Re: LED DMX512 controller?

[Marc_F_Hult <MFHult@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Wed, 20 Dec 2006 21:27:39 GMT, nobody@xxxxxxxxxxxx (Dave Houston) wrote
in message  <4589aa67.458301125@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>:

>"gypsy.calling@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx" <gypsy.calling@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>>I'm looking for some guidance on what I should get for a LED lighting
>>project for the garden and home, it needs to be changeable and
>>re-programmable to keep up interest so for instance at Xmas be able to
>>do the lights (altho I'll fight that impulse my partner has :D)
>>
>>After doing a bit of reading and talking to some folks I've been told I
>>might consider buying a DMX512 controller - one that is programmable
>>via software: -
>>
>>Daslight DVC GOLD USB/Standalone DMX Controller
>>Saturn Titainus Control from Chamaeleon tec
>>
>>Rather expensive items!
>>
>>And I was wondering if you folks knew of a cheaper alternative that
>>would still allow the functionality of being able to set moods in an
>>architectural sense to create a light show via an application on a pc
>>(win or Linux), rather than hand coding to get the stuff working.
>>
>>The other bits needed ill leave for my other half to have the joy of
>>discovering but a good flexible controller that has scope to create
>>lots of different things would be of help, he plays with X10 (feels
>>sorry for the house and myself) and is a C/C++ programmer.
>>
>>Thanks!
>>Mel :)
>
>This come in RS232 and USB versions.
>
>     http://www.jpk.co.nz/dmx.html
>
>There are many, many similar controllers. Search Google on "USB DMX512".


I've had one of these for 4+ years and have previously recommended it in
this news group.

Despite what Dave writes above (perhaps in part because he's never seen
one, or ever used DMX512) there are *not* "many, many similar controllers".
The vast majority are send-only.  The jpk models are relatively unusual in
that they are transceivers:  that is, they can send *and* receive. So one
can read as well as write 8-bit analog and(or) digital values about 44
times/sec. The JPK DMX-512 RS-232 version is limited to changing 256
channels/sec because of the limitation of the 115kbaud serial port. I dunno
if the USB version has the same limitation.

There are numerous other options for *send-only*, and if that's what you
want, the JPK is not the most economical/best choice.

I also have  and can recommend the Durand Interstellar
http://www.interstellar.com/products/Flyer.pdf

I also have a Soundlight 1512c ISA-bus two channel-send and two-channel
receive http://www.pcdmx.de/gb/hardware/1512ct.htm which is excess to my
needs that I would sell cheep.

There are cheap USB send-only models on eBay.

This one is open source, said to be problematic when the design was first
popularized, but the glitches may be out of it-- only $55
http://cgi.ebay.com/Enttec-Open-DMX-USB-Interface-PC-Based-512CH-70303_W0QQitemZ170061629800QQihZ007QQcategoryZ29942QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I have some DMX512 links on my  site especially including homebrew and DIY
alternatives.

HTH ... Marc
Marc_F_Hult
www.ECOntrol.org