FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
General Questions
Q: What is sNIF?
sNIF is an innovative app designed for seamless integration with sACN (Streaming Architecture for Control Networks) to display sACN data available on a WiFi network.
Q: Who is sNIF for?
sNIF is ideal for lighting designers, technicians, and anyone working in environments using sACN over WiFi. It's purpose is to identify and display sACN values being sent over a network. sNIF is a convenient tool for testing and troubleshooting sACN networks, making it a powerful resource in your pocket.
Q: How does sNIF work?
sNIF listens for sACN data on a specified universe and displays the sACN values for each address in real-time on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. The Flexi mode function filters out non-active addresses allowing for an easy to read GUI.
Features
Q: What is the sNIF Flexi feature?
The sNIF Flexi feature filters out non-active sACN addresses making it easy to read at a glance the active addresses on your sACN universe.
Q: How many universes/addresses can sNIF detect?
sNIF is capable of detecting and displaying the values of all 512 addresses on any of the 65,279 sACN universes. Simply enter the universe number and click Start to view the activity on any sACN universe you desire.
Technical Details
Q: What DMX protocols does sNIF support?
sNIF supports the sACN (E1.31) protocol, a widely used standard for DMX over IP.
Can I use sNIF with other DMX controllers?
Yes, as long as the controller supports and is actively sending sACN over Wifi and your network configuration allows multicast traffic.
Does sNIF support multiple universes?
While sNIF focuses on single-universe operation at a time, you can configure the app to listen to any single universe within the supported range (1-65,279).
Can I use any router with sNIF?
We recommend using a commercial-grade router (if possible) that is designated for the lighting system, especially in a production environment, however, a consumer grade router dedicated to a closed production lighting network may suffice.
Setup & Usage
Q: How do I set up sNIF?
1. Connect your device to the production Wi-Fi network (the same network as your lighting control console or sACN controller). 2. Within the app settings, select the sACN universe you wish to monitor. 3. Click the Start button to start monitoring the universe. 4. View the received sACN values in real-time. 5. (Optional) Toggle on "Flexi" to view only actively received sACN values.
Q: What do I need to use sNIF?
sNIF requires a compatible iPhone, iPad, or Mac and access to a lighting control console or other hardware/software capable of sending sACN data over WiFi.
Q: What network configuration is required?
Ensure that your device and lighting controller are on the same Wi-Fi network and that the controller is configured properly and sending sACN. Please Note: Multicast support is required for sACN communication.
Troubleshooting
Q: The app is not responding to sACN data. What should I check?
Verify that your device is connected to the correct Wi-Fi network. Check that the Universe and DMX Address settings in sNIF match the settings in your lighting controller. Ensure that your lighting controller is broadcasting sACN data over Wifi. Confirm that your device is not using a VPN. Verify that multicasting is available and enabled on your router.
Support
Q: Where can I get help with sNIF?
For assistance, contact our support team at support@candleandswitch.com or visit the official documentation and forums at www.candleandswitch.com.
Q: How do I report bugs or suggest features?
You can report issues or share ideas by emailing us at feedback@candleandswitch.com. Your input helps us improve sNIF and allows us to update the app faster!
Future Updates
Q: Will sNIF support additional lighting protocols in the future?
We are continually evaluating and testing new features and protocols. Stay tuned for updates!
Q: Are there plans for a desktop version?
At this time, sNIF is optimized for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. We are exploring possibilities for expanding to other platforms based on user demand.
Getting started takes less than 5 minutes!
sNIF is extremley user friendly and straightforward! In less than 5 minutes you can identify any and all sACN activity on your Wifi network! Download the App, now!
