Paul

Frog Reference 5560 - When editing an already programmed chase (live or blind), tags are not correctly copied from the step being edited to the other steps in the chase. Frog Reference 5561 - When editing scenes or chases (live or blind), the WHEELGROUP button does not show the tag states. Both of these are bugs which will be fixed in the next release.

Jester Operating Software version 2.0 has been released, and is available for download from the Zero 88 support website. CLICK HERE. This contains the following changes from version 1.9: * Recorded DMX Input is now replayed correctly * MIDI timecode is now generated in test mode (this can be used for testing Frog Boxes, Frog2s etc) Instructions for performing the update are also available from the link above.

When you overwrite a memory (or submaster or SX or palette), what is currently tagged gets recorded in that memory. Everything else is lost. There is no merging of current tags with what is already in the memory. In version 10.4, when you play a memory, the tags already in that memory are loaded. So if you make any changes and overwrite that memory, the tags should be pretty much what you wanted - that's the whole idea. But always best to check on the Fixture Outputs Screen. Frog Reference 5583 - Option to disable, add-to, or replace tags when when replaying Memories, Submasters & SXs.

The VGA output circuit on the Jester is different to the Fat Frog, so the signal timings may be very slightly different. Every monitor we've ever plugged the Jester into has worked, unfortunately we don't have any Phillips flat screen monitors to try. It's possible that the Phillips monitor doesn't like the timings from the Jester for some reason and so is giving the strobing effect you describe. Do you have another monitor you can try, just to confirm that you haven't actually been unlucky enough to receive 2 faulty Jesters in succession?

Can you give us the make and model number of the monitor you are using please?

Firstly make sure your desk is running the latest software (10.4). This will get rid of a lot of potential issues you may have with old versions. Secondly, if you haven't already got a monitor plugged in, get one. Thirdly, to see which fixture parameters are tagged, use the Fixture Outputs Screen on the monitor. To get to this, hold F1 and press the first fixture selection button. On this and other outputs screens, holding down the WHEELGROUP button will show you what's tagged. You're on the right lines to look at the tagging, the Fixture Outputs Screen is by far the best way to get some visibility of this.

It is a bug indeed, so you win a Frog Reference number: Frog Reference 5557 - Changing attributes after selecting a palette wrongly changes the selected wheelgroup. This will be fixed in the next release.

When you program a palette, you need to set up colour/beamshape/position for every fixture you want to program in that palette, and in partial mode, make sure they are tagged (yellow LEDs flashing). Selection has nothing to do with it. The desk does not copy data from one fixture to other fixtures of the same type or otherwise within a palette. This is to allow you to create colour rainbow palettes etc. To copy attributes between fixtures, select the destination fixture(s), then while holding down colour, beamshape or position, press the source fixture selection button. Palettes snap onto the outputs, the option to fade has been suggested as a new feature though.

Here's a couple I found...

Hello and welcome to the forums! We hope you like your new Jester. If have any questions when you get it, this is the place to ask. If you've not already seen them, have a look at the screenshots in THIS TOPIC for a preview of what you'll be getting. It's definitely worth connecting a monitor, it makes the desk so much easier to use, and of course there's the multi-lingual online help.

Have you set the 'Position Action' parameter of the chase to 'Fade' rather than 'Snap' ?

We don't have any PC tools for configuring Spice dimmers, although you can use the Chilli Master Controller on the Chillinet network. This will allow you to remotely patch the dimmers, change the laws, preheat, topset etc. Chillinet is completely incompatible with Ethernet. You would need to run a separate CAT5 cable for Chillinet.

Although Chillinet uses standard CAT5 cable, electrically it is completely different to Ethernet, and you should not interconnect the two.

I would imagine most cleaning kits require you to do something to make the disk turn so that the heads can be cleaned (although do read the instructions with the kit first!). The instructions with the kit may well make reference to DOS or Windows instructions to do this, but on a Fat Frog yes, Load Show is probably the best thing to do to make the disk turn.

To work out where the problem may be, can you give us a bit more information... What sort of desk is it? How old is the desk? What software version is it running? Is anything displayed on the LCDs? Do the LCD backlights come on? Do you hear the floppy motor try to run at startup? What is displayed on the external monitor?

If you've tried new disks to no avail, and convinced yourself that the problem is with the drive, then get the desk back to the dealer you bought it from or to us, to get the problem looked at. Alternatively if the desk is out of warranty and you fancy having a go yourself, open the desk and check both cables to the disk drive are securely connected. Try swapping the drive for a known good one - borrowed from an old PC perhaps. Disk drives are mechanical things full of cogs and motors and springs and other such stuff which is prone to general wear and tear. You might also want to try cleaning the heads on the drive too, although the cost of a kit to do this might not be far off that of a new drive.

The big change in version 10 software was parameter level programming (Frog Reference 5402), which became the single biggest issue for Frog users. Our position for a long time had been that this feature was beyond the scope of the Frog, however we bowed to user pressure and got it in, somehow finding a way to get it to work with the panel that was designed years earlier before any form of partial programming was envisaged. Version 10 was also scheduled to also have auto move on dark and tracking in it, however once parameter level programming was out, mysteriously the forum got about ten times quieter. The commercial impetus to add further features dried up. By the way, that's not a cue for all our old friends to start being noisy and repeating all the outstanding feature suggestions again! At the end of the day, we have to stay in business, and giving away free software updates has to make commercial sense in some way, either by promoting new sales or reinforcing confidence in the brand. Use of R&D resource has to be balanced between support and new product development, it's a tricky call and we hope we're getting it about right. If you feel differently, please feel free to bend the ear of your local Zero88 contact, their details are HERE.

If you search the news archive on the Zero88 website, you get THIS ARTICLE.

Jester Operating Software version 1.9 has been released, and is available for download from the Zero 88 support website. CLICK HERE. This contains the following changes from version 1.8: * Dutch language help text added. * Beat function now uses the last two presses rather than the first two. * Manual chases no longer jump backwards if the fade pot is moved shortly after a step advance is completed. * In Program Mode, the Copy function now also copies the memory/submaster name. This will be pasted into blank memories/submasters only. To update the desk: 1. Download the zip file, and extract the contents to a USB memory stick. This will be a file with the extension .jos. It is important that you only have one .jos file on the USB memory stick at any one time. 2. Plug the USB memory stick into the desk. 3. Switch on the desk with the Left and Right cursor keys held down. The Jester Upgrade Menu will appear on the LCD and monitor screen. The monitor screen is quite distinctive - it looks like a red and yellow circus tent: 4. Wait for the USB memory stick to be recognised by the desk. This is usually indicated by the LED on the memory stick flickering for a short time, and then returning to a steady flash. 5. With the cursors flashing on <OK>, press the Enter button. When the desk displays the name of the upgrade file found, ensure <OK> is selected and press Enter again to begin the upgrade. 6. The desk will now perform the upgrade. Do not switch off while this is happening. 7. When the upgrade is complete, press Enter to start the desk, there is no need to switch off and reboot.

The Copy function actually copies the current outputs (in Run Mode or Program Mode), but there's no reason why it shouldn't also take the name of the currently selected memory/submaster in Program Mode, since this is what you're looking at. It's actually quite an easy change to the code, and since we're just about to release version 1.9, it can be snuck in, watch this space...

In the fixture library.

In the latest library (16.03), it looks to me like the dimmer is on channel 2 for the Pearl River Pilot 250. We've had a similar issue before with some of the Pearl River fixtures, where the dimmer is off at DMX 255 and on at DMX 0 (check the manual for your particular fixture). I'm told that the fixtures now have an option in the menus to invert this. Does the fixture dim when you lower the Grand Master fader on the desk? What does the DMX output window on the desk show is being sent for the dimmer channel on the fixture?

What version of Windows do you have on your computer? Have you tried reinstalling Phantom Frog to see if that cures the problem? Make sure you've got the latest version downloaded from our website.

I think your question is answered in THIS POST.

The copy function (either in Program Mode or Run Mode) simply takes a snapshot of the current outputs into an internal buffer. It wouldn't be possible to copy an entire chase, since a chase could potentially have anything up to 999 steps, and there's not enough memory in the desk to do it.