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ArtNet information...?

Looking for a good source online to resource for ArtNet information. Mainly interested in how and if using a corporate network will work.

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Permalink Reply by Justin Lang on December 6, 2011 at 6:56am

Hi Clark,

Not sure what kind of information you are looking for.  If you are looking for how ArtNet works, visit http://artisticlicence.com. They are the ones that developed ArtNet. Are you wondering how it works or if it will be a good fit?

Permalink Reply by Clark Wilbanks on December 6, 2011 at 7:30am
I've read through their documentation. I'm looking for probably more experience based information reguarding Artnet on a existing computer network.
Permalink Reply by Dave Hallett on December 12, 2011 at 6:52am

It depends on their switches and also on whether it's ArtNet 1 or 2. ArtNet 1 is a broadcast protocol - so the information is 'shouted' to all devices on the network. ArtNet 2 is unicast, so the information is targeted only to the device that it's relevant to.

That's important, because managed network switches will often filter out broadcast traffic as they see it as an attempt to flood the network. If you have the sympathetic ear of the network admin then you can normally switch that function off in the config of the switches - but if not then its trial to see if the network will tolerate it.

As is often the case with lighting networks dumb switches are better! We just want the information taken in and sent out again as fast as possible...

If you've got more details (whether its a couple of streams of 'real' lights or 50 streams of pixelmapped LED etc) I'd be happy to chime in again.

Cheers

Dave

Permalink Reply by Martijn Wezenberg on November 19, 2012 at 8:43am

Same for me, I read all the information on their website and yes its better to just do it small scale. But I would like some more information as well. I saw on the PLSN website some books that might be intresting http://plsnbookshelf.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=40

Can anyone recommend on of these books?

thanks.

Permalink Reply by Justin Lang on November 20, 2012 at 5:44am

It took some time compared to when this was originally posted... John Huntington released his latest book a couple months ago. PERFECT for this subject.

http://plsnbookshelf.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=307

Permalink Reply by Martijn Wezenberg on November 20, 2012 at 10:28am

yes it did, what a search engine can do! :)

Thanks for this tip Justin. My personal choice as well!

Permalink Reply by Ben Diaz on December 18, 2012 at 3:02pm

The book looks great; thanks for the info.

Permalink Reply by Valeria Silva on December 18, 2012 at 4:26pm

As Justin said ... here you can get info http://artisticlicence.com/, but to make it easier I attached the files

Attachments:
Permalink Reply by Joe Cole on January 19, 2013 at 4:59pm

If you're in a corporate environment or building you can usually isolate a few lines in specific places and isolate the ArtNET system via the hard patch (often located in a network room somewhere).   It's probably the easiest and safest solution if you have a purpose built system.  

I've done a couple installs now where we've isolated specific Cat5 and fiber runs to use for ArtNet only purposes.   This works great if you have devices that go to specific locations.   For instance WaMu Theater in Seattle runs on an ArtNet system.  The house dimming system is a series of small dimmer packs that pull from already distributed power outlets and receive ArtNet via already run cat5 connections.   The building has a number of columns with cat5 ports (4 per column) built into each column.   We simply isolated one of the ports in each column and put a dumb switch in the patch room.  you mark the part you isolate as the "DMX" port and it all works great.  

I suppose if you're wanting to run ArtNET through a large corporate structure and then randomly access it at any given place you have cat5 run this would be more difficult and you probably want to look into the ArtNET 2 protocol.  

Either way talk to your IT guy and they can usually help you out.   

Another install I worked on we found a whole whack of unused fiber lines that were run but had not been purposed.  There's a copmuter based console in the basement of the building that runs ArtNET to a switch.  Then 4 media converters send it to fiber and pipe our signal to the 4 corners of the building.  From there we use more media converters to get back into Cat5 and then DMX....   It's has been a rock solid system for 2 years now.  

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