viennaxmas Posted August 14, 2015 Share Posted August 14, 2015 Just some random odd question: I do have a 1:4 DMX splitter which allows to distribute a DMX signal to 4 separate trunks. LOR has a similar Box splitting LOR 1:2. Since both is some flavor of RS 485 I am wondering if I could use the DMX Splitter and feed the LOR signal into it to distribute it to 4 different runs... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOR Staff Posted August 14, 2015 Share Posted August 14, 2015 Hmmmmm...... Maybe, but probably not. If you are running DMX out of a dongle it should work. In LOR mode things are tricky. The device will need to be an 'Active' device. In other words, it can't just be a cable spliter, it must actively re-create the signal on all the output ports. DMX runs at a fixed 250K-ish speed, while LOR protocol runs at different speeds. If that device is set to only recognize DMX speed, then it won't work with LOR. Now if on the other hand it works like our repeater, it should accept whatever speed comes in and then output at the same speed on the other side. Then you would have a chance. In ALL CASES:Don't forget that if it takes a CAT-5 on both sides, you will need to change the pinout before going into the device, and then change it back coming out. LOR uses different pins than ESTA. You will need to CUT the green pair in the CAT 5 on BOTH sides of the device to ensure that accessory power doesn't get into it and destroy it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plasmadrive Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 Hmmmmm...... Maybe, but probably not. If you are running DMX out of a dongle it should work. In LOR mode things are tricky. The device will need to be an 'Active' device. In other words, it can't just be a cable spliter, it must actively re-create the signal on all the output ports. DMX runs at a fixed 250K-ish speed, while LOR protocol runs at different speeds. If that device is set to only recognize DMX speed, then it won't work with LOR. Now if on the other hand it works like our repeater, it should accept whatever speed comes in and then output at the same speed on the other side. Then you would have a chance. In ALL CASES:Don't forget that if it takes a CAT-5 on both sides, you will need to change the pinout before going into the device, and then change it back coming out. LOR uses different pins than ESTA. You will need to CUT the green pair in the CAT 5 on BOTH sides of the device to ensure that accessory power doesn't get into it and destroy it. If it is just and active repeater, why would have have to change in and out unless it regenerates the signal as opposed to just buffering it.. no? Also, doesn't LOR have some sort of data feedback to tell the HU something is on line? As well, there are triggers that have to come back to the show computer if they are being used. Can't get that from standard DMX me thinks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOR Staff Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 If it is just and active repeater, why would have have to change in and out unless it regenerates the signal as opposed to just buffering it.. no? Also, doesn't LOR have some sort of data feedback to tell the HU something is on line? As well, there are triggers that have to come back to the show computer if they are being used. Can't get that from standard DMX me thinks. 1 - Because the signal is on physically different pins than the ESTA standard. It's not going to regenerate all the signal lines, only the 2 that DMX data runs on. 2 - The protocol has nothing to do with the physical signaling. If the device can handle the different speeds in use, then bits are bits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plasmadrive Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 1 - Because the signal is on physically different pins than the ESTA standard. It's not going to regenerate all the signal lines, only the 2 that DMX data runs on. 2 - The protocol has nothing to do with the physical signaling. If the device can handle the different speeds in use, then bits are bits.1. Ahhh.. I thought same pins just reversed D+ and D-.. My mistake.2. I was not aware that most DMX splitters would do RS485 in Duplex mode.. Bits are truly bits, but directionality plays a role doesn't it? Are not some only set up as TX or RX and not Duplex? Am I cornfused? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOR Staff Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 2 - Yes you are correct. But I am banking on the adapter being nothing more than an RS485 based device that really doesn't care about DMX. When presented data on any port, it is regenerated to the opposite side. DMX is Uni-Directional, but it would take extra 'stuff' for them to disable what in the end comes out to look like backwards transmission. Of course there is a chance that it won't work the way I think it may. For example, if they are using some kind of microcontroller that may only take data from one side and spit it out the other. But again, a micro would be extra cost than simply tying the lines together on rs485 transmission chips (+ whatever other stuff is needed for that. I'm no electrical engineer). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plasmadrive Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 I thought most splitter, but surely not all were optically isolated. I don't think the isolated ones would work in duplex. That is what I was thinking about.. Probably those that are not isolated are just indeed 485 devices.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viennaxmas Posted August 17, 2015 Author Share Posted August 17, 2015 Cool . Thanks. Guess I get another LOR splitter. Not worth risking anything. On another note: With RDM DMX has become bidirectional too... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viennaxmas Posted August 17, 2015 Author Share Posted August 17, 2015 Ahh.. The new version is coming in September... Guess I wait until then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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