What SPI Is Good At
SPI drives the control IC on the strip directly. It is simple, cheap and fine over short runs, which is why it is used on interior work such as the COB chasing strip and on shorter decorative runs.
See COB Strip SPI Chasing Strip Light →
Where SPI Struggles
SPI is sensitive to cable length and electrical noise. On a long exterior run the data signal degrades and the effect breaks up, which is why long facade runs usually need repeaters or a different protocol.
What DMX512 Brings
DMX512 is a balanced differential protocol designed for long runs in noisy environments, and it is what most professional lighting control systems already speak. The LUK media ribbon is offered in DMX-AB builds at 10 pixels per metre.
See Neon Strip DMX SPI Media Ribbon IP67 1516 →
Resolution Is Set By The Product Not The Protocol
Both protocols on the media ribbon give 10 pixels per metre. If the content needs finer resolution, that is a product question, not a protocol question.
See Neon Strip DMX SPI Media Ribbon IP67 1020 →
A Practical Rule
Short interior runs with a simple controller: SPI. Long exterior runs, or anything tying into an existing professional control system: DMX512. Decide before ordering, because the builds are different part numbers.
