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Converting lights to wireless on the cheap questions :)


Iggy Heringa

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Hey guys, 
 
I have two questions regarding stuff I want to hopefully get working, and I much hope someone has some experience to share on this :)
The first scenario revolves around getting lights with DMX to connect to a wireless network. The second is to control none dmx lights wirelessly.
What's kind of paramount for me is to see if this can be done on the cheap.
 
Scenario 1: making DMX lights controllable via 2.4G and hopefully the luminair app
So there are various led lights on the market currently ( Aputure, Godox in the lower price segment and much more expensive fixture above that) which feature a DMX port (either Ethernet, XLR or both).
 
In my search for figuring out how to potentially be able to get these to be controllable via wifi (and not through their native apps) found specific typse of Wireless DMX sets on amazon:
 
https://www.amazon.com/CHINLY-Charging-Wireless-Receiver-Transmitter/dp/B07CQ9RMCX/
or 
https://www.amazon.com/Donner-Wireless-Receiver-Indicators-Transmitter/dp/B00L25ZNP4/
 
These look like the exact same products but with different branding. 
Anyhow, if I combine the wireless transmitter of these sets with the transmitter on cheap portable router of some kind and establish a network, for example:
https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-Wireless-Travel-Router-TL-WR902AC/dp/B01N5RCZQH
or even
https://www.amazon.com/RAVPower-FileHub-Wireless-Portable-Transfer/dp/B07P5QDQ1B/
 
Would I then be able to control these lights via Luminair? How difficult would this be to setup?
Unfortunately, I find the information online about how to setup the various competing Wireless DMX apps quite bewildering. And it all looks super expensive :(
 
For certain lights I imagine this kind of adapter might come out handy too:  
DMX to RJ45 cable:
 
Scenario 2: making None-DMX lights wirelessly controllable 
 
I thought this scenario was a no go until I saw the following item on amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Palawell-Waterproof-Outdoor-Wireless-Dimmable/dp/B07H4KW7RK/
This should work with pro video Led lights as long as they are underneath the max rated Watts, right?
 
I may very well come across a little stupid with these questions, but I don't mind. I just hope that no one regrets reading through the text though ;)
 
Thx in advance and kind greetings! :D
 
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My regular gaffer has the Donner wireless DMX system. He and I have also used Luminair with an Apple router many times on set without problems. I don’t particularly like Luminair as an app; there are many things it can’t do, or can’t do easily, but it’s still probably the best cheap, non proprietary solution.

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4 hours ago, Stuart Brereton said:

My regular gaffer has the Donner wireless DMX system. He and I have also used Luminair with an Apple router many times on set without problems. I don’t particularly like Luminair as an app; there are many things it can’t do, or can’t do easily, but it’s still probably the best cheap, non proprietary solution.

Excellent, thx so much for that answer! So I guess I'm good to go then with the Donner option. For the time being I'll have to accept dealing with Luminair too. Hopefully future updates will improve it. 

Oh and by the way, great work on your website! ?

 

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You might already know this but I didn't see it mentioned:

You should be able to use Luminair with a wireless router with no problem but make sure you get an Art-Net node to convert your signal to DMX512

Like this one

https://www.amazon.com/70405-Ethernet-Lighting-Controller-Interface/dp/B072XY2PGV/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=entec+node&qid=1606006190&sr=8-5

That would go in between your router and your DMX transmitter 

Also looks like you need to get a bunch of 3 pin to 5 pin DMX adapters for those Donner antennas. They're 3 pin, which seems to be pretty standard for DJ and a lot of event lights but most movie lights are 5 pin. They're pretty cheap.

On 11/16/2020 at 6:37 PM, Iggy Heringa said:
 
 
Scenario 2: making None-DMX lights wirelessly controllable 
 
I thought this scenario was a no go until I saw the following item on amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Palawell-Waterproof-Outdoor-Wireless-Dimmable/dp/B07H4KW7RK/
This should work with pro video Led lights as long as they are underneath the max rated Watts, right?
 
I may very well come across a little stupid with these questions, but I don't mind. I just hope that no one regrets reading through the text though ?
 
Thx in advance and kind greetings! ?
 

  When I'm on a tight or no-budget I use these single channel 1K dimmers for pretty much any small light from fresnels to LED tubes

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/821805-REG/American_DJ_UNI_PAK_II_Uni_Pak_II_1_Channel.html/?ap=y&ap=y&smp=y&smp=y&lsft=BI%3A514&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIiovT4fuU7QIVBbLICh1l1QdFEAQYBCABEgKrJfD_BwE

These are 3 Pin so wouldn't require adapters for the Donners

 

Hope this helps!   

 

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On 11/21/2020 at 8:13 PM, Kyle Perritt said:

You might already know this but I didn't see it mentioned:

You should be able to use Luminair with a wireless router with no problem but make sure you get an Art-Net node to convert your signal to DMX512

Like this one

https://www.amazon.com/70405-Ethernet-Lighting-Controller-Interface/dp/B072XY2PGV/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=entec+node&qid=1606006190&sr=8-5

That would go in between your router and your DMX transmitter 

Also looks like you need to get a bunch of 3 pin to 5 pin DMX adapters for those Donner antennas. They're 3 pin, which seems to be pretty standard for DJ and a lot of event lights but most movie lights are 5 pin. They're pretty cheap.

  When I'm on a tight or no-budget I use these single channel 1K dimmers for pretty much any small light from fresnels to LED tubes

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/821805-REG/American_DJ_UNI_PAK_II_Uni_Pak_II_1_Channel.html/?ap=y&ap=y&smp=y&smp=y&lsft=BI%3A514&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIiovT4fuU7QIVBbLICh1l1QdFEAQYBCABEgKrJfD_BwE

These are 3 Pin so wouldn't require adapters for the Donners

 

Hope this helps!   

 

Hi Kyle,

Thx so much for your help and sorry for the late reply.

I actually did not think of getting an Art-Net router but thx to your input and some research it seems like a necessity. Truth be told doing DMX research is a much more complex task than I had envisioned. 

As far as the Enttec is concerned is there any reason why I should buy that instead of the cheaper DMXking https://www.amazon.com/DMXking-eDMX1-Ethernet-Adapter-3-Pin/dp/B00TDH2DBA/ ? 

Fortunately there's clones of the Donner Wireless DMX system that have 5 pins so I'll go for one of those and avoid even more (damn) adapters ?

Am I correct to interpret (based on checking the specs) that this American DJ Uni Pak II you recommend can convert any none-DMX light to a DMX channel? That would certainly be interesting for my none dmx lights...

Thx again so much for your help and get back whenever you have a moment.

Kind greetings!

 

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1 hour ago, Iggy Heringa said:

Hi Kyle,

Thx so much for your help and sorry for the late reply.

I actually did not think of getting an Art-Net router but thx to your input and some research it seems like a necessity. Truth be told doing DMX research is a much more complex task than I had envisioned. 

As far as the Enttec is concerned is there any reason why I should buy that instead of the cheaper DMXking https://www.amazon.com/DMXking-eDMX1-Ethernet-Adapter-3-Pin/dp/B00TDH2DBA/ ? 

Fortunately there's clones of the Donner Wireless DMX system that have 5 pins so I'll go for one of those and avoid even more (damn) adapters ?

Am I correct to interpret (based on checking the specs) that this American DJ Uni Pak II you recommend can convert any none-DMX light to a DMX channel? That would certainly be interesting for my none dmx lights...

Thx again so much for your help and get back whenever you have a moment.

Kind greetings!

 

Yeah, DMX can get is one of those things that can really simplify a workflow and make things convenient, or grow into a total headache if you're doing a smaller project without a dedicated person to handle that task.

I just suggested the Enttec because I've used them before and never had any problems with it. I'm not familiar with DMXking

The Uni-Pack II will work with any standard dim channel light, or "dumb" light under 1000Kw, basically any light that you could plug into a hand squeezer or dimmer like a 650 watt fresnel, a 60 watt lightbulb, a 4 ft quasar tube or dimmable LED light bulb. It wont work with a light that is controlled electronically like a 1x1 Lite Panel.       

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