iDMX-1000 and Intimidator 1.0

[Austen]

Hey everyone, I'm having a problem..



I can't control each gobo on my Intimidator 1.0, it just cycles through them, all the time. The unit ID is set to 10, and on the Intimidator the Dip switch is on 1. It is powered by my controller (ID is 1, and my second controller ID is 2). I'm pretty sure everything is connected properly. I even tried terminating it. I connected 1 100ohm 1 watt resistor with 2 10ohm 1 watt resistors. I made a chain with them, and stuck the ends into pins 2 and 3 of the DMX output on the Intimidator. (this is supposed to help communication problems someone told me, even though my xlr cable is only 25 ft. )


If you need more info that I missed, let me know.

Otherwise, any suggestions?

[Austen]

OK, I think my problem is the cable.. I'm using a microphone cable. I just ordered a DMX cable from Best Buy, so lets see if this fixes it!

[Frank A.]

Good morning

I do not believe the cable is the issue

I use a mix of mic and dmx cables -- no problems yet

I think I understand your config

first controller address 1(LOR network)

second controller address 2(LOR network)

IDMX address 10(LOR network)

Intimidator address 1(DMX network)

Connect the networks both LOR and DMX

Make sure the sequence editor is not running

Start the hardware utility -- do a refresh

Refresh should see both LOR controllers, 1 and 2, and 16 controllers from the

IDMX, 10 thru 1F

Select console from the top menu of the hardware utility
under controller type -- select standard controller
under select unit id -- select 1 0(zero)

This now gives you control of the first sixteen channels of the IDMX(LOR network)
According to the Intimidator manual (page 11) it utilizes 4 channels of dmx
channel 1--gobo color channel 2--Strobe channel 3--pan channel 4--tilt

these channel designations are 10.01 - gobo color 10.02-strobe 10.03-pan 10.04-tilt as shown on the console screen

move slide bar 10.01 to a value of 25%(about 64 on the 000-255 scale)

move slide bar 10.02 to a value of 25%

The light unit should be on -- adjusting 10.02 will change the strobe effect and changing 10.01 will change the color gobo

I would document these color changes and strobe changes for later sequence development Also this would be the four addresses that you would utilize in a sequence

As a note - the next dmx device you use will start at address 5 -- that means you have to set the dip switch on that next unit to a value of five -- no other configuration changes have to be done with the LOR network



Frank A.

[Frank A.]

Hi

you may want to follow this post also

http://lightorama.mywowbb.com/forum75/20507.html

Frank A.

[Austen]

Thank you so much for your reply, but something doesn't match up with what you are telling me..



You said:

Refresh should see both LOR controllers, 1 and 2, and 16 controllers from the

IDMX, 10 thru 1F




OK, refresh does see 2 controllers, and then it goes: 10 IDMX1000 Ver 1.30 , 11 IDM1000 Ver 1.30 and on until 14.

[stachows]

Just to eliminate all intereference, Can you remove your other two controllers from the mix, and then refresh...

Depending on which LOR USB/Serial adapter you ahve, you might need to power the IDMX with a 9-12 volt DC power supply for it to power up(since it gets power from a LOR controller.)

Scott.

[Frank A.]

Hi

Do not have an explanation for only showing 5 addresses

I would try a firmware update

Even if it is the same version

From the main screen of the hardware utility select

firmmware(bottom row)

highlight the idmx in the select unit to configure box (next to refresh)

Step 1 select unit -- selected unit listed above

Step 2 Select firmware file --open -- select idmx1000_1-??.lhx

Step 3 press download button -- start download -- may take a couple of minutes

after download is complete try doing a refresh

Frank A.

[Frank A.]

Hi

Another thought is to reset the idmx

I think you are powering the idmx through the cat5 - you do not

have a seperate power supply

If that is true

Unplug the cat5 from the idmx (leds on idmx should go out)

hold the blue button in

plug the cat5 back into the idmx

When the status indicator next to the blue button flashes

you can release the button

This will probably reset your address -- not an issue

Do a refresh in the hardware utility

Frank A.

[Austen]

Frank A. wrote:

Hi

Another thought is to reset the idmx

I think you are powering the idmx through the cat5 - you do not

have a seperate power supply

If that is true

Unplug the cat5 from the idmx (leds on idmx should go out)

hold the blue button in

plug the cat5 back into the idmx

When the status indicator next to the blue button flashes

you can release the button

This will probably reset your address -- not an issue

Do a refresh in the hardware utility

Frank A.

I have already tried that..

[Austen]

Frank A. wrote:

Hi

Do not have an explanation for only showing 5 addresses

I would try a firmware update

Even if it is the same version

From the main screen of the hardware utility select

firmmware(bottom row)

highlight the idmx in the select unit to configure box (next to refresh)

Step 1 select unit -- selected unit listed above

Step 2 Select firmware file --open -- select idmx1000_1-??.lhx

Step 3 press download button -- start download -- may take a couple of minutes

after download is complete try doing a refresh

Frank A.

I will try this and see what happens. Thanks.

[Austen]

OK, so my new DMX cable came.. I tried controlling it with that, and I had the same exact problem. So its not the cable.

I then tried updating firmware.. Still, same problem.



I honestly think I have tried everything possible. Nothing is working.

[Frank A.]

good morning

not good news but we got to keep plugging away

someone will figure this out

what version software 2.38 - 2.48 - 2.60 ?

what level software basic -- advanced ?

please list the info listed after you refresh

just an idea -- change the address of the idmx

from the hardware utility -- change existing id --

I believe idmx address is now 10

change to 20 if this does not conflict with other equipment addresses

refresh and list info



Frank A.

[Austen]

Frank A. wrote:

good morning

not good news but we got to keep plugging away

someone will figure this out

what version software 2.38 - 2.48 - 2.60 ?

what level software basic -- advanced ?

please list the info listed after you refresh

just an idea -- change the address of the idmx

from the hardware utility -- change existing id --

I believe idmx address is now 10

change to 20 if this does not conflict with other equipment addresses

refresh and list info



Frank A.

My hardware version is 2.5.6 Advanced. (sequence editor is the same as well.)



I changed the ID to 20, and this is what showed up:



20-DMX1000 Ver 1.30

21-DMX1000 Ver 1.30

and so on until

25-DMX1000 Ver 1.30



So basically this is what it did before when the ID was 10.

Just to make sure.. When I change the DMX ID, the Intimidator is NOT connected, and the dip switch is still on one. I'm pretty sure I'm doing that right..



Still, its just cycling through the gobos, and each slider controls it in the same way.

[Austen]

Ok, so I changed the DMX ID back to 10.

I then set Max Unit Id to the maximum value (F0)

I refreshed, and it found 16 units (remember, only the iDMX-1000 is connected):

10-DMX1000 Ver 1.30

through

19-DMX1000 Ver 1.30

and then

1A-DMX1000 Ver 1.30

through

1F-DMX1000 Ver 1.30



I don't get why its finding 16 units just for the iDMX-1000.

[Denny]

16 units X 16 channels per unit = 256 channels which is the number of DMX channels that the iDMX 1000 supports. When the iDMX first came out a few years ago, Dan was going to upgrade it to a full 512 DMX channels and from what I remember, it would show up differently in the hardware utility. Can't remember all the specifics as I think this was posted about three years ago. Until such time as LOR modifies the programing, it will show up as 16 individual controllers.

[Austen]

Denny wrote:

16 units X 16 channels per unit = 256 channels which is the number of DMX channels that the iDMX 1000 supports. When the iDMX first came out a few years ago, Dan was going to upgrade it to a full 512 DMX channels and from what I remember, it would show up differently in the hardware utility. Can't remember all the specifics as I think this was posted about three years ago. Until such time as LOR modifies the programing, it will show up as 16 individual controllers.

Oohh.. Makes sense. Thanks.

[Austen]

Anyone have any more ideas? I would like to figure this out before opening day (Thursday..)



I'm still trying things too.

[Frank A.]

Hi Austen

the only thing I see on my chauvet equipment is dip

switch 10 needs to be on for dmx control

so you might want to try switch 1 and 10 to the on position

the other manufacturers differ with switch 10

all of my chauvet equipment has switch 10 on

in the manual it says this is 'option' -- still worth trying

since you are back to address 10 on idmx

10.01 10.02 10.03 10.04 are your control channels in both the

hardwar utility and editor

Frank A.

[Austen]

Frank A. wrote:

Hi Austen

the only thing I see on my chauvet equipment is dip

switch 10 needs to be on for dmx control

so you might want to try switch 1 and 10 to the on position

the other manufacturers differ with switch 10

all of my chauvet equipment has switch 10 on

in the manual it says this is 'option' -- still worth trying

since you are back to address 10 on idmx

10.01 10.02 10.03 10.04 are your control channels in both the

hardwar utility and editor

Frank A.

Nope. Didn't work. I even read my Intimidator manuel again and tried to figure out what dip switches should be turned on..

Nothing worked.

Its almost like the iDMX-1000 isn't communicating with the Intimidator?

[Frank A.]

Austen

what are the indicators on the idmx displaying

staus indicator next to blue reset button -- should be

[align=left]Status LED[/align]
[align=left]LED blinking approximately twice/second: Controller[/align]
[align=left]has booted correctly and is waiting for commands.[/align]
[align=left]The controller is not connected to a Light O Rama[/align]
[align=left]network or the network is not active.[/align]
[align=left]LED is on solid: Controller is connected to an active[/align]
[align=left]network (is receiving the heartbeat and commands[/align]
[align=left]from a PC, a Show Director or another controller)[/align]
[align=left]LED blinks on for a long pulse and off for a short[/align]
[align=left]pulse: Controller firmware needs to be downloaded.[/align]
[align=left]See the Updating Controller Firmware section.[/align]
LED flutters: Controller is running a standalone sequence

or downloading firmware (page 22 lor manual)

[align=left]Data LED[/align]
[align=left]Blinks once for every 40 DMX packets transmitted if[/align]
[align=left]no DMX input detected on the DMX In connector.[/align]
Steady on when a DMX input signal is being passed

through to the DMX output (page 20 lor manual)

another idea is change polarity

[align=left]Polarity Switch[/align]
[align=left]This switch reverses pins 2 and 3 on the DMX out[/align]
[align=left]connector. Normal polarity is with the switch to the[/align]
[align=left]right as shown in the preceding figure.[/align]
[align=left]never needed to try this on my system[/align]
[align=left]Frank A.[/align]
[align=left]Have a great Thanksgiving[/align]