Maximum number of channels on a Network

[Lisa Star]

Sorry if this is posted somewhere else already - I searched my heart out and could not find an answer!

Not relevant to my display this year, but I've been reading about all of the other devices and planning in my mind for next year.

The cosmic color devices seem really cool and worth their value, but they add many channels at a time.

I see people running multiple networks as a solution for network performance.

How many channels before I should consider adding another network? How hard is it to add more networks? Am I misunderstanding the need/purpose of multiple networks?

Thank you to anyone wanting to explain or share their opinion.

[George Simmons]

You can run between 600-900 channels per network, depending on whose advice from LOR you subscribe to. A lot depends on how busy your channels/networks are - specifically how many commands might be sent at any one centisecond in time. I've found, and this is my personal experience only, that anything over three CCRs on a network and things start to lag. Adding another network is little more than adding another USB485 adaptor to your pc. That, and re-assigning your existing controllers and updating one sequence with those new assignments. But that is something you only need to do once and then you can copy/paste that template into all your other sequences.

[jeffl]

I have had issues with far fewer channels when there is "lots" of activity. I would say the # of channels, activity, length of network runs and quality of cables will all play into the performance you get with the LOR protocol. All of which you will have to test for yourself.

[Lisa Star]

Thank you guys for your advice! I'll be ordering another USB - RJ45 adapter with my next purchase! Seems like a good thing to have on hand for future channel expansion, but also as a backup for the first one I have already.

[Kyle Whitaker]

O boy, hadn't thought about that. I have 10 CTBPC-16 controllers and added 4 CCRs to the show. Just ran my first test and say lag... crap.

[jeffl]

I switched to all DMX running E1.31 this year and so far things have been smooth as silk for the past week. I'm hoping its and indication of what's to come.

[PaulXmas]

I added 4 CCRs last year to my 13 boxes (208 channels) and i had to remove them because the were not doing what I wanted.

Added 4 networks (one for each CCR, over kill) and show ran GREAT!

I used a LOT of all white FAST fades and the network could not handle it.

Running 2 CCRs on one of the networks this year.

[jeffl]

I don't have any CCR's. Can they run off DMX? DMX would run smooth all the way up to 512 channels per network if it would.

[Lisa Star]

You can run between 600-900 channels per network, depending on whose advice from LOR you subscribe to. A lot depends on how busy your channels/networks are - specifically how many commands might be sent at any one centisecond in time. I've found, and this is my personal experience only, that anything over three CCRs on a network and things start to lag. Adding another network is little more than adding another USB485 adaptor to your pc. That, and re-assigning your existing controllers and updating one sequence with those new assignments. But that is something you only need to do once and then you can copy/paste that template into all your other sequences.

This got me to thinking about my other intended purchase of a Mini Director with MP3. I figure that is a different thought, so I started a new thread here.