Wireless DMX - set me free from all these cables!
Well as many of you know I have been working on creating wireless DMX for the lynx lineup. It has not been the easiest project I have every done but it has been both educational and interesting. I started out by purchasing and testing a number of RF systems that I thought might make good building blocks. But after trying RF modules from Spark Fun and even looking into using compression to try and squeeze the data through Xbee units I ended up using the microchip RF modules.
They had many reasons for working the best for me but it was the issues I found with the others that really put them on top. The compression worked under most conditions but could with the right seqence just fall apart so I knew it would not be anything more than problems. The Spark Fun units had some range and interesting design quirks that limited there latency and thoughput even though the data rate was very high.
Cost was a factor that put it over the top. The microchip pricing is hard to beat for what you get. I had to design a protocol to use as the zigbee is just not effective for DMX. First it is limited to 250k Rf data rate and you need more that that to really do DMX. remember RF data rate is not how much you can move across the link it is how fast stuff moves once you get around to sending it. You need faster than this to get 250k Thoughput. It also adds a lot of overhead to what I was doing that did not benifit us in any way.
The beta testers have parts coming and should begin to build and test in the next week. I expect the beta testing to go fairly well and The coop for the units has really exploded. The first three days have exceeded 500 units on order.
So far I am very happy with the wireless system and I think it will be a big addition to the Lynx Line. With this system I look forward to a lot less cables to deal with this year.
Not sure if the LedTriks II will be completed in time this year or not but there has been a few breakthoughs that could well make it far more versital than I every thought it would be. Should make it an interesting and very sought after piece of hardware.
Getting off the subject of the LedTriks II, Stay tuned over the next 2 1/2 months as we have a couple of real big surprises coming for DLA in more than new equipment that you really are going to want to see.
RJ