FocusPhone Frequently Asked Questions
General
Expression/Express
Obsession
Strand
MIDI
DMX
General
Q: What is the difference between the FocusPhone and the FocusPhone Jr?
A: The FocusPhone Jr is currently available only for ETC Express line,
and Expression/Insight IIx or 3; and it does not afford access to groups,
cues or macros. It also costs less.
Q: What consoles will FocusPhone work with?
A: Current FocusPhone models support the ETC Express line, Expression
IIx or 3, Insight IIx or 3; Obsession I or II; Strand series 300 through
550i; Strand Lightpalette 90; and MIDI Show Control.
Q: Does it come with a phone?
A: Yes. A 900MHz cordless phone is provided with every FocusPhone.
Q: Can I use any cordless phone with FocusPhone?
A: Almost. Some phones require a dial tone before they will transmit
Touch-Tones. These phones will not work with FocusPhone.
Q: Can I use a 2-line phone with FocusPhone?
A: Yes. You can connect one line to FocusPhone the other to a phone
jack.
Q: Can I use a cell phone?
A: No. The FocusPhone does not work with a live phone line. It uses
a dedicated household cordless phone as its wireless link.
Q: I have several different types of consoles. Do I need a different
FocusPhone for each one?
A: A multi-protocol FocusPhone is available which utilizes adapter cables
to talk with different consoles.
Q: How can you get all the necessary commands out of a 12 digit keypad?
A: By using simple combinations of buttons, and by reusing buttons.
# is "AND". ## is "THRU". * is "AT". * is
also "FULL". Channel numbers never start with zero, so "15"
is channel 15, but "015" is group 15. And so forth...
Q: Can I run macros from the FocusPhone?
A: Yes.
Expression/Express
Q: Does a FocusPhone offer anything that an RFU does not?
A: Besides wireless convenience, FocusPhone adds a 1-button channel
step function for checkout.
Q: Can I use FocusPhone and the RFU at the same time?
A: No. We are working on it.
Obsession
Q: Can I use other RFUs with FocusPhone?
A: Yes. FocusPhone is always RFU #2. Other RFUs must be set to IDs other
than #2. (Hold +, THRU and - while switching on the RFU, then enter RFU
ID, then ENTER.)
Q: Can I use more than one FocusPhone?
A: Yes, but they must have different RFU numbers. Obsession FocusPhones
can be provided with specific RFU numbers by special order.
Q: Can FocusPhone use Obsession version 5 two-decimal cue numbers?
A: Yes.
Q: Will FocusPhone work with a multi-drop RFU system?
A: No. FocusPhone only emulates a normal Obsession RFU.
Strand
Q: Does FocusPhone support Strand 2-digit direct level entry?
A: Yes. FocusPhone can work in command line, 2-digit, or 1-digit level
entry mode.
Q: Can I plug the FocusPhone into the keyboard port on a node?
A: No. You can only plug the FocusPhone into a keyboard port on a console.
Q: Can I use the keyboard with the FocusPhone plugged in?
A: Yes. The FocusPhone has a receptacle to plug the keyboard into.
Q: Can I use more than one FocusPhone?
A: Systems with multiple consoles can have one FocusPhone attached to
each console.
MIDI
Q: What MIDI Show Control commands does FocusPhone support?
A: Load, Go (with or without cue number), Stop, Resume, and Fire.
Q: Can transmit and receive device addresses be set?
A: Yes, and they can be changed from the handset at any time.
DMX
Q: Does the FocusPhone output DMX?
A: No. The FocusPhone controls the lighting console by using channels,
groups, or dimmer numbers. There are similar products available for simple
DMX-only control applications.
email us your other questions.
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