strand network node

[melkin]

hey guys,

 

does anybody know how much an old strand network node SN103R is worth by any chance?

 

Cheers

[melkin]

I'm trying to get rid of one I no longer need thats all but dont know what value to put on it in the classifieds!

[gareth]

I suspect the market for these is nowhere near as good as it used to be - Strand 500/300-series systems are becoming fewer and fewer in number these days. I very much doubt most people will be looking to add nodes to a system which has a limited remaining lifespan, and there certainly won't be any new Strand Shownet installations taking place, so I'd guess the only possible outlet for this would be to someone who's looking to replace a faulty node in their system.

[spotblaster]

Shownet nodes as well as working with Strand desks can take Shownet data from Chamsys MagicQ and turn it into DMX.

 

The SN103 if I recall correctly has 4 off 5 pin XLR sockets each of which can be configured to output a universe of DMX. So the SN103 could give the lucky purchaser access to 4 MagicQ universes.

 

Maybe this gives all Strand nodes a new lease of life in retirement. As to value then nodes go from tens of pounds on e-bay to the low hundreds at usedlighting.

 

 

Drifting slightly off topic...

 

For theatres with Strand consoles and Shownet installed the combination with MagicQ opens up interesting possibilities. It is possible to configure a Strand node to HTP a Strand desk and a Chamsys - (including MagicQ PC). So another option is available for holding non-dims/orchestra/working lights etc on without using the Strand desk.

 

I found out by accident that most usefully this works wirelessly if using MagicQ PC. A Strand node with a wireless access point connected to it picked up Shownet from a wirelessly enabled laptop running MagicQ PC and turned it into DMX! This was a surprise at the time but I have repeated it and it still worked.

 

By setting the right network addresses it is possible to take the output of MagicQ into a Strand desk via Shownet and make a combined output. Some interesting possibilities there I think.

 

With Chamsys hardware it is possible to take DMX from a Strand desk via Shownet into MagicQ and having laboriously copied all states use the MagicQ as a backup. (I have not tried this).

 

I have however tried taking DMX from a Strand 300 into MagicQ PC using the "pro" USB dongle. I used this to create a backup of the 300 show in MagicQ PC. It worked well. It is however limited to one universe and it took a while to copy all the states.

 

 

An interesting possibility for those with much loved but ageing Strand consoles is to plot the show on our Strand hardware and then to transfer it to MagicQ PC for the run. If I was in the situation of having a 10 year old 520i and no 510i or other Strand console as a backup then I would consider this. It takes a while to do the transfer and with no Chamsys hardware other than the required MagicQ pro USB dongle would be limited to one universe.

 

So maybe there is life in Shownet and it's nodes at least for a while.

 

Anyone else experimented?

 

 

 

 

 

Spotblaster

[phenry]

and there certainly won't be any new Strand Shownet installations taking place,

Did I miss something? Why won't there be any new Shownet installations?

[gareth]

and there certainly won't be any new Strand Shownet installations taking place,

Did I miss something? Why won't there be any new Shownet installations?

To clarify - I meant 'Shownet' in the sense of GeniusPro consoles and their associated network hardware. Although I suspect you actually knew that that's what I meant ...