Multiple DMX networks on one cat5 cable

[Jeffl]

I'm thinking of a way that I could minimize the number of cat5 cables I have running in the yard.  What are your thoughts of running four DMX dongles or LOR/DMX on the same cat5 cable.

i.e each only uses two of the eight wires.  Is this a recipe for disaster?

[chrisatpsu]

the current etherdongle (when using the dmx firmware) is capable of running 4 dmx universes on the same cable (pins 1,2 uni1, 3,4 uni2 etc...)

if you have the lynx combiner, you can use one to combine them on the same cable, then use one backwards to "break out" when you get to a device, like an express

[n1ist]

Just remember that the pairing is a bit odd in cat-5 cable (a throwback to its telecom roots).  Pins 1+2 are one twisted pair, 3+6, 4+5, and 7+8 are the others.  The combiner should take care of all of this.
/mike

[Steve Gase]

the splitter unit is meant for this, it can be used on both sides of a single cat5 cable to join 4 cat5s into 1... and on the other side go from 1 to the original 4 cat5s.

[Jeffl]

I was thinking more along the lines of different protocols.  I'll switch the example for those that don't use all Lynx equipment.

I was thinking more along the lines of 3 LOR networks and 1 DMX.

[Steve Gase]

the splitter is protocol-independent -- as long as you are using pins 1+2 and expecting 3-8 to be dropped.
so... if you were using LOR you'd need to made an adaptor for the LOR cable to 1+2 both in, and out.

[Jeffl]

I'm glad I asked the question.  I was so focused on DMX when I built my splitter that I completely overlooked the fact that it would work with LOR if setup properly.

Thanks Steve

[chrisatpsu]

not the lynx splitter, that only works with DMX,   but the Lynx combiner, originally was created to combine 4 dongles to make 4 pixelnet universes on one cable...

THIS
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NOT THIS
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[Jeffl]

OK.  Maybe I shouldn't have asked. The DMX splitter I thought just has RS485 chips so I thought  maybe it would work.

No worries.  I'm shrinking my LOR network a little each year and increasing my DMX network.

In the end the LOR protocol is two wires just as DMX so you should be able to run 4 networks on one cable as long and the + and - are on the same pair.

[chrisatpsu]

the combiner makes it really easy since it's just an adapter (it's just a pcb with 5 rj45 jacks on it, combining pins 1,and2 from 4 jacks, and putting them into 1rj45 output.

they were pretty inexpensive, if you post a WTB thread in the Sale/Trade area, i'm sure you can find a couple

[Jeffl]

I'm trying to get educated before the 2012 coops start so I don't miss out on too much of the fun.