Description
Eight lines, 300 metres, 16,320 pixels — the transmitter stays in the rack
The PixLite® T8-S Mk3 is the transmitter of a long-range system: it sits in the equipment room or 19" rack, runs directly from the mains and sends the pixel data over up to eight network cables to receivers mounted right at the pixels, up to 300 m away. Power supply and pixels are connected there. It is configured in the browser, and with a microSD card it plays a show even without a computer attached.
- Is it right for my project?
- Technical data
- Wiring
- Compatibility
- Scope of delivery
- Frequently asked questions
Is it right for my project?
What this transmitter is made for
- Installations where the equipment and the pixels are far apart — façades, building outlines, open grounds, halls: up to 300 m per line
- Large pixel counts on one unit: up to 16,320 RGB pixels over 16 receiver outputs, 96 universes
- Centralised equipment: 19" rack mounting, 100–240 V AC directly on the unit — the transmitter needs no power supply
- Stand-alone shows from microSD when no computer should run permanently
- Networks with many universes: two Gigabit ports for daisy-chaining, hardware firewall against foreign universes
Not for
- Pixels directly on the controller: the T8-S has no pixel outputs — without receivers nothing lights up. For short runs with power and data from one unit: A4-S Mk3, more units under all Art-Net/E1.31 controllers
- The R1F-S receiver: it belongs to the T16X-S Mk3, not to the T8-S
- Direct outdoor mounting without an enclosure: the unit is designed for installation, not for rain
Also required: one receiver per line (R2F-S with two, R4D-S with four pixel
outputs), network cable (Cat 5 or Cat 6), at each receiver a power supply matching the voltage of
your pixels (5–24 V), and the pixels themselves. Matching power supplies
and xConnect® cabling are in our range.
8long-range lines, up to 300 m each
16,320RGB pixels in total (16 × 1,020)
96universes sACN / Art-Net
90+supported pixel protocols
Eight lines to the receivers
- Eight RJ45 outputs carry the pixel data as a robust differential signal up to 300 m — over ordinary network cable (twisted pair, Cat 5 or Cat 6)
- Two Gigabit ports: daisy-chain several controllers without running a separate cable to the switch for each unit; optionally as a redundant loop
- AUX port accepts or outputs DMX512; IEC inlet for 100–240 V AC directly on the unit
Power is added at the receiver
- The transmitter carries no pixel power: each receiver gets its own power supply right at the pixels — short power runs, little voltage drop, no heavy cables through the building
- Fault protection on all ports: long-range outputs and AUX withstand up to ±48 V DC fault voltage, all connections are ESD-protected
- Test button on the unit: hold for three seconds and the transmitter sends test patterns down all lines — check the wiring without any software running
Wiring
Up and running in four steps
- Mount the transmitter and connect it to the mains. Screw it into the 19" rack or onto a flat surface, plug the supplied power cable into the IEC inlet — 100–240 V AC, no power supply needed.
- Place the receivers. At the pixels, mount one R2F-S or R4D-S per line and connect the power supply in the pixel voltage (5, 12 or 24 V) there. Pixels go on the receiver outputs.
- Connect. Transmitter outputs 1 to 8 each with one network cable to a receiver (up to 300 m). ETH1 to the switch or computer, ETH2 on to the next controller. The address is in the quick start guide.
- Configure in the browser. Set receiver type and outputs, universes, protocol and brightness limit, check with the test button, done.
Caution: the eight RJ45 outputs are long-range data outputs, not network ports —
switches, computers and pixels do not belong there, only PixLite receivers. And at the receiver:
power supply and pixels must have the same voltage; 12 V on 5 V pixels destroys them instantly.
Compatibility
Software
- MADRIX, Pharos, MadMapper, Green Hippo, ArKaos, Resolume, Chromateq, Obsidian, Disguise
- xLights and any other source that outputs sACN or Art-Net — the licences we offer are under Software
- Configuration without extra software directly in the browser
Pixels and receivers
- More than 90 pixel protocols, including WS2811, WS2812B, WS2815, SK6812, APA102, TM18xx — full list and matching pixels
- Receivers: R2F-S (two outputs) and R4D-S (four outputs), 5–24 V, one per line
- Long-range family: T8-S for eight lines with R2F-S/R4D-S, T16X-S Mk3 for sixteen lines with R1F-S
Scope of delivery
- PixLite® T8-S Mk3 long-range transmitter
- 2 m power cable with IEC connector, EU version (type F plug)
Receivers, power supplies, pixels, network cables and microSD card are not included. Rack and wall mounting kits are under "Matching accessories". A conformal-coated version for harsh environments is available on request.
Documents
Datasheet, processor datasheet, long-range quick start guide, user manual and management guide are in the documents section on this page.
Frequently asked questions
Do I really need receivers?
Which cable goes between transmitter and receiver?
Ordinary network cable with RJ45 plugs (twisted pair, Cat 5 or Cat 6), up to
300 m per line. But it is not a network connection: no switch in between, no computer on the
long-range outputs.
Where does the power for the pixels come from?
From the power supply at the receiver. The transmitter itself runs from the mains
and carries no pixel power. At each receiver you connect a power supply matching the voltage of your
pixels (5, 12 or 24 V) — right at the pixels, so with short power runs. As a rule of thumb for sizing:
WS2811 pixels draw around 60 mA per pixel at full brightness. Matching power supplies are under
power supplies.
How many pixels can the system really handle?
1,020 RGB pixels per receiver output, 96 universes in total — that is 16,320 RGB
pixels on the transmitter. With eight R2F-S that is 16 outputs of 1,020 pixels each; with R4D-S there
are 32 outputs, then with up to 510 pixels each. The total stays the same, the distribution gets
finer.
Does a show run without a computer?
Yes, via SHOWTime™: the show is written to a microSD card and played back by
the transmitter on its own, with up to 25 triggers. A permanently running computer is not
required.
Can I daisy-chain several transmitters?
Yes. ETH1 comes from the switch, ETH2 goes on to the next unit. So not every
controller needs its own cable to the distributor; with a suitable switch the chain can even be
closed into a redundant loop.
Unsure about receiver choice, power supplies and cable routing? Describe your project to us — we work out the power budget and parts list and get back to you with a proposal.
Discuss your projectTechnical data
| Item information | Value |
|---|---|
| Control protocol: | Art-Net / sACN (E1.31) / DMX512 |
| Ambient operating temperature: | -10 °C to +60 °C |
| Enclosure: | Aluminium |
| Input voltage: | 100–240 V AC |
| Pixel outputs: | 16 via receivers (expanded mode: up to 32) |
| Ethernet ports: | 2 × Gigabit |
| Auxiliary port: | RS485 (DMX in/out) |
| Card slot: | microSD (card not included) |
| Mounting: | Flat surface or 19" rack |
| Pixels per output: | up to 1,020 RGB / 768 RGBW |
| Universes: | up to 96 (sACN / Art-Net) |
| Dimensions: | 169 × 221 × 42 mm |
| Show storage: | microSD, SHOWTime™ up to 25 triggers |
| Image processing: | Gamma correction and dithering |
| Long-range outputs: | 8 × RJ45, up to 300 m each |
| Shipping weight: | 1,60 kg |
Product safety information
Manufacturer information:
Advatek
Unit 1, 3 - 5 Gilda Court, Mulgrave
3170 VIC
Australien
support@advateklights.com
Unit 1, 3 - 5 Gilda Court, Mulgrave
3170 VIC
Australien
support@advateklights.com
