RC4 Wireless RC4Magic 3 Series User manual

RC4Magic Series 3
DMXio
Wireless DMX Transceiver
Quick Start Guide
Rev. 1.0

22
PUSH
Blink pattern on power-up
indicates selected
RC4 Private IDentity
COP*/RX/TX/Auto
DMX/RF Data
RF Power / RSSI
DMX Termination
DMX Channel Range Limit
RF Connect
1
3
2
5
4
6
ID0
ID1 ID2
ID3
Func/Shift
RX/TX/Auto RF Power
DMX Term
Hold Func/Shift while
tapping button to
invoke Shift Functions
Hold button while
applying power to
invoke Power-up
Functions
* COP means “Computer Operating Properly.” This indicator always shows a blink pattern, proving
that internal rmware is running. Dierent patterns indicate dierent modes of operation.
CodeLoader

3
RC4Magic DMXio
1. Power Input for AC Adaptor (included)
2. RC4 Miniplug Port
3. DMX In/Out Male and Female 5-pin XLR Connections
4. LED Indicators
5. Recessed Buttons
6. RP-SMA Antenna Connector (2.4GHz DMXio-HG + 900MHz DMXio-HG)
3

44
DMXio Quick Start Guide
Most RC4Magic DMXio users will nd all the information they need right here.
Your DMXio also has some advanced features. You can nd out more about
them in the RC4 Knowledge Base at http://rc4.info.
RC4Magic devices arrive ready to use. You probably
do not need to change any settings. Just add DMX!
Registering Your Product
Registration ensures you’ll be notied of new rmware updates, and warranty
claims can be resolved more quickly. Please complete your registration at:
www.rc4wireless.com/support/register/
Get in Touch
North Carolina, USA: 1-866-258-4577 or 1-919-229-9950
London, UK: [phone]
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.rc4wireless.com
We’re here to help!
James David Smith
President and Chief Product Designer
RC4 Wireless

55
RC4Magic Private IDentitiesTM
RC4 Private IDentitiesTM, unique to RC4Magic wireless DMX systems, keep your
data private and safe on a Virtual Private Network (VPN) separate from other
systems, with robust resistance to signal loss and slow down.
Each Private ID transports a separate DMX universe. Multiple systems can
operate at the same time for multiple wireless universes in the same space.
Each new RC4Magic customer and project is assigned a unique set of Private
ID codes — nobody else has your IDs. They are marked on each device. Please
note your private IDs below. When you add devices to your system, you must
verify your IDs at time of purchase:
ID3, code 999, is the RC4 Public ID. It is identical in all RC4Magic Series 2 and
Series 3 devices ever made. Always use one of your private IDs when possible.
Your Private ID0, the factory default, is ideal for most users.
ID0 ___________ ID1 ___________ ID2 ___________
DMXio System Components
To use your DMXio wireless transceiver you will need:
• A DMX lighting console or other source of DMX data.
• An AC power source for the supplied AC power adaptor.
• Another RC4Magic Series 2 or Series 3 transceiver or dimmer to receive
the RC4Magic wireless signal you transmit, or to transmit a signal you
will receive with this device. (The DMXio can be either a transmitter or a
receiver, which is why it is called a transceiver.)

66
Performing a Factory Reset
If someone else has used your DMXio, or you just want to get back to a known
conguration, performing a factory reset is easy:
Power on the device. Wait until start-up is complete and the green COP
indicator is blinking continuously.
Press and hold the Func/Shift button, briey tap (press and release) the ID3
button (right beside the Func button), then release Func/Shift. The rst two
indicators will blink together a few times to conrm that factory settings are
restored.
NOTE: This process restores your RC4 Private IDentityTM to ID0. It does not
change the Unit Number if one has been assigned. Learn more about IDs on
the next page. Learn more about Unit Numbers when using RC4 Commander
conguration software.
PRO TIP:
Bending a single paper
clip into a U shape will
enable you to easily
reach and press both
buttons together.
ID3 Func

7
7
Conrming and Setting an RC4 System ID
All RC4Magic devices being used together must be set to the same RC4 System ID.
On power-up, the currently selected System ID is indicated with a blink pattern on
the DMX Data and COP indicators. The four dierent patterns are noted below.
The factory default ID0 is indicated with a few rapid blinks of the yellow DMX Data
LED on power-up. A factory reset will restore this ID setting.
An ID can be selected by holding one button on power-up. The blink pattern for the
newly selected ID will appear on the indicators. You can also conrm the currently
selected ID at any time by cycling power and watching the blink pattern that appears
at start-up with no buttons pressed.
To select an ID, press and hold the associated button, apply power, and release the
button when the blink pattern appears. For example, to select ID1, hold the ID1
button and apply power. When you see the green LED blink rapidly, release the
button.
All RC4Magic Series 3 devices indicate IDs in the same way, making it easy to
quickly conrm that all devices in your system are set correctly to work together.
ID0 (default), yellow blink. Hold the ID0 button on power-up to select.
ID1, green blink. Hold ID1 on power-up to select.
ID2, yellow and green blink together.
ID3 (public), yellow and green alternate.
Note: ID3 is public and is less secure than Private IDs.

88
PUSH
Blink Pattern Indicates
ID on Power Up
COP/RX/TX/Auto
DMX Data
RF Connect
Connecting with other RC4Magic Devices
All RC4Magic devices congured on the same RC4 Private IDentityTM will
automatically connect and form a VPN (Virtual Private Network). Conrm that each
device in your system is labeled with the same RC4 Private IDentityTM codes, and
that each device indicates the same System ID selection on power up (see page 7).
The default is ID0, which is ideal for most users.
When rst powered up, or after a transmitter has gone o and then comes back
online, receivers can take up to 10 seconds to join the VPN. This is normal, and it is
usually much less than 10 seconds.
A DMXio transceiver in Auto Mode (the default setting) will automatically detect
wired DMX data from your console and establish itself as the system transmitter.
RC4Magic devices from a dierent system will not work with your RC4 Private IDs.
This is the key to RC4Magic data security and superior performance for all users.

Title
Text
99
Yellow blinks with data packets and may appear irregular:
Green long blinks indicate transmitter mode:
RC4Magic Indicator LEDs After Power-Up
The COP indicator blinks with dierent patterns to indicate various device modes.
The DMX Data LED indicates that DMX data is present, either from a connected
DMX controller, or from the VPN wireless link. If the yellow indicator is not active,
no DMX data is present.
DMX Data:
On DMXio transceivers operating in transmitter mode, the RF Connect LED blinks
slowly to indicate that a wireless VPN has been formed and the DMXio is the
master transmitter:
DMXio, Transmit Mode COP Pattern:
RF Connect:
RC4Magic Series 3 (2.4GHz) Receivers
If your DMXio has a purple and black label, it is part of an RC4Magic Series 3
system operating in the 2.4GHz band. The RF Connect indicator remains on
(not blinking) while the DMXio is searching for your VPN. It blinks quickly and
continuously while your DMXio is connected to your wireless VPN.
DMXio RF Connect, Searching:
Connected:
RC4Magic-900 (900MHz) Receivers
If your DMXio has a blue and black label, it is part of an RC4Magic-900 system
operating in the 900MHz band. The RF Connect indicator is always blinking, and
indicates only that the RF system is functional, not whether or not it has joined a
VPN. Use the DMX Data indicator to conrm that streaming DMX is present.
DMX Data Received Wirelessly:

1010
DMXio Auto Mode - Automatic Transmit or Receive Selection
RC4Magic devices from a dierent system will not work with your RC4 Private IDs.
This is the key to RC4Magic data security and superior performance for all users.
A DMXio transceiver in Auto Mode (the default setting) will automatically
determine if it should transmit or receive. To do this, it detects whether or not
wireless DMX is already present on the air for the selected System ID, and whether
or not DMX data from a controller is present at the XLR connectors.
The device starts in Auto mode, with the green COP blinking a 50% duty cycle:
The DMXio rst scans all available RF channels for the presence of data from
another transmitter on the same RC4 Private IDentity. If it nds valid RF data, it
automatically sets itself as a wireless receiver:
If no valid RF signal is found, the DMXio checks for DMX data coming in from a
controller connected to the 5-pin XLR connectors. If valid DMX data is found, it
automatically sets itself as a wireless transmitter:
If neither RF nor DMX data are found, the DMXio stays in Auto mode, waiting for
one of the two conditions to be met. Thus, if it is connected to a DMX console,
transmitter mode will be invoked when the console is turned on and it starts
generating data.
Green long blinks indicate transmitter mode:
Green short blinks indicate receiver mode:
Auto mode, application detection: