Control/Dimming Decent wireless DMX at a good price?

My high school has been making a number of improvements to our little 300-seat theater lately (many of them absolutely necessary, as it was actually a high school commons only six years ago), so it seems like a real possibility that we'll get the cash to replace our old striplights behind the cyc with the LED fixtures within the next couple of years--most likely after I've graduated, though.

Some LED strips would really be great, but we have enough trouble just powering our old fixtures, especially since we have to use two channels for each color; if I want to use more than two colors in a show, I have to use vast amounts of power cable and plug the things in to power strips in front of the cyc in places where I don't happen to have a fresnel hanging. Needless to say, LED's would eliminate that problem, but they do present another complication: DMX. As far as I can tell, our ColorTran dimmer rack lacks DMX out, so even though I'm only using 48 channels in that universe to control my conventional fixtures, I can't just run 50 feet of 5-pin XLR from the pack to our strips. My trainees and I would also rather not try to run the 150+ feet of cable required by our theater layout that would be required to run it in another universe, especially since we're already running another 100 feet or so just to permanently hook up our two RoboScans.

Now, I know that an actual purchase of such equipment is probably a year or two away if not more, but I'd like to get talks going anyway before the powers that be start getting ideas for stuff that really won't be all that useful for us. So, what brands (or specific models) of wireless DMX systems would you guys recommend for best bang for the buck at a relatively modest price?

I picked up a good set for about $215 from SIRS Electronics. It comes as a set and has two frequencies to choose from. Works well for our usage and is easy to set-up. Most others are at least $200 for just the transmitter or reciever. Still waiting on the test of time to give us the final analysis, but so far, so good!

Hey Jinglish,
Like misterm, we also have the SIRS-E wireless DMX. We have 5 units and they have been quite a cost efficient solution for us. No issues yet in a variety of situations. (We are a mobile lighting company)
jim

Show DMX is probably the best system in my opinion and experience. Multiple channels, it frequency hops around to find you the best space. I used it in a crowded city across a street that busses were driving in front of with no ill effects. You get what you pay for though, looks like it would be around $2,500 for the transmitter receiver system.

In general, its always better to run cable as opposed to go wireless if you can run the cable. It may suck, but it would be far cheeper and more reliable in the end to find a way to permanently run a DMX line to your cyc light pipe.

Or get an Opto Splitter and split the DMX line before it goes into your DMX racks, and run data from dimmer land. Looks like a DFD 1 input 3 output opto splitter runs $600, probably far more reliable then the $200 wireless dmx solution.

Seconding what zac850 said, and paraphrasing an old audio saying, "A $5000 wireless system is almost as good as a $20 cable." Wireless should only be used as a last resort, after all other options have been exhausted. Adding a home run to the console, or putting an opto-splitter just before the dimmer rack, are both likely to be less expensive, and much more reliable, than going wireless.

I don't mean to say that there aren't quality wireless DMX systems available. In addition to City Theatrical's SHoW DMX, I've seen good results with Fleenor's Marconi which is compatible with W-DMX, and RC4/RC5 products. But even these companies will probably tell you if it's feasible to use copper, do that instead.

I design the RC4/RC5 wireless products, and I agree with all comments posted so far. If you can use a wire, that's the way to go!

However...

It's been a while since I've encountered a 300 foot cable for $20. And it's useless at any price when I need to go 308 feet. Or through a wall that shouldn't be broken. Or across a room that should have no tripping hazards or unsightly protectors.

And finally... my fave... who ever said cables never fail? They've failed for me from time to time; surely I'm not alone. Every technology has it's weaknesses, including cable. And, of course, including wireless. But all the popular brands are pretty darn good.

There are several RC4 users here in Control Booth. Maybe someone will speak up...

Just my $0.02.

Jim Smith
RC4 Wireless
www.theatrewireless.com

theatrewireless said:

I design the RC4/RC5 wireless products, and I agree with all comments posted so far. If you can use a wire, that's the way to go!

However...

It's been a while since I've encountered a 300 foot cable for $20. And it's useless at any price when I need to go 308 feet. Or through a wall that shouldn't be broken. Or across a room that should have no tripping hazards or unsightly protectors.

And finally... my fave... who ever said cables never fail? They've failed for me from time to time; surely I'm not alone. Every technology has it's weaknesses, including cable. And, of course, including wireless. But all the popular brands are pretty darn good.

There are several RC4 users here in Control Booth. Maybe someone will speak up...

Just my $0.02.

Jim Smith
RC4 Wireless
www.theatrewireless.com

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Valid point, a 300 feet piece of DMX that is tour rated is not that cheap. However, I think we all could agree that for a permanent install on a piece that does not move, wireless is not the way to go if it can be avoided. I would try to opto the dimmer rack or find the DMX out on the rack, I am sure it is there. There has to be someway of letting that racks speak to other gear. It might be inside the rack and you will have to have someone who knows what they are doing come and hook it up, but I am sure there is a DMX through on that rack.

I can speak for the amazing versatility of the RC4 Wireless system from theatrewireless.com. I use their wireless dimming products on multiple shows every season and they have worked flawlessly for us. However, as has been said, you have one less thing to troubleshoot when you have a home run of DMX cable. I would certainly choose an opto-splitter and long DMX run over wireless if a hardline run was possible.

I know it's not recommended but using standard Cat5 cable, that is about $0.40 US per meter is possibly going to be cheaper, Cat5 isn't going to stand up to as much of a bashing, but unlike using Audio cable, it takes DMX signal just as well as actual DMX cable, all you need is a 5pin or 3pin XLR connector, (Male & Female) some solder and as much cable as you need.

Nick

I hadn't heard of SIRS so I looked at it. The box is different, but the end plate looks very similar to the first generation Chauvet product. Wonder if it's the same inside? BTW, the chauvet wireless stuff I have isn't that stable. Seems to work fine during set-up, but not reliable at show time in a couple cases.

Assuming your racks are near the stage an opto-splitter at the rack and run some cable up to your electrics shouldn't cost you much at all and you would have a permanent fix.

Second thought. If you have the tens of thousands of dollars to install LED strips you can definitely afford the couple hundred to install a splitter and run some cable.

Bigger question is what kind of a light board do you have? Can it handle the added DMX needs of bunch of LED strips.

Thanks for the replies, guys; I guess I'll poke around the rack some more for a DMX out and call Leviton support if I can't find it.

Bigger question is what kind of a light board do you have? Can it handle the added DMX needs of bunch of LED strips.

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It's a Leviton ColorTran Innovator 24/48. At least a few years ago, it was the newest/fanciest board in the entire town (including all the high school and community theaters), but it's really just terrible; we don't even bother trying to use the cueing system, so we just end up doing all of our shows with submasters. We have two DMX universes being used at the moment (one for the rack, and the other for our two RoboScans) and free 5-pin and 3-pin DMX outs on the back (pretty sure no Ethernet, though), and we definitely have room on screen to add more channels for strip light control; we'd probably just use four or six channels and set them up for master/slave operation.

First off, im sorry about the board. Our theater company had them until the beginning of last year, and now we use it as the board that we give out to people wanting to use the space. I guess the real question for me is if you can afford to have LED strip lights, you might want a board that is more up to date, like an Ion (what we replaced with), or any one of the other numerous boards recommended. Also, if your using that boards, I would not use wireless DMX because if nothing else, its unreliable already, you dont need to compound it.

Jinglish said:

Thanks for the replies, guys; I guess I'll poke around the rack some more for a DMX out and call Leviton support if I can't find it.

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You don't need the out you can use the in as well and split the signal before it gets there. You could also put the splitter on your second universe. If all you need is 6 channels you don't even need the splitter just run a cable from the Roboscans to the new strips.

But again... have to agree that there are dozens of options out there that are better than your current control system. If you are spending the money to buy LED strips, get a little more and buy a new control system too.

NickJones said:

I know it's not recommended but using standard Cat5 cable, that is about $0.40 US per meter is possibly going to be cheaper, Cat5 isn't going to stand up to as much of a bashing, but unlike using Audio cable, it takes DMX signal just as well as actual DMX cable, all you need is a 5pin or 3pin XLR connector, (Male & Female) some solder and as much cable as you need.

Nick

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That is not to standard unless the UTP is in metallic conduit or you use STP instead... At the price of STP however you might as well use standard data cable in many cases...

I read this. About the DMX over Cat5,

Data obtained from all three of these test sessions confirms that, in most respects, UTP and STP
Category 5 cable can be expected to perform at least as well as EIA-485 rated data cable for DMX512 applications.

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I have been using it over 100m runs for a while, I terminated it and it seems to run fine so far, but that's another thread.