GENLED Acolyte DiGidot CTRLPIXEL96 User manual

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PXLNET CONTROLLER MANUAL
CTRLPIXEL96
RoHS SPI DMX IP20
REV. 28SEP2023

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THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING ACOLYTE AND DIGIDOT!
We strive to offer the latest technology in LED lighting control and we’re constantly innovating
and expanding our control platform. We’re convinced that you have everything you need to
create a truly mesmerizing, innovative piece of light art. Are you proud of the result? Then
please share it with us. We love to see what you can do with our products!
The Acolyte and DiGidot teams

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INDEX
Introduction 4
Product Information 5
Technical Specications 6
Product Drawing 7
PxLNet Controller Explained 7
Key Features Explained 8
Before Installation 11
Mounting Options 12
Installation & Wiring 13
Conguration 19
Interface 21
Advanced IO Conguration 27
Ethernet Conguration 30
Actions 31
Tips & Troubleshooting 35
FAQs 41
Accessories 42
Various 43
Compliances 44

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INTRODUCTION
The PxLNet Controller is the most powerful rack-mounted pixel control system of its kind,
with a built-in Gigabit switch for Art-Net and sACN and 16 DMX or PxLNet output ports in a
professional 19 in. housing that guarantees optimal exibility and performance for the most
demanding projects. The PxLNet Controller converts Art-Net or sACN to SPI or DMX. It can
output a staggering 96 universes (8 per port) in total. (Please refer to the performance guide
to check the maximum number of universes you can congure per port.) A built-in web-
based user interface allows the PxLNet Controller to be congured and managed by any
computer with a web browser. Multiple PxLNet Controllers can be linked to control large-
scale projects. The PxLNet output ports allow for long range SPI data -- up to 820 ft (250 m).

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PRODUCT INFORMATION
BOX CONTENTS
1 PxLNet Controller
1 power cable
16 PxLNet Transceivers
1 spare fuse
NOTE: We take great care with our products and have a standard of quality control, but we advise you to double-check for
missing or damaged items. In case of any missing or damaged items, please contact your supplier immediately. Never use
damaged products!

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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Electrical
Input Voltage: 100-250 VAC, 50-60 Hz
Max. power consumption: 45W
Mechanical
Housing material: Aluminium
Dimensions: 17.36 x 11.81 x 1.69 in. | 441 x 300 x 43 mm (L x W x H)
(with 19-inch brackets) 19.06 x 11.81 x 1.69 in. | 484 x 300 x 43 mm (L x W x H)
Net device weight: 86.42oz | 2450 gr
PxLNet Node package weight: 98.77oz |2800 gr
Mounting: 19 in. rack-mounted
Environmental
Operation Temperature (Tc): 32 to 122°F (0 to 50°C)
Max. ambient Temp. (Tamax): 104°F (40°C)
Storage temperature: -4 to 122°F (-20 to 50°C)
Max. operating relative humidity: 90% (indoor use only)
Protection
IP rating: IP20 (indoor use only)
Control
Input Protocols: Art-Net 1,2,3 & 4
sACN
Output Protocols: Art-Net 1, 2, 3 & 4 (out/through)
DMX (16 outputs)
60+ SPI protocols (check supported ICs list online)
Ethernet: RJ45 compatible, for 100/1000 Base-TX Ethernet
Programming & control: PxLNet Controller web-based user interface
PxLNet Controller app
Any type of Art-Net or sACN Software/Device
(visit digidot.eu for a complete list of supported software)
Connectivity:
Connectors: Power: C13, C14 (100-264 VAC)
Network: 2 x RJ45 bus
IO port: 16 x RJ45 bus (PxLNet)
Trigger input: D-Sub and GPIO switch
Quality
Warranty: 5-year factory warranty
Compliances: CE, RoHS

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PRODUCT DRAWINGS
17.36 in.
(441 mm)
19.06 in.
(484 mm)
11.81 in.
(300 mm)
1.69 in.
(43 mm)
Front
Back
Art-Net or sACN controller required
For the PxLNet Controller to work in a live system setup, a third-party Art-Net or sACN
software or console is required. PxLNet Controllers work with various professional grade
software and consoles, such as: MADRIX, Pharos, ArKaos, Resolume Arena, MadMapper,
POET, grandMA and many more. As long as the control software or console uses an industry
standard Art-Net or sACN protocol, you can manage the PxLNet Controller.
THE PXLNET CONTROLLER EXPLAINED

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Art-Net or sACN controller required
For the PxLNet Controller to work in a live system setup, a third-party Art-Net or sACN
software or console is required. PxLNet Controllers work with various professional grade
software and consoles, such as: MADRIX, Pharos, ArKaos, Resolume Arena, MadMapper,
POET, grandMA and many more. As long as the control software or console uses an industry
standard Art-Net or sACN protocol, you can manage the PxLNet Controller.
Art-Net or sACN control software/platforms
When the setup process has been completed, the PxLNet Controller can be used with any
type of Art-Net or sACN software or console. The PxLNet Controller can automatically be
detected as an Art-Net or sACN device, depending on the software or console. To do so,
an Input/output conguration must be completed rst. Each PxLNet Controller needs to
be congured with a unique IP address for unicasting. Assign a device name to the PxLNet
Controller for easier recognition (see the Conguring the PxLNet Controller section).
Supported protocols (ICs)
The PxLNet Controller supports more than 60 protocols, including both ‘Data’ and
‘DataClock’ variants. All supported protocols can be found in the PxLNet Controller user
interface. Go to Home > Settings > In/out conguration > Select a port drop down menu to
open the protocol list.
Please visit digidot.eu/support/documentation for the latest overview of all supported
protocols/ICs. For a more technical protocol overview and their performances, please check
the documentation page in the performance guide.
More than 60 supported protocols
The PxLNet Controller supports more than 60 different control protocols, and new ICs are
added frequently with software updates.
Up to 96 universes for SPI conversion
Depending on your PxLNet Controller version and license, you can output up to 96 universes,
which is the equivalent of 49,152 control channels.
Onboard Gigabit switch
The onboard Gigabit switch allows a fast Art-Net or sACN input and output signal.
KEY FEATURES EXPLAINED

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DMX Out
The I/O ports can also be congured as 16x DMX.
IP address lter
With this feature you can congure the PxLNet Controller to listen to a specic IP address
when using Art-Net as input protocol. Signals from other IP addresses will be ignored.
Art-Net routing
You can route any of the incoming Art-Net universes to Art-Net outputs or SPI.
HTP merge signal inputs
It is possible to merge various input signals according to the HTP (Highest Takes
Precedence) principle.
Incoming and outgoing signal monitor
This allows monitoring of all incoming and outgoing data, frame rate and network status.
Create segments
Create simple chase effects for a large number of pixels by creating segments of channels or
LEDs and reduce the amount of input channels.
Daisy chainable
The two port ethernet switches with RJ45 connectors allow the PxLNet Controller to be daisy
chained. (Daisy chaining more than 8 devices can cause network delays.) We recommend
using a professional grade Gigabit network switch to split the network load.
Gamma correction
This is a function that corrects the input brightness. This amount of gamma correction
changes not only the brightness, but also the ratio of red, green and blue. We recommend
enabling this option if your input is a video or image le, or if you’re using 16-bit LED ICs to
make the dimming curve smoother if the brightness is low.
Adjustable fallback color
In case of absence or loss of the control signal, a fallback color can be set for every PxLNet
Controller. You can also set the delay time before the fallback activates.

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Online/ofine rmware updates
We offer online updates which can be installed easily from the user interface. These
updates can also be downloaded and installed if the PxLNet Controllers are not connected
to the internet. You can download the PxLNet Controller software at digidot.eu/support/
updates. Use the download link to get the le. You can upload the new rmware at
http://10.254.254.254/fwupdate.htm. You can also change the ‘10.254.254.254’ in the URL to
the IP address of your PxLNet Controller. It is also possible to upgrade or downgrade multiple
devices simultaneously by checking the ‘Broadcast’ option on the fwupdate page.
Output limiter
You can limit the output power to a pre-set brightness. There are two ways to do this:
Brightness limiter
This option limits the individual channels to a specic percentage. This means that
every channel or LED will never exceed this percentage, e.g., limiting brightness to 50%
means that all individual channels can never exceed 50% but the control range per
channel will remain the same. The percentage is effectively applied to the input value for
each channel.
Adaptive power limiter
This option limits the total average output of all channels combined to a specic
percentage in order to decrease total power consumption. Individual channels may
still output up to 100%, e.g., limiting power to 50% means that half of the channels can
output 100% and the other half 0% or all channels at 50%, etc. If you try to output all
channels at 75%, the output of all channels would be automatically limited to a total of
50% but would maintain ratios relative to each other.
WARNING: if you turn on a limiter, there will be less steps to dim, e.g., if a limiter is set to
50% and the IC is 8-bit (256 steps to dim), you will have 128 steps to dim remaining (256 –
(256/0.50=128)).
16-bit dimming output
Whenever high-resolution dimming is required and supported by your IC, two input channels
can be combined to one output channel to convert 8-bit to 16-bit dimming.
Congure LED color order
If an LED product has an alternative order of LED ICs or dyes, you can easily change the
order of control channels in the user interface. The interface uses the default color order of
the selected IC. You can congure R, G and B in any order with an optional W channel.

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BEFORE INSTALLATION
Before installing our products it’s important to note the following safety and installation
instructions.
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
• Before installation and use of this product, read this manual carefully.
• Ensure these instructions are given to those responsible for installation and the end-user.
• Local electrical and safety rules and guidelines always overrule this manual.
• Acolyte and DiGidot Technologies B.V. cannot be held liable for improper handling,
product installation, usage or storage.
• Installation should only be carried out by a professional and certied installer that is
qualied to work on electrical installations.
• Do not conduct any repairs of the device (there are no user-serviceable parts inside).
Any unapproved attempted repairs and/or product modications will void product
warranty. Acolyte and DiGidot Technologies B.V. cannot be held liable for any
consequences.
• Repairs of this product may only be carried out by DiGidot Technologies B.V.
• Repairs and maintenance of the installation may only be carried out by qualied
technicians.
• Always disconnect the mains power when working on a high voltage electric installation.
Failure to do so may result in product damage or personal injury.
• Do not connect or modify this product in any way other than described in this manual.
• Never use a product that is visibily damaged or does not work correctly. Never use a
product if it starts to smoke or if a crackling/sizzling noise is audible. If this is the case,
disconnect the power to the device and contact your supplier immediately.
• The PxLNet Controller is designed for indoor use (dry locations) only. Exposure to rain
or moisture may cause fatal damage to the controller and increase the risk of electrical
shock.

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MOUNTING OPTIONS
Install the PxLNet Controller properly in a 19 in. rack and protect the device from direct
sunlight, rain and moisture. Make sure the device is installed and secured properly and that
it cannot be moved. If you have any doubts regarding the environmental circumstances
of your application, please contact your Acolyte or DiGidot Technologies B.V. prior to
installation for further consultation.
WARNING
ThePxLNet Controller should not be subjected to extremely low air pressure (due to risk
of component gas/liquid leakage). Keep the PxLNet Controller away from sunlight, rain or
other moisture (due to risk of short circuit).
Do not use the PxLNet Controller outdoors or in humid environments (due to risk of short
circuit). Provide enough circulation around the devices for cooling.

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INSTALLATION AND WIRING
The PxLNet Controller is not designed to power LED lights, but to transmit signal/data to
the LED lights/control ICs. An additional external power supply with properly rated output
capacity is required to power the LED lights.
DATA INPUTS/OUTPUTS
In this section we will go through various wiring diagrams, depending on the Input/Output
(I/O) conguration. The PxLNet Controller can send different SPI protocols (only one
protocol simultaneously per bay). The ports can also be congured as DMX outputs, so
there are many ways of connecting to the I/O ports. You can always verify your wiring in the
‘How to connect’ box of the input/output conguration page in the user interface.
See the user interface or app at Home > Settings > In/out conguration
TIP: Make sure to select the correct device if you’re using multiple devices and different I/O
setups. You can use the highlight button to identify your device.

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16X SPI OUT
Average recommendation is max. 3 SPI universes per port (check the SPI performance guide
for max. load per IC.)
This option shows 16x SPI Data only outputs. To prevent timing issues, each SPI Ground wire
must be the same length as the Data wire per output.
Cat-5 E cable
max. 820 ft. (250m)
Cat-5 E cable
max. 820 ft. (250m)
Cat-5 E cable
max. 820 ft. (250m)
Cat-5 E cable
max. 820 ft. (250m)

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16X DMX OUT
Max. 512 channels per combined DMX port | DMX cable max. 1640 ft. (500 m)
This option shows 16x DMX outputs. Every DMX signal requires a connected ground as
indicated above. The cable should be a DMX cable with an impedance of 110 Ohm or a CAT6E
(s/FTP recommended) or better.
DMX cable
max. 1640 ft. (500m)
DMX cable
max. 1640 ft. (500m)
DMX cable
max. 1640 ft. (500m)
DMX cable
max. 1640 ft. (500m)

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16X DMX TTL
Ethernet cable max 820 ft (250 m)
This option shows 16x DMX TTL. Every DMX signal requires a connected ground as indicated
above. The cable should be DMX cable with an impedance of 110 Ohm or CAT6 (s/FTP
recommended) or better.
Ethernet cable
max. 820 ft. (250m)
Ethernet cable
max. 820 ft. (250m)
Ethernet cable
max. 820 ft. (250m)
Ethernet cable
max. 820 ft. (250m)
max. 6.5 ft. (2 m)
max. 6.5 ft. (2 m)
max. 6.5 ft. (2 m)
max. 6.5 ft. (2 m)

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CONNECTING ETHERNET
The PxLNet Controller has a built-in Gigabit switch that allows multiple units to be daisy
chained. We recommend that you daisy chain no more than eight PxLNet Controllers.
Ethernet
Ethernet
Cat-5 E cable
max. 328 ft. (100m)

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CONNECTING POWER
Connect the PxLNet Controller to a power source and switch the device on with the
power switch on the front. You can also daisy chain the power cable with a C14 male
to C13 female cable.
C13
connector
C14
connector
C13
connector
max. 3m. (9.84 ft.)
Cat-5 E cable
max. 9.84 ft. (3 m)

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CONFIGURATION
QUICK START
The PxLNet Controller has a built-in Smart DHCP server. This will automatically set up a
connection when the PxLNet Controller and a device are connected with Ethernet (wired)
directly to a computer.
Accessing a PxLNet Controller works as follows:
1. Connect the PxLNet Controller to a power source. See the ‘Connecting power’ section.
2. Use an Ethernet cable (Cat 5E or better) to connect the PxLNet Controller to a
network port of a computer.
3. Open your internet browser and go to http://10.254.254.254. If an account has been
created to access the PxLNet Controller, the same username and password must be
used in the app.
Conguring computer with a xed IP address
This setup method can be skipped if you only want to access the PxLNet Controller web
interface because the Smart DHCP server is enabled by default, and you can follow the steps
in the previous section. A xed IP address may be required if you want to connect a control
system to the PxLNet Controller, such as a computer with MADRIX software. To set up a
wired computer connection, power up the PxLNet Controller and use a CAT5E (or better),
plug the network cable in one of the RJ45 network ports of the PxLNet Controller and into
the computer’s Ethernet port.
NOTE: Changing your Ethernet settings can prevent you from reaching the Internet and/or other devices in your network.
To stay connected to the Internet and use the online update and upgrade functions, use a computer with multiple network
connections (LAN or Wi-Fi). It’s recommended that you write down your current network conguration in order to restore these
settings after you have nished the conguration process if necessary. Some laptops switch between Wi-Fi or Ethernet. In these
cases, you cannot have both connections simultaneously. This can be solved by using a third-party Ethernet dongle.

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On Windows computers go to:
Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Centre > Ethernet > Properties
> Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) > Use the following network settings:
Network Settings example:
IP address 10.0.0.1
The static IP address of your computer
Subnet mask 255.0.0.0
Network range of your computer
Default Gateway (empty)
Router for Internet access
Network Settings example:
IP address 10.0.0.1
The static IP address of your computer
Subnet mask 255.0.0.0
Network range of your computer
Router (empty)
Router for Internet access
On Mac computers go to:
System Preferences > Network > Ethernet > Congure IPv4 > Manually > Use the following
network settings: