showstack / software / dmxcat
DMXcat
Bluetooth LE hardware dongle plus a suite of free iOS/Android apps (DMX Controller, RDM Controller, DMX Tester, Fixture Controller) for controlling, analyzing, and testing DMX512 and RDM fixtures in the field.
Protocols it speaks
| Protocol | Direction | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| dmx512 | bidirectional | Measures break time, mark-after-break, inter-slot timing, refresh rate, and real-time channel levels. |
| rdm | bidirectional | RDM Controller app performs RDM discovery, listing devices/addresses/attributes, via the DMXcat hardware. |
What to watch for
All app functionality requires the separate DMXcat Bluetooth LE hardware dongle (sold separately); the free apps alone cannot monitor or control anything.
Some analyzer features (e.g. RF Spectrum Analyzer, Light Meter) are Android-only and unavailable on iOS.
Typical use
- Walk a DMX/RDM line to physically locate a bad connector, cable, or termination via the 'Flicker-Finder' feature
- Run RDM discovery in the field to confirm addressing and identify unresponsive fixtures
- Manually drive individual DMX channels from a phone to bench-test a fixture without a full console
Sources
- DMXcat Multi Function Test Tool - City Theatrical primary
- DMXcat on the Apple App Store primary
- DMXcat product brochure (PDF)
Understand the mechanism
Something wrong, or missing?
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