What is this ETC Product? Sensor On-Line?

It's a method allowing any PC (Win or Mac) to access CEM+ systems, via a web browser. I believe IE 7 is the current supported browser version.

Since a CEM+ system is "generally" on a dedicated ETC Net2 or Net3 network, you can connect to that network, access the assorted rack CEM's, configure, backup the config's, monitor live status, etc...

Useful tool for doing things like configuring selected dimmers to output 120volts if using other then ETC fixtures, etc...

It's of no use to you if the CEM's are not the + version.
 
This can't be it, its documented under CEM not CEM+ and it is meant for DOS

SteveB said:
It's a method allowing any PC (Win or Mac) to access CEM+ systems, via a web browser. I believe IE 7 is the current supported browser version.

Since a CEM+ system is "generally" on a dedicated ETC Net2 or Net3 network, you can connect to that network, access the assorted rack CEM's, configure, backup the config's, monitor live status, etc...

Useful tool for doing things like configuring selected dimmers to output 120volts if using other then ETC fixtures, etc...

It's of no use to you if the CEM's are not the + version.
Click to expand...
 
Re: ETCLink RJ45 Jack on CEM?

Yup, you may be correct as I'm thinking of Sensor Connect for CEM+.

Have it, haven't used it in a while

Still, I don't recall any legacy CEM's having any ability to connect to a 'puter, as I thought all CEM configuration was done via the individual CEM facepanel.

Perhaps Kirk S will chime in and clear this up.

SB
 
Re: ETCLink RJ45 Jack on CEM?

SteveB said:
Yup, you may be correct as I'm thinking of Sensor Connect for CEM+.

Have it, haven't used it in a while

Still, I don't recall any legacy CEM's having any ability to connect to a 'puter, as I thought all CEM configuration was done via the individual CEM facepanel.

Perhaps Kirk S will chime in and clear this up.

SB
Click to expand...

Haha I'm Hoping So I PM'd him, he said he would do some digging, in archive.org on the old ETC sites it shows up once but with no download or further info.
 
Re: ETCLink RJ45 Jack on CEM?

Sensor On-Line is a VERY old program. It pre-dates my time at ETC, so I will need to do some investigation as it is not readily available anymore. Perhaps DavidNorth will stop by this thread and share more information in the interim.

The RJ45 connector on the facepanel of the CEM classic is used for configuration of the Sensor Dimming rack using a special adapter that translates between the protocol used by the rack at that port and a Windows computer. That port is neither an ethernet network interface nor a modem. Connecting a computer directly to the port will not gain you any access or feature. (And, no, you cannot connect it to a phone line for us to remotely diagnose your rack.)

Besides configuration, the port can also be used to connect a Sensor Hand Held Remote as icewolf08 said.
 
Re: ETCLink RJ45 Jack on CEM?

Sounds good, I would like to get this working just for the hell of it but I have a strange feeling it will take a lot of work and an adaptor, something I forgot the name of to do it, SLTA maybe?


starksk said:
Sensor On-Line is a VERY old program. It pre-dates my time at ETC, so I will need to do some investigation as it is not readily available anymore. Perhaps DavidNorth will stop by this thread and share more information in the interim.

The RJ45 connector on the facepanel of the CEM classic is used for configuration of the Sensor Dimming rack using a special adapter that translates between the protocol used by the rack at that port and a Windows computer. That port is neither an ethernet network interface nor a modem. Connecting a computer directly to the port will not gain you any access or feature. (And, no, you cannot connect it to a phone line for us to remotely diagnose your rack.)

Besides configuration, the port can also be used to connect a Sensor Hand Held Remote as icewolf08 said.
Click to expand...
 
Re: ETCLink RJ45 Jack on CEM?

icewolf08 said:
If memory serves, the RJ45 jack on the CEM classic was for the HHR (Hand Held Remote).
Click to expand...
Yes the jack (labeled "ETCLink") can be used with the http://www.etcconnect.com/docs/docs_downloads/datashts/Sensor_HandheldController.pdf . If memory serves, one used to be able to use a DOS laptop with a serial (DB9) to RJ45 adapter and the Sensor On-Line software. However, neither of the two offer any more functionality than can be had using the CEM's keypad and display.
 
Re: ETCLink RJ45 Jack on CEM?

I'm thinking the connection to a DOS laptop was via the 'puters serial port, which rings a bell from something Steve Short once mentioned and I really do think this was indeed DOS only, as in - old enough to pre-date Windows 3 (the first really viable version), so early 90's ?. Dave N will remember.

EDIT: 'Ya beat me to it Derek, but nice to know my memories somewhat intact.
 
Re: ETCLink RJ45 Jack on CEM?

From the limited things I have found it looks like it is a dos program that emulates the ETCLink Functions page on the Express Setup


derekleffew said:
Yes the jack (labeled "ETCLink") can be used with the http://www.etcconnect.com/docs/docs_downloads/datashts/Sensor_HandheldController.pdf . If memory serves, one used to be able to use a DOS laptop with a serial (DB9) to RJ45 adapter and the Sensor On-Line software. However, neither of the two offer any more functionality than can be had using the CEM's keypad and display.
Click to expand...
 
Re: ETCLink RJ45 Jack on CEM?

It probably connected using a terminal cable, just as you would connect up to a router. Once again, this is not really going to do anything for you that is at all useful. Its not going to give you a hook to use a PC based console or anything like that.
 
Re: ETCLink RJ45 Jack on CEM?

derekleffew and SteveB are correct that it connects via a serial connection. That serial connection is achieved through a Serial LonTalk Adapter. (The SLTA that techno89 was trying to remember.)
 
Re: ETCLink RJ45 Jack on CEM?

techno89 said:
Sounds good, I would like to get this working just for the hell of it ...
Click to expand...
Sorry for the bluntness, but people in you-know-where want ice water too.

As this will offer no features you don't already have, and will require a DOS or Win3.1 laptop, adapter, and software ETC may not be willing to provide, why bother? Note that I was given this same answer by an ETC rep. in 1998 with a brand new Sensor installation. As we say in Vegas, "the juice isn't worth the squeeze."
 
Re: ETCLink RJ45 Jack on CEM?

derekleffew said:
Sorry for the bluntness, but people in you-know-where want ice water too.

As this will offer no features you don't already have, and will require a DOS or Win3.1 laptop, adapter, and software ETC may not be willing to provide, why bother? Note that I was given this same answer by an ETC rep. in 1998 with a brand new Sensor installation. As we say in Vegas, "the juice isn't worth the squeeze."
Click to expand...


You are right, ETC doesn't have to help me, however it would be nice to be able to monitor to the dimmers, its tough to get into our dimming room, and it seems that this could be useful in my application, my schools tech lab has plenty of old computers with serial ports that I can throw dos onto.
 
Well, between all of you, I think this has mostly been answered. Let me see if I can cover all the bases.

The connector on the front of the CEM is ETCLink and is the same as the connections on the back of the CEM that allow the racks to connect to each other for data backup and sharing. It is not ENET but it did support the Sensor HHR [an interesting, very heavy device that had both a beltclip and a lanyard....for building neck muscles].

A PC can connect either to the front RJ45 or the back through a wired 6-pin XLR connector on the wall labeled ETCLink. A SLTA is required which uses the serial connection on the PC. We still have these.

The Sensor On-Line program was indeed DOS but did run on some Windows machines. To be honest, it has been so long now since I've used it I'm not sure if it can be made to run on other OS machines or not. If you really get curious or interested let me know and we'll try it....but read on below. Note that you can't really do much with it but monitor status of the system, do load recording and record/play backup looks. BTW, all this can be done on an ETCLink enabled console.

You must be running CEM code v2.04 to v2.14 in order for this program to work. Releases in the 3.x range did not support the Sensor On-Line program and no new program was made to perform this function. However, ETCLink consoles, with the right sw version, could support any version of CEM code.

I'll let you decide if it is possible with your system or worth it. More than happy to help if you want/need more info.

David
 
Thanks David, I left you a message (called ETC) with a question and how to contact me (Yes, I would like to try to get this working). Thanks for helping to clear things up,
Scott
 
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