The four main pieces of the RC4Magic Series 2 system.

The award-winning* RC4Magic Series 2 wireless DMX and wireless low-voltage dimming system delivers high performance on a budget. As reliable as wire with a range of 200 feet (67m) or more, there is no better way to control lighting in props, practicals, and set pieces.  Getting a DMX signal to an unusual location is effortless, with no unsightly wiring.

With the press of a button, the DMXio is either a DMX transmitter or a DMX receiver.  Small and versatile DMX2dim 2-channel wireless dimmers and DMX4dim 4-channel wireless dimmers directly drive battery-powered lamps, LEDs, motors, relays, solenoids, and more at voltages from 6V to 18VDC.  A range of dimmer curves accommodate any application.  For larger loads, the DMX4dim-500 easily delivers 500W at up to 30VDC.  Radio receivers are built- in to all RC4Magic dimmers.  Connect a battery to the power input, and lamps to the dimmer outputs, and start dimming.

Wireless Low-Voltage Dimming

DMX2dim and DMX4dim receiver-dimmers decode the rf signal from the DMXio transmitter, rebuild the DMX universe, and send user-assigned DMX channel levels to built-in low-voltage dimmers. Channel assignments are made with recessed pushbuttons. In addition to DMX channel, each dimmer can also be assigned a linear, inverse-square-law (ISL), or non-dim dimming curve. Linear is ideal for MR16s and other incandescent or halogen lamps; ISL is ideal for LEDs.

Any number of DMX2dim and DMX4dim receiver-dimmers can be used in an RC4Magic Series 2 system.

Data and System Security

Every RC4Magic Series 2 device is factory programmed with three unique system IDs, plus a public ID. These numbers are indicated on the outside of each unit. Only RC4Magic Series 2 units operating on the same ID number will communicate with each other. Many RC4Magic Series 2 systems can operate in the same space, each providing a separate DMX universe of 512 channels. With a DMXio configured as a transmitter on each private ID provided with a system, three separate 512-channel wireless universes can be broadcast. Up to 15 universes, each on their own ID, can operate in the same space. Using the public ID, multiple users can combine their devices to create one large wireless DMX system.

When adding new receivers to your RC4Magic Series 2 system, be sure to tell us your ID numbers.

Power-Up Sequence and Radio Channel Assignments

When an RC4Magic Series 2 DMXio transmitter first powers up, it scans the 2.4Ghz radio band, which supports many radio channels, looking for the channel with the least activity. It then sets itself to operate on that channel and begins transmitting encoded DMX packets using the user-selected ID number.

When an RC4Magic DMXio receiver first powers up, it scans all 2.4GHz radio channels looking for encoded signals from a DMXio with a matching ID number.

If a receiver does not detect valid data from a matching transmitter for 10 seconds, the start-up scan procedure is repeated. Thus, if the transmitter has been turned off and back on (or there has been a power failure) and it is now transmitting on a different radio frequency, the receiver will reconnect after a brief period.

Many RC4Magic Series 2 systems can operate at the same time in the same space, and each system will provide a separate 512-channel wireless DMX universe. In a space with little or no other radio activity, there is enough space in the 2.4GHz band to support fifteen RC4Magic Series 2 systems, each with any number of receivers and/or dimmers. Even in crowded rf environments there will usually be enough bandwidth for three or more RC4Magic systems to operate simultaneously.

* RC4Magic Series 2 received the Lighting Product of the Year award at the ABTT Theatre Show, London, England, in June 2009.