Artistic Licence Commissioner rdmx User manual

Commissioner rdmx
User Guide
Artistic Licence Engineering Ltd
Firmware v1.3 User Guide v2.0

2

3
Introduction ........................................................................................................................................7
DMX / RDM Connection......................................................................................................................7
Power..................................................................................................................................................7
USB..................................................................................................................................................8
Battery.............................................................................................................................................8
Switching On and Off ..........................................................................................................................8
Menu Navigation.................................................................................................................................9
USER Key .........................................................................................................................................9
Top Menu..........................................................................................................................................10
DMX512 Menu..................................................................................................................................11
DMX - TRANSMIT Menu....................................................................................................................11
DMX - TRANSMIT - CHANNEL Menu .............................................................................................11
DMX - TRANSMIT - RANGE Menu .................................................................................................12
DMX –TRANSMIT - SCENE Menu..................................................................................................13
DMX –TRANSMIT - SNAPSHOT Menu ..........................................................................................14
DMX –TRANSMIT - CONFIG Menu ...............................................................................................14
DMX - RECEIVE Menu........................................................................................................................16
DMX –RECEIVE - STATUS Menu ...................................................................................................16
DMX –RECEIVE - GRAPH Menu ....................................................................................................17
Insight icon display....................................................................................................................17
DMX –RECEIVE - DECIMAL Menu.................................................................................................18
DMX –RECEIVE - COLOUR Menu..................................................................................................19
DMX –RECEIVE - SINGLE Menu ....................................................................................................19
DMX –RECEIVE –16-BIT Menu.....................................................................................................20
DMX –RECEIVE - FLICKER Menu...................................................................................................20
DMX –RECEIVE - STATS Menu......................................................................................................23
DMX - RDM Menu.............................................................................................................................24
DMX –RDM –DISCOVER Menu....................................................................................................24
DMX –RDM - PATCH Menu ..........................................................................................................25
Get the start address of the first root device ...........................................................................26
Get the start address of the second root device ......................................................................26
Get the start address of the second device’s second sub-device.............................................27
Set the start address of the first root device............................................................................27
DMX –RDM –AUTO-ADD Menu...................................................................................................28
DMX –RDM - MESSAGE Menu .....................................................................................................28
Get the status messages from the first root device..................................................................29

4
DMX –RDM –GET+SET Menu ......................................................................................................29
Get the start address of the first root device ...........................................................................30
Get the start address of the second root device ......................................................................31
Get the footprint of the second device’s second sub-device ...................................................31
Set the start address of the first root device............................................................................31
Set the names of both devices..................................................................................................32
DMX –RDM - SENSORS Menu ......................................................................................................33
Get the first sensor from the first root device..........................................................................34
DMX - ADVANCED Menu...................................................................................................................35
DMX –ADVANCED - LOOP Menu..................................................................................................35
DMX –ADVANCED –FIX RX Menu................................................................................................36
DMX –ADVANCED - NETWORK Menu..........................................................................................36
DMX –ADVANCED - BOBULATE Menu .........................................................................................38
DMX - CABLE Menu...........................................................................................................................41
DMX –CABLE - DOUBLE Menu......................................................................................................41
Good cable ................................................................................................................................41
Data cores swapped..................................................................................................................42
Broken ground (screen) ............................................................................................................42
CALC Menu........................................................................................................................................43
Example.....................................................................................................................................43
Torch Menu.......................................................................................................................................43
CONFIG Menu ...................................................................................................................................44
BACKLIGHT Menu..............................................................................................................................45
Glossary.............................................................................................................................................46
Channel .....................................................................................................................................46
Slot ............................................................................................................................................46
Data slot....................................................................................................................................46
Footprint ...................................................................................................................................46
Personality ................................................................................................................................46
RDM ..........................................................................................................................................46
Refresh rate...............................................................................................................................46
Get.............................................................................................................................................46
Set .............................................................................................................................................46
ISD .............................................................................................................................................46
Warranty...........................................................................................................................................47
Compliance .......................................................................................................................................47

5
Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE).............................................................................47

6

7
Introduction
Commissioner rdmx is a battery-powered, hand-held tool for transmitting and receiving DMX512,
commissioning RDM devices and testing cables and DMX512 infrastructure.
DMX / RDM Connection
The DMX / RDM connection is made via the RJ45 at the top of the product. The pin-out follows the
DMX512 standard for DMX output and so can be used for direct connection to equipment via a
standard patch cable. Users requiring 5-pin XLR can purchase an adapter.
Pin-out is as follows:
Pair
Pin
Colour
Function
XLR Pin
2
1
White/Orange
Tx+
Female Pin 3
2
Orange
Tx-
Female Pin 2
3
3
White/Green
Rx+
Male Pin 3
6
Green
Rx-
Male Pin 2
1
4
Blue
N/C
5
White/Blue
Trigger
Female Pin 4
4
7
White/Brown
Tx 0V
Female Pin 1 & 5
8
Brown
Rx 0V
Male Pin 1
Power
Commissioner can be powered from two sources:
The 40-character, 4-line
backlit LCD display
switches to two or three-
line mode for larger text.
The cursor keys are
referred to as UP, RIGHT,
DOWN and LEFT in this
document.
The MENU keys toggles
between menu-mode and
run-mode.
The USER key allows fast
access to frequently used
functions.
The ENTER key is used to
activate commands within
the sub-menus
The FUNCT key cycles
through all the available
functions within a sub-
menu
The FUNCT key also
doubles as the power
button. Hold for 3-seconds
to power-off.

8
USB
The USB connector is used for power and battery charging. There is no data connection.
Battery
Commissioner is designed to run on battery power for extended periods. 2 x NIMH rechargeable
batteries are supplied. The batteries are recharged via the USB port.
Approximately 100 hours of continuous operation is expected per battery recharge. Commissioner
will power down after a user defined period (10 minutes by default) of inactivity. In power-down
standby, the batteries will last for several months. However, if the product is used infrequently, we
recommend storing without batteries fitted.
The rear panel green indicator illuminates when charging the batteries. When full charge is reached,
the indicator will blip green.
Switching On and Off
Commissioner is switched on by pressing FUNCT. Switch off is achieved by holding FUNCT for three
seconds.
Once powered on, the product will display the splash screen which includes the firmware revision
number and then display the top menu.

9
Menu Navigation
Menu navigation is intuitive and will be familiar to users of other Artistic Licence products. At a given
time, the product is either in menu-mode or run-mode. The MENU key switches between these
modes. The figure below shows the top menu. The UP and DOWN keys scroll the menu up and
down. The <and >icons indicate that the LEFT and RIGHT keys can be used to navigate through the
menu. The [icon indicates that there is no LEFT function: i.e., you are at the top menu.
As shown in the figure below, the Kicon indicates the option to run the selected function. In this
example, the TRANSMIT -> CHANNEL function. To do so, press ENTER.
USER Key
The USER key is used to control the user programmed short-cut list. To add or remove a menu to the
short-cut list, navigate to the desired menu. Then hold the USER key for 3 seconds. If the menu is
already in the list, it will be removed and the backlight will blip red. If it is not in the list, it will be
added and the backlight will blip green.
To use the short-cut list, short-press USER which will access the next menu item in the list.
The short-cut list is stored in flash memory and so will be retained between power cycles and when
batteries are removed.
TOP MENU
[DMX512 >
CALC
DMX512 TX
<CHANNEL K
RANGE

10
Top Menu
The top menu provides access to numerous operational and configuration menus.
Keys operate as follows:
LEFT Navigates to higher level menu if it is available.
RIGHT Navigates to sub-menu if it is available.
UP and DOWN Select entry from the current menu.
ENTER Access the menu function if the Kis displayed, otherwise it behaves as if RIGHT is
pressed.
FUNCT Not used in this menu.
USER Short press selects the next shortcut menu from the user programmed list.
TOP MENU
[DMX512 >
CALC

11
DMX512 Menu
The DMX512 menu categorises all the available DMX512 and RDM functions as listed below. Use the
RIGHT key to access the relevant sub-menus.
The DMX sub-menus are:
TRANSMIT Transmit test patterns of DMX to dimmers or fixtures.
RECEIVE Receive and view DMX levels plus analyse timing.
RDM Discover, configure and monitor RDM devices.
ADVANCED Test the DMX network, fix bad DMX and access our unique discombobulator.
CABLE Test connectivity of the three DMX conductors.
DMX - TRANSMIT Menu
The DMX-TRANSMIT menu provides five options. Use UP and DOWN to navigate and then press
ENTER.
The sub-menus are:
CHANNEL Transmit a single channel at a level.
RANGE Transmit a range of channels at a level or changing levels.
SCENE Playback one of forty recorded scenes.
SNAPSHOT Snapshot (record from received DMX) into any of the forty scenes.
CONFIG Setup numerous timing parameters for transmitted DMX.
DMX - TRANSMIT - CHANNEL Menu
This menu allows transmission of a single channel (aka data slot) of DMX at any level.
Keys operate as follows:
LEFT and RIGHT Navigate through the option fields. In the product, option fields are shown in
UPPER CASE. In this guide, option fields are highlighted in red.
UP and DOWN Select the required value within an option field.
DMX MENU
TRANSMIT
<RECEIVE >
RDM
DMX512 TX
<CHANNELK
RANGE

12
ENTER Toggle the level of the selected channel.
FUNCT Not used.
USER 3 second press to add or remove this menu from the shortcut list.
When would I use this?
This is the classic ‘rig check’ mode that allows you to cycle through all the channels checking the
lighting rig lamp by lamp.
DMX - TRANSMIT - RANGE Menu
This menu allows transmission of a range of channels.
Keys operate as follows:
LEFT and RIGHT Navigate through the option fields. In the product, option fields are shown in
UPPER CASE. In this guide, option fields are highlighted in red.
UP and DOWN Select the required value within an option field.
ENTER Toggle the level of the selected channel.
FUNCT Cycle through the operating functions, independent of the selected option field.
USER 3 second press to add or remove this menu from the shortcut list.
The operating functions are:
MAN DMX transmitted to the range of channels at the selected level.
SNAP Snap between on and off every second.
FADE Slowly fades to full and rolls over to zero.
RAMP Slowly fades to full then back to zero.
ALT Odd channels fade up while even channels fade down.
WALK Each channel in the range is illuminated in sequence.
RGB Each group of three channels in the selected range is treated as RGB and cycled though
primary and then secondary colour mixes.
Tx Single
Chan 001
at 255/255
Tx Range:
001 - 512
at 255/255
Func: WALK

13
RGBW Each group of four channels in the selected range is treated as RGBW and cycled through
primary and then secondary colour mixes.
To change the operating function either press the FUNCT key or select the Func field and use the UP
and DOWN keys.
When would I use this?
If you need to go to the stage or outside a building to check lamps, this menu allows an
automatically changing test pattern to be transmitted. Hint: Check the Standby Timer to ensure
Commissioner does not power down when you are away!
DMX –TRANSMIT - SCENE Menu
The DMX-TRANSMIT-SCENE menu is used to playback and edit any of the forty scenes. The scenes
are saved in flash memory and so will be available between power cycles and even when batteries
are removed.
Keys operate as follows:
LEFT and RIGHT Navigate through the option fields. In the product, option fields are shown in
UPPER CASE. In this guide, option fields are highlighted in red.
UP and DOWN Select the required value within an option field.
ENTER Toggle the level of the selected channel.
FUNCT Not used.
USER 3 second press to add or remove this menu from the shortcut list.
The fields are:
Scene Select one of the forty scenes. Each scene contains a full 512 channel set of levels.
Chan The channel to be edited.
At Level of the selected channel to be set. ENTER is used to toggle the selected level.
The bottom line of the display provides a bargraph mimic of the scene’s levels, from the selected
channel.
When would I use this?
As each scene holds individual levels for every channel, scenes are a great way to setup show
specific test panels for lamp checking.
Scene 39
Chan 001
at 255/255
ƊƌƑƑƑƑƑƌƏƊ

14
DMX –TRANSMIT - SNAPSHOT Menu
The DMX-TRANSMIT-SNAPSHOT menu is used to snapshot (record) received DMX into one of the
forty scenes. The scenes are saved in flash memory and so will be available between power cycles
and even when batteries are removed.
Keys operate as follows:
LEFT and RIGHT Select the desired scene.
UP and DOWN Select the desired scene.
ENTER Record the snapshot. The snapshot process takes approximately 2 seconds and
the backlight will blink to indicate that it has completed.
FUNCT Not used.
USER 3 second press to add or remove this menu from the shortcut list.
The bottom line of the display provides a live bargraph mimic of the received DMX that will be
recorded.
When would I use this?
If you have some useful test patterns setup on the lighting console, use this menu to transfer then to
Commissioner.
DMX –TRANSMIT - CONFIG Menu
The DMX-TRANSMIT-CONFIG menu is used to set numerous DMX transmit parameters. This menu
should be used with caution as it intentionally allows the user to set parameters which result in
illegal DMX transmission. For this reason, the parameters are not saved across a power cycle. The
values set in this menu will be used for DMX-TRANSMIT-CHANNEL, DMX-TRANSMIT-RANGE and
DMX-TRANSMIT-SCENE.
Keys operate as follows:
LEFT and RIGHT Navigate through the option fields.
UP and DOWN Select the required value within an option field.
ENTER Not used.
FUNCT Cycle through the parameters, independent of the selected option field.
USER 3 second press to add or remove this menu from the shortcut list.
Snapshot
Rx DMX to
Scene 39
ƊƌƑƑƑƑƑƌƏƊ

15
The parameters are:
Parameter
Description
Default
Value
Min
Max
Legal
Min
Legal
Max
Start Code
The Start Code defines the meaning
of the data in the DMX packet. The
value zero means ‘simple lighting
channel’ data.
0
0
255
0
255
Data Slots
The number of Data Slots is also
called number of channels. It is the
number of bytes in addition to the
Start Code that are contained in the
DMX packet.
512
0
512
24*1
512
Break
The Break is the synchronization that
indicates the start of DMX packet.
200us
40us
20ms
92us*2
1s*3
MaB
The MaB or Mark after Break is the
idle period between the end of Break
and the Start Code.
20us
8us
20ms
12us*4
1s*3
ISD
The ISD is the inter-slot delay. This is
the idle time between the slots in the
DMX packet.
8us
0us
20ms
0us
1s*3
MbB
The MbB or Mark before Break is the
idle period between the end of the
last data slot and the next packet’s
Break.
20us
0us
20ms
0us
1s*3
*1This is a simplification that provides a good rule of thumb. In fact, any number of data slots below 24 can
be used, subject to Packet Time >=1204us.
*2In the earlier DMX512(1990) standard the minimum was 88us.
*3The 1s maximum is actually for the entire packet.
*4In the earlier DMX512(1990) standard the minimum was 8us.
When would I use this?
These parameters are used when testing a DMX receiver that is suspected to be incompatible. If a
receiver is suspected of being incapable of receiving fast DMX, set all the timing parameters to their
lowest value in order to produce very fast DMX.
If a DMX receiver is suspected of flickering on RDM (Remote Device Management), try setting the
Start Code to a non-zero value (204 is the RDM start code) and then use TRANSMIT-CHANNEL. The
receiver should not respond to the data.
Tx Config
Start Code
000

16
DMX - RECEIVE Menu
The DMX-RECEIVE menu provides eight options. Use UP and DOWN to navigate and then press
ENTER.
The sub-menus are:
STATUS Set receive Start-Code and view receive status.
GRAPH Display a bargraph of the levels of up to 30 consecutive channels.
DECIMAL Display the decimal levels of up to 6 consecutive channels.
COLOUR Display a high-resolution bargraph of two consecutive channels while modulating the
backlight with a red / green colour mix.
SINGLE Display a decimal, hexadecimal and a high-resolution bargraph of a single channel.
16-BIT Display a decimal, hexadecimal and a high-resolution bargraph of two consecutive
channels expressed as 16-bit (Big-Endian).
FLICKER Display the decimal level of a single channel along with the maximum and minimum
levels detected.
STATS Display statistics and detailed timing for received DMX.
DMX –RECEIVE - STATUS Menu
The DMX-RECEIVE-STATUS menu is used to display to total number of received DMX packets and
compare to the number of packets received with a specific start code.
Keys operate as follows:
LEFT and RIGHT Select the desired start code.
UP and DOWN Select the desired start code.
ENTER Resets counters to zero
FUNCT Cycle through three commonly used start codes:
•Standard lighting data (0).
•RDM (204).
DMX512 RX
<STATUS K
GRAPH
RDMX
S-Code 000
Tot: 00298
S-C: 00298

17
•Test packets (85).
USER 3 second press to add or remove this menu from the shortcut list.
The top line provides an icon display that provides insight into the types of data being received:
Zero start code DMX is being received.
RDM (Remote Device Management) is being received.
Zero start code DMX and RDM is being received.
Non-Zero start code DMX is being received.
DMX with errors is being received.
When would I use this?
When unsure of exactly what start codes the lighting console is sending, this is how you check.
DMX –RECEIVE - GRAPH Menu
The DMX-RECEIVE-GRAPH menu is used to display a bargraph of the levels of up to 30 consecutive
channels.
Keys operate as follows:
LEFT and RIGHT Select the required start address for the received DMX display. The display will
change to show the first and last channel displayed.
UP and DOWN Select the required start address for the received DMX display. The display will
change to show the first and last channel displayed.
ENTER Not used.
FUNCT Not used.
USER 3 second press to add or remove this menu from the shortcut list.
Insight icon display
The right section of the top line provides an icon display that provides insight into the types of data
being received:
001-030W
ƊƌƑƑƑƑƑƌƏƊ
ƑƑƑƑƌƏƑƑƑƑ
ƑƊƏƏƏƏƑƑƑƑ
DMX
RDM
RDMX
NSC
ERR

18
Zero start code DMX is being received.
RDM (Remote Device Management) is being received.
Zero start code DMX and RDM is being received.
Non-Zero start code DMX is being received.
DMX with errors is being received.
The remaining three display lines show a low-resolution bargraph of the levels of 30 consecutive
channels from the received DMX of the start code defined in DMX-RECEIVE-STATUS.
When would I use this?
If you need to see the big picture rather than exact detail on channels levels. Also good for checking
whether a lamp personality is operating as expected.
DMX –RECEIVE - DECIMAL Menu
The DMX-RECEIVE-DECIMAL menu is used to display a bargraph of the levels of up to 6 consecutive
channels.
Keys operate as follows:
LEFT and RIGHT Select the required start address for the received DMX display. The display will
change to show the first and last channel displayed.
UP and DOWN Select the required start address for the received DMX display. The display will
change to show the first and last channel displayed.
ENTER Not used.
FUNCT Not used.
USER 3 second press to add or remove this menu from the shortcut list.
The top line shows the DMX addresses that are displayed, along with the Insight icon display.
The remaining three display lines show decimal (0-255) levels of 6 consecutive channels from the
received DMX of the start code defined in DMX-RECEIVE-STATUS.
001-006W
000 255
255 000
000 255
001-030W
001-030 R
001-030WR
001-030 N
001-030 E

19
DMX –RECEIVE - COLOUR Menu
The DMX-RECEIVE-COLOUR menu is used to display a high-resolution bargraph of two consecutive
channels while modulating the backlight with a red / green colour mix.
Keys operate as follows:
LEFT and RIGHT Select the required start address for the received DMX display. The display will
change to show the first and last channel displayed.
UP and DOWN Select the required start address for the received DMX display. The display will
change to show the first and last channel displayed.
ENTER Not used.
FUNCT Not used.
USER 3 second press to add or remove this menu from the shortcut list.
The top line shows the DMX addresses that are displayed, along with the Insight icon display.
The levels displayed are from the received DMX of the start code defined in DMX-RECEIVE-STATUS.
When would I use this?
The coloured backlight is very useful when you need to visualise the data from a distance. It can also
be used as a cue light.
DMX –RECEIVE - SINGLE Menu
The DMX-RECEIVE-SINGLE menu is used to display hexadecimal, decimal and a high-resolution
bargraph of a single channel.
Keys operate as follows:
LEFT and RIGHT Select the required start address for the received DMX display. The display will
change to show the first and last channel displayed.
UP and DOWN Select the required start address for the received DMX display. The display will
change to show the first and last channel displayed.
ENTER Not used.
FUNCT Not used.
USER 3 second press to add or remove this menu from the shortcut list.
001-002W
ƽ
ƼƼƼƼƼƼƼƼƼƼƿ
Ch:001 W
0x00 000
ƼƼƼƼƼƼƼƼƼƼƿ

20
The top line shows the DMX addresses that are displayed, along with the Insight icon display.
The levels displayed are from the received DMX of the start code defined in DMX-RECEIVE-STATUS.
DMX –RECEIVE –16-BIT Menu
The DMX-RECEIVE-16-BIT menu is used to display hexadecimal, decimal and a high-resolution
bargraph of two consecutive channels interpreted as 16-bit data. The first channel is the most
significant byte (big-endian). The example below shows the display when receiving channel 1 at full
and channel 2 at zero.
Keys operate as follows:
LEFT and RIGHT Select the required start address for the received DMX display. The display will
change to show the first and last channel displayed.
UP and DOWN Select the required start address for the received DMX display. The display will
change to show the first and last channel displayed.
ENTER Not used.
FUNCT Not used.
USER 3 second press to add or remove this menu from the shortcut list.
The top line shows the DMX addresses that are displayed, along with the Insight icon display.
The level displayed is from the received DMX of the start code defined in DMX-RECEIVE-STATUS.
When would I use this?
This display is particularly useful for interpreting high resolution data for moving lamps such as pan
and tilt parameters.
DMX –RECEIVE - FLICKER Menu
The DMX-RECEIVE-FLICKER menu is used to display the decimal level of a single channel along with
the maximum and minimum levels detected.
Keys operate as follows:
Ch:001 W
Dec 65280
Hex 0xff00
ƼƼƼƼƼƼƼƼƼƼƼ
Ch:001 W
Now: 255
MIN - MAX