Wireless G4 Director Link- How To?

[MrMatt 0]

My goal is to have a Wireless pixel controller network, LOR says that one way to to that is using 2-G4 directors, using the "Director Link" and 2 ELLs to link them together.

My questions are?

It says that Network 1 can only be used for linking the directors when in this mode, Does this mean a G4 director will power the ELL? 

-If not how do you power them for the wireless director link to work?

Has anyone that has done this and want to give me any tips?

Thanks!

I want to verify how it works before I spend the $$ for 2 G4s

[dibblejr 1,011]

Page 22 of the manual is probably going to be where you want to start. that or submit a HD ticket.

JR

http://www1.lightorama.com/PDF/G4-MP3_Man_Web.pdf

[k6ccc 1,071]

Other option if you are using E1.31 is to use a WiFi link.  Then at the far end, use a WiFi device set up as a bridge and either connect to one or more E1.31 controllers or use the new PixieLink to convert to drive Pixie controllers.

If you go this route DO NOT USE your existing home WiFi - unless you want your show to crash when your kid surfs YouTube or someone does a large file transfer.  Set up a separate WiFi.

 

[MrMatt 0]

I 

4 hours ago, k6ccc said:

Other option if you are using E1.31 is to use a WiFi link.  Then at the far end, use a WiFi device set up as a bridge and either connect to one or more E1.31 controllers or use the new PixieLink to convert to drive Pixie controllers.

If you go this route DO NOT USE your existing home WiFi - unless you want your show to crash when your kid surfs YouTube or someone does a large file transfer.  Set up a separate WiFi.

 

I guess I need to learn how to setup a e1.31 device in LOR, this sounds like it will be cheaper, I am a bit concerned on range for the wifi though.  This is going across the street.

Edited February 23 by MrMatt

[dibblejr 1,011]

2 minutes ago, MrMatt said:

I 

I guess I need to learn how to setup a e1.31 device in LOR, this sounds like it will be cheaper, I am a bit concerned on range for the wifi though.  This is going across the street.

Its easy and many of us can help you out when you get there.

Are you running AC or RGB. Since you are discussing ELL's I am thinking you are talking AC controllers.

JR

[k6ccc 1,071]

42 minutes ago, MrMatt said:

I guess I need to learn how to setup a e1.31 device in LOR, this sounds like it will be cheaper, I am a bit concerned on range for the wifi though.  This is going across the street.

E1.31 pretty easy after you learn a few concepts  You do have up upgrade to at least an Advanced level LOR license to do E1.31.  However for pixels you pretty much need to go Pro anyway.

And if you do it right, it's not a problem to get miles on the right WiFi equipment (I have a 4.2 mile link from my house).

 

[MrMatt 0]

3 hours ago, dibblejr said:

Its easy and many of us can help you out when you get there.

Are you running AC or RGB. Since you are discussing ELL's I am thinking you are talking AC controllers.

JR

I am running both, I am running AC on one side of the street, and adding Pixels on the other side of the street, thus the need for wireless.  Wireless just runs the AC.. In the future I want to run pixels on both sides and thus I am looking for options such as the Pixielink, or maybe just getting some E1.31 controllers to use with wifi.  Just need to take the time to learn this new level, I was happy with the simple AC controllers until now lol.

[Mr. P 712]

Just keep in mind that the ELL's cannot run high speed which the pixels will require so they won't work on a network with pixels on it. ELL's also will not work on a E1.31 network either.

[Orville 406]

On 2/22/2021 at 3:36 PM, MrMatt said:

My goal is to have a Wireless pixel controller network, LOR says that one way to to that is using 2-G4 directors, using the "Director Link" and 2 ELLs to link them together.

My questions are?

It says that Network 1 can only be used for linking the directors when in this mode, Does this mean a G4 director will power the ELL? 

-If not how do you power them for the wireless director link to work?

#1. The N4-G4 to N4-G4 Director Link is only on Network 1 to Network 1 of the 2nd Director.  And if using ELL's this is ONLY for 56K speeds, maybe 115K at most, so if you need Enhanced or higher speeds, like for RGB Controllers that may require both 500K and Enhanced, using ELL's WILL NOT WORK, the ELL's are mainly for older AC Controllers {Pre-Gen 3} or G3 AC Controllers used at LOWER speeds {56K) and NON Enhanced Networks.

#2. The ELL must be supplied with power by using an adapter appropriate for the ELL power requirements.  The N4-G4 Director DOES NOIT supply power to ANY accessories or controllers.   Only the AC Controller closest to the N4-G4 Director will ONLY power the Director, nothing else.  The Director does not pass power to anything else.  Powering the Director ius done by the aforementioned, by a power adapter or by an RS485B adapter or any RS485 adaoter that states it may power an accessory.

As for the 2nd Director that is linked to the first, I'm not sure if power would be passed on to the 2nd Director,  I need to go back and re-read that section of the N4-G4 manual, but I think {not 100% sure though} that the 2nd or any additional N4-G4 Directors that are to be linked may require external power from an adapter, and any others in line if using multiple Directors would each need their own power supply adapter to function as a linked system.  Mainly due to if you got power to the 1st Director from the AC Controller closest to it, then you got power from the 2nd Director from the AC Controller closest to it, you'd only have the ability to link a maximum of 2 Directors, which would defeat the Directors liking option.  It may also cause some odd or undesired effects when running a show from multiple Directors if each is linked to a Controller from the Regular {Network 1 Cat5 jack}  And using external power to the 2nd Director also cuts off all power input from an AC Controller automatically, which I believe is iomplemented so there would be no accidental power feedback to any other Directors connected to the main Director unit whether or not it is powered in one of the 3 ways stated earlier  Also make sure there is NO SD Card in the 2nd Director when using as a "slave" from the main Director or undesired results cam occur.

I haven't used the Director to DIrector link yet, so I don't have any real world experience with it yet, but when I finally migrate to S5 and purcahse a 2nd N4-G4Director, then I'm going to start experimenting around with this "linking" ability to understand it better.