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Networks & IP Addresses

Welcome to the most frustrating part of stage automation. Not motors, not cues, not Making It Move. Just numbers. Specifically, four groups of numbers separated by dots that determine whether your Stagehand talks to Spikemark or sits there silently judging you.

The good news: The fix is almost always fast, and it's almost always Step 1.

Let's find it.

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Quick Start

If your Stagehand isn't connecting to Spikemark, the problem is almost always one of these three things — in this order:

  1. The PC's IP address isn't set (most common)

  2. All devices are set to the same IP Address (2nd most common)

  3. The Stagehand's IP address doesn't match what Spikemark expects

  4. The Ethernet cable isn't seated properly

Work through the Quick Fix Checklist first. If you're setting up for the first time, start with Section 1.

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IP Address Reference Card

Every device on the Spikemark network needs to be assigned a compatible, and unique, IP Address. The IP Address scheme is flexible, but for the sake of troubleshooting let's keep the devices in the 192.168.10.___ range.

The first three numbers must match, while the last number must be unique — no two devices can share it.

Device
Recommended IP Address
Subnet Mask

Spikemark PC

192.168.10.245

255.255.255.0

Stagehand Controllers

192.168.10.10–240 (each one is unique)

255.255.255.0

Showstopper Base

192.168.10.235

255.255.255.0

Showstopper Consolette

192.168.10.254

255.255.255.0

Spikemark Pendant

192.168.10.250

255.255.255.0

For addresses below .100, don't use a leading zero: type .10, not .010.

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Quick Fix Checklist

Step 1 — Confirm the PC's IP address. ← This is the #1 cause of connection failures.

  • Press Windows + R, type cmd, press Enter

  • Type ipconfig and press Enter

  • Find your Ethernet adapter. The IPv4 address should show 192.168.10.245

  • If it shows 169.254.X.X — Windows doesn't have a static IP set. Go to Section 1 and set it now

  • If it shows nothing or the wrong address — same fix

Step 2 — Confirm the Stagehand's IP address. On the face of the Stagehand, press the jog wheel to open the menu and find the IP address display. Write it down. Make sure no two Stagehands share the same address and that the address is in the 192.168.10.___ range.

The factory default IP Address for any Stagehand is 192.168.10.32. If you have more than one Stagehand in your system, you'll need to update the address.

Step 3 — Confirm the IP address matches in Spikemark. Open the Stagehand's Properties in Spikemark and verify the IP address entered there matches exactly what's shown on the Stagehand's front panel. One digit off means no connection.

Step 4 — Check the cable. Physically trace the Ethernet cable from the Stagehand to the network switch. Push both ends in firmly until they click. Try a different cable if you have one handy.

Step 5 — Check the switch. Is the switch powered on? Is there a small link light on the port where the cable plugs in? No light = bad cable or bad port. Try a different port on the switch.

Step 6 — Restart Spikemark. After any IP address change on any device, close Spikemark completely and reopen it before trying to connect again.

Step 7 — Call us. Email [email protected] or call 401-289-2942 x2 (Mon–Fri, 8:30 AM–5:00 PM EST, after-hours monitoring available). Have your IP addresses and a summary of what you've already tried ready to go.

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Still stuck after Step 6? Deep Dive steps

These are less common but worth trying before you call.

Power-cycle the Stagehand. After changing a Stagehand's IP address, unplug it, wait 10 seconds, and plug it back in. Even if you've already restarted Spikemark, the Stagehand itself may need a reboot to apply the new address.

Ping the Stagehand. In Command Prompt, type ping 192.168.10.XX (use your Stagehand's actual IP). You should see replies. "Request timed out" means the PC and Stagehand can't see each other at all — recheck Steps 1–5.

Check Windows Firewall. Windows Firewall can silently block Spikemark traffic without showing any error.

  • Open Windows Defender Firewall → Allow an app through firewall → confirm Spikemark is listed and allowed on Private networks

  • For Showstopper Base communication specifically, Port 5007 (TCP/UDP inbound) must also be open

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Section 1: Set the PC's IP Address (Windows)

This is the most commonly missed step. Spikemark uses a fixed ("static") IP address network — unlike Wi-Fi at home, nothing assigns addresses to your PC automatically. You have to set it manually, once.

  1. Press Windows + R, type ncpa.cpl, press Enter. The Network Connections window opens.

  2. Right-click your Ethernet adapter — the one with the cable going to your stage network switch — and select Properties.

  3. Double-click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).

  4. Select Use the following IP address.

  5. IP address: 192.168.10.245

  6. Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0

  7. Default gateway: leave blank

  8. Click OK, then Close.

Multiple network adapters? If your PC has more than one Ethernet port or a Wi-Fi connection, make sure you're editing the adapter that's physically plugged into your stage network switch — not your internet connection.

Do you need to disconnect from the internet? No. Windows handles multiple network adapters at the same time. Your internet connection and stage network can coexist.

Can you use Wi-Fi instead of a cable? No. Always use a wired Ethernet connection for stage automation. Wi-Fi is not reliable enough for real-time motion control.

Full guide with screenshots →arrow-up-right

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Section 2: Set the Stagehand's IP Address

Use the front-panel jog wheel on the Stagehand:

  1. Press the jog wheel to open the menu.

  2. Turn to navigate to SET IP ADDRESS and press to enter.

  3. Turn to move between the four number segments of the address.

  4. Press to select a segment, then turn to change its value, then press to confirm.

  5. Repeat for each segment that needs to change.

  6. Navigate to Save and press to save.

  7. Navigate to Exit.

Assign addresses sequentially. Start your first Stagehand at 192.168.10.10 and number up from there (.11, .12, and so on). Write them down — a simple list taped inside the rack saves hours of troubleshooting later.

Don't change the subnet mask unless you have a specific reason to. The default 255.255.255.0 works for every standard installation.

Full guide →arrow-up-right

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Section 3: Configure Spikemark

File → Spikemark Options is where you tell Spikemark what your PC's IP address is. Set it to match the address you assigned in Section 1 (e.g., 192.168.10.245). This must be correct for Spikemark to communicate with Stagehands and for firmware updates to work.

Stagehand IP addresses are entered in each machine's Stagehand Properties inside Spikemark — not in Spikemark Options. Select the motor you want to connect to, locate the IP Address section at the top of the Stagehand Properties panel, enter the Stagehand's IP address set in Step 2. Click the Connect button.

Showstopper Bases and Hubs don't need to be entered in Spikemark manually. Set a valid IP address on the device itself (see your Showstopper documentation), and as long as Spikemark Options has the correct PC IP address, Spikemark will find the Showstopper automatically.

Spikemark Console click the Spikemark Console button in the control devices section. Click the Connect button.

Spikemark Pendant click the Spikeamark Pendant button in the control devices section. Set the Pendant IP Address to match what is set on the Pendant. Click Enable then click connect on the Pendant.

Showstopper Consolette click the Showstopper Consolette button in the control devices section. Confirm the IP Address matches the IP Address of the Consolette and click Connect.

Connecting to a Stagehand in Spikemark →arrow-up-right Setting Showstopper IP address →arrow-up-right

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Section 4: Sending Data to Another Department's Network

If you need to send position data or OSC triggers to a video, lighting, or audio system on a different network, the cleanest solution is a second network card in the Spikemark PC.

A network card is the physical Ethernet port on your computer. Most PCs have one. Adding a second — either as a plug-in card or a small USB-to-Ethernet adapter — lets the PC connect to two separate networks at once. One card stays on your automation network (192.168.10.___). The second connects to the other department's network with an IP address that belongs on their network.

Nothing on your automation network changes. No Stagehand reconfiguration, no subnet mask changes, no risk of address conflicts.

To set up the second network card:

  1. Install the card or plug in the USB-to-Ethernet adapter.

  2. Connect it to the other department's switch.

  3. Open Network Connections (Windows + R → ncpa.cpl). You'll see two Ethernet adapters.

  4. Right-click the new adapter → Properties → double-click TCP/IPv4.

  5. Set a static IP address in the other department's network range (coordinate with them to confirm an available address).

  6. Set subnet mask to match their network.

  7. Leave default gateway blank.

  8. Click OK.

Don't touch the first adapter. Leave your automation network card exactly as it is.

Firmware updates: File → Spikemark Options must always show your automation network address (192.168.10.245) — not the second card's address. If it shows the wrong address, firmware pushes to Stagehands will fail.

This approach works well for connecting to one other department. For more complex multi-department show control networks, contact Creative Conners support.

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Full Documentation

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