I'm working on getting QLC setup, and I am wondering about adapters. Is it possible to use a USB to CAT5 adapter instead of a USB to DMX adapter, while still having it run like a USB to DMX adapter? I have the items necessary to do it with CAT5 and would prefer to do that instead of buying a new adaptor.
Thanks!
USB to Ethernet?
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janosvitok
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DMX protocol is a special case of RS485 (similar to normal serial port RS232, but with higher voltage and balanced wiring). So most of USB-DMX adapters are in fact USB-RS485 adapters.
It doesn't matter if the connector used is XLR or RJ45. It also doesn't matter if the cable is DMX or CAT5. CAT5 should work good enough for DMX (you can run 2 or 3 DMX lines over single CAT5, use google for wiring diagram).
But: if your adapter converts USB to Ethernet, and your lights expect DMX/RS485, you must somehow/somewhere convert Ethernet to DMX. They are two different protocols.
You have two possibilities:
- either you buy USB-DMX adapter
- or you buy Ethernet-DMX adapter (like Enttec ODE, or DMXKing eDMX. Example protocols for DMX over IP: ArtNet or sACN.
It doesn't matter if the connector used is XLR or RJ45. It also doesn't matter if the cable is DMX or CAT5. CAT5 should work good enough for DMX (you can run 2 or 3 DMX lines over single CAT5, use google for wiring diagram).
But: if your adapter converts USB to Ethernet, and your lights expect DMX/RS485, you must somehow/somewhere convert Ethernet to DMX. They are two different protocols.
You have two possibilities:
- either you buy USB-DMX adapter
- or you buy Ethernet-DMX adapter (like Enttec ODE, or DMXKing eDMX. Example protocols for DMX over IP: ArtNet or sACN.