Dmx Basics & Pin-Outs; Rdm Basics - ETC Net3 Setup Manual

DMX Basics & Pin-outs
The Net3 Two Port Gateway sends and receives DMX 512 control signals. The unit is can
contain a pair of 5-pin XLR DMX input connectors or a pair of 5-pin XLR DMX output
connectors. 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 Two 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 pair of compact switches (S1 & S2) located behind the DMX connectors on the rear PCB
in each unit is provided to enable and disable DMX termination. These switches are
defaulted to "on" for every gateway. The most common reason to disable this termination
is if you wanted to do a "touch and go" connection. "Touch and go" means that you land
DMX wiring on the connector for the gateway, and continue to another DMX device. It is
unlikely that this would be done with this gateway.

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.
Installing the Gateway
DMX512 Pinout for five-pin XLR Connectors
Female Pin#
1
Push
2
3
4
5
1 5
4
2
3
Use
Common (Shield)
Data –
Data +
not connected
not connected
Male
1
5
4
2
3
5