James Remo

If all 4 ports are in use, it could also be two main and two backups, which would also mean that unplugging a cable might not send panels black. Knowing where you are located might help with a local suggestion

I’ve been very impressed by the evolution xpc 4 way looms from DCS, very hard wearing in a busy touring environment https://directcablesystems.com/catalog/product/view/id/6141/s/evolution-xpc-heavy-duty-tactical-multiway-cat5e-per-metre/category/1304/

I’ve only toured vista once; quite a few years ago. I remember Vista did output artnet from software without a license dongle, but would send zeros every 4 mins or so. The clattering it gave the mac 2k washes when doing so was rather impolite, so we ended up running magic q for test patterns. Fortunately it was the last tour I did with both the 2k’s and vista. Artnet nodes are getting super cheap, I don’t know why anyone would buy a usb to DMX dongle when they can buy a single universe artnet node for about the same price, that will be compatible with many platforms, and useable for years to come.

Posca oil based white pens are the work of the devil and are too easily mistaken for chalk pens. You will have to re-spray a peli case black if you make that mistake and write “I love Peter” all over a colleagues’ peli case when they are about to go on tour with a certain Australian singing soap star. She missed the one on the handle and I don’t think I’ve been forgiven yet…

A tungsten Profile with quarter hampshire frost and half CTB would be my go to for a cool white, soft-edge lectern light.

Something like the wahlberg lifting column, or possibly one of their winch systems come to mind https://wahlberg.dk/products/motors/lifting-column https://wahlberg.dk/products/DMX-winches/winch-50-double-plus-power-and-cat5

Most analog party line systems are compatible - Clearcom, ASL, Tecpro, Canford, Granite / metro / stonewood (all the same), Altair, Axxent, Superlux, Production Intercom, Theatre Projects, Eurolite.... the list goes on. Some are better than others. I dislike the current plastic tecpro models, they aren't that hardy. The ASL PS series were my go to before riedel bought the company and discontinued them. If looking at new, my current favorite is: Axxent BP100 - Good, metal case, very robust, uses similar components to the granite sound kit, decent price https://www.thomann.de/gb/axxent_bp100.htm

Have a look at https://www.thingiverse.com/search?q=steeldeck&page=1

Music for Youth might be a good organisation to talk to https://www.mfy.org.uk/frequencies/careers/

Luminex give away their luminet monitoring software, I find it much easier to use than wireshark for artnet problem solving. Works on pc and Mac, fantastic bit of software that does the job

Didn’t Pulsar or Cambridge do a lot of clay paky’s boards?

Maybe overkill for your situation but I keep a couple of etc coloursource relays in the warehouse for use in situations where I need a relay - mostly mirror balls and led practicals. They came to me second hand for a bargain price and work flawlessly. Great form factor.

If your pockets are deep the Arri L series are really good

The dimmer racks are pulsar for sure, but I can’t recognise the rack you are asking about as pulsar made, the handles make it look like a project box.

How much kit are we talking? L acoustics have their amp racks that are designed to fly behind the array, at the other end of the scale some DMX buffers have an M10 bolt in them for direct attachment with a half coupler. A very lightweight node may be fine with a pair of rack strips bolted to half couplers, anything bigger I’d look at canford’s truss pods https://www.canford.co.uk/CANFORD-RACKS-ES417-Series-19-inch-truss-pods-Wooden