Enable/Disable RDM?

[dj41354]

I'm wondering if we should provide the ability for our fixtures to "ignore" RDM. This would be implemented with the User Interface in the back of the fixture and would be a non-volatile setting... so if RDM was disabled, you'd have to physically get to the back of the fixture to re-enable it. Is this a feature that exists on other RDM enabled fixtures?.. and is this considered a helpful thing?.. or not? Thanks in advance for any advice on this.
DougJ

[ericthegeek]

Controller will often have a way disable RDM, but it's not a common feature in responders.

[prwatE120]

I cannot see why you would need this? Did you have a particular reason in mind?
As Eric has noted, if the controller does not want RDM information, it has the option NOT to ask!

A correctly implemented RDM responder will never place data on the wire unless it has been requested to do so via an RDM command.

Peter

[dj41354]

Hi Peter.. I don't have a specific need in mind, it just I've seen this feature on splitters for example and wondered if anyone puts this feature on responders... so I thought I'd ask the question. DougJ

[prwatE120]

Doug

The reason you find this on some splitters is that it is [sometimes] helpfull to be able to disable RDM transmissions on one or more ports independently of the controller.

Consider the case [sadly still encountered] where there are NON-COMPLIANT DMX devices in the install, that are NOT correctly using the NULL Start Code value to validate their use of other DMX Slot data. Such devices will incorrectly process the RDM messages as "DMX" data. In this situation, placing such devices on a port of a splitter that "filters" the RDM traffic may help.

But none of the above would be helped by "Disabling" RDM on a compliant responder.

Peter