High End Systems Technobeam - Manual (Page 55)

2-14 Configuring the Fixture Technobeam
®
User Manual
• TB I - Technobeam iris protocol - uses 18 DMX channels per fixture.
This protocol should only be used with fixtures that have an iris.
• TLCD - Technopro LCD protocol - uses 18 DMX channels per
fixture. This protocol should only be used with Technopro fixtures
that are controlled with an LCD controller.
Selecting a Control Method
You must select a control method for each fixture: either a DMX start
channel (recommended) or a fixture number (for a link with fixtures
that all use the same number of DMX channels).
Note Once you choose a control method, you should use that
same control method for all the fixtures on a link.
DMX Start Channel Control Method
If you plan to combine different types of devices (and/or protocols)
that use different numbers of channels on one DMX link, you should
use the DMX start channel control method. Using the DMX start
channel method to control your fixtures allows you to assign an
explicit start channel to each fixture, so no DMX channels are wasted.
For more information, see “Wasted DMX Channels” on page 2-17.
To select the DMX start channel control method:
1. Press and hold the <Menu> button until “ADDR” appears on the LED
display.
2. Using the <Up> and <Down> arrow buttons, scroll to the “SET” menu
and press the <Enter> button to select the “SET” menu.
3. Using the <Up> and <Down> arrow buttons, scroll to the “CHNL” menu
and press the <Enter> button to select the “CHNL” menu.
4. Using the <Up> and <Down> arrow buttons, scroll to the “DMX” option
and press the <Enter> button to select the “DMX” option.
Note You must select a control method for each Technobeam
fixture on the link.
Fixture Number Control Method
When you use the fixture number control method, each fixture “thinks”
all other devices on the link use the same number of DMX channels that
it uses. Therefore, using the fixture number control method is a good
idea only if you plan to link fixtures that all use the same number of
DMX channels.
For example, assign fixture numbers if you have a link that only
controls Technobeams set to iris protocol (or other devices that use 18
DMX channels), or a link that only controls Technobeams set to reduced
protocol (or other devices that use 14 channels per link).