RFDesign RFDMX User manual

www.rfdesign.com.au
RFDMX User Manual
PRJ-DMX-MAN-001
RFDesign Pty Ltd
7/1 Stockwell Place
Archerfield, QLD 4108
rfdesign.com.au

RFDMX User Manual
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Document Number –PRJ-TXP-MAN-001
Table of contents
1. Revision History ..............................................................................................................................2
2. Overview.........................................................................................................................................3
2.1 Features ..................................................................................................................................3
2.2 Functional diagram .................................................................................................................3
2.3 Connector Pinouts...................................................................................................................3
2.4 Switches and Buttons..............................................................................................................5
2.4.1 RX/TX and Network ID DIP switches...............................................................................5
2.4.2 Transmitter (TX) to Receiver (RX) pairing .......................................................................7
2.4.3 LED indication .................................................................................................................8
2.4.4 DMX termination switches..............................................................................................8
2.4.5 DMX Address and LED current switches (LED Driver Model only)..................................9
3. Technical Specification..................................................................................................................10
5.1 Power Consumption .............................................................................................................10
Radio Specification............................................................................................................................11
5. Firmware update...........................................................................................................................12

RFDMX User Manual
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1. Revision History
Version
Date
Description
Prepared
Approved
1
8-8-19
DRAFT
M. Ruggiero
1.1
13-8-19
DRAFT
M. Ruggiero
1.2
19-8-19
DRAFT
GFS
1.3
25-9-19
DRAFT
GFS

RFDMX User Manual
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2. Overview
2.1Features
•Support to up to 512 DMX channels
•Same hardware can operate as transmitter or receiver
•Secure link between transmitter and receiver nodes
•One-off synchronization process
•Long-range resilient wireless communications
•On board LED driver (optional)
•DIP switch network and DMX address setup
2.2Functional diagram
2.3Connector Pinouts
The RFDMX features a power and communications connector and a LED driver output connector. If
the device is set to transmitter, power and DMX input are mandatory connections. If operating as
receivers only power is required. In Transmitter mode the TX/RX- and TX/RX+ pins are DMX stream
inputs to the RFDMX board and in Receiver mode, the TX/RX pins are DMX stream outputs.
DMX B/D-
DMX A/D+
DMX GND
POWER GND
POWER VIN
Power and DMX connector front view
LED
LED
LED
LED
DMX IN
RFDMX
TX
EXTERNAL POWER
SOURCE
RFDMX
RX
Optional
DMX OUT
EXTERNAL POWER
SOURCE

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Pin
Description
Rated voltage
DMX B/D -
DMX512 Stream signal inverted
0 - 5V
DMX A/D+
DMX512 Stream signal
0 - 5V
DMX GND
Ground
0
POWER GND
Ground
0
POWER VIN
Supply Voltage
7 –33V
The LED driver outputs can be connected when operating as receiver and are used to drive 4-channel
LED’s after decoding the DMX512 stream for the address set on the board. The supply voltage must
high enough to drive the LED string if connected.
LED1 (-)
VIN (+)
LED2(-)
VIN (+)
LED3 (-)
VIN (+)
LED4 (-)
VIN (+)
LED output connector front view
Pin
Description
Rated voltage
VIN (+)
LED supply –connected to the
supply voltage VIN internally
7 - 33V
LED1 (-)
Open-drain LED output 1
0 - 33V
LED2 (-)
Open-drain LED output 2
0 - 33V
LED3 (-)
Open-drain LED output 3
0 - 33V
LED4 (-)
Open-drain LED output 4
0 - 33V
The board features a USB port which is used for firmware updates. No external power source is
required during the firmware upgrade as the USB provides enough energy to the embedded
microcontroller and long-range radio module.
The RP-SMA connectors should be connected to suitable antennas for required signal coverage,
although the system will work with any 50Ω impedance element and the matching RP-SMA connector.
Only ANT1 is used for transmitter and receiver units. Do not use ANT2.

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2.4Switches and Buttons
The RFDMX contains a series of on-board DIP switches and buttons used to set network parameters,
and to bond the boards. Changes to the DIP switch estates must be done prior to turning the device
on.
2.4.1 RX/TX and Network ID DIP switches
The RX/TX and Network ID are grouped in a single package containing 6 switches.
TX/RX
FRAME HOLD
RF BAND
NETADDR0
NETADDR1
NETADDR2
RX-TX and Network ID DIP switches top view
Switch
Name
Description
1
TX/RX
Operating mode
ON: Transmitter (TX)
OFF: Receiver (RX)
2
FRAME HOLD
(RX mode only)
ON : DMX frame hold active
OFF : DMX no frame hold
3
RF BAND
High / Low RF Band Selection
4
NETADDR0
System network address bit 0
5
NETADDR1
System network address bit 1
6
NETADDR2
System network address bit 2
RX-TX and Network ID DIP switches description
ADDRESS
TXRX and
1
6
1
10
NETID

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DIP switches Example 1 –RFDMX set to receiver mode
DIP switches Example 2 –RFDMX set to transmitter mode
2.4.2 Frame Hold (RX Mode only)
The Frame Hold feature monitors the DMX data frames being received from the TX unit.
With Frame Hold OFF, the received DMX data frames are regenerated and transmitted as they are
received. Should a DMX data frame be lost or corrupted due to electrical noise or other radio
interference, then the lost frame is skipped, causing an interruption in the DMX data stream.
Some lighting fixtures interpret a lost frame as complete loss of DMX data, and switch off
automatically. On return of the DMX data they resume normal operation. These events are usually
visible as a ‘dip’or ‘flicker’in the light fixture output.
With Frame Hold ON, the received DMX data frames are monitored. Should a DMX data frame be lost,
then a repeat of the last frame is automatically generated and inserted into the DMX data stream. The
data stream remains uninterrupted, and no visible ‘dip’or ‘flicker’occurs in the lighting fixture.
The Frame Hold feature will repeat the last frame up to a maximum of 30 frames, then will stop
regenerating DMX data. For most applications this corresponds to approximately 1 second.
Frame Hold is ideal for installations where existing RF communications systems are in operation, and
RF noise / interference is known to be present.

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2.4.3 RFBAND Switch
The RFBAND switch allows the user to select the Upper or Lower range of the available RF spectrum
for the RFDMX to operate in.
All TX and RX units in the same system must be set to the same RFBAND settings for correct operation.
In most installations, where a single RFDMX system is operating, the RFBAND will not need to be
changed.
In installations where there are two (2) RFDMX systems operating in close proximity to each other,
care must be taken to ensure the two systems are NOT using the same RFBAND setting.
2.4.4 NETID Switches
The NETID Switches allow the user to select up to 8 different spread spectrum channel hop sets.
All TX and RX units in the same system must be set to the same NETID settings for correct operation.
The NETID switches allow multiple RFDMX systems to co-exist over a wide area.
2.4.5 Transmitter (TX) to Receiver (RX) pairing
A single push-button is fitted to the RFDMX to initiate the pairing procedure.
The process for pairing RX units to a TX unit is as follows:
-Ensure TX and RX units to be paired have the identical BAND and NETID settings on their DIP
switches.
-Power up RX unit. Wait 5 seconds, then press SYNC button. The ACT LED will start to flash. RX
unit will remain in pairing mode, looking for a message from TX unit for 60 minutes.
-Repeat for all other RX units that need to be paired synchronisation with the TX unit.
-Power up TX unit. Wait 5 seconds then press SYNC button. ACT LED will flash for 5 seconds
and TX unit will send sync message to all RX units already set in pairing mode. After 5 seconds,
TX unit will return to normal operation mode.
-All RX units within radio range and in pairing mode will receive sync message and bind
themselves to the TX unit. Once paired, the ACT LED will stop flashing and the RX unit will
return to normal operation, now linked to the TX unit.
The pairing process can be repeated as required to add new RX units to an existing system.

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2.4.6 LED indication
LED’s
Function
Transmitter (TX)
Receiver (RX)
LINK
Radio signal
status
indication
N/A
OFF for good radio link
SLOW FLASH for reduced radio link
FAST FLASH poor / no radio link
ACT
DMX512 Data
Present / Sync
Mode Display
Fast flash when valid
DMX512 signal transmitted
Slow flash during SYNC mode
Fast flash when valid DMX512 data
is received from the TX unit
Slow flash during SYNC Mode
PWR
Power OK and
sync mode
display
Fast flash when valid
DMX512 signal connected.
Slow flash during SYNC mode
Fast flash when valid DMX512 data
is recovered and output on
DMX512 port.
OFF during SYNC mode.
2.4.7 DMX termination switches
The termination switches should be turned on in the two most distant devices connected to the DMX
bus. This ensures the differential bus termination is set to 120Ω. Both switches must be on to enable
the termination load.
Unterminated
Terminated

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2.4.8 DMX Address and LED current switches (LED Driver Model only)
The DMX512 address and the LED maximum current are also set using DIP switches.
Note that the DMX Address and LED Current switches have no effect on the output data available on
the RX unit DMX512 output connector.
LED_CURRENT
ADDR0
ADDR1
ADDR2
ADDR3
ADDR4
ADDR5
ADDR6
ADDR7
ADDR8
Address and LED current DIP switches top view
Pin
Name
Description
1
LED_CURRENT
LED output current
ON: 700mA MAX
OFF: 350mA MAX
2
ADDR0
Network address bit 0 –001 (LSb)
3
ADDR1
Network address bit 1 –002
4
ADDR2
Network address bit 2 –004
5
ADDR3
Network address bit 3 –008
6
ADDR4
Network address bit 4 –016
7
ADDR5
Network address bit 5 –032
8
ADDR6
Network address bit 6 –064
9
ADDR7
Network address bit 7 –128
10
ADDR8
Network address bit 8 –256 (MSb)
Address and LED current DIP switches pins description

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3. Technical Specification
5.1 Power Consumption
Table 7 –Power Consumption vs Mode of Operation
Mode of operation (24V DC Input)
TX / RX Model
Current [mA]
TX / RX / LED Driver
Model Current [mA]
TX Mode –No DMX512 Data
120mA
145mA
TX Mode –DMX512 Data Stream Active
135mA
160mA
RX Mode –Pairing mode, Waiting for sync
55mA
60mA
RX Mode –DMX512 Data Stream Active
55mA
60mA
RX Mode + LED Driver Active (All channels OFF)
TBA
TBA
RX Mode + LED Driver Active (1 Channel at 350m)
TBA
TBA
RX Mode + LED Driver Active (1 Channel at 700mA)
TBA
TBA
RX Mode + LED Driver Active (4 Channels at 350mA
TBA
TBA
Recommended external power supply:
For TX and RX only (No LED Driver) operation, an external DC power supply of +7V to 33V is required
and must be able to supply at least 1A.
For RX + LED Driver operation, additional current is required to power the LED drivers. The input
voltage should be selected to match the LED drivers being driven. Care should be taken to ensure
there is enough DC voltage available to allow all series LED’s to operate at their specified operating
voltage.
For 350mA LED output current mode an additional 1.4A is required -> 3A is recommended
For 700mA LED output current mode an additional 2.8A is required -> 4A is recommended.

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Radio Specification
Table 8- Performance
RF Data Rate
224 Kbits/sec
Indoor Range
50 –150m
Line-Of-Sight Range
2.5km or more depending on antennas
Transmit Power
0 to 30dBm in 1dBm steps
Receiver Sensitivity
-98dBm at 10-5 BER
Table 9 - Features
Configuration Method
Board-level DIP switches
Frequency Band
902 MHz –928 MHz
Interference Immunity
FHSS (Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum)
Serial Interface Data Rate
250Kbits/sec DMX512 over RS485 physical interface
Table 10 - Networking and Security
Addressing Options
512 addressable DMX channels, 4 channels decoded per
receiver
Possible networks
16 x 2 frequency bands
Channels
21 Frequency Hopping Channels
Supported Network Topologies
Star: 1 transmitter, multiple receivers as required

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5. Firmware update
The RFDMX firmware can be updated via the USB port. You will only need a micro USB cable and a
computer running the flashing software. Disconnect any external power supplies and LED loads from
the RFDMX before proceeding. Run the application, select the firmware file and connect the USB cable
to the RFDMX. The software will automatically detect the board. Once that happens, you are required
to click “connect” within 5 seconds, and “Program”.