Idea share: PoE ArtNet Node
Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 8:55 am
Hi,
I just wanted to share an idea, how you may setup your next installation. We use Gigabit Network with PoE-enabled switches almost everywhere in the building. After some issues with USB DMX controllers I ordered some ArtNet nodes from Ulrich Radig. The first one is supplied with 9V and comes with a lot of THT parts, so it may take 1 hour to solder all the components:
https://www.ulrichradig.de/home/index.php/dmx/alias-2
The newer version is called the ArtNet Box and has a wide-input power supply (7-15 Volt DC), is a bit smaller and comes with only a few THT parts (DC connector, Ethernet Connector, Jumper Head) to be soldered. Mr. Radig also sells a case for the board. Together it's 75 EUR (+shipping) and 3 EUR for a optional DIN-Rail mount.
http://www.ulrichradig.de/home/index.ph ... rt-net-box
I added a PoE splitter (802.3af => 12V) and connect the unit just over a RJ45-Cat6 cable to our switch and with a DMX-connector to the beginning of the DMX line.
To avoid unnecessary broadcast packets I setup QLC+ to address the ArtNet packets only to the ArtNet Box. The broadcast may also kill your WiFi performance btw.
QLC+ is currently running on a RPI2 in the rack, with a local X11 server running and a x11vnc server for remote control (mainly setup). The control of the lights is done mainly over OSC - either from the home automation (as simple as turning off the ceiling lights: Chaser ON/OFF, mirror ball ON/OFF) or a TouchOSC user interface on android tablets.
In the first step only our hall (eg. 300 pax weddings, 400 pax concerts) is controlled this way (1 moving head, 4 RGBW PAR, 32 PAR 56/64, strobe, fogger, bubbles).
The pub will follow these days including some W/RGB-Stripes, RGB PARs and some dimmers. So nothing fancy but a great deal for most of our customers as they get great lights without spending hours on setup.
The Raspberry PI2 runs QLC+ on X11, a squeezelite client (eg. internet radio) and a darkice recording instance parallel. The user interface responds quite OK (could be better but hey, it's a 35$ board). It might be replaced by a virtual machine on a server.
Lessions learned:
- QLC+ is grat. Not just for big installations but also for smaller ones.
- If you have a PoE enabled Network - I can highly recommend the ArtNet Box from Ulrich Radig + PoE Splitter
- QLC+ runs great on any PC, but in many cases a RPI is more than enough
Let me know if you have any idea or question rgd. this setup!
regards
I just wanted to share an idea, how you may setup your next installation. We use Gigabit Network with PoE-enabled switches almost everywhere in the building. After some issues with USB DMX controllers I ordered some ArtNet nodes from Ulrich Radig. The first one is supplied with 9V and comes with a lot of THT parts, so it may take 1 hour to solder all the components:
https://www.ulrichradig.de/home/index.php/dmx/alias-2
The newer version is called the ArtNet Box and has a wide-input power supply (7-15 Volt DC), is a bit smaller and comes with only a few THT parts (DC connector, Ethernet Connector, Jumper Head) to be soldered. Mr. Radig also sells a case for the board. Together it's 75 EUR (+shipping) and 3 EUR for a optional DIN-Rail mount.
http://www.ulrichradig.de/home/index.ph ... rt-net-box
I added a PoE splitter (802.3af => 12V) and connect the unit just over a RJ45-Cat6 cable to our switch and with a DMX-connector to the beginning of the DMX line.
To avoid unnecessary broadcast packets I setup QLC+ to address the ArtNet packets only to the ArtNet Box. The broadcast may also kill your WiFi performance btw.
QLC+ is currently running on a RPI2 in the rack, with a local X11 server running and a x11vnc server for remote control (mainly setup). The control of the lights is done mainly over OSC - either from the home automation (as simple as turning off the ceiling lights: Chaser ON/OFF, mirror ball ON/OFF) or a TouchOSC user interface on android tablets.
In the first step only our hall (eg. 300 pax weddings, 400 pax concerts) is controlled this way (1 moving head, 4 RGBW PAR, 32 PAR 56/64, strobe, fogger, bubbles).
The pub will follow these days including some W/RGB-Stripes, RGB PARs and some dimmers. So nothing fancy but a great deal for most of our customers as they get great lights without spending hours on setup.
The Raspberry PI2 runs QLC+ on X11, a squeezelite client (eg. internet radio) and a darkice recording instance parallel. The user interface responds quite OK (could be better but hey, it's a 35$ board). It might be replaced by a virtual machine on a server.
Lessions learned:
- QLC+ is grat. Not just for big installations but also for smaller ones.
- If you have a PoE enabled Network - I can highly recommend the ArtNet Box from Ulrich Radig + PoE Splitter
- QLC+ runs great on any PC, but in many cases a RPI is more than enough
Let me know if you have any idea or question rgd. this setup!
regards