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Thread: Coming soon: Ether Dream 3

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    USA
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    216

    Default Coming soon: Ether Dream 3

    Hi folks,

    I'd like to end 2020 on a high note by announcing the next generation of Ether Dream.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    What isn't changing?
    - Same 16-bit X/Y and 8-channel 10-bit color resolution.
    - Same network protocol, so existing software will work seamlessly.

    But there are a few changes on the outside:
    - Smaller form factor. The metal case will have exactly the same profile, just cropped a little shorter.
    - USB power supply instead of 12v; some projectors have USB outputs for firmware updates and such, and so this can piggy-back off that. (The USB-C port is a robust through-hole unit to ensure reliability.) Firmware updates over USB too just like before.
    - USB host port instead of MicroSD, for playing shows from a thumb drive, with the ability to talk to other devices down the line.

    And on the inside, there's more:
    - High-performance STM32F7 microcontroller.
    - Point rates up to 180kpps - no galvos can go that fast (yet!) but diodes can...
    - Numerous extra GPIO pins on an 18-pin 0.1" header.
    - X/Y and color available on JST connectors as well as 0.1" header.
    - Versatile color channels: the ILDA User-1 to User-4 pins can be repurposed to act as high speed digital outputs, with hardware support for GPIO, USART, I2C, I2S, S/PDIF, and XY2-100.
    - Cryptographic accelerators allowing for point data to be encrypted over the wire (ECDHE + AES-GCM).
    - All firmware will be open-source, and the boards are designed for easy JTAG debug with an ST-Link V3 (<$10).

    Earlier generations of Ether Dream were pretty much tapped out in terms of their CPU abilities; this one has a lot more headroom to do more stuff onboard. I'm looking forward to seeing what people come up with to use it!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Cleveland Ohio
    Posts
    2,599

    Default

    Too bad can’t power it over the Ethernet cable. Would eliminate a cable.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    216

    Default

    I thought about it, but it would add a fair amount of complexity, and splitters are pretty easy to find for those that do need them (like this - https://www.amazon.com/UCTRONICS-PoE.../dp/B087F4QCTR )

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Cleveland Ohio
    Posts
    2,599

    Default

    Good point. Think I will try that. I had used a battery and regulator.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    Colorado USA
    Posts
    793

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by kecked View Post
    Good point. Think I will try that. I had used a battery and regulator.
    Ethernet only uses 2 pair of the 8 RJ-45 contacts (1,2,3 & 6), so it would be very easy to add the 2 POE pairs of contacts to pins 4,5 and 7,8 at a female, pc-mounted RJ-45, thereby maintaining one cable.
    ________________________________
    Everything depends on everything else

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2021
    Posts
    8

    Default

    I have purchased five ether dream3 in illcolumn
    It's very troublesome. It seems that it can't be sent to Chinese mainland directly. I have to transfer the package in the United States.Click image for larger version. 

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  7. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Posts
    1

    Default

    Hey Jacob, long time Ether Dream user here (I must have 30 or so and implemented the protocol in ofxLaser). I just got my first v3 units, loving the new form factor! Can you clarify the power options? I must admit that the USB C is quite inconvenient for me as I have a huge set up optimised for DC jacks now... is there still a way to feed in power directly to the board as in previous versions? Can it also be powered via the USB-A port?

    cheers!

    Seb

    seblee.co

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