Well,
It's been a long last few days. But I made an executive decision I hope you all can live with.
I decided that since the wireless was pushing the limits of my limited knowledge of electronics (not being an EE but more a high tech redneck) I decided as they like to say in my neck of the woods:
Go BIG or go HOME!
I have finished the design of the transmitter pcb for the Lynx Wireless DMX. As you know I had intended to come out with two designs. One that was short range and cheap for each controller and one that was more expensive and had long range for doing shows in other yards etc.
Well as I got this project for the cheap short range going well I started on the Transmitter and as you know one of the last big hurdles is the range test and seeing if the range will be long enough.
Well I don't think that will be an issue with the transmitter pcb's I just ordered. They include a power amplifier on board that can provide up to 50MW output if needed. This make the wireless system for the express about as powerful as the normal Wifi wireless access point. But on a small spread frequency like a xbee module. I intend to run it at much lower power so you should get about 1/2 mile line of site range out of them at least and maybe more. Unlike the xbees ect instead of 250kb rf data rate and 70kb thoughput I have well over 400Kb of thoughtput and a much higher RF data rate. This is why we can handle DMX on it.
I am afraid this means they will be more expensive than the receivers. About $50 total to build including the wall wart to power it, the external antenna, case, etc.
I feel it will be a bargain at this and hope you all agree. They should penetrate better and have range to spare.
It fits into the same case as the DMX dongle. I also made the transmitter accept DMX from the dongle instead of being a computer dongle of it's own. This will allow you to remote it if needed to a convenient place outside on in a window.
Of course this is all in the air for testing. Many issues could come up yet and the firmware is not bug free yet.
This is going to mean if it works out as expected the Long range version of the Wireless may not get done. It would not have any more range than this should and would cost more.
The system has jumpers on it that allow you to run up to 3 universes in the same area. The receivers have the same choice so you set the receiver on the universe it needs to see and you are set. The Default is universe #1 with no jumper installed.
The system is a full speed full channel count DMX universe of 25ms at 512 channels. I am not counting my chickens yet but If I was a betting man, Forget that I just spent about $300 on proto boards! I guess I am a betting man! LOL
Hope I am headed in the right direction.
RJ
