Botex NETcon 8-3 User manual

NETcon 8-3 / 8-5
ArtNet DMX converter
User Manual

Thomann GmbH
Hans-Thomann-Straße 1
96138 Burgebrach
Germany
Telephone: [phone]
Internet: www.thomann.de
07.09.2023, ID: 464561, 464598 (V3) Firmware V1.3.7

Table of contents
1 General information................................................................................................................................. 5
1.1 Symbols and signal words............................................................................................................... 5
2 Safety instructions..................................................................................................................................... 7
3 Features....................................................................................................................................................... 10
4 Installation and starting up................................................................................................................ 11
5 Connections and controls................................................................................................................... 13
6 Operating.................................................................................................................................................... 16
6.1 Menu overview................................................................................................................................. 23
7 Technical specications....................................................................................................................... 24
8 Plug and connection assignment.................................................................................................... 26
9 Protecting the environment.............................................................................................................. 28
Table of contents
NETcon 8-3 / 8-5 3
ArtNet DMX converter

4NETcon 8-3 / 8-5
ArtNet DMX converter

1 General information
This document contains important instructions for the safe operation of the product. Read and
follow the safety instructions and all other instructions. Keep the document for future refer‐
ence. Make sure that it is available to all those using the product. If you sell the product to
another user, be sure that they also receive this document.
Our products and documentation are subject to a process of continuous development. They
are therefore subject to change. Please refer to the latest version of the documentation, which
is ready for download under www.thomann.de.
1.1 Symbols and signal words
In this section you will nd an overview of the meaning of symbols and signal words that are
used in this document.
Signal word Meaning
DANGER! This combination of symbol and signal word indicates an
immediate dangerous situation that will result in death or
serious injury if it is not avoided.
NOTICE! This combination of symbol and signal word indicates a pos‐
sible dangerous situation that can result in material and
environmental damage if it is not avoided.
General information
NETcon 8-3 / 8-5 5
ArtNet DMX converter

Warning signs Type of danger
Warning – high-voltage.
Warning – danger zone.
General information
6NETcon 8-3 / 8-5
ArtNet DMX converter

2 Safety instructions
This device is designed to convert DMX signals into ArtNet signals or vice versa. Use the device
only as described in this user manual. Any other use or use under other operating conditions is
considered to be improper and may result in personal injury or property damage. No liability
will be assumed for damage resulting from improper use.
This device may be used only by persons with sucient physical, sensory, and intellectual abili‐
ties and having corresponding knowledge and experience. Other persons may use this device
only if they are supervised or instructed by a person who is responsible for their safety.
Safety
DANGER!
Risk of injury and choking hazard for children!
Children can suocate on packaging material and small parts. Children can injure themselves when handling the device. Never allow
children to play with the packaging material and the device. Always store packaging material out of the reach of babies and small
children. Always dispose of packaging material properly when it is not in use. Never allow children to use the device without supervi‐
sion. Keep small parts away from children and make sure that the device does not shed any small parts (such knobs) that children
could play with.
DANGER!
Danger to life due to electric current!
Within the device there are areas where high voltages may be present. Never remove any covers. There are no user-serviceable parts
inside. Do not use the device when covers, safety equipment or optical components are missing or damaged.
Intended use
Safety instructions
NETcon 8-3 / 8-5 7
ArtNet DMX converter

DANGER!
Danger to life due to electric current!
A short circuit could lead to a re hazard and risk of death. Do not modify the mains cable or the plug! In case of isolation damage,
disconnect immediately the power supply and arrange repair. If in doubt, seek advice from a qualied electrician.
NOTICE!
Risk of re due to covered vents and neighbouring heat sources!
If the vents of the device are covered or the device is operated in the immediate vicinity of other heat sources, the device can over‐
heat and burst into ames. Never cover the device or the vents. Do not install the device in the immediate vicinity of other heat
sources. Never operate the device in the immediate vicinity of naked ames.
NOTICE!
Damage to the device if operated in unsuitable ambient conditions!
The device can be damaged if it is operated in unsuitable ambient conditions. Only operate the device indoors within the ambient
conditions specied in the “Technical specications” chapter of this user manual. Avoid operating it in environments with direct sun‐
light, heavy dirt and strong vibrations. Avoid operating it in environments with strong temperature uctuations. If temperature uc‐
tuations cannot be avoided (for example after transport in low outside temperatures), do not switch on the device immediately.
Never subject the device to liquids or moisture. Never move the device to another location while it is in operation. In environments
with increased dirt levels (for example due to dust, smoke, nicotine or mist): Have the device cleaned by qualied specialists at reg‐
ular intervals to prevent damage due to overheating and other malfunctions.
NOTICE!
Damage to the device due to high voltages!
The device can be damaged if it is operated with the incorrect voltage or if high voltage peaks occur. In the worst case, excess vol‐
tages can also cause a risk of injury and res. Make sure that the voltage specication on the device matches the local power grid
before plugging in the device. Only operate the device from professionally installed mains sockets that are protected by a residual
current circuit breaker (FI). As a precaution, disconnect the device from the power grid when storms are approaching or it the device
will not be used for a longer period.
Safety instructions
8NETcon 8-3 / 8-5
ArtNet DMX converter

NOTICE!
Risk of re by exceeding the maximum current
The device can supply power to other devices of identical design and connected in series. If too many devices are connected, the
power consumption can exceed the maximum permitted power consumption, which can cause the device to overheat and burst
into ames. Only connect devices of identical design to the device. When deciding how many devices you can connect in series,
make sure that the maximum permitted power consumption as stated on the device is not exceeded. Also refer to the specications
in the technical specications for the device. Only use power cords with a cable cross-section designed for the required current
intensity when connecting the devices in series.
NOTICE!
Possible staining due to plasticiser in rubber feet!
The plasticiser contained in the rubber feet of this product may react with the coating of the oor and cause permanent dark stains
after some time. If necessary, use a suitable mat or felt slide to prevent direct contact between the device’s rubber feet and the oor.
Safety instructions
NETcon 8-3 / 8-5 9
ArtNet DMX converter

3 Features
Bidirectional ArtNet DMX converter for professional demands with the following features:
nConguration via display on the device
nAdjustable DMX repetition rate (10 … 40 Hz)
n4096 channels
nUp to eight DMX universes
nLEDs to visualize the transmission status of network and DMX signal
nSupported protocols: DMX, RDM, ArtNet, sACN
nClear OLED display (four lines each with a maximum of 16 characters)
n2 × lockable RJ45 Ethernet port
n8 × XLR in / output socket (female), 3-pin (item no. 464561) or 5-pin (item no. 464598)
nPower Twist in and outputs (on the back)
n19" rack-mountable
Features
10 NETcon 8-3 / 8-5
ArtNet DMX converter

4 Installation and starting up
Unpack and check carefully there is no transportation damage before using the unit. Keep the
equipment packaging. To fully protect the product against vibration, dust and moisture during
transportation or storage use the original packaging or your own packaging material suitable
for transport or storage, respectively.
Create all connections while the device is o. Use the shortest possible high-quality cables for
all connections. Take care when running the cables to prevent tripping hazards.
NOTICE!
Data transfer errors due to improper wiring!
If the DMX connections are wired incorrectly, this can cause errors during the data
transfer.
Do not connect the DMX input and output to audio devices, e.g. mixers or ampli‐
ers.
Use special DMX cables for the wiring instead of normal microphone cables.
The unit has been designed for rack mounting in a standard 19-inch rack; it occupies one rack
unit.
Rack mounting
Installation and starting up
NETcon 8-3 / 8-5 11
ArtNet DMX converter

The converter is connected to a computer network via one of the Ethernet interfaces or via an
Ethernet switch or directly to a PC or notebook. The data is transferred to the converter and
then sent internally to the XLR connectors for DMX output. If more than eight universes are
needed, the other Ethernet interface can be used to daisy-chain multiple converters.
The data can also be received via the correspondingly congured DMX connections and trans‐
mitted via the Ethernet interfaces to a set IP address or via a broadcast device via ArtDMX.
Data connections
Installation and starting up
12 NETcon 8-3 / 8-5
ArtNet DMX converter

5 Connections and controls
USB
Art-Net In Art-Net Out DMX Port 1 DMX Port 2 DMX Port 3 DMX Port 4 DMX Port 5 DMX Port 6 DMX Port 7 DMX Port 8
Back
Up
Down
Setup
NETcon 8-3
PUSH PUSH
USB
Art-Net In Art-Net Out DMX Port 1 DMX Port 2 DMX Port 3 DMX Port 4 DMX Port 5 DMX Port 6 DMX Port 7 DMX Port 8
Back
Up
Down
Setup
NETcon 8-5
PUSH PUSH
$ % & ' (#
#
#
#)
1[USB] | USB interface for updates
2 Rubber feet
3 OLED display (4 lines of 16 characters each)
Front NETcon 8-3 (464561) and
NETcon 8-5 (464598)
Connections and controls
NETcon 8-3 / 8-5 13
ArtNet DMX converter

4 Operating key panel
[Up] | Increases the value by one
[Down] | Reduces the value by one
[Back] | Menu level up
[Setup] | Conrms the selection
| Calls up the lock screen or activates the display.
5[Art-Net In] | Network input (RJ45)
6[Art-Net Out] | Network output (RJ45)
7[DMX Port 1]…[DMX Port 8] | DMX connection jack, XLR, 3-pin (item no. 464561)
8[DMX Port 1]…[DMX Port 8] | DMX connection jack, XLR, 5-pin (item no. 464598)
Connections and controls
14 NETcon 8-3 / 8-5
ArtNet DMX converter

Power In Power Out
Input Power: 100-240V~50/60Hz
Max. Power: 6.5W
NETcon 8-3
* +
# #
9[Power In] | Power Twist input socket for the power supply of the device
10 [Power Out] | Power Twist output socket for powering further devices
Back
Connections and controls
NETcon 8-3 / 8-5 15
ArtNet DMX converter

6 Operating
1. Press to show the main menu. Use [Up] | [Down] to select the menu item ‘Port-Cong’
and conrm with [Setup]. The display shows the mode of the 8 interfaces. The displayed
values have the following meaning:
Display Name Function
‘O’ DMX output When an interface is set to output mode, DMX data packets
are sent at the set intervals. Immediately after switching on,
all channel values are sent with 0. After receiving an ArtDMX
packet, the channel values of the corresponding interfaces
are updated.
‘Hold’ Select ‘Hold’ to maintain the DMX output function,
that is, the device does not receive ArtNet/sACN
data, but still outputs DMX signals (default setting).
‘O’Select ‘O’to not maintain the DMX output, that is,
the device does not receive ArtNet/sACN data and
does not output DMX signals.
‘I’ DMX input When an interface is set to input mode and DMX data is
received at the interface, the data is sent immediately to the
congured IP address or via the broadcast device via
ArtDMX. If the 15-bit interface address matches, the other
device will accept the DMX data.
Conguring DMX interfaces
Operating
16 NETcon 8-3 / 8-5
ArtNet DMX converter

Display Name Function
‘R’ RDM In RDM mode, the interface initiates a test of the device after
power up or after changing the interface mode, and incre‐
mentally checks the device every 3 seconds. When the ArtNet
controller issues an ArtTodRequest instruction, the converter
immediately creates a list of the UIDs of the connected
devices. It supports ArtRdm when sending other RDM
instructions.
‘U’ Online
upgrade
This is the support function of the device. Here you can
update the converter yourself or the device that is in connec‐
tion mode through the interface through an encrypted
upgrade le provided by the ArtFirmwareMaster instruction.
2. Select ‘All’ if you want to set the interfaces all the same. Now select one of the four
options and conrm with [Setup].
If you want to congure the interfaces dierently, select individual interfaces ‘Port1’ …
‘Port8’ to set them to one of the four values.
3. Press [Back] to go to the higher menu level.
Operating
NETcon 8-3 / 8-5 17
ArtNet DMX converter

The current version of the ArtNet protocol supports 15-bit addresses and allows multiple con‐
verters to be connected. There is only one Net Switch and Sub Switch of a device and the phys‐
ical 8-channel interface of the device can be used as output or input accordingly. The lower 4
bits of the 15-bit address can be set accordingly. The default output address as well as the
input address of 8 interfaces is ‘0/1/2/3/4/5/6/7’ . This way, both devices – one as an 8-port
input and the other as an 8-port output – can be used as an 8-channel DMX signal repeater via
the network cable after setting the local IP address and destination IP address over the net‐
work connection.
If two devices are used simultaneously as an output or input, the interface address of the
second device can be set to ‘8/9/10/11/12/13/14/15’ and the Net Switch and Sub Switch of
both devices can be identical. To separate the physical interfaces when using more than three
devices, dierent Net Switches and Sub Switches must be set to have a unique 15-bit address
for each interface.
If eight interface addresses of the device match, they are treated as one interface. For example,
if Interface 1 and Interface 2 are set to 0x0000, the DMX data sent by the ArtNet controller to
the 0x0000 interface will be simultaneously transmitted to both interfaces.
For the sACN protocol, the interface address corresponds to the universe and the value for the
universe is the address of interface 1 and is then incremented with the interfaces (the universe
at interface 1 is 1, the universe at interface 2 is 2, etc.). The converter sends DMX data to the
appropriate interface associated with the universe in the sACN packets sent by the converter.
1. Select ‘ArtNet-Cong’to enable ArtNet and set up the network connections.
2. Select ‘Enable’ and then the option ‘On’ or ‘O’to enable or disable ArtNet.
Interface address
Conguring ArtNet
Operating
18 NETcon 8-3 / 8-5
ArtNet DMX converter

3. In ‘Net Switch’ , enter a value between ‘0’ and ‘127’ for the upper 7 bits of the 15-bit
address in the ArtDMX.
4. In ‘Sub Switch’ , enter a value between ‘0’ and ‘15’ for the middle 4 bits of the 15-bit
address in the ArtDMX.
5. In ‘SwOut’ , enter a value between ‘0’ and ‘15’ for the lower 4 bits of the 15-bit address
of the output in the ArtDMX.
6. In ‘SwIn’ , enter a value between ‘0’ and ‘15’ for the lower 4 bits of the 15-bit address of
the input in the ArtDMX.
1. Select ‘sACN-Cong’to enable sACN and set the domain area for the sACN protocol.
2. Select ‘Enable’ and then the option ‘On’ or ‘O’to enable or disable sACN.
3. In ‘Universe’ , choose a value between ‘00001’ … ‘63999’ .
1. Select ‘Settings’ to make general settings.
2. In ‘Sub-Mask ’ , select one of the three address ranges.
3. In ‘Local IP’ , enter the desired local IP address of the device.
4. In ‘Broadcast’ , in Input mode, select the option ‘Broadcast’ or ‘Unicast’ .
Conguring sACN
Settings
Operating
NETcon 8-3 / 8-5 19
ArtNet DMX converter

5. In ‘Target IP’ under ‘All’ , enter an IP destination address uniformly for all 8 interfaces, or
under ‘IP1’ … ‘IP8’ , enter a separate IP destination address for each interface. The rst
byte of the IP address is not displayed. The ‘Target IP’ is relevant when the device should
receive DMX signals and transform them into ArtNet or sACN signals and output them.
6. In ‘Input-Switch’ , you can select the protocol with which you want to receive the data at
the serial interface ( ‘ArtNet’ or ‘sACN’ ).
7. To set the backlight in ‘Backlight’ , select the value ‘Disable’ (no backlight) or a value of
‘1 Min’ … ‘60 Min’ (duration of illumination). If no action is taken on the device within
the set time, the backlight turns o.
8. Turn keylock on and o in ‘KeyLock’ .
Press for 3 seconds if you want to activate the display while the keylock is activated.
9. For the DMX intervals in output mode, select a value of ‘25’ … ‘100’ (unit ms) in ‘DMX-
Interval’ .
10. In ‘Factory’ , you can reset the device to factory default settings.
1. ‘Version’ displays the current software version.
2. ‘Devices’ shows how many RDM devices are connected to the respective interface (dis‐
play shows ‘Port1:0’ … ‘Port8:0’ ).
The lock screen displays:
Display of the settings
Lock screen
Operating
20 NETcon 8-3 / 8-5
ArtNet DMX converter