Blizzard Lighting LIGHTCASTER W-DMX User manual

Blizzard Lighting, LLC
www.blizzardlighting.com
Waukesha, WI USA
Copyright (c) 2014
LIGHTCASTER
W-DMX®
®
™
®
2.4Ghz W-DMX®
Wireless System

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LightCaster W-DMX™ Manual Rev. A Copyright © 2014 Blizzard Lighting, LLC
1. GETTING STARTED
What’s In The Box?
• 1 x Transceiver or Receiver Unit
• 1 x Totally Awesome AC Power Cord
• 2 x Pretty Swell Pole Mounting Brackets
• An Ever-So-Handy 2dBi Antenna
• This Lovely User Manual
Getting It Out Of The Box
Congratulations on purchasing the LightCaster™ W-DMX™ system, the ultimate solution to
make all those messy DMX cord nightmares a thing of the past! Now that you’ve got your
W-DMX system (or hopefully, systems!)
, you should carefully unpack the box and check
the contents to ensure that all parts are present and in good condition. If anything looks
as if it has been damaged in transit, notify the shipper immediately and keep the pack-
ing material for inspection. Again, please save the carton and all packing materials. If a
xture must be returned to the factory, it is important that the xture be returned in the
original factory box and packing.
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
• Please keep this User Manual for future consultation. If you sell the unit to another user,
be sure that they also receive this instruction booklet.
• Always make sure that you are connecting to the proper voltage, and that the line
voltage you are connecting to is not higher than that stated on the decal or rear panel of
the xture.
• This product is intended for indoor use only!
• To prevent risk of re or shock, do not expose xture to rain or moisture.
• In the event of a serious operating problem, stop using the unit.
• Never try to repair the unit by yourself. Repairs carried out by unskilled people can lead
to damage or malfunction.
• Never connect the device to a dimmer pack.
• Make sure the power cord is never crimped or damaged.
• Never disconnect the power cord by pulling or tugging on the cord.
CAUTION! There are no user serviceable parts inside the unit. Do not open the
housing or attempt any repairs yourself.
If something is wrong, please open a support ticket on our website. We’ll be
happy to help, honest.
www.blizzardlighting.com/tickets
Author: Date: Last Edited: Date:
J. Thomas 8/18/2014 J. Thomas 8/20/2014

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LightCaster W-DMX™ Manual Rev. A Copyright © 2014 Blizzard Lighting, LLC
2. INTRODUCTION
MAIN FEATURES
• One button operation 2.4Ghz W-DMX® wireless system
• Compatible with all DMX512 compliant equipment
• FHSS (Frequency-Hopping Spread Spectrum) technology
• POWERCON-compatible power input
SPECIFICATIONS
• Transceiver transmit power: 100mW
• Receiver sensitivity: 98dBm
• Max Operating Range: 500 meters (line-of-sight)
• Latency: < 5mS
• Antenna type: 2dBi
• Universes: 1 per transmitter, max. 16
GENERAL OVERVIEW
The LightCaster™ W-DMX™ system is simple to install and set up. The W-
DMX™ system functions just like a wire, allowing you to send a whole universe
of DMX data wirelessly, with RDM commands as well, at the full data rate and
with non-noticeable delay.
To set up a simple W-DMX™ system, you need a transceiver that plugs into
your lighting controller to act as a transmitter, and another transceiver or re-
ceiver unit, that receives that wireless DMX signal and outputs that DMX data to
your lighting xtures over a DMX cable. A single transmitter and receiver set-up
can be expanded with multiple receivers, functioning like a big ‘in-air’ splitter,
such that the full universe of DMX is transmitted to multiple points.
W-DMX™ Receiver
A LightCaster™ W-DMX™ system can have at a minimum one receiver, and up
to an unlimited maximum number of receivers per universe of DMX. A receiver
is required to receive the DMX signal transmitted wirelessly by the transmitter
and output it to any downstream xtures.
W-DMX™ Transceiver
A LightCaster™ W-DMX™ system requires one transmitter per universe of DMX,
to broadcast the signal to any receiver. The controller will normally be plugged
straight in to the transmitter.
DISCLAIMER:
The power connector tted to the unit and cord are designed for compatibility with products manufactured
by Neutrik AG, Neutrik USA and their related entities, however they are not manufactured by, afliated
with or endorsed by Neutrik AG, Neutrik USA, or any related entity. Neutrik® and powerCON® are regis-
tered trademarks of Neutrik AG.

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LightCaster W-DMX™ Manual Rev. A Copyright © 2014 Blizzard Lighting, LLC
Nifty, Spiffy Diagram (front)
1.) Antenna 3.) DMX Indicator 5.) Function Button
2.) Power Indicator 4.) Mode Indicator 6.) Power Switch
FUNCTION
POWER DMX MODE
OFF
ON
1234
5 6
Nifty, Spiffy Diagram (back)
AC110/230V DMX IN DMX OUT
78 9
7.) Power In 8.) Fuse Holder 9.) DMX In & Out
Mounting & Rigging
This unit may be mounted in any safe position provided there is enough
room for ventilation.
Adjust the angle of the unit by loosening both screws and tilting the unit.
After nding the desired position, retighten all screws.
Never mount in places where the unit will be exposed to rain, high humid-
ity, extreme temperature changes or restricted ventilation.

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LightCaster W-DMX™ Manual Rev. A Copyright © 2014 Blizzard Lighting, LLC
3. OPERATION
The LED status indicators on both the transceiver and the receiver units
display its current status or mode. Below, each status is described:
LED Status Indicators
1. POWER LED: When lit, the power is connected.
2. DMX LED:
Transceiver Only:
• LED off: The unit is ready for you to choose the mode.
• Flashing every 1.5 seconds: Transmission is off.
• Flash every 1 seconds: Transmitting, but there is no DMX signal.
• Flash every 0.2 seconds: Searching for a receiver.
• On: Transmitting a DMX signal.
Receiver Only:
• Off: Not receiving.
• Flash every 1s: Receiving, but no DMX signal.
• Flash every 0.2s: Searching for transceiver.
• On: Receiving DMX signal.
3. MODE LED:
• Off: Wireless Mode 1 (Frequency 1)
• Flash: Wireless Mode 2 (Frequency 2)
• On: Wireless Mode 3 (Frequency 3)
Setting Up
1. One transceiver with multiple receivers:
Power on all units. The DMX LED indicators on all units should be off
(if some DMX LED indicators are on or are ashing, press & hold the
<FUNCTION> button until they turn off), then press the transceivers
<FUNCTION> button again. All the receivers should ash quickly, and
then all be matched up correctly.
2. Multiple transceivers, multiple receivers; e.g. 3 groups consisting of a
transceiver & receiver(s) named A, B, and C:
1.) Turn power off of all units.
2.) Group “A” gets powered on, then follow step 1 above.
3.) Group “B” gets powered on, then follow step 1 above.
4.) Group “C” gets powered on, then follow step 1 above.

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LightCaster W-DMX™ Manual Rev. A Copyright © 2014 Blizzard Lighting, LLC
Disconnecting A LightCaster™ W-DMX™ Wireless Unit
1. Press and hold the transmitter <FUNCTION> button for 5 seconds.
The transmitter will disconnect from all receivers. The DMX LED indicators
on the receivers will then be turned off.
2. Press and hold the each receivers <FUNCTION> button for 5 sec-
onds. Each receiver will disconnect from the transmitter, and its DMX LED
indicator then will be turned off.
Frequency/Mode Change (Performed only on transceivers)
There are 3 different modes (frequencies) that you can manually choose from.
They are recognizable by the status of the Mode LED:
• Mode 1: OFF
• Mode 2: Blinking
• Mode 3: ON
1. To manually change the mode, hold the <FUNCTION> button for 8
seconds until the DMX indicator turns off.
2. Press the <FUNCTION> button to switch between modes.
3. Press and hold the <FUNCTION> button for 7 seconds, and the
transmitter will begin transmitting the DMX signal through the newly set
frequency.
Set a Transceiver to Transmit or Receive
Turn the power off, then turn it back on. Press the <FUNCTION> button
for 2 seconds, it will switch from a transmitter to receiver or a receiver to
transmitter. If during this process you see the DMX indicator change, it is a
transmitter, otherwise it is a receiver.
Point-2-Point Operation
Basic Point-2-point systems are used when you want to send wireless DMX
data from a console to a single receiver. As the receiver accepts all 512
DMX channels from the transmitter, you can easily daisy chain more x-
tures by cable from the xture with the wireless connection.
Multipoint-2-Multipoint Operation
Up to 16 universes of DMX can be transmitted simultaneously using a
multipoint to multipoint approach. All receivers in a multipoint system will
listen only to the designated transmitter without any delays or interference
from the systems working alongside.
Need more receivers?
Simply add as many receivers as desired to the transmitter, assigning them
with a simple button push.

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LightCaster W-DMX™ Manual Rev. A Copyright © 2014 Blizzard Lighting, LLC
Returns (Gasp!)
We’ve taken a lot of precautions to make sure you never even have to worry
about sending a defective unit back, or sending a unit in for service. But, like
any complex piece of equipment designed and built by humans, once in a while,
something doesn’t go as planned. If you nd yourself with a unit that isn’t be-
having like a good little unit, you’ll need to obtain a Return Authorization (RA).
Don’t worry, this is easy. Just go to our website and open a support ticket at
www.blizzardlighting.com/tickets, and we’ll issue you an RA. Then, you’ll need
to send the unit to us using a trackable, pre-paid freight method. We suggest
using USPS Priority or UPS. Make sure you carefully pack the xture for transit,
and whenever possible, use the original box & packing for shipping.
When returning your xture for service, be sure to include the following:
1.) Your contact information (Name, Address, Phone, Email).
2.) The RA# issued to you
3.) A brief description of the problem/symptoms.
We will, at our discretion, repair or replace the xture. Please remember that
any shipping damage which occurs in transit to us is the customer’s responsibil-
ity, so pack it well!
Shipping Issues
Damage incurred in shipping is the responsibility of the shipper, and
must be reported to the carrier immediately upon receipt of the items.
Claims must be made within seven (7) days of receipt.
Tx
Rx
Rx Tx
Rx
Rx
Tx Rx
Possible Congurations
The diagrams below show possible congurations. Multiple receivers may be
used in any possible conguration.

Enjoy your product!
Our sincerest thanks for your purchase!
--The team @ Blizzard Lighting