Occasionally we encounter multiple customers — usually neighbors, like the opera and the ballet in the same city — who want the ability to share their RC4Magic equipment. They each own a few pieces, usually enough for what they do. But sometimes they need just one more dimmer, and they know that someone else has one that is not being used.
To make use of somebody else’s RC4Magic devices, you have two options:
1. You can use the Public ID (ID 3). Sharing is the intended purpose of the Public ID — it lets you combine as many Rc4Magic Series 2 pieces as you like, no matter who purchased them.
But the downside of the Public ID is that everybody who has any Rc4Magic equipment has the potential to interfere with your show.
2. You can arrange to share one of your three private System IDs. Normally, every RC4Magic system is assigned three IDs that are entirely unique — no other system anywhere in the world will ever have those same three codes.
Most users only need one unique code. Each code supports a separate wireless network, which provides a full 512-channel DMX universe. Having multiple codes is handy to either (a) run multiple wireless universes in the same show, or (b) ensure that wireless systems in adjacent spaces do not affect one another. Most Rc4Magic users are running one wireless universe on their private ID0 — the other two IDs are dormant.
So why not share one of the other IDs? Keep ID0 and ID1 private, for example, but share ID2 with other companies you share equipment with. If everyone in the pool does the same, now you have your own “Semi-Public ID”. Use it just like the worldwide Public ID, but with far less risk.
With written permission from the ID owner(s), we can program any ID codes you need into any device. All you have to do is ask!