Lightweight and battery powered with a translucent plastic casing, nanoScope features a built-in 5-pin XLR connector that enables it to be attached directly to the DMX512 cable. The device lights up in different colours to indicate its findings - this provides rapid, intuitive feedback that is hands-free and visible at a distance (handy for awkward positions such as plenum spaces or hanging off a truss).
Two modes of operation exist, selected by a recessed slide switch that also controls power on/off.
In 'Pixel Mode', nanoScope displays the first three DMX512 channels as an RGB mix, to provide confidence that the expected data is on the cable. This is particularly useful for commissioning DMX installations, as it can be used to track down any parts of the system that are misbehaving.
A flick of the switch selects 'Analysis Mode', which can be used to check for more subtle problems or to gain detailed informational feedback. nanoScope displays one long blip (green or red to indicate 'good' or 'bad' data respectively), then a train of short coloured blips representing different attributes of the DMX512 signal (it also detects RDM). The device can distinguish between six different types of good/informational signals (cold colours) and five different types of bad/unusual signals (hot colours). A handy legend printed on the side of nanoScope tells the user what each colour means.
Company CEO, Wayne Howell, comments, "By introducing a low-cost, sophisticated yet intuitive tester to the market, we think that nanoScope will become a must-have gadget for every technician. The response to the product has been amazing - it already has a waiting list of customers following its preview last year. We've put a great deal of effort into the final design, and we're confident it won't disappoint."
(Jim Evans)
