Display Channel Function
DIS
DISPLAY CHAnnEL
The display channel function is used to view the actual output levels of a
console (or any other DMX transmitter).
When the display channel function is entered, the LED display briefly
shows the number of the channel that is being monitored. After a short
pause, the current level of the selected channel number will appear on the
display. As the output level of the console changes, the number displayed
on the MicroTech updates immediately.
Pressing the
▼
and
▲
buttons changes the channel number that is being
displayed. While the channel number is being adjusted, the Status LED
remains lit. Holding down the
▼
and
▲
buttons causes the channel number
to change more quickly. For the fastest channel change, press the
Mode
button while holding down either
▼
or
▲
.
The Status LED will flicker each time the MicroTech receives a channel
update from the DMX source. If no DMX signal is being received, the
Status LED will remain off and the display will show “
---
”. If the
MicroTech detects an intermittent data error, the Status LED will signal with
a long-short flashing pattern. The LED will immediately resume flickering
unless additional errors are detected.
The level of the selected channel can be displayed in one of three format
types. The display types available are percent, decimal and hexadecimal.
The percent display shows the channel level from 0 to FL (100%), the deci-
mal display shows the channel level from 0 to 255 and the hexadecimal dis-
play shows the channel level from 00 to FF. See the section on the “Display
Type Function” to choose one of these three display types.
Display Channel Function
(continued)
Determining the Source of Glitches
Use the Display Channel function to locate the source of glitches, random
flashes and other odd behavior.
Place the MicroTech in-line with the DMX chain while the console is operat-
ing the equipment in question. Scroll to the channel number of a dimmer,
scroller or moving light parameter that is acting erratically.
The MicroTech displays the actual output of the console. If the channel
level is constant and the fixture is having problems then the error is in the
fixture. If the channel level is changing, then the problem is in the console.
Sometimes the console can be sending very minor changes in level that are
not normally seen when the MicroTech is displaying channel levels in per-
centage format (0 - FL). Switch the Display Type to either decimal or hexa-
decimal to observe the full 8-bit resolution of a console channel.
See the section on the “Error Count Function” for additional features that
can help to track down the source of DMX errors.
8
MicroTech DMX User’s Manual
MicroTech DMX User’s Manual
9
