controlling CTB16PC over ip

[XYrZbest]

Is there anyway to control my two daisy chained CTB16PCs over ip. last year i controlled them in my garage with an old laptop, I would like to control them this year in my upstairs office with my new desktop. Is there anyway to do that. the CTB16PC outputs RJ45 (Cat 5) and i adapt that to usb. I heard that you can use E1.31 to control over ip how would i do this

[Tim Benson]

I made a few assumptions...Then I saw this is your first Post.. Welcome to the Fourm

 

The RJ45 jack on the LOR controller is NOT a network jack. it is just a serial line.

Do not plug it into a computer network jack, Bad things will happen.

 

You also want to re-think using a computer that you use for other purposes to also run your show.

Most of us have dedicated computers to run the show, and for 2 controllers, you don't need much.

 

So here are some possible solutions

 

 

First, Can you simply run a cat 5 wire from your upstairs PC to where the controllers are ?   Simple Cheap, works fine.

I'm making an assumption you have the USB485 adapter with  voltage booster.     http://store.lightorama.com/uscoadwivobo.html

That allows you to use a usb port on your computer to run a LOR controller.

 

You could use the solution of wireless Light linkers from LOR, they work fine but are pricy.  That is Standard USB to LOR serial.

Plug and play. I've been using them for years.      http://store.lightorama.com/ealili.html            

again. you need the USB485 adapter to drive the light linkers from your computer

 

 

Now if you really want  E1.31  to run a LOR controller,   Take a look at   http://www.komby.com/

 

This is DIY and not plug and play, but it gives you E1.31 Wireless control of a LOR controller(s).

You build a E1.31 transmitter out of a Arduino UNO, Ethernet Shield, and an shield board made by Komby.

Then you get a RF1-12v and a RS485 board to build the receiver that attaches to the LOR controller.

 

The Transmitter needs a good 9V power supply that can push about 800ma and a small enclosure

 

The receiver is actually powered off the controller and is small enough to fit into the LOR enclosure.

 

I'm using some of this in my display and it is really slick.  But we are down to the last minute here, so this may be something

you want to look at for next year..... Lots of cool stuff to learn when using this solution, and it's cheap !

 

Tim

Edited October 21, 2014 by Tim Benson

[stanward]

I hope the original poster realizes that the cat-5e connection between LOR dongle and the first LOR controller can be a long distance.

[k6ccc]

Is there anyway to control my two daisy chained CTB16PCs over ip. last year i controlled them in my garage with an old laptop, I would like to control them this year in my upstairs office with my new desktop. Is there anyway to do that. the CTB16PC outputs RJ45 (Cat 5) and i adapt that to usb. I heard that you can use E1.31 to control over ip how would i do this

 

I'm in agreement with Tim on this one - continue to use the laptop in the garage.  For two 16 channel controllers, there is zero need to use (and tie up) your new fast computer.  Even if you really want to use the new computer, just extend the Cat-5 cable.  The RS-485 can go well over a half mile.

Remember that if you use your new fast computer, you are essentially not able to use your nice fast computer for anything else whenever the show is running.

 

However if you really want to use IP, there are a couple ways.  If I were going to do it, I would use an E1.31 controller to output DMX protocol over the RS-485 to the LOR controllers.  The LOR controllers can respond to DMX protocol without any changes required.  Therefore the data flow would be:

 

PC --- E1.31 over ethernet ---> E1.31 controller --- DMX over RS-485 ---> LOR controller --- DMX over RS-485 ---> LOR controller

 

Another option would be to get one flavor or another of show directors.  that way you don't need a computer at all to run the show.

http://www1.lightorama.com/stand-alone-show-directors/

[XYrZbest]

Is there anyway to control my two daisy chained CTB16PCs over ip. last year i controlled them in my garage with an old laptop, I would like to control them this year in my upstairs office with my new desktop. Is there anyway to do that. the CTB16PC outputs RJ45 (Cat 5) and i adapt that to usb. I heard that you can use E1.31 to control over ip how would i do this

 

 

I made a few assumptions...Then I saw this is your first Post.. Welcome to the Fourm

 

The RJ45 jack on the LOR controller is NOT a network jack. it is just a serial line.

Do not plug it into a computer network jack, Bad things will happen.

 

You also want to re-think using a computer that you use for other purposes to also run your show.

Most of us have dedicated computers to run the show, and for 2 controllers, you don't need much.

 

So here are some possible solutions

 

 

First, Can you simply run a cat 5 wire from your upstairs PC to where the controllers are ?   Simple Cheap, works fine.

I'm making an assumption you have the USB485 adapter with  voltage booster.     http://store.lightorama.com/uscoadwivobo.html

That allows you to use a usb port on your computer to run a LOR controller.

 

You could use the solution of wireless Light linkers from LOR, they work fine but are pricy.  That is Standard USB to LOR serial.

Plug and play. I've been using them for years.      http://store.lightorama.com/ealili.html            

again. you need the USB485 adapter to drive the light linkers from your computer

 

 

Now if you really want  E1.31  to run a LOR controller,   Take a look at   http://www.komby.com/

 

This is DIY and not plug and play, but it gives you E1.31 Wireless control of a LOR controller(s).

You build a E1.31 transmitter out of a Arduino UNO, Ethernet Shield, and an shield board made by Komby.

Then you get a RF1-12v and a RS485 board to build the receiver that attaches to the LOR controller.

 

The Transmitter needs a good 9V power supply that can push about 800ma and a small enclosure

 

The receiver is actually powered off the controller and is small enough to fit into the LOR enclosure.

 

I'm using some of this in my display and it is really slick.  But we are down to the last minute here, so this may be something

you want to look at for next year..... Lots of cool stuff to learn when using this solution, and it's cheap !

 

Tim

 

 

I hope the original poster realizes that the cat-5e connection between LOR dongle and the first LOR controller can be a long distance.

 

 

I'm in agreement with Tim on this one - continue to use the laptop in the garage.  For two 16 channel controllers, there is zero need to use (and tie up) your new fast computer.  Even if you really want to use the new computer, just extend the Cat-5 cable.  The RS-485 can go well over a half mile.

Remember that if you use your new fast computer, you are essentially not able to use your nice fast computer for anything else whenever the show is running.

 

However if you really want to use IP, there are a couple ways.  If I were going to do it, I would use an E1.31 controller to output DMX protocol over the RS-485 to the LOR controllers.  The LOR controllers can respond to DMX protocol without any changes required.  Therefore the data flow would be:

 

PC --- E1.31 over ethernet ---> E1.31 controller --- DMX over RS-485 ---> LOR controller --- DMX over RS-485 ---> LOR controller

 

Another option would be to get one flavor or another of show directors.  that way you don't need a computer at all to run the show.

http://www1.lightorama.com/stand-alone-show-directors/

I did more research and think i have a better understanding of how all of this works if you want to help me out please look at my new post http://forums.lightorama.com/index.php?/topic/33502-questions-about-lor-dmx-e131/