DIN Ethergate Mk2 — User Manual

Two-port bi-directional eDMX gateway in a compact 4-module DIN-rail form factor. Converts between USITT DMX512-A and Art-Net, sACN, ESP and KiNet — with optional IEEE 802.3af Power over Ethernet.

Getting started

Read this section before installing the DIN ETHERGATE MK2. Covers electrical safety, system planning, installation guidelines, and the device's physical dimensions and mounting options.

Safety

Ensure you are familiarised with all key information within this guide and other relevant ENTTEC documentation before specifying, installing, or operating an ENTTEC device. If you are in any doubt about system safety, or you plan to install the device in a configuration that is not covered within this guide, contact ENTTEC or your ENTTEC supplier for assistance.

Heads up: ENTTEC's return-to-base warranty for this product does not cover damage caused by inappropriate use, application, or modification to the product.

Electrical safety

• This product must be installed in accordance with applicable national and local electrical and construction codes by a person familiar with the construction and operation of the product and the hazards involved. Failure to comply may result in death or serious injury.
• Do not exceed the ratings and limitations defined in the product datasheet or this document. Exceeding can cause damage to the device, risk of fire and electrical faults.
• Ensure that no part of the installation is or can be connected to power until all connections and work is complete.
• Before applying power, check that all power distribution equipment and cables are in perfect condition and rated for the current requirements of all connected devices (with overhead) and verify it is appropriately fused, and voltage is compatible.
• Remove power from your installation immediately if accessories, power cables or connectors are in any way damaged, defective, show signs of overheating or are wet.
• Provide a means of locking out power to your installation for system servicing, cleaning, and maintenance. Remove power when not in use.
• Ensure your installation is protected from short circuits and overcurrent. Loose wires around this device during operation could result in short circuiting.
• Do not over-stretch cabling to the device's connectors and ensure cabling does not exert force on the PCB.
• Do not 'hot swap' or 'hot plug' power to the device or its accessories.
• Do not connect any of this device's V- (GND) connectors to earth.
• Do not connect this device to a dimmer pack or mains electricity.

System planning

• Where possible, keep this device out of direct sunlight to maintain optimal operating temperature.
• Use twisted-pair, 120 Ω, shielded EIA-485 cable for DMX512 data. Conductors should be 24 AWG (7/0.2) or larger for mechanical strength and to minimise voltage drop on long lines.
• A maximum of 32 devices on a DMX line before re-generating the signal using a DMX buffer / repeater / splitter.
• Always terminate DMX chains using a 120 Ω resistor to stop signal degradation or data bounce-back.
• Maximum recommended DMX cable run is 300 m (984 ft).
• Avoid running data cabling close to sources of electromagnetic interference (EMI) — e.g., mains power cabling, air conditioning units.
• This device has an IP20 rating and is not designed to be exposed to moisture or condensing humidity.
• Operate the device within the specified ranges in its product datasheet.

Protection from injury during installation

• Installation must be performed by qualified personnel. If unsure, consult a professional.
• Always work with a plan of the installation that respects all system limitations defined within this guide and the product datasheet.
• Keep the DIN ETHERGATE MK2 and its accessories in its protective packaging until final installation.
• Note the serial number of each DIN ETHERGATE MK2 and add it to your layout plan for future reference when servicing.
• All network cabling should be terminated with an RJ45 connector in accordance with the T-568B standard.
• Always use suitable personal protective equipment when installing ENTTEC products.
• Once installation is completed, check that all hardware and components are securely in place and fastened to supporting structures if applicable.

Installation safety guidelines

• The device is convection-cooled — ensure sufficient airflow so heat can be dissipated.
• Do not cover the device with insulating material of any kind.
• Do not operate the device if the ambient temperature exceeds that stated in the device specifications.
• Do not cover or enclose the device without a suitable and proven method of dissipating heat.
• Do not install the device in damp or wet environments.
• Do not modify the device hardware in any way.
• Do not use the device if you see any signs of damage.
• Do not handle the device in an energised state.
• Do not crush or clamp the device during installation.
• Do not sign off a system without ensuring all cabling to the device and accessories has been appropriately restrained, secured and is not under tension.

Physical dimensions

The DIN ETHERGATE MK2 occupies a 4-module slot on a TS35 DIN-rail. Use the dimension drawing below when planning enclosure or rail-clearance requirements.

Mounting options

The unit ships with a TS35 DIN-rail clip and screws. Two mounting options are supported:

• TS35 DIN-rail mount — using the included DIN clip accessory.
• Surface mount — direct fixing using the supplied screws.

Hardware

Connector layout, wiring, Phoenix pinout, Power-over-Ethernet behaviour, and the LED status indicator.

Hardware features

• Dual bi-directional DMX ports.
• Dual Ethernet ports for expandable network daisy-chaining.
• Forward-facing RGB LED status indicator; network link & activity LEDs built into the RJ45 ports.
• Electrically insulated ABS plastic housing.
• Surface mount or TS35 DIN mount (DIN clip accessory included).
• IEEE 802.3af PoE input, or 12–24 V 2-pin DC power input.

Wiring diagram

To reduce the likelihood of voltage or EMI being induced on the DMX lines, where possible run control cabling away from mains electricity and devices that produce high EMI (air-conditioning units, etc.).

Pro tip: For reliable terminations, ENTTEC recommends the use of cable ferrules for all stranded cables connected to the DIN ETHERGATE MK2's screw terminals.

• The RJ45 network connector accepts cabling terminated to the TIA/EIA networking standard.
• Network cabling must be terminated to the T-568B standard.
• The DIN ETHERGATE MK2 supports IEEE 802.3af PoE only (active 48 V).
• Maximum DMX cable distance without re-buffering: 300 m (984 ft).
• Never exceed 32 devices in a DMX chain without an intermediary DMX splitter or buffer (e.g. ENTTEC's DIN RDS4).

Phoenix pinout

The DIN ETHERGATE MK2 is equipped with two 4-pin Phoenix connectors that can function as either DMX input or DMX output, depending on the Web Interface settings.

These connectors follow the DMX standard (0V, Data−, Data+) and include an extra port named Term. When the device is used as a DMX-to-eDMX converter, the TERM port substitutes the Data+ port and serves to terminate the DMX line.

Power over Ethernet (PoE)

The DIN ETHERGATE MK2 supports IEEE 802.3af Power over Ethernet on the Ethernet In port. This allows the device to be powered via the RJ45 connection — reducing cable count and enabling remote deployment without a local power source.

PoE can be introduced to the Ethernet cable either through a network switch which outputs PoE under the IEEE 802.3af standard, or through an IEEE 802.3af PoE injector.

Note:

• DC power input takes precedence over PoE. If DC is disconnected, the device will typically switch to PoE in about 3 seconds.
• Passive PoE is not compatible with the DIN ETHERGATE MK2.
• When daisy-chained in series, only the first device will receive PoE. Subsequent devices require their own PoE injector.

LED status indicator

The DIN ETHERGATE MK2 has a forward-facing RGB LED that signals device activity:

Configuration

eDMX protocols, merging modes, Overdrive mode, default network settings, and a walkthrough of every tab in the built-in web interface.

Functional features

• 2 universes of DMX-512A with E1.20 RDM support.
• Art-Net, sACN, ESP and KiNet conversion.
• Overdrive mode outputs at 500 Kbps (DMX500K) for up to 2 universes per port.
• HTP / LTP merging for simultaneous DMX sources.
• Configurable DMX output refresh rate.
• Configuration and updates via the built-in web interface.
• 'Current Port Buffer' lets live DMX values be viewed in the browser.

Bi-directional eDMX protocols and USITT DMX512-A conversion

The DIN ETHERGATE MK2's primary function is to convert between Ethernet-DMX protocols and USITT DMX512-A. eDMX protocols can be received and converted to DMX with HTP or LTP merging — or DMX can be converted to eDMX with the option to unicast, broadcast or multicast.

Note: The device acts as an Art-RDM gateway and does not support remote configuration through Art-Net. ENTTEC also advises disabling RDM when not needed — older fixtures compatible with the DMX 1990 specification may behave erratically with RDM packets on the DMX line.

Each of the two ports can be configured independently — same universe, different universes, different protocols, or different directions.

Merging

Merging is available when the port type is set to DMX Out. Two different Ethernet-DMX sources (from different IP addresses) can be merged if they use the same protocol and universe.

If a merge source stops being received, the failed source is held in the merge buffer for 4 seconds. If it returns, the merge continues; otherwise it is discarded. If more sources are received than configured, extra sources are ignored, a warning is shown on the web interface home page, and the status LED turns Cyan.

Overdrive mode

Overdrive mode changes the output from standard DMX512-A to DMX500K, sending data at 500 Kbps. This enables compatible fixtures (LED driver chips with DMX512 differential parallel protocol) to be controlled at up to 1,024 channels with 2 universes per port — versus the 512-channel-per-port limit of standard DMX512-A at 250 Kbps.

The ENTTEC DMX Neon Flex (73060) is a compatible fixture supporting DMX500K.

Heads up: DMX500K is incompatible with DMX512-A and does not conform to ANSI E1.11–2024. Confirm your lighting control equipment and fixtures can decode 500 Kbps before enabling. Use with unsupported fixtures can cause unpredictable behaviour.

Out of the box — default settings

Networking

DHCP

On power up with DHCP enabled, if the device is on a network with a DHCP server it will request an IP address. If the DHCP server is slow to respond, or your network does not have one, the device falls back to 192.168.0.10 with netmask 255.255.255.0.

Static IP

By default the Static IP address is 192.168.0.10. If DHCP is disabled, this Static IP becomes the address used to communicate with the device. The Static IP changes from the default once modified in the web interface — note it down after setting.

Note: When configuring multiple DIN ETHERGATE MK2 units on a Static network, connect one device at a time to avoid IP conflicts.

If using DHCP, ENTTEC recommends sACN multicast or Art-Net broadcast — this ensures the device continues to receive data if the DHCP server changes its IP. ENTTEC does not recommend unicasting to a DHCP-addressed device in long-term installations.

Web interface

Configuration is done through a web interface accessible from any modern browser — a Chromium-based browser (e.g. Google Chrome) is recommended.

Identified IP address

If you know the DIN ETHERGATE MK2's IP (DHCP or Static), type it directly into the browser's URL bar.

Unidentified IP address

If the IP is unknown, use one of the following discovery methods on a local network:

• ENTTEC EMU software (Windows / macOS) — discovers ENTTEC devices on the LAN, displays IP addresses, and opens the web interface.
• An IP scanning application (e.g. Angry IP Scanner) to list active devices on the local network.
• Art Poll discovery (e.g. DMX Workshop set to use Art-Net).
• The default IP address 192.168.0.10 is printed on the physical label on the rear of the product.

Note: The web server has no SSL certificate, so browsers display a "Not secure" warning — this is expected. Ensure your computer and the DIN ETHERGATE MK2 share the same LAN and IP range with a consistent subnet mask.

Top menu

The top menu provides access to all web pages, with the active page highlighted in blue. The top-right corner has two installer buttons:

• Dark Mode — switches the interface to a dark background.
• Identify — sends all channels to 100% to confirm compatible Overdrive-mode fixtures are correctly connected. The timer does not restart when pressed consecutively.

Home tab

The landing page is a read-only device overview. It displays:

System information

• Node name
• Firmware version
• System uptime

Current network settings

• DHCP status
• IP address
• Netmask
• Gateway address
• MAC address
• Link speed

Current port settings

• Port
• Type
• Protocol
• Universe — click the universe number to see a snapshot of all current DMX values
• Refresh rate
• Output merging

Settings tab

The DIN ETHERGATE MK2's settings can be configured in the Settings tab. Changes only take effect after being saved — unsaved changes will be discarded.

Device & network

• Node Name — the name the DIN ETHERGATE MK2 broadcasts in poll replies.
• DHCP — enabled by default. With DHCP off, the device falls back to 192.168.0.10.
• Static IP / NetMask / Gateway — used when DHCP is disabled. Set these to match other devices on the network.

Port settings

Configure each port individually, or enable Autofill to apply a setting to subsequent unmodified ports. Autofill does not apply to DMX universes.

• Type — Disabled / DMX In / DMX Out / DMX Out (RDM) / DMX Out (Overdrive).
• Protocol — Art-Net, sACN, ESP, or KiNet.
• Universe — Ethernet-DMX input universe. Range depends on the protocol.
• Refresh rate — output rate (default 40 fps). Last received frame is repeated to comply with the DMX standard.

Per-protocol options

• Input Broadcast / Unicast — choose broadcast (based on the subnet mask shown) or unicast to a specified IP address.
• Input sACN Priority — 1 to 200; 200 = highest priority.
• Output Merging — when enabled, merges two DMX sources from different IPs on the same universe (HTP or LTP). See Merging.

Action buttons

• Save Settings — all changes must be saved to take effect.
• Reset to Defaults — restore factory default settings (see Out of the box).
• Reboot — reboot the device remotely. When the page reloads, the device is ready.

Network Stats tab

The Network Stats tab provides a per-protocol overview of network data — packet counts for poll, data and sync events. Art-Net statistics include a breakdown of Art-Net DMX packets sent and received, plus RDM-over-Art-Net activity (packets sent / received, sub-device count, and TOD Control / Request packets).

Update Firmware tab

Selecting the Update Firmware tab stops DMX output and boots the web interface into Update Firmware mode. Expect a brief error message while the page reloads into boot mode — this is normal.

Steps:

1. Download the latest firmware .bin file from www.enttec.com.
2. Use the Browse button to select the file from your computer.
3. Click Update Firmware to begin.
4. After the update completes, the web interface reloads to the Home tab where you can verify the firmware version.

Reference

Factory reset procedures, servicing & maintenance, cleaning instructions, package contents, and ordering information.

Reset to factory default

The DIN ETHERGATE MK2 can be reset to factory defaults either through the web interface or by the physical reset button.

Resetting via the web interface

Navigate to the Factory Default command located under the Settings tab. A confirmation pop-up will appear — confirm to complete the reset.

Resetting via the reset button

The reset button on the device restores the network configuration to factory defaults. Procedure:

1. Power off the unit.
2. Press and hold the Reset button.
3. While holding the Reset button, power up the unit.
4. Keep holding for approximately 3 seconds.
5. Release the Reset button after the LED turns yellow.
6. Power-cycle the unit.

Servicing, inspection & maintenance

Heads up: The device has no user-serviceable parts. If your installation becomes damaged, replace the affected part. Power down and lock out the system before any servicing.

Areas to examine during inspection

• Connectors are mated securely and show no sign of damage or corrosion.
• Cabling has not been physically damaged or crushed.
• Check for dust or dirt build-up and schedule cleaning if necessary.
• Dirt or dust build-up can limit heat dissipation and lead to damage.

Install replacement devices following all steps in the installation guide. To order replacements or accessories, contact your reseller or message ENTTEC directly.

Cleaning

Dust and dirt build-up can limit the device's ability to dissipate heat. Clean on a schedule fit for the operating environment — the more extreme the environment, the shorter the interval.

Before cleaning: Power down the system and lock out the supply until cleaning is complete. Do not use abrasive, corrosive, or solvent-based products. Do not spray the device — it is rated IP20.

To clean an ENTTEC device, use low-pressure compressed air to remove dust, dirt and loose particles. If necessary, wipe with a damp microfibre cloth.

Factors that may require more frequent cleaning

• Stage fog, smoke, or atmospheric devices.
• High airflow (close proximity to air-conditioning vents).
• High pollution levels or cigarette smoke.
• Airborne dust (building work, the natural environment, pyrotechnic effects).

If any of these are present, inspect the system soon after installation, then check at frequent intervals to determine a reliable schedule.

Package contents

• DIN ETHERGATE MK2
• TS35 DIN-rail clip and screws

Power supply is not included.

Ordering information

For further support and to browse ENTTEC's product range, visit www.enttec.com.

Note: Due to constant innovation, information within this document is subject to change.