Universe 4 issue - NS8 EP2 nodes

NETRON
1

I’m currently having an issue where I lose sync with any universe address above three.

Setup:

Etc Ion Legacy - 2048 channels

SACN and Artnet outputting

EN12i in spot booth - this unit is only outputting universe 1 for house rig and house light control to dimmer system.

All special lighting and movers are on Universe 2,3,4

NS8 in mid bridge

(5) Ep2 nodes

NS8 and nodes set to static IP addresses. Entire network is visible and configurable from web IP GUIs or software.

IMGM snooping enabled on NS8

NS8 automatic preset 2.x.x.x. (but have tried others to test.)

Have tried multiple configurations for nodes - all Artnet, all SACN. Some nodes one port SACN, one port Artnet.

Universes 1,2,3 are always synced, locked with no issues. Any port assigned to universe 4 or above has intermittent drop outs and sync loss. Not node specific as if I take working nodes outputting universe 2 and 3 and switch them to universe 4, the issue follows.

Some interesting findings:

If I constantly give commands in real time to channels on universe 4, the node syncs and doesn’t drop out signal. As soon as I stop giving real time commands, it will go back to blinking red light on that port with latency controlling fixtures.

If I switch the port to a different protocol (SACN to Artnet or vise versa) it will sometimes resolve itself for a period of time. But issue popps back up after some time.

I changed universe 4 fixtures to universe 7 as a test. And it synced and was working for a while. But after a while the same issue happens.

Never lose sync to universe 1, 2, or 3 on any node.

Have tried disabling SACN and or Artnet on console to only send one protocol but no success.

2

Hi @Triforce

Welcome to the forum.

Unless there is a specific need, I would recommend using sACN or Art-Net, not both.

Please ensure they are running v3.0.1 firmware. If you would like instructions on updating their firmware, please let me know.

If NS8 is the only switch on the network, please ensure that IGMP Snooping and IGMP Querier are enabled on your lighting VLAN. They will be enabled by default.

Please double check your settings in Eos. Please ensure that universe 4 is outputting with the same settings as the other universes. If you choose to use Art-Net, please ensure you are unicasting rather than broadcasting.

Edward

3

Firmware is all up to date on all nodes and NS8.

IGMP Snooping and IGMP Querier enabled on Vlan

EOS is older 2.9 version (legacy ion)

Artnet options are

Standard broadcast

Limited broadcast

Primary Artnet

Secondary Artnet

4

Thank you for the information.

Unless there is a specific need, I would recommend configuring all devices to use sACN, and disable Art-Net.

Some additional information on the Art-Net options you’re seeing: Art-Net should ideally be unicasted. However, in this early version of Eos, unicast may not be possible. In which case, Standard Broadcast should be used. I believe “Primary” vs “Secondary” will allow you to choose whether you operate on a 2.x.y.z or 10.x.y.z Art-Net network.

Based on your description, it sounds like universe 4 is outputting with “delta” transmission, but at a different rate to the other universes. This is not something I’ve encountered before. An easy workaround, is to patch a single dimmer channel onto universe 4, for example on channel 512. Then, in Eos set this channel to do a continuous sine-wave, and record this somewhere in Eos, so that this effect is always running. This will then force the higher frame rate from Eos, meaning the Netron devices will not see the universe dropping offline.

Please let us know if you have any questions.

Edward