Basic DMX question

[Kbalser]

I have just started this process of learning and hace one 16 CH lor starter kit and upgraded to the advanced software. I was able to make the led lights on a string work by programing the channels no problem, Then I had this idea about DMX bought a board 27 CH and some dumb strips. I am using a LOR USB R485. I can get the DMX to work if in a differant port on my computer than the com port the was originally set up with the 16 ch controller. I can not get them both to work together. I have the cat5 from computer - lor usb adapter - LOR 16ch unit - DMX27ch board. It flashs like communicating but nogo lighting the dumb led strips. It is either one or the other but not both.

[Dennis Laff]

Are you using 2 lor usb 485 dongles

[Ebuechner]

you have to set up two networks one lor 1 DMX. You can use the USB R485 but you need a crossover cable to connect your DMX.a USB R485 can be used for DMX but not preferred. A Dongle from holiday coro would be more reliable.

[jerrymac]

Yes.  You would run your LOR controllers from the existing USB 485 and run DMX through one of the other USB connections.  You will need a dongle (Holiday Coro or Enttec) or a crossover cable (REALLLY recommend the dongle) for your DMX, When you add Smart Pixels best bet is to add a E1.31 controller through the Ethernet connection on your computer.  All three will run well together.

David at HolidayCoro has a DMX starter kit that is good to experiment with, both a dumb and a smart kit with all you would need to experiment with and use later as well.

[Kbalser]

I was trying to use just one dongle. I guess that is part of the problem by reading post. If I use two of them and create a show with the lor software it will communicate with both ports one the same music sequence?

[Tim Benson]

Yes, the LOR software can support more than 1 dongle. It might require an advanced license. The LOR software can support several dongles and many E1.31 DMX universes, as well as some other older protocols.   If you just want to use 1 dongle, then you can run your LOR controller in DMX mode. However, as others have mentioned, the LOR pin-out is not a standard DMX pin-out, so you will need to make a cable to roll over from the LOR pins (4 and 5) to

the DMX pins (1 and 2) if using Rj45.   in order to daisy chain a DMX device off the LOR controller

 

http://www1.lightorama.com/Documents/DMX-DOC.pdf    is a useful doc to reference

 

 

Tim

Edited January 29, 2015 by Tim Benson