Artistic Licence DMX-Dongle II User manual

DMX-Dongle II
User
Guide
Artistic Licence (UK) Ltd.
Manual Revision V1.11

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Introduction ........................................................................ 7
Quick Start ..................................................................... 7
Features ........................................................................ 7
Installation ...................................................................... 8
Windows 2000 & NT...................................................... 8
Administrator Rights..................................................... 9
Software Installation...................................................10
DMX-Dongle Installation ..................................................... 11
DOS Applications...................................................................12
Quick Start ....................................................................12
Running DMX512 - Analysis.........................................12
Receiving DMX512 ..........................................13
Keyboard Commands .......................................13
Status Window.................................................15
Transmitting DMX512....................................17
Keyboard Commands .......................................17
C O N T E N T S

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Quick
Start
Welcome to the DMX-Dongle User Guide. The guide is split into two
Sections:
• Section 1: Installing the Dongle and Software applications
• Section 2: DOS Software
Please refer to the DMX-Dongle Developer's Guide for additional
technical information. The Developer's Guide is available free of
charge from the Artistic Licence web site.
The DMX-Dongle II is supplied with a sophisticated DMX512 analysis
package called DMX-Workshop. This software is also compatible with
the Artistic Licence range of Art-Net Ethernet products. Please see
the DMX-Workshop User Guide for further details.
Features
The DMX-Dongle provides the following features:
• DMX512 transmission of 512 channel data.
• Programmable transmit Break, Mark after Break and Header
Code
• DMX512 receive with programmable base address
• Receive 512 channels @ 8 bit resolution and full bandwidth
• Programmable Merge and Loop Through
• Programmable receive Header Code
I N T R O D U C T I O N

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INSTALLATION
The DMX-Dongle II is compatible with all recent Windows
platforms including Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000, NT4 and XP. It is
also compatible with MS-DOS and PC-DOS. Linux is not currently
supported but is in development.
For Windows operation, you must install DMX-Workshop. This
installs the device drivers, applications, DOS software and
software development kit.
If you wish to use the DMX-Dongle on a DOS machine, you must
install the software on a Windows machine and then copy the
DOS applications to the MS-DOS machine. To do this, make a
copy of all files in the folder:
C:\Program Files\Artistic Licence\DMX-Workshop\DOS
Windows 2000, NT
& XP Users The Windows 2000, Windows NT and Windows XP operating
systems provide the concept of User Rights. This allows different
users to be granted different access rights to the computer.
The highest level of access rights is called ‘Administrator’. DMX-
Workshop will NOT install correctly unless you are logged onto
the computer with Administrator rights.
If your computer is part of a network, you must ask your system
administrator to set the computer for Administrator rights.
If you are a single user, the following sequence shows how to
change the settings:

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Administrator
Rights Administrator rights are
set in the Windows Users
& Passwords section:
To access this, select the
Start Menu – Settings –
Control Panel menu.
In the Control Panel,
double click on the Users &
Passwords icon. The
following dialogue will be
displayed:
Select the user who will
install DMX-Workshop. In
this example, it is Benoit.
Then press the Properties
button.
The following dialogue will
then be displayed:
Select the ‘Other’
checkbox.
Select ‘Administrators’
from the pull down list.
Press OK. You should now
restart Windows and then
log on as the user name
that you have edited.

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Software
Installation
DMX-Workshop is supplied on CD. To install use the following
procedure:
If you are upgrading, first uninstall the existing copy of DMX-
Workshop.
• Shutdown any applications running on your computer
• Insert the CD in drive.
• Wait for CD to start, then select ‘Enter CD’.
• Select the ‘Software’ button.
• Select the ‘DMX-Workshop’ button.
• Install Shield will then guide you through the remainder of the
procedure.
It is not important whether you install the software before or
after connecting the DMX-Dongle II to your computer.

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DMX-Dongle
Installation
The DMX-Dongle must only be connected to your computer when it
is switched off.
The Dongle connects to the parallel port (Printer port) of you PC.
Most computers have a female DB25 connector for this purpose.
The following steps show how to correctly install the Dongle:
• Switch off the PC
• Disconnect your existing printer from the parallel port
• Plug the DMX-Dongle into the parallel port
• Disconnect your keyboard cable
• Plug the male Din connector of the Dongle into the PC
keyboard connection
• Plug your keyboard into the DMX-Dongle.
• Ensure that the male DIN or MiniDin which is not used has
the plastic cover connected
• Switch your computer back on
If you are using a laptop computer, there is no external keyboard
to be reconnected.
The DMX-Dongle must be connected to the PC keyboard port for
its power connection. It does not affect the operation of the
keyboard nor does it disable the internal keyboard of a laptop.
You can connect to either the Keyboard or Mouse port.
If your PC does not have a PS2 port available, you can use a USB to
PS2 adapter. This allows the DMX-Dongle II to be powered via the
USB port. Such adapters are available from most computers shops
or can be ordered from Artistic Licence.
In the unlikely event that your PC does not have a keyboard port,
please contact Artistic Licence for details of external power supply
options.

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Quick Start
The DMX-Analysis software is a DOS program, which provides a
comprehensive range of test facilities for receiving and
transmitting DMX512 and DMX512-A. The feature set is
comparable with the Artistic Licence Micro-Scope.
Whilst MS-DOS is now considered a very old operating system,
it is worth considering this option. Almost any speed of
computer running MS-DOS combined with the DMX-Dongle II
will provide a very powerful test system.
The DOS software will run in a DOS window under Windows 95,
98 & ME but not on Windows 2000, NT or XP.
Running
DMX-Analysis
The program is called DMX.EXE. To execute type the following:
C:\DONGLE\ANALYSIS\DMX
The directory can be added to your PATH statement, which will
allow the program to execute from any directory. To do this add
the following to the end of the PATH statement in your
AUTOEXEC.BAT file:
C:\DONGLE\ANALYSIS
The program is now executed by typing:
DMX
If the Check program returned a different IO address you
should add this as a command line extension. For example:
DMX 0x278
D O S A P P L I C A T I O N S

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Receiving
DMX512
The DMX program starts in receive mode.
The screen is split into two sections. The upper section shows
the levels of 64 channels of received data. The lower section
shows all the DMX512 timing and error information.
In receive mode the following keyboard controls are used:
Keyboard
Commands
HOME
Sets the channel display range to 1 - 64.
END
Sets the channel display range to 449 - 512.
PGDN
Selects the next channel display range. If the current range is 1
- 64 the next range will be 65 - 128.
PGUP
Selects the previous channel display range. If the current range
is 65 - 128 the previous range will be 1 - 64.
F2 - Start
Selects a new receive start code. Only DMX512 frames with a
matching start code will be displayed. Any frames which do not
match are counted and displayed in the status window
F3 - Base
Cycles through the available display bases for the channel levels.
These are decimal, hexadecimal and binary.
F4 - Reset Counters
Clears to zero the Frame and Error counters in the status
window.
F5 - Transmit
Selects DMX512 transmit mode.

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F7 – Mode
This key cycles through the six available receive display modes:
• Receive: Displays numeric data for the selected start
code.
• Min: Displays the lowest values received.
• Max: Displays the highest values received.
• Text: Displays DMX512-A text messages.
• SIP: Displays DMX512-A System Information Packets.
• RDM: Displays Remote Device Management Messages.
F8 – Loop
This key cycles through the three available loop modes:
• Off: DMX output is generated by the PC.
• On: The DMX output connects to the DMX Input.
• Mge: The PC output and the DMX input are HTP merged
to the output.
F10 - Exit
Exit to Dos.

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Status
Window
The Status window provides the following information:
Chan
The number of channels received in the last DMX frame. This
number may vary from 1 - 512 depending on the transmitting
console. It should however remain stable at a particular value
Period
The repeat time of the last two consecutive DMX frames. This
value shows how fast the console is transmitting information. As
the value increases beyond 50mS you will start to notice lamp
fades become 'lumpy'. The actual value will depend on the
console but should be about 25-30mS.
Refresh
The refresh rate is the reciprocal of the period. It is measured
in Hz and therefore shows the number of DMX frames received
per second. It should be in the range 30Hz to 40Hz.
Break
The length of the break signal. The break signal is used to
synchronise frames of DMX data. The specification requires
this value to be greater than 88uS. The actual value is console
dependent but usually in the range 100uS to 300uS. A value of
less than 88uS shows that a problem exists with the
transmitting console.
MaB
The Mark after Break length. The MaB is the time delay
between the end of the break signal and transmission of the
header code. The specification requires this value to be greater
than 8uS. The actual value is console dependant but usually
about 20uS. Prior to the 1990 upgrade to the DMX512
specification a MaB time of 4uS was allowed. This was changed
because it put an unnecessarily onerous demand on the receive
electronics. Modern receivers may not receive DMX with a MaB
time of less than 8uS.
Start
The Header code is in theory used to identify the type of data
contained in the DMX512 frame. In practice almost all
manufacturers use a zero header code irrelevant of the
intended destination of the DMX signal.
The Header code can be programmed with the F3 key. DMX-
Analysis will only display data with a matching header code.
If your DMX signal contains data with different header codes,
you can investigate the data using this field and also the Bad
Header count in the Error Log.

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Packet Count
The Packet count shows how many DMX frames with a matching
Start Code have been received since the last Reset Counters
(F4) command. When good DMX is being received, this field
should be incrementing.
Other Start
The Packet count shows how many DMX frames with a non-
matching Start Code have been received since the last Reset
Counters (F4) command.
Error Log - Framing
The Framing count shows how many DMX frames with a framing
error, have been received since the last Reset Counters (F4)
command. In normal operation this field will display zero. If
framing errors are being received it is almost always due to bad
cable or incorrectly terminated DMX512 lines.
Error Log - Overrun
The Framing count shows how many DMX frames with an overrun
error, have been received since the last Reset Counters (F4)
command. In normal operation this field will display zero. If
overrun errors are being received it is almost always due to bad
cable or incorrectly terminated DMX512 lines.

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Transmitting
DMX512
The DMX transmit mode is selected with the F5 key.
Transmit mode allows 50 memories to be programmed. Each
memory contains level information for all 512 channels plus a
legend to describe the purpose of each memory. The memories
can be saved to your hard disc in order that commonly used
patterns may be retained.
Keyboard
Commands
CURSOR keys
Move the cursor to select a new edit channel.
HOME
Sets the channel display range to 1 - 64.
END
Sets the channel display range to 449 - 512.
PGDN
Selects the next channel display range. If the current range is 1
- 64 the next range will be 65 - 128.
PGUP
Selects the previous channel display range. If the current range
is 65 - 128 the previous range will be 1 - 64.
0-9
Enter a new level for the cursor channel. The new level is
transmitted to the DMX output as it is entered.
F3 - Base
Cycles through the available display bases for the channel levels.
These are decimal, hexadecimal and binary.
F6 - Receive
Selects DMX512 receive mode.
F8 - Save
Saves all memories to a specified file. DMX-Analysis
automatically adds the .dmx extension to your filename.
F9 - Load
Load all memories from a specified file. DMX-Analysis
automatically adds the .dmx extension to your filename.
<
Select the previous memory number and output to DMX.

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>
Select the next memory number and output to DMX.
M
Enter a memory number in the range 1 to 50.
L
Select the legend entry window to enter a name for current
memory.
F10 - Exit
Exit to Dos.

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The information contained in this document is subject to change without notice.
Artistic Licence (UK) Ltd. makes no warranty of any kind with regard to this material,
including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of fitness for a particular purpose.
Artistic Licence (UK) Ltd. shall not be liable for errors contained herein or for
incidental or consequential damages in connection with the furnishing, performance or
use of this material.
Artistic Licence
© Artistic Licence (UK) Ltd. 1995-2004
B1 & B3 Livingstone Court
Peel Road
Harrow
Middlesex
England
HA3 7QT
Tel: [phone]