said the page could not be found so it looks like we are giving up on the shownet and we are looking at the Cat5 to dmx or just running a dmx from the board to the cats.Unless you have any other ideas.
Needless to say, I'm a little peeved at Strand right now. Why the heck can't they allow standards for interconnectivity, rather than relying on OBSOLESCENCE to keep customers...? This goes for any other manufacturer that isn't bothering to adopt industry-wide standards.
Any luck on finding that StrandNET > ARTNet "bridge" that ran on a PC with Linux?
Steve B.
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