Astera AX5 TriplePAR

Description

Fully wireless and versatile Astera AX5 TriplePAR LED spot. Suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. The Astera AX5 Triple PAR is specially developed for multifunctional deployment. The name of this Astera spot comes from the 3-in-1 principle. This spot can be used as a wired LED spot, wireless LED spot, and LED uplighter. This makes this lamp the ultimate tool for every audiovisual professional. Astera’s key features are, of course, wireless communication and enormous battery capacity. Naturally, this spot also has all these capabilities. The battery can power this lamp for 20 hours. Through the Astera application, you have access to a very large arsenal of possible settings. You will find more information about this below. It is also possible to control the AX5 lamps wirelessly via DMX. This can even be done outdoors. The spots are completely weatherproof (IP65). Rain, hail, or snow are therefore no problem at all. These spots are also very suitable for studios and other recording locations. The cooling is not provided by a fan, but via the specially developed aluminum housing. Completely silent, therefore.

What is the light source of an Astera AX5?

The housing of this Astera AX5 contains three very powerful 15-watt LED sources. These Philips Lumileds are calibrated in such a way that this lighting can reproduce exact colours. The colour fidelity of the light beam is unparalleled at 92%. It is therefore possible to determine the exact RGBAW value via computer prior to the event and subsequently set it on the spots. The Astera application also includes the full range of LEE filters. This makes it possible to exactly replicate the color of a conventional fixture with LEE filter using these spots, without actually needing a filter. In the application, it is also possible to set the colour temperature of the white light beam (2700K to 6500K).

Which filters come with an Astera AX5 when I rent it?

By nature, this Astera AX5, like its small (AX3) and large (AX9) brothers, has a light beam of 13°. However, in some situations, there may be a need for a different light beam. Special filters are available for this, which adjust the light beam. All filters are very easy to attach and click into the housing. Is there a need for a wider light beam? Then you can use the flood filter. This transforms the 13° beam into a 32° beam. Do you want to illuminate a large flat wall or surface? Then it’s better to use the WallWash filter. This transforms the round 13° beam into an oval beam of 46° x 17°. This directs as much light as possible towards the wall, allowing you to evenly illuminate the surface as efficiently as possible.

• • No Filter: Beam of 13°
  • Flood Filter: 32° Beam
  • Wallwash Filter: 46° x 17° Beam

What is the battery life of an Astera AX5?

Nowadays, almost every device is equipped with batteries. Partly due to the development of these batteries, it is now possible to equip professional lighting for events with rechargeable batteries. This can save valuable setup and breakdown time. There are simply no cables needed, so cabling no longer takes time. Of course, it also benefits the result. No visible cables just looks neater. After fully charging the battery, which takes 7 hours, it is possible, when using the correct settings in the AsteraApp, to use the Astera AX5 for 20 hours continuously. This is more than sufficient for the majority of events, but it is also possible to connect these spots to the power grid. Very important is the reliability of the battery life. It should not happen that the spots fails halfway through the event. For this, Astera has built in a special function; ‘seamless runtime’. With this, you can set how long the spots should function. The lamps then calculate themselves how much battery capacity is used and still needed for the coming hours. The spot will therefore never fail during the event.

How does the wireless communication of an Astera AX5 work?

It is very convenient that these spots have a battery for operation, but for ease of use, the control should also be wireless. Naturally, this is the case. Astera has developed its own protocol for this. With the help of the AsteraBox, you can control the spots entirely as desired. Essentially, the AsteraBox is a highly intelligent translator. This transmitter converts the incoming signal into an RF signal (865 – 870 MHz), which controls the lamps. This specific frequency ensures a very large range of up to 300 meters. An advantage over other systems is the talkback function. In addition to sending information to the lamps, the lamps also send information back to the AsteraBox. This makes it possible to read all kinds of information regarding operation, settings, and battery status. The AsteraBox can connect to the tablet via Bluetooth. In the Astera application, you can then use a very large arsenal of functions:

• • Colours, chases, effects, and groups
  • Anti-Flicker
  • Theft Alarm:
  • Enter and Leave Standby

It is also possible to use the AsteraBox as a DMX transmitter. By connecting this transmitter to the lighting console using the supplied DMX adapter, you can control all Astera lamps via the lighting technician’s Avolites, Hog or Grand MA.

Is the Astera AX5 flicker-free?

You know the situation. To the naked eye, the entire event looks perfect. Everything is taken care of down to the last detail, but through the lens of the camera, all the lights are flickering. Very annoying and a real shame because it makes the footage unusable. This effect is caused by the LED light source. Unlike a conventional incandescent lamp, LED lamps are not continuously on. In reality, they flicker very quickly. However, the human eye cannot perceive this, making it appear as if the LED lamp is simply on. A camera, on the other hand, does see this, which can make images unusable. Using the AsteraApp, you can very easily change the speed of the ‘flickering’. In the application, you can adjust this based on the frame rate at which you’re filming or manually. To the eye, you don’t see any difference from this change, but on camera, the effect is much greater. In the footage, the spot appears to burn continuously, making the images perfectly usable for an aftermovie or reference work. The Astera AX5 cools without a fan. A fan always makes noise and can be perceived as annoying for studio-related assignments or events where little sound is produced. For this, the AX5 has a special aluminum housing, allowing this lamp to still dissipate its heat.

How does the theft alarm work on an Astera AX5?

Fully wireless lighting improves ease of work and appearance at an event. However, this also facilitates theft. The spots are no longer connected with various cables, so theoretically, they could just be picked up and taken away. For this reason, Astera has equipped all fixtures with a motion sensor. Through the AsteraApp, it’s possible to activate this motion sensor and adjust it to the desired sensitivity. When the lamp is then moved or removed, a siren will sound and the lamp will flash white to deter a potential thief.

How does the ‘Enter and Leave Standby’ function work?

Have you set up all the lighting for the event, but the event doesn’t start until the next morning? No problem. Via the enter-and-leave-standby, you can specify when the lamps should turn on and off. This way, you don’t have to worry about the lighting during the event. It happens completely automatically. Very reassuring for the event manager’s peace of mind.

How does the emergency lighting option of the Astera AX5 work?

One more function then! That must have been what they thought at Astera. The Astera AX5 can also be used as emergency lighting. When power unexpectedly fails during an event, it often suddenly becomes dark, which can cause panic among visitors. By activating the ’emergency light’, you can use Astera lighting as emergency lighting. When the power fails, these lamps immediately provide a bright white beam of light, ensuring that the audience is never in a dark space. Very reassuring for the peace of mind of the visitors. For this, the lamps do need to be connected to the power grid.