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Quasar Science - Help Center

Connecting the Blackout app with Art-Net over a Wi-Fi network

Blackout 2.0 is a lighting console application for iOS

There are a number of tablet-based apps that will transmit Art-Net over Wi-Fi. These apps allow control of the fixtures and freedom of movement for the user. While each application's setup requirements differ they all have a number of common settings that will be required.

One way to set up this system is to have the Blackout app on an iPad and the Quasar Science fixture both connect to a WiFi network using a wireless router or access point (AP). If using an AP the network will still need a DHCP server handing out IP addresses on it.

The following sections describe Tablet → Wifi → Router → Wifi → RR-R2

To connect the Quasar Science fixture to an existing WiFi network
  1. Set the Wireless mode to

    Config → Wireless Mode → Wifi

    ***In this mode the Wifi Settings menu is active

  2. Configure the fixture to join a Wifi network. Go to

    Config → Wireless Settings → Wifi Mode → Client

  3. Select the wifi network you would like to join. Go to

    Config → Wireless Settings → Wifi Settings → Set Network.

    The status LEDs will flash as the fixture scans for the wireless networks and displays them in order of signal strength

  4. Use the Rainbow-Buttons__Minus.svg and Rainbow-Buttons__Plus.svg arrows to scroll through the listed networks and Rainbow-Buttons__Check.svg to select.

  5. Use the Rainbow-Buttons__Minus.svg and Rainbow-Buttons__Plus.svg arrows to scroll letters and numbers to set the network Password.

  6. Use the Rainbow-Buttons__Check.svg to advance the cursor.

  7. Press and hold Rainbow-Buttons__Check.svg after entering the last character in the password.

  8. The Wifi Status Screen will display the name of the Wifi network the fixture has joined. If there is a controller broadcasting Art-Net on the wifi the Status LEDs on the fixture will be Data = Yellow, WiFi = Magenta.

To connect the Tablet to an existing wifi network
  1. Open Settings → Wifi

  2. Select the Wifi network and enter the password

  3. Launch the control app. In this case it will be Blackout

  4. In the App, load your project and open the left tab of the Blackout interface

  5. Select Link Status. This opens up the Link Status window

    01-Blackout_Connection_Wifi.png
  6. Select Art-Net as the Output Protocol.

  7. In the Offset field select the universes of the fixtures to transmitted

    Blackout defaults to Broadcast Art-Net. For more information about this see this article.

  8. Once Blackout is connected, the Wireless Status Light will be purple and Data Status Light will be Yellow. Unless the Status Lights have been turned off

To set up the fixture to using Art-Net Broadcast

Another way to set up this system is to have the tablet connect the network using a wifi and the Quasar Science fixture connect to the network using cat6 cable and a switch.

This looks like Tablet → WiFi → Router → cat6 → RR-R2

  1. Go to Config → Wired Settings → Wired Mode

    and set the light to Art-Net.

  2. Go to Config → Ethernet Settings → Universe

    Set the fixture to the universe it is patched to. Art-Net Offsets the universe by -1 so for a fixture patched in Universe 1 set this to 0 on the fixture.

  3. Optional Config → Ethernet Settings → IP Add Mode → Static

    The user will can now set the IP and subnet mask of the fixture in the ethernet settings menu. Detailed instructions can be found here

  4. Go to Config → Ethernet Settings → DMX Channel

    Set the DMX Address the fixture is patched to

  5. Connect the fixture to the control network using a Cat6 cable.

To connect the Tablet to an existing wifi network
  1. Open Settings → Wifi

  2. Select the Wifi network and enter the password

  3. Launch the control app. In this case it will be Blackout

  4. In the App, load your project and open the left tab of the Blackout interface

  5. Select Link Status. This opens up the Link Status window

    02-Blackout_Connection_Wifi.png
  6. Select Art-Net as the Output Protocol.

  7. In the Offset field select the universes of the fixtures to transmitted

    Blackout defaults to Broadcast Art-Net. For more information about this see this article.

  8. Once Blackout is connected, the Wireless Status Light will be purple and Data Status Light will be Yellow. Unless the Status Lights have been turned off