DMX Ultimate Converter Firmware Version 2.5 March 2007 1439 17th Avenue SE Calgary, AB, T2G 1W4 Canada Phone: Fax: (403) 243-8110 (403) 287-1281 E-mail: support@pathwayconnect.com www.pathwayconnect.
User’s Manual DMX Ultimate Converter Table of Contents About The DMX Ultimate Converter ....................................................................................................................................3 Protocols Supported....................................................................................................................................................................3 Quick Start: Basic Conversion ........................................................................
User’s Manual DMX Ultimate Converter ABOUT THE DMX ULTIMATE CONVERTER Before the advent of the USITT DMX512 control signal standard, manufacturers developed a number of proprietary multiplex communications protocols. Strand developed AMX, Colortran had their CMX, Kliegl offered K96, and Electro Controls (also known as Control Lighting) used EC-Mux. Additional protocols also followed in the form of NSI’s MicroPlex, Strand Europe’s D54 and AVAB’s own multiplex protocol.
User’s Manual DMX Ultimate Converter QUICK START: BASIC CONVERSION Plug in the power cord to your DMX Ultimate Converter. The internal power supply will automatically sense and accommodate any voltage/frequency from 100-240VAC and 50/60 Hz. The DMX Ultimate Converter is configured using the arrow keypad to navigate the options provided on a helpful LCD menu display. The arrows at the end of each line show your options from that point in the menu. Use the OK button to make your selection.
User’s Manual DMX Ultimate Converter When one of the above digital protocols is chosen from the Select Input menu, the current state of the DMX input terminator is shown. To change the current termination setting, use the S and T buttons to make your selection and then press OK. Note that when termination is on, the pass-thru connector (port B) is disabled.
User’s Manual DMX Ultimate Converter EC-MUX No user settings are provided for ECMux protocol. The DMX Ultimate Converter will communicate properly with all EC QD-series digital dimmer racks, Strand/EC CD80AE (ECMux version) and QD dimmer packs. MICROPLEX There are two different types of Microplex protocol, Microplex 1 (NSI) or Microplex 2 (Lightronics). Choose the appropriate one for your application KLIEGL No user settings are provided for K96 output.
User’s Manual DMX Ultimate Converter TIP! If the wrong dimmer responds to your AMX control, check the 6/12K assignments to make sure that they are correct. To restore all slots to 2K (no offset), select SET DEFAULT, and press OK. Since this will overwrite any 6/12K assignments previously made, you are prompted for a YES to confirm. There is no ‘undo’ once YES is selected. If you do not want to go ahead with restoring the default setting, select NO and press OK.
User’s Manual DMX Ultimate Converter ANALYZE INPUT Often, as a part of your troubleshooting process, you want to confirm that the console is providing the output that you think it is! Analyze Input allows you monitor the input of the DMX Ultimate Converter (the output from your console) one channel at a time. ◄ANALYZE INPUT ► CHAN▲001▼ LEV000 Use the S or T to select the channel you wish to monitor. The level will be displayed as a value from 1 to 255.
User’s Manual DMX Ultimate Converter RS232 LINK The RS232 Link is used to update the DMX Ultimate Converter software. See ‘Updating your DMX Ultimate Converter’ later in this manual for operation instructions. OUTPUT TEST Output test allows the Ultimate to directly control individual channels regardless of input. ◄ OUTPUT TEST ► SET CHAN LEVEL Press OK to enter Output Test mode.
User’s Manual DMX Ultimate Converter 2. Unplug the Converter power cable. 3. Remove the eight cover screws and the top cover and set aside. 4. Connect the male 9-pin end of the serial connector to the 9-pin female connector on the right side of the circuit board. 5. Connect the opposite end of the serial cable to the back of your PC -- Note the Com port number. 6. Start the UPDATE.BAT file on the PC and enter the Com port number that the converter is connected to. 7.
User’s Manual DMX Ultimate Converter Verify all input and output protocol settings. HyperTerminal does not load Check that HyperTerminal is installed.
User’s Manual DMX Ultimate Converter APPENDIX CONNECTOR PINOUTS The DMX Ultimate Converter has 6 ports labeled a-f representing the most common connector types and pin assignments found in lighting control equip. In certain cases (e.g. MicroPlex, Kliegl and AVAB) the connectors used by the manufacturers may differ from the connector type used on the ultimate Converter. Please use the information shown below to make any required adapters.
User’s Manual DMX Ultimate Converter AMX192 (Mini TA4) (Reference only, not used on the Ultimate Converter) AMX Mini TA4 Pin assignement 1 – Clock 2 – Common 3 – Clock + 4 – Analog STRAND D54 (model 8681 only) Strand D54 Pin assignment 1 – Common 2 – No Connection 3 – Analog PUSH 2 1 1 3 3 OUT (F) 2 IN (M) Port E Port D MICROPLEX MicroPlex Pin assignment 1 – Common 2 – No Connection 3 – Analog 4 – No Connection PUSH 4 1 1 4 3 2 2 3 IN (F) OUT (M) Port E KLIEGL K96 Kliegl K96 Pin
User’s Manual DMX Ultimate Converter ANALOG MULTIPLEX INPUTS DISABLED The DMX Ultimate Converter is shipped with its analog multiplex input capability disabled. The 3 input protocols affected are AMX192, D54 and Microplex. Although the mode selection for these inputs will permit their assignment, the unit hardware as shipped will not. If it is necessary to enable analog multiplex inputs, the user must remove the top cover and move the 20-pin chip labeled “Spare A/D Chip” to the U17 socket position.
