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Sound Reinforcement - Forums for Live Sound Professionals - Your Displayed Name Must Be Your Real Full Name To Post In The Live Sound Forums => Lighting Forum => Topic started by: Kirby Yarbrough on March 27, 2013, 03:42:53 PM

Title: Bluetooth lighting control issues?
Post by: Kirby Yarbrough on March 27, 2013, 03:42:53 PM
Not being a Bluetooth user, I'm curious whether it's an acceptable protocol for wirelessly controlling lighting fixtures.  I've seen a demo and have read some of the Bluetooth specs, but are there significant limitations and exposures?  The fixtures I saw in use are here:http://www.sakura-systems.com/IllumaPro.html (http://www.sakura-systems.com/IllumaPro.html).
Title: Re: Bluetooth lighting control issues?
Post by: Scott Wagner on March 27, 2013, 03:53:53 PM
Not being a Bluetooth user, I'm curious whether it's an acceptable protocol for wirelessly controlling lighting fixtures.  I've seen a demo and have read some of the Bluetooth specs, but are there significant limitations and exposures?  The fixtures I saw in use are here:http://www.sakura-systems.com/IllumaPro.html (http://www.sakura-systems.com/IllumaPro.html).
Bluetooth has a maximum range of 30 feet (10m); however, in practice that maximum effective range is often much less.  If you can live within those limitations, bluetooth has proven to be an effective communications protocol.  It works great for my phone headset and PS3 controllers.
Title: Re: Bluetooth lighting control issues?
Post by: Kirby Yarbrough on March 27, 2013, 04:11:51 PM
Bluetooth has a maximum range of 30 feet (10m)

The specs state a 100m range for a Class 1 Bluetooth system: https://www.bluetooth.org/Building/overview.htm (https://www.bluetooth.org/Building/overview.htm)
Title: Re: Bluetooth lighting control issues?
Post by: Mac Kerr on March 27, 2013, 04:23:19 PM
The specs state a 100m range for a Class 1 Bluetooth system: https://www.bluetooth.org/Building/overview.htm (https://www.bluetooth.org/Building/overview.htm)

That's not what's in your phone though, and as with any RF the manufacture's spec is under ideal conditions.

Mac
Title: Re: Bluetooth lighting control issues?
Post by: James Feenstra on March 27, 2013, 07:31:30 PM
you'd be better off with tcp/ip control for wireless. There's tons of options with a much larger range, as well as many ipad/iphone/cell phone apps