Appendix A: Network And Cobranet Basics; Hiqnet Networks - Crown DriveCore I-Tech 4x3500 HD Operation Manual

12 Appendix A: Network and CobraNet Basics

12.1 HiQnet Networks

Background: A Local Area Network (LAN) is a group of computers in a venue that
share data, either through cables or via wireless transmission. ethernet is a popular
LAN communication protocol for PCs. An audio network is a Local Area Network
made of audio devices and one or more computers. A subnet is a small network within a
larger network. For example, an audio network might have two subnets: one for
enter tainment audio, and one for paging.
One use of an audio network is to control and monitor power amplifiers on stage from a
computer at Front-of-House. You can set amplifier levels, adjust crossovers, measure
speaker impedance, check for overheating and clipping, all from the house mixing
con sole.
You need a way to send computer commands to several audio devices at once. This is
done with an ethernet switch, which is something like an audio Y cable or distribu tion
amp. The computer, and all the audio devices, connect to the switch as in Figure 12.1.
HiQnet protocol lets you control and monitor cer tain Harman products (including
Crown) on an Ethernet network. Figure12.1 shows a typical HiQnet network.
HiQnet control offers many advantages:
• Use of "off-the-shelf" network hardware. HiQnet uses standard hardware
commonly used in the computer industry, making it both low-cost and readily available.
• Better Performance. Meters display faster in realtime because the network is wide
bandwidth.
HiQnet provides these functions:
• Quickly find all HiQnet components connected to the network.
• Synchronize multiple control points on a network.
• Control and monitor components on different Local Area Networks (LANs) through the
use of an IP router (explained later).
• Upgrade firmware via the network.
Network Addresses
Each component in a HiQnet network has three addresses to identify it:
• Media Access Control (MAC) Address
• Internet Protocol (IP) Address
• HiQnet Address
Let's explain each identifier.
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Computer
Laptop
100Mb Switch
I-Tech HD DriveCore Series Power Amplifiers
I-T4x3500HD
I-T4x3500HD
I-T4x3500HD
I-T4x3500HD
I-T4x3500HD
Figure 12.1 A HiQnet Network
Operation Manual