Movers have become possessed

Seems like you hit the wall with XLR.

DMX has a resistance of 120 ohms. XLR is around 600 ohms. Basically, what is happening when you go in and out of a fixture, you are changing the resistance value of the line. The fixtures are 120, cable is 600. Sooner or later, the signal won't be strong enough to push through the XLR. Also realize that each fixture in line saps DMX strength, which is why when you added fixtures, it went bust.

One of three options. The first one you know, get DMX cable which you should have anyway.

The second is get a splitter like the Opto Branch/4. Put it on stage after your 100' DMX run and split the different units out from there. Note that AMDJ strongly suggests the use of one of these since the DMX signal coming off of dongles is not as strong as DMX signal off of consoles. The splitter boosts DMX strength and allows you to split the line between different units. Helps troubleshooting, stops line spikes. Something good to have.

The three option is like you said, move units around in the chain and hope you get lucky. You might indeed get lucky, but chances are against you that it won't happen. And then, later on, when you want to add more, you will most likely end up with the same problem again.

As they say, the choice is yours.

Im with serra. Opto branch/4 and all DMX cable or bust. Do you even have a line terminator? not saying it would help any but do you have one?
Sincerely,

Hiya Jingles.

Yea I have a line terminator. All I can do tonight is try and put the movers as the first 4 fixtures and hope that will help. With only 8 DMX fixtures will I need a splitter or do you think just getting DMX cables will do the trick?

PS....I live in BFE so there is no place to get DMX cables. Just looking for something to get me through tonight and the weekend.

You need not only all DMX cabling, but the optoBranch/4.

First, there are two reasons to get the optoBranch/4:
1: It will boost the "somewhat weak" signal coming from the MyDMX dongle to make it a stronger signal(as what you'd typically expect to see from a console). With that 100 foot run and then the rest of what you're doing, not a good idea, especially with mic cabling. Not to say it can't be done. I used to run DMX right off the MyDMX hardware through my audio whip, which is a 200-foot run, then a 25-foot run up to my first of a bank of 4 ADJ 64 LED Pros(connected with 3-foot XLR cables), then a 50-foot run between trees to another bank of 4 ADJ 64 LED Pros(same as before) and a terminator in the end. It worked, wouldn't dare try it again.

2: As has been explained, the OptoBranch/4 will optically(and hence electrically) isolate each circuit from each other, so if something nasty happens somewhere, it will limit any problems hopefully to just that branch. This prevents your console from getting fried.

For lack of a better term, the "short" answer is probably shorten your first run as much as physically possible. Even so, there's no way to ensure reliability.

Uhm, not to get kind of "snotty", but has anyone notice tht Chuck B is going wihth what appears to be an all Chauvet rig? Not to slam Chauvet, but many people have reported problems with Chauvet fixtures and MyDMX. I have some Chauvet fixtures and whole not necessarily my favorites, I'm lucky in that they don't give me any grief with MyDMX. So, not to rule out anything, but it could be a fixture-related issue causing problems.

Sorry to hear you're out in BFE. I can give you the name and number of a dealer who can sell you DMX cabling(pre-made), pre-made cables and connectors. But you're right, you're in BFE and that makes you SOL. Even if you want to DIY, if you make your client unhappy, you're going to be told to GFY.

TTFN. May things not go FUBAR and you don't go AWOL. And please, don't drink and drive so you don't get a DUI or end up DOA.

My rig is ever evolving. I have owned ADJ, Martin, and Chauvet. No complaints with any of them. I put my movers in the first four in line (as I said I would) and guess what. Everything worked like a charm. Go figure. Got me through the weekend. I will be upgrading during the next few months so if I need to ask a few more questions please don't give me any grief. I hope to be all LED with my par cans in the next couple of months. What is the best ADJ LED par can out there? Like I said, I have two of the Chauvet Par 64 36 1 watt lights and love them. What is comparable from ADJ?

PS....even in BFE we like to put on a good show. Here is an example from over the weekend.

Even in BFE, please don't stop doing good shows!

It's amazing what passes for entertainment in Sacramento. They want cheap, and they'll accept any slop that does cheap. But man, if they pay anything above $5, you get your butt chewed up and down for anything and everything, especially when it's not your fault the band is in the back OD'ing on whatever injectable recreational pharmaceutical of choice they are into.

All I can say is "No, I'm NOT with the band!!"

Never compromise and rock on!