ETCnomad Dongle Counts
This article is about ETCnomad dongles.
- For information about Eos family console output counts, see this article.
- For information about Congo/Cobalt family console output counts, see this article.
Introduction
All ETCnomad dongles have an output count, which is the number of patched addresses that the console can output at one time.
Before Eos version 2.6.0 and Cobalt version 8.0.0, output counts could be any increment of 512.
After Eos version 2.6.0 and Cobalt version 8.0.0, output counts were simplified significantly. Now, a dongle has only two possible output counts: the base count and the unlocked count. Any dongle not already at its unlocked count can be upgraded to it with a purchasable unlock code.
The table below shows what your final output count will be depending on both your dongle's programmed count and the version of software you are using.
Updating ETCnomad software will not permanently change the output count of an attached dongle. If the software is downgraded below Eos 2.6.0 or Cobalt 8.0.0, the dongle will revert to the output count it originally had before updating.
| Dongle Count | Eos | Cobalt | Hog 4 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| v2.2–2.5 | v2.6–2.8 | v2.9+ | v7.0–7.3 | v8.0–8.1 | v8.2+ | v3.12+ | |
| 256 | 256 | 512 | 1024 | 256 | 512 | 1024 | 2 universes (1024 addresses) |
| 512 | 512 | 512 | |||||
| 1024 | 1024 | 6144 | 6144 | 1024 | 6144 | 6144 | 12 universes (6144 addresses) |
| 1536 | 1536 | 1536 | |||||
| 2048 | 2048 | 2048 | |||||
| 2560 | 2560 | 2560 | |||||
| 3072 | 3072 | 3072 | |||||
| 3584 | 3584 | 3584 | |||||
| 4096 | 4096 | 4096 | |||||
| 4608 | 4608 | 4608 | |||||
| 5120 | 5120 | 5120 | |||||
| 5632 | 5632 | 5632 | |||||
| 6144 | 6144 | 6144 | |||||
Checking Output Count
To check your device's current output count, press the [Clear] key (Backspace on ETCnomad) to clear the command line, then press the [About] key (Y key on ETCnomad).
The output count will be displayed at the top of the About window, after "System Count".
In a multiconsole system, disconnect the device from the network before checking its output count. While connected, the System Count displayed may not match the device's programmed output count; see this article for more information.
Channel Count
In addition to output count, dongles also have a channel count when used with Cobalt software, which is the maximum number of channels (not addresses) that can be created in a showfile.
All dongles have a fixed channel count of 5000, which cannot be upgraded.
Types of Dongles
Sentinel (Green)
This is the current version of ETCnomad dongle as of 2025. They may have any output count shown in the table above and are supported by Eos, Cobalt, and Hog 4 software.
These were also briefly sold as Cobalt Nomad dongles between Cobalt v7.0.0 and 7.0.1. Cobalt Nomad dongles can only be read by Cobalt software and are incompatible with Eos and Hog 4. If you have one of these green Cobalt Nomad dongles, please contact ETC Technical Services to have it replaced with an ETCnomad dongle.
Late Congo Client dongles may also be of this type. See below for more information. Congo Client dongles are not replaced with ETCnomad dongles.
Sentinel (Blue)
These dongles were sold during a brief period when the green version was unavailable. They are functionally identical to the green Sentinel dongles above.
Purple EYDIB
These were sold as Eos Client dongles and have an output count of 256.
With the release of Eos v2.2.0, these became equivalent to standard ETCnomad dongles with an output count of 256. They are compatible with Eos, Cobalt, and Hog 4 software.
Purple OOMXR
These were sold as Congo Client or Congo PC dongles and may have any output count shown in the table. These dongles can only be read by Cobalt software and are incompatible with Eos and Hog 4.