Congo/Cobalt Family Console Output Counts

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This article is about Congo/Cobalt family consoles.

For information about ETCnomad dongle output counts, see this article.

For information about Eos family console output counts, see this article.

Introduction

All Congo/Cobalt family consoles have an output count, which is the number of patched addresses that the console can output at one time.

Before Cobalt version 8.0.0, output counts could be any increment of 512.

After Cobalt version 8.0.0, output counts were simplified significantly. Now, each console type has only two possible output counts: the base count and the unlocked count. Any console not already at its unlocked count can be upgraded to it with a purchasable unlock code.

The rules below explain what will happen to a console's output count when it is updated from below Cobalt 8.0.0 to a later version.

Updating a console will not permanently change the output count. If the console is downgraded below Cobalt 8.0.0, it will revert to the output count it originally had before updating.

General Rules

If the console's current output count is less than the base count, it will increase to the base count.
If the console's current output count is equal to the base count, it will remain unchanged.
If the console's current output count is greater than the base count, but less than the unlocked count, it will increase to the unlocked count.
If the console's current output count is equal to the unlocked count, it will remain unchanged.

Plugging an ETCnomad dongle into a console may result in the console's output count being temporarily decreased to match the output count of the dongle. Unplug the dongle and restart the console to revert to the console's programmed output count.

Hardware Upgrades

From 2014 to 2021, some Windows XP consoles were eligible for a factory upgrade to Windows 7.

Congo/Cobalt family output counts do not change after an upgrade to Windows 7.

Channel Count

In addition to output count, Congo/Cobalt family consoles also have a channel count, which is the maximum number of channels (not addresses) that can be created in a showfile.

On most Congo/Cobalt family consoles, the channel count is fixed and cannot be upgraded. The exception is Congo Kid, which has a fixed output count but an upgradable channel count (similar to the Element in the Eos family).

Output Counts by Device

Congo/Cobalt Family Consoles

Device Type	Part Number	Ship Date	OS Version	Output Count		Channel Count
Device Type	Part Number	Ship Date	OS Version	Base	Unlocked	Base	Unlocked
Congo	7310A1xxx	2006–2013	Windows XP*	1024	6144	3072ch
Congo Jr	4320A100x	2006–2014	Windows XP*	1024	6144	3072ch
Congo Jr	4320A110x	2014–2018	Windows 7	1024	6144	3072ch
Congo Kid	4340A10xx	2011–2014	Windows XP*	1024		256ch	512ch
Congo Kid	4340A11xx	2014–2018	Windows 7	1024		256ch	512ch
* Consoles running Windows XP cannot be updated to Cobalt version 8.0.0, so they are not included in the base/unlocked output count system.
Cobalt 10/20	4370A1xxx	2014–2018	Windows 7	4096	16384	5000ch

Congo/Cobalt Family Rackmount Devices

Device Type	Part Number	Ship Date	OS Version	Output Count		Channel Count
Device Type	Part Number	Ship Date	OS Version	Base	Unlocked	Base	Unlocked
Congo Light Server	7310A102x 7310A112x	2007–2015	Windows XP*	1024	6144	3072ch
Congo Light Server	7310A122x	2015	Windows 7	1024	6144	3072ch
* Devices running Windows XP cannot be updated to Cobalt version 8.0.0, so they are not included in the base/unlocked output count system.
Net3 RVI	4250A1017 4250A1117	2006–2014	Windows XP	N/A
Net3 RVI	4250A1217	2014–2017	Windows 7	N/A
Cobalt Light Server	4370A1x3x	2015–2018	Windows 7	4096	16384	5000ch
Net3 RVI3	4250A1030 4250A1130	2013–2022	Windows 7	N/A
Net3 RVI3	4250A1230	2022	Windows 10	N/A

ETCnomad and ETCnomad Puck

Device Type	Part Number	Ship Date	OS Version	Output Count		Channel Count
Device Type	Part Number	Ship Date	OS Version	Base	Unlocked	Base	Unlocked
ETCnomad dongle	4380A1x1x 4380A103x	2014–present	N/A	1024	6144	5000ch
For more information about ETCnomad dongle output counts across versions, see ETCnomad Dongle Counts.
ETCnomad Puck Gen 1	4380A102x	2014–2016	Windows 7	1024	2048	5000ch
ETCnomad Puck Gen 2	4380A112x 4380A1130 4380A1131 4380A1132	2016–2020	Windows 7	1024	6144	5000ch
ETCnomad Puck Gen 3	4380A1133 4380A1134	2020–2022	Windows 7	1024	6144	5000ch
For more information about the differences between Pucks, see ETCnomad Puck Hardware Revisions. Cobalt software can only run on Gen 3 Pucks or earlier. Gen 4 Pucks and later can only run Eos/Element software.