Download a PDF - PLSN.com

ROAD TEST
P R O J E C T I O N L I G H T S & S TA G I N G N E W S
ELC Checker
By RichardCadena
ELC calls this unit the Checker Handheld
DMX512/RDM toolbox, but unlike your father’s
toolbox, this one is digital. It does fit
easily in the hand and it is battery operated, making
it truly handheld, and it does work with both
DMX512 and RDM. But what, exactly, does it do?
ELC
ELC is a 14-year-old company based in the
Netherlands, and their products are entirely
focused on lighting control and distribution.
Their first and probably best known products
were the Focus Hand and Focus Brain wireless
DMX remotes. They recently opened a U.S.
headquarters office in the Detroit area where
they keep stock (Cast North America, Inc., ELC
US Headquarters, 237-A Dino Drive, Ann Arbor,
MI; 734.253.2148). In North America they are
distributed by Leprecon (U.S.), Audio Acústica
y Electrónica (Mexico) and Global Showbizz
(Canada).
The Checker is 5.69 inches long by 2.9 inches
wide by 1.75 inches tall (14.5cm by 7.4cm by
4.4cm) and it weighs about 14 ounces (0.4 kg).
On its face is a matrix of 16 backlit keys (four
by four) and they are real contact switches,
not membrane switches or soft switches. The
switches, labeled 0 through 9, E, F, +, -, > and
@, are used for keypad data entry and follow
the same syntax as a typical lighting console.
The Checker also has a three-line backlit LCD
display above the keypad and a small encoder
wheel on the side of the unit. The encoder
wheel is used to scroll up and down through
the display and it also serves as a pushbutton
selector.
On the top of the unit is an ON/OFF pushbutton
switch and a USB port, which serves as
both a battery charger (it comes with a cable
and a variety of electrical connectors for different
countries) and as a port to upload and
download data. On the bottom on the unit are
two 5-pin XLR connectors, one for the input
and one for the output.
It also comes with a belt clip that can be
attached to the back of the unit. The housing
is made of sheet metal and it is powder-coated
with silkscreen printing.
Functions
When you first turn it on, the displays
quickly cycles through the software version
(we were testing V1.23) and the battery status
(“charging” or “charging done”), and then
it goes directly to the menu of options. These
are: 1. Send DMX; 2. View DMX; 3. Fixture Test; 4.
RDM Control; 5. Show Playback; 6. Show Record;
7. Cable Test; 8. Dipswitch; and 9. Options.
Send DMX
The send function is a handy way to test
cables and instruments and to use for general
troubleshooting. The keypad entry works
just as you would think — enter the channel
number or combinations of channels using
the +, - and > (through) keys and set the level
using the @ key and a single number for the
level (e.g., 5 = 50 percent). You can also use the
encoder to quickly select the channel number
or the level and pressing the encoder toggles
between the two selections. The display shows
the command line as you enter data.
View DMX
The View DMX function is a great troubleshooting
tool. It shows you the DMX data
coming into the DMX port in a bar graph,
percentage, or decimal value, and it also analyzes
several parts of the data. You can display
the amount of time that has passed since you
have been monitoring the data, the number of
frames, number of DMX channels and several
parts of the DMX data packet including the
length of the Break, Mark After Break (MAB)
and each frame in microseconds, the refresh
rate in frames per second and the voltage
levels of the data. This information comes in
handy when you are troubleshooting compatibility
issues between consoles and devices.
Fixture Test
If you have ever had to test a multi-parameter
fixture like an automated light with a handheld
tester, you will certainly appreciate this function.
It has a library of fixtures that can be called up in
order to test and set individual parameters. For
example, you can choose from one of eight High
End Systems fixtures stored in the library. The
library is not exhaustive, but new fixtures can
be added using the fixture editor, which can be
downloaded from the ELC website. The Fixture
Test function can help save loads of time when
you are working with multi-parameter fixtures
because you won’t have to refer to the user manual
or DMX chart to call up certain parameters.
RDM Control
Although we didn’t have an RDM-capable
fixture to test this function, it appears simple
and straightforward — it discovers RDM fixtures,
records the Unique Identifier (UID), model,
manufacturer, label, software version, mode, slot
footprint (number of control channels), number
of sensors and more. It also allows you to set certain
parameters like the DMX start address, the
mode, lamp function, etc.
Show Record/Playback
These two functions allow you to capture a
live stream of DMX and record it as a show for
later playback. Up to 99 shows can be recorded
and played back and the maximum capacity is 1
GB. Shows can be played through once or they
can be looped indefinitely. The show files are
compatible with ELC’s ShowStore and MiniStore
recorders, so you can save your files to Show-
Store or MiniStore and you can download files
from them as well. When you connect Checker to
a computer, it appears as another storage device,
which enables you to use it as a backup for your
console.
Cable Test
The cable test function appears to be a simple
continuity checker although it’s not specified
in the literature. The display indicates “Open” or
“Cable OK.”
DIP Switch Calculator
The built-in DIP switch calculator shows a
graphic display of DIP switch settings for a given
DMX start address. It has a step counter so that
each time the encoder is advanced it jumps
to the next valid DMX start address for a given
fixture. For example, a Martin MAC 2000 Profile
has a slot footprint of 21 parameters, so by setting
the step counter to 21, when the encoder
is advanced it will jump from 1 to 22, to 43, etc.
There is also an offset that can be set to 0 or 1 depending
on how the manufacturer treats all DIP
switches off. Some call that setting DMX start address
1 while others do not allow that setting as a
valid DMX start address.
Options
The last function has a variety of housekeeping
selections including DMX send options (timing,
channel count, etc.), power management,
fixture library update and battery information.
The ELC Checker has a host of very useful
functions for anyone involved in setting up and
troubleshooting DMX and RDM networks. It’s
simple to use, very self-explanatory and small
and portable enough to fit in any toolbox or
even in your pocket (with the possible exception
of your skinny jeans). Its RDM functions ensure
that it will be useful for a long time to come and
no self-respecting lighting tech or production
electrician should be without one.
ELC Checker
What it is: DMX tester, recorder and
playback device
Who it’s for: Anyone who sets up and/or
troubleshoots DMX networks
Pros: Small, lightweight, easy to use,
powerful functions
Cons: Fixture library is somewhat limited
How Much: $1,160 (MSRP)
More Info: elclighting.com
30 PLSN DECEMBER 2010