8 Port DMX/Artnet/RDM console

UPDATE: Vshow has released a V2 that will properly hold the dmx value of the last artnet packet. The unit works great!! Please look at the posed video I have created for a quick review. https://youtu.be/CcrDrIXwysI PREVIOUS RESPONSE (V1): This was sort of my mistake in buying the product however this must be informed. The unit is labeled as an ArtNet merge. While this is technically true, it isn’t. I was expecting that this node would hold the DMX value if ArtNet packets were not being sent. This was not the case. After 3 seconds of no ArtNet packet data. The unit would turn off all channels and return to 0. This is because if another ArtNet signal in port 2 was being sent it would switch over. If there’s no ArtNet packet being set however (like a stationary look) it will shut off within 3 seconds. There is no hold DMX function which made me return the unit and opting for another ArtNet node without any merge function.

The directions are good. But some of the stuff is dated. But still way worth it. I set it up on a mac through the ethernet port. Spent an entire night trying to learn how then watched a u tube video that explained what to do. So. For others. In summery. Your going to set the Io address of your computer, the softwere, and the hardware to (because this is where I had so much trouble) Ip: 2.0.0.X (X will all be different numbers as in 1/2/3/4/5/6 up to 244) The sub-mask all will be set to 255.255.255.0. On the devices set each channnel to artnet. It will make since when you get in their. And set each universe on each channel starting with 1 as 0 2 as 1 etc. thats kinda it. So artnet is cool. I have two computers set on a 15 dollar switch/hub and i can put the program from either and run it. So get this. Free program that is awesome. Download chamsys magicg. Get this or another but this turned out great for the price. And you will have eight universes of dmx. Also about v show. I was shocked after buying this that I actually have a lot of lots from amazon from v show and they have lasted. Even the super cheap stuff from six years ago. They are dated. But they work. Ill try to upload a video.

I received my node and immediately set it up according to the manual, which by the way is out of date and doesn't seem to be for this version of firmware, and to my dismay it was not sending my controllers signal. It registers on the panel and firmware side it does seem to be detecting an input on both A and B, and my status indicators on my lights say they are receiving when plugged into the corresponding outputs, but it appears that the channels are being zeroed out or not relayed at all. Don't even get me started on the setup of Art-net, nowhere does it say how to connect this to your computer or existing network, and after basic troubleshooting and scouring the internet I am still unable to get this to work. My router or network switch do not detect it at all, unless plugged into the WAN port which still doesn't work. Not happy considering this was a decent chunk of change and the whole reason I bought it was for Art-net.

Good

Works flawlessly. Amazing product.

Ready to work without needing to learn how to operate a rocket ship. I have installed 3 system now

Good

I'll preface this review and mention I'm a software engineer. This product does not correctly implement the ArtNet protocol in terms of universe port addressing. Even the manual seems to confuse ArtNet sub and net with network ipaddress and submask. Essentially this product is only capable of communicating on ArtNet universes 0 - 15. (That is Net 0, Sub 0, Universe 0 - 15). It does not set the sub or net bits to anything when sending an ArtNetPollReplyPacket even though the Net and Sub is configured on the product. What does this mean? It means that if you have more than 15 universes (at which point I recommend well known brand name hardware) that you cannot properly configure this product to listen on universes above 15. Other than this defect - the product works great and is a very good deal. I haven't tested the splitter functionality yet though.