ETC Net3 Four Port Gateway User manual

Copyright © 2009 Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc.
All Rights reserved.
Product information and specifications subject to change.
Part Number: 4260M2200 Rev C
Released: 2009-03
Four Port Gateway
Setup Guide
Revision C
Net3™

ETC permits the reproduction of materials in this manual only for non-commercial purposes. All other rights are
reserved by ETC.

i
Table of Contents
ETC
®
, Eos™, Congo™, Emphasis
®
, Obsession
®
II, ETCNet2™, EDMX™, Sensor
®
, Unison
®
, Light Manager™,
SmartFade™, SmartSwitch™, SmartBar™, and SmartModule™ are either registered trademarks or trademarks of
Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks, both marked and
not marked, are the property of their respective owners.
Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Listen to What Our Customers Want. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Give Them More Than They Expect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Using this Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Help from ETC Technical Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Section 1: Gateway Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Front Panel Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Rear Panel Layout. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Section 2: DMX Gateway Modules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Module Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
DMX Basics & Pin-outs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
RDM Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Under the Module Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Section 3: Rack Mount Kit-4260K1001 (optional) . . . . 8
Section 4: DMX Front Panel Kits (optional) . . . . . . . . . 9
Section 5: Hanging Hardware Kit (optional). . . . . . . . 10
Section 6: International Power Supply Kit (optional) . 11
Appendix A: Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Net3 Four Port Gateway Control Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Net3 Four Port Gateway Specification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Network. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Mechanical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Modules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Electrical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

1Net3 Four Port Gateway Setup Guide
Introduction
Congratulations on your purchase of an industry leading ETC Net3™ network device.
This manual will guide you through the setup of the hardware, electrical and data
connections of this Gateway. It does not cover any of the software modes and
configuration. This is covered separately by specific tied to the software versions that may
be running in these Gateways, such as the ETCNet2 NCE v4.1 User Manual which has
been updated to include information about the Net3 DMX Gateways running in ETCNet2
mode.
Listen to What Our Customers Want
If you are already familiar with our line of ETCNet2 DMX Nodes, you will notice some
significant changes to our new DMX Gateways. Many of these changes are a direct result
from customer feedback.
•Smaller size. The compact design of the unit now allows it to go in more places and
provides you with the ability of getting more DMX ports per rack space. This is still only
1U rack space tall, but now 1/2 rack space wide.
•LCD Display. The LCD replaces the LEDs on the ETCNet2 nodes and provides a
wealth more information about status, configuration and the software that is currently
active in the Gateway.
•Supports PoE standard IEEE 802.3af (Power over Ethernet). In addition to
supporting external DC power supplies, the Net3 Gateways now also support PoE to
ease installation and reduce the need for having AC power nearby.
Give Them More Than They Expect
•Modular DMX port design. The modular port design represents a major leap forward
in flexible configuration and serviceability via module repair and replacement. While it’s
never good when a device encounters a problem, the Net3 DMX Gateway provides a
very easy path to being up and working again with a minimal amount of fuss by putting
the electronics most commonly zapped by outside equipment in the individual modules
for easy service and/or replacement.
Using this Manual
In order to be specific about where features and commands are found, the following naming
and text conventions will be used throughout this manual:
• References to other parts of the quick guide are indicated in italics. When viewing this
setup guide electronically, click on the reference to jump to that section in the
document.
Note:
Notes are helpful hints and information that is supplemental to the main text.

2
Please email comments about this manual to: [e-mail]
Help from ETC Technical Services
If you are having difficulties, your most convenient resources are provided in this user
manual. To search more widely, try the ETC website at www.etcconnect.com. If none of
these resources is sufficient, contact ETC Technical Services directly at one of the offices
identified below.
CAUTION:
Caution statement indicates situations where there may be undefined or
unwanted consequences of an action, potential for data loss or an equipment
problem.
CAUTION:
Caution statement indicates situations where ESD (Electro-Static Discharge) may
damage equipment. Special precautions should be taken to keep your self
grounded to avoid damaging the equipment.
WARNING:
A Warning statement indicates situations where damage may occur, people
may be harmed, or there are serious or dangerous consequences of an
action.
WARNING:
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK! This warning statement indicates situations
where there is a risk of electric shock.
Americas United Kingdom
Electronic Theatre Controls Inc. Electronic Theatre Controls Ltd.
Technical Services Department Technical Services Department
3031 Pleasant View Road 26-28 Victoria Industrial Estate
Middleton, WI 53562 Victoria Road,
800-775-4382 (USA, toll-free) London W3 6UU England
[phone] [phone]
[email protected] se[email protected]
Asia Germany
Electronic Theatre Controls Asia, Ltd. Electronic Theatre Controls GmbH
Technical Services Department Technical Services Department
Room 1801, 18/F Ohmstrasse 3
Tower 1, Phase 1, Enterprise Square 83607 Holzkirchen, Germany
9 Sheung Yuet Road [phone]
Kowloon Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong [email protected]
[phone]
[email protected]

3Net3 Four Port Gateway Setup Guide
Section 1: Gateway Hardware
Front Panel Layout
Rear Panel Layout
Push
Ethernet connection supports:
• EtherCon™ locking connector
• PoE (IEEE 802.3af)
• 10/100Mbps data speeds
• Auto-sensing
• Auto-negotiation.
Reset button to hard
reboot the Gateway
(this button is recessed)
The LCD button activates the
backlight (depending on the
mode) as well as advances
through display pages
LCD display. The exact content changes by mode
and software version but generally contains
information about status, configuration and the
software that is currently active in the Gateway
Blue LED
• On indicates power
Green LED
• On indicates network connection
• Flashing indicates network activity
Blank plate
Blue LED
• On indicates power
Green LED
• On indicates network connection
• Flashing indicates network activity
Four module bays (each
with a retaining screw)
DMX Out (XLR Fem)
module
DMX In (XLR Male)
module
Terminal strip module
DC power input
• 8-28Vdc
• Positive tip
• 3.5mm barrel
• 5 watts usage
The modules shown are to illustrate the different types available.
Port #1 Port #2 Port #3 Port #4
Strain relief clip for
dc power cable
Grounding
post

DMX Gateway Modules 4
Section 2: DMX Gateway Modules
There are four different types of modules available: DMX Out (XLR 5-pin female), DMX In
(XLR 5-pin male), DMX RJ45 (RJ45 8-pin female) and DMX terminal strip.
The Terminal Strip Module comes with ETC’s standard DMX termination preparation kit
(ETC Part # 4100A1012). This kit includes instructions, a screw terminal connector and
heat shrink.
The DMX RJ45 module can use a standard Cat5 cable to transmit DMX512 to other devices
with the same connector. The DMX RJ45 module will not function as an Ethernet
network port.
Any of these modules can be configured via software to be either a DMX input or a DMX
output.
Additionally, there is a blanking plate that is installed to cover the module bay in the
absence of a module (depending on how the Gateway is configured, not all module bays
will have a module installed in it).
With power removed from the Gateway, you can move and swap DMX modules as needed
for desired configuration or replacement.
Module Hardware
WARNING:
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK! Power must be removed from the Gateway
before removing any modules or covers to service the unit.
Retaining screw to keep the
modules secure in the Gateway
Pull-tab for easy module removal
DMX Termination switch directly
behind the connector
DMX Out Module
(XLR 5-pin female)
DMX In Module
(XLR 5-pin male)
DMX Terminal
Strip Module
(8-pin male)
DMX RJ45 Module
(RJ45 8-pin female)
Protective cover over more
delicate electronics

5Net3 Four Port Gateway Setup Guide
DMX Basics & Pin-outs
The Net3 Four Port Gateway sends and receives DMX 512 control signal. The unit is can
contain a 5-pin XLR DMX input connector, a 5-pin XLR DMX output connector or a terminal
strip connector. DMX cables should be acceptable for DMX data transmission (not
microphone cable) and should follow the standard pinout. The optional secondary data pair
is not used by the Net3 Four Port Gateway.
The DMX network supports up to 32 devices connected to each DMX line. Termination is
required for all DMX networks and belongs at the beginning (source) of a DMX network and
with the last device physically connected device in the chain.
A compact switch (S1) located behind the DMX connector on each module is provided to
enable and disable DMX termination. These switches are defaulted to on for every module.
The most common reason to disable this termination is if you wanted to do a “touch and go”
connection on a terminal strip module. “Touch and go” means that you land DMX wiring on
the connector for the module, and continue to another DMX device.
DMX512 Pinout for five-pin XLR Connectors
Female Pin# Use Male
1 Common (Shield)
2Data–
3Data+
4 not connected
5 not connected
DMX512 Pinout for Terminal Strip Connectors
Male Pin# Use Wire Color
1 Common (Shield) Clear/Shield
2Data– Black
3 Data + Red
4 not connected
5 not connected
6 not connected
7 not connected
8 not connected
DMX512 Pinout for RJ45 Connectors
Female Pin# Use Wire Color
1 Data 1 + White/Orange
2 Data 1 – Orange
3 not connected White/Green
4 not connected Blue
5 not connected While/Blue
6 not connected Green
7 Signal Common White/Brown
8 Signal Common Brown
Push
1
2
3
4
51
2
3
4
5
18
Push
18

DMX Gateway Modules 6
RDM Basics
Net3 Gateway software now supports Remote Device Management (RDM) protocol. By
default, RDM is not enabled on Net3 Gateways. To enable RDM on the Net3 Gateway,
Net3 Gateway Configuration Editor (GCE) is required. Please see the GCE help files for
more information on activating RDM on your Net3 Gateways.
About RDM
Remote Device Management (RDM) is a protocol enhancement to DMX512 that allows
bi-directional communication between a lighting system controller and attached
RDM-compliant responder devices over a standard DMX line. This protocol allows
configuration, status monitoring, and management of these devices.
An RDM Controller is the device that initiates communication with one or more RDM
Responder devices. Examples of controllers are ETC's Net3 DMX/RDM 2-Port and 4-Port
Gateways and RDM-enabled consoles.
An RDM Responder is the device that replies to communication from a controller. Examples
of responders are RDM-enabled edge devices such as gel scrollers, dimmers, and moving
lights.
Net3 DMX/RDM Gateways support 32 RDM devices per port, just like DMX devices.
Compliant DMX512 and DMX512-A devices (non-RDM devices) are completely functional
when RDM is present.
RDM was developed by the ESTA Technical Standards and can be referenced as ANSI/
ESTA E1.20.

7Net3 Four Port Gateway Setup Guide
Under the Module Cover
Here is a small bit of service information for you if you are technically inclined. There is an
assumed level of knowledge that goes with the information being provided (i.e. how to pull
an IC chip without bending the pins and how to work around delicate electronics).
If for any reason you don’t feel comfortable working around delicate electronics (it’s not for
everyone), then you should contact your local ETC dealer or ETC office for service and
support options. ETC office contact information can be found in Help from ETC Technical
Services on page 2.
One of the most common issues a DMX device can encounter is an electrical surge/spike
that comes down the line and “pop” or burn out the DMX transceiver chip. Under the
module’s cover, each of the modules contain a socketed DMX transceiver chip for easy
replacement.
This DMX transceiver chip is a 75LBC182 (ETC Part # Z1458). For those of you familiar
with ETC’s other products, you may expect a 75176 chip here. The 75LBC182 is a more
robust chip that can withstand electrical spikes better than the 75176. However, the
75LBC182 is pin-compatible with the 75176 so either may be used in an emergency.
CAUTION:
Special precautions should be taken to keep yourself grounded to avoid damaging
the equipment. ESD (Electro-Static Discharge) may damage the module’s
electronics.

Rack Mount Kit-4260K1001 (optional) 8
Section 3: Rack Mount Kit-4260K1001 (optional)
The Net3 Gateway Rack Mount Kit is capable of holding up to two Net3 Gateways for
mounting in a standard 19” rack enclosure. If you only need to mount a single unit, there is
a blanking plate included in the kit. This blanking plate can be installed on either side of the
rack mount bracket.
Four screws (HW467) are provided
for securing the rack mount bracket
into a standard 19” rack.
Four screws (HW245) are provided for
securing the Gateway(s) or blanking
plate to the rack mount bracket.
The rack mount bracket (4260A3010)
can hold up to two of the following in any
combination: Net3 Gateway, DMX Front
Panel Kit or blanking plate (shown).
The blanking plate (4260A3009) is
used when you only want to put one
Net3 Gateway in a rack mount kit.

9Net3 Four Port Gateway Setup Guide
Section 4: DMX Front Panel Kits (optional)
This is a simple way to get front access to the DMX XLR 5-pin connectors on a Net3 Four
Port Gateway in a rack. There are two kits These kits are intended to be used in
combination with a Net3 Four Port Gateway and a Rack Mount Kit (4260K1001) which are
not included in this kit.
The rack mount bracket (4260A3010)
can hold up to two of the following in any
combination: Net3 Gateway, DMX Front
Panel Kit or blanking plate (shown).
The XLR blanking plate (4260A3013) is
used when you fewer than four DMX
connectors on the front panel.
The XLR bracket (4260A3012 with 4260A4004 graphic overlay) is intended
to be mounted in a Rack Mount Kit and can be used in any combination with
Net3 Gateways or additional DMX Front Panel Kits
Eight screws (HWM1133) are provided to secure the panel mount XLR
connectors to the XLR bracket.

Hanging Hardware Kit (optional) 10
Section 5: Hanging Hardware Kit (optional)
This Hanging Hardware Kit can be used to hang a Net3 Gateway in a variety of ways. You
can vary both the way the U-bolt (or C-clamp) attaches to the bracket and the way the
bracket mounts to the Net3 Gateway. Given the relatively small size of the Net3 Gateways,
they can now be hung almost anywhere.
Top mount
Rear mount
Top mount alternate
Mounting hole also
accepts standard lighting
C-clamp bolt

11 Net3 Four Port Gateway Setup Guide
Section 6: International Power Supply Kit (optional)
This optional power supply (PS313-F) is CE marked and UL listed and can be used to
supply the Net3 Gateways with dc power via the dc input connector on the rear of the unit
if Power over Ethernet (PoE 802.3af) is not available.
Push release
Lock
Body housing
Australian/Chinese
2-pin
UK 3-pin
European 2-pin
American/Japanese
2-pin

International Power Supply Kit (optional) 12

13 Net3 Four Port Gateway Setup Guide
Appendix A: Specifications
Net3 Four Port Gateway Control Features
• Distributes DMX over Ethernet
• Supports ETCNet2 and Net3/ACN protocols
• Distributes DMX data to any input/output device such as dimmers, scrollers, moving
lights and DMX consoles
• Modular DMX/RDM port design allowing easy configuration of port connector type and
replacement
• DMX512 via XLR 5-pin Male, XLR 5-pin Female, RJ45 and terminal strip connectors
• LCD screen for labeling, status and configuration indicators
• LED power and network indicators
• Supports Power over Ethernet (PoE) and an external DC power supply
• Versatile compact size
• Configurable via Network Configuration Editor software (NCE) or directly through ACN
Net3 Four Port Gateway Specification
General
• USITT DMX512/512A and ESTA ACN standards supported
• Supports ETCNet2 and Net3/ACN protocols
• ETL/cETL approved (Tested to UL Standards by ETL)
Network
• Complies with IEEE 802.3i for 10BASE-T, 802.3u for 100BASE-TX and 802.3af for
Power over Ethernet specifications
• Data transport utilizes TCP/IP suite of protocols
• Distributes DMX over Ethernet to any input/output device such as dimmers, scrollers,
moving lights
• 2048 DMX In or DMX Out channels
• Configurable to over 32,000 EDMX addresses (Running ETCNet2 software)
Mechanical
• 1U rack height; 1/2 rack width allows for greater density (8 DMX ports in 1U)
• Fabricated of 16-gauge steel, finished in fine-texture, scratch-resistant, black powder
coat
• 8.5” x 8” x 1.75” / 216mm x 203mm x 45mm (W x D x H with modules installed)
• Hanging Bracket allows mounting in 3 orientations (U-bolt option)
• Single UTP Ethernet jack on front of unit
• Backlit graphic LCD display for identification (soft-labeling) and status reporting:
• Gateway identification - IP address, software version

14
• Network configuration
• DMX port configuration
• DMX port status
• Menu Button for backlight/paging control
• Configuration done using Network Configuration Editor (NCE)
• Power (blue) and Network present/activity (green) LED indicators on front and rear
• Reset button for hard reset, forced reboot
Modules
• Up to 4 DMX ports - four module locations on the rear
• Each contains a single connector and its associated electronics
• Switch for DMX termination
• Connector module options include:
• XLR 5-Pin Male DMX input connector
• XLR 5-Pin Female DMX output connector
• RJ45 Female connector
• Screw Terminal strip connector (DMX Termination kit included)
• Module secured by panel screw, pull tab for easy removal
Electrical
• 5 watt power consumption
• Power Supply options include:
• 8 to 28Vdc external power
• 48V IEEE 802.3af powered Ethernet
• Optional Universal Power Supply available (90-240VAC to 12Vdc @ 1.3A)

Corporate Headquarters  3031 Pleasant View Road, P.O. Box 620979, Middleton, Wisconsin 53562-0979 USA  Tel [phone]  Fax [phone]
London, UK  Unit 26-28, Victoria Industrial Estate, Victoria Road, London W3 6UU, UK  Tel [phone]  Fax [phone]
Rome, IT  Via Ennio Quirino Visconti, 11, 00193 Rome, Italy  Tel [phone]  Fax [phone]
Holzkirchen, DE  Ohmstrasse 3, 83607 Holzkirchen, Germany  Tel [phone]  Fax [phone]
Hong Kong  Rm 1801, 18/F, Tower 1 Phase 1, Enterprise Square, 9 Sheung Yuet Road, Kowloon Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong  Tel [phone]  Fax [phone]
Service: (Americas) [email protected]  (UK) [email protected]  (DE) [email protected]  (Asia) [email protected]
Web: www.etcconnect.com  Copyright © 2007 ETC. All Rights Reserved.  Product information and specifications subject to change.
4260M2200  Rev C  Released 2009-03