I'M IN A PANIC - WHAT SHOULD I DO?

OK - so something isn't working - and you don't know why.

We'll assume it's really urgent - and take you through some fast troubleshooting.

1. Make sure your STATION-X is powered.

Are the amber internal LED's on?
This will prove it has power.

No ambers - no power.
Try some other sources of USB power.
It's easy to forget, if you're using DMX input over an XLR cable - that STATION-X must also be connected to a USB power source.

2. Is STATION-X transmitting, and is Z-RAY receiving?

Get hold of a Z-RAY, bring it over to your STATION-X.

First check that your Z-RAY has adequate charge in it, then press the RESET button on your Z-RAY - this does a factory reset (it'll then take a few seconds to re-calibrate the battery charge indicator - don't worry if the charge indicator is now blank - provided it was OK before you hit reset).

Then press the right-arrow button once, to set it to DMX mode.
You should see the bar-graph on the right of the display animating.

If this fixes your problem, it's likely that your Z-RAY's were locked to a different STATION-X. Either change the BASE ST setting, or reset them.

3. Is Z-RAY receiving data?

Use the 3 internal modes on STATION-X - these are EFFECTS, BLACKOUT, HOUSE.
They don't depend on external inputs to STATION-X - they'll work so long as STATION-X is powered.

Switch between them and check that your Z-RAY responds.

4. If the first 3 tests work - then your problem is likely to be in your control software on your computer, or on your lighting desk - or the connection between them.

Connections first.

Was the correct external input selected (DMX DATA IN or USB DATA IN)?
Was the input cable fully pushed in?
Could the cable be faulty - can you quickly swap to another cable?

5. Software problems on your computer.

Before we try rebooting and/or reinstalling stuff - let's check some basic configuration stuff.

Can your DMX software see the USB port that has your STATION-X connected to it?

Often this is tucked away in a settings menu.
Some software will automatically detect a DMX USB interface (STATION-X is identical to the ENTTEC Open DMX USB Interface) the moment it is plugged-in. Other software won't do automatic detection. Some does most of the time - but then sometimes doesn't.

If your computer isn't detecting STATION-X - then it's time to reboot - and, if necessary, disconnecting any other unnecessary USB devices - and connecting STATION-X directly - and not via a USB hub.

OF ALL THE SPONTANEOUS PROBLEMS THAT CAN ARISE, A COMPUTER GETTING INTO A CONFUSED STATE AND FAILING TO CORRECTLY DETECT USB DEVICES IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON.

I swear they do it deliberately when we most need them to work reliably.

If there's an opportunity - try another computer - it may be quicker than troubleshooting a problem on the first one.

6. Hardware problems on your lighting desk.

Problems are less likely to occur here, as the interface to STATION-X is through a dedicated DMX port.

However some more complex desks can be configured to output over ArtNet or sACN (e1.31) - both ethernet-based communications.

If you have something available - try a substitute lighting desk as a quick and easy test.

If not, perhaps start with a power cycle, and clearing any configuration - and yet again - cables and connectors. Is it a long cable run? Are you using a microphone cable in place of a DMX cable? Are you using a DMX terminator at the end of the cable run?

There's many instances of poor cabling leading to erratic behaviour. Try substituting a simple, short and direct cable run - no DMX splitters etc, and no other lighting devices on the cable run.

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