Network And Cobranet Basics; Network Basics - Crown CTs 4200USP/CN Operation Manual

CTs Multi-Channel Power Amplifi ers

8 Network and CobraNet Basics

This section provides additional information about HiQnet or
Network basics. For more information about any of these topics,
contact Crown Technical Support. For AUX connector wiring,
see Sections 3.2.7 and 4.1.

8.1 Network Basics

HiQnet is a network-based protocol that can control and monitor
networked components over a common TCP/IP network. For
components that have CobraNet capability, HiQnet can control
and monitor these components over the same Ethernet network
used for CobraNet audio, resulting in a single Category-5
con nection for control, monitoring, and digital audio. Figure 8.1
shows a typical TCP/IP network.
TCP/IP offers a number of advantages over other non-network
communications platforms.
Figure 8.1 A Typical TCP/IP Network
Operation Manual
• The use of "off-the-shelf" networking hardware. This
technology makes use of network connectivity and hardware
commonly used in the computer industry, making it both low-cost
and readily available.
• Better Performance. The capacity for real-time display of
meters is greatly enhanced through the use of the wide-band width
network.
• Single connection for both CobraNet audio and con trol
communications. Gone are the days of multiple connec tions to
a component for audio and control. A single CAT5 connection
handles it all.
Some of the features of HiQnet include:
• Ability to quickly discover all components connected to the
network.
• Synchronization of multiple control points on a network.
• Components on different Local Area Networks (LANs) through
the use of an IP router (Figure 8.2).
• Component fi rmware upgrades via the network.
Ethernet Networks are established through the use of either a hub
or a switch. These devices are centralized in the network and
transfer the Ethernet data from point to point. Ethernet data is
transferred in data packets that have addresses coded into their
structure. Hubs and switches decipher these addresses and route
the data packets to the appropriate component. Hubs do this by
taking packets from any port and sending them out all other ports.
Switches, on the other hand, are more intelligent and examine
each packet's address, sending that packet only to the addressed
component. This results in a much more effi cient data fl ow.
Communications between networks is allowed, but requires the
use of a special piece of equipment called an IP Router (Figure
8.2). The router acts as a Gateway to allow this communication to
exist. Any data traffi c that is to go to the other network is routed
through the IP Router. The CobraNet data is held behind but IP
data goes through.
AUDIO NETWORK
PIP-Lite
Computer
PIP-USP3
PIP-USP3/CN
IP Router
100Mb Switch
Laptop
Figure 8.2 Two Networks Connected by an IP Router
VENUE NETWORK
Computer
Laptop
100Mb Switch
Wireless Access Point
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