Datasheet

RC4 Wireless Lights It Up with Tektronix
- An Accurate, Reliable, Easy to Use Solution
Wireless Stage Lighting
Modern stage lighting is a critical tool in the production of
theater, dance, opera, and many other performance arts. With
the ability to control lights comes the question of how to deliver
dimming instructions from the lighting console to lights that are
often dispersed across the set or, in the case of Cirque du Soleil
performances, on performers themselves. For a growing number of
lighting designers, the best way to achieve the flexibility and rapid
set-up they need is to use a wireless link in place of cumbersome
data cables.
A leader in this specialized market segment, RC4 Wireless Dimming
(www.theatrewireless.com) develops a complete family of off-
the-shelf and custom wireless dimming and control products for
the arts and entertainment industry. One of the company’s most
popular products is the RC4Magic Series 2 that replaces DMX
cables in lighting control applications. DMX is an EIA-485 based
communications protocol commonly used to control stage lighting
and effects.
PRECISION AND PERFORMANCE
Delivering wireless DMX dimmers to this customer base is no easy
task. Big shows are expensive to stage and customers paying top
dollar to attend events expect flawless performance after flawless
performance. That means RC4’s wireless products have to operate
with high precision, without latency and match the reliability and ease
of operation of a wired DMX connection. An additional challenge is
the growing demand for compact, battery-powered units.
Beyond the demanding fundamental design challenges, RC4 faces
the same challenge as many engineers who strike out on their own
to build a business – not enough time in the day. James Smith, RC4
President and Product Designer, handles everything from gathering
specifications for new customer orders to hardware and software
design to customer support.
With steady growth and a flow of new custom design requests from
the likes of Cirque du Soleil and Disney among others, Smith was
finding he was reaching the limit. Many of these customers want to
create new and exciting props that have never been done before,
and that means elaborate new lighting effects. One of his biggest
obstacles was the ability to quickly isolate “nagging” problems in
some of his embedded designs. He needed an easy to use, reliable
solution that would give him precision measurements and deep
insights at a price he could afford. In other words, he needed a
solution from Tektronix.
Customer Solution Summary
CHALLENGE
––
To quickly and accurately debug hardware and
software in custom-designed wireless dimming
modules and transmitters used in controlling the
lights of live theater productions.
SOLUTION
––
A Tektronix MSO2024 mixed signal oscilloscope
with application modules for serial bus triggering
and analysis. Backed by the Tektronix brand and
service organization, the solution offers ease of
use, accuracy and proven reliability.
RESULTS
––
With the functionality to easily see both the
decoded serial packets and analog signals
simultaneously, RC4 Wireless is able to identify
problems in literally a few minutes, without
the need to build special test fixtures or time-
consuming trial and error.