IP50HD
USER MANUAL
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The Blustream Multicast system distributes HDMI video over Layer 3 Managed network hardware. It is advised that
Blustream Multicast products are connected to an independent network switch to prevent interference or drop in
signal performance due to other network products bandwidth requirements.
Blustream Multicast products are not limited to certain brands of network hardware, but should a network switch that
Blustream have not tested or written instructions for be used, ensure it supports the following network features:
Multicast
- (one-to-many or many-to-many distribution) is group communication where information is addressed to a
group of network devices simultaneously (Blustream IP50HD-RX Receivers).
Instant Leave / Fast Leave / Immediate Leave
- a feature associated with Multicast and means that as soon as an
active connection is no longer required (the link between Transmitter and Receiver) the Multicast group and flow of
track is stopped instantly. This prevents unnecessary flow of network traffic on the network switch.
IGMP Snooping
- the process of listening to Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) network traffic. The feature
allows a network switch to listen in on the IGMP conversation between hosts and routers (Transmitters and Receivers).
By listening to this flow of traffic the switch maintains a map of which links need which IP multicast streams. Multicasts
may be filtered from the links which do not need them and thus controls which ports receive specific multicast traffic.
Please note:
Blustream have worked with many network switch providers to create setup guides and saved
configuration files to help configure the products to work with Multicast hardware. These configuration files can be
downloaded from the Blustream website, by selecting the "LAN Switch Guides" button on any Multicast product page.
HDMI over IP Network Configuration
Blustream recommend the use of an ACM200 for configuration and control of the IP50HD Multicast system.
The Blustream ACM200 includes a web interface module for simple configuration and control of a Multicast system.
The web-GUI features 'drag and drop' source selection with video preview, control of independent routing of IR, RS-
232, USB/KVM, and Audio/Video. Pre-built Blustream product drivers simplify Multicast product installation and negate
the need for an understanding of complex network infrastructures. We recommend every IP50HD Multicast system
utilises an ACM200. Please see the ACM200 User Manual for further information.
Configuration & Control of an IP50HD Multicast System
The Blustream IP50HD system supports both unicast and multicast video transmission.
A unicast transmission sends the video stream from a transmitter to a single receiver on a network. Note that for each
receiver that connects to the transmitter, you are duplicating the bandwidth being transmitted. The IP50HD features
a 100Mbps connection and each transmission is up to 20Mbps in bandwidth, due to this the number of devices a
transmitter can send to in unicast mode is limited. Unicast can only be utilised in smaller systems where network
infrastructure may not support multicast functionality. The recommended max number of streams is as follows:
A multicast transmission sends the video stream to multiple receivers on a network. The network infrastructure
handles the distribution of the video stream to any number of receivers using multicast functionality, without requiring
additional bandwidth. Due to this, a multicast system can be utilised for larger systems where network infrastructure
supports multicast. This is the default configuration, and highly recommended mode of operation.
Unicast or Multicast
ENCODING BANDWIDTH
# OF UNICAST STREAMS FROM TRANSMITTER
20Mbps
3 Receivers
16Mbps
4 Receivers
8Mbps
8 Receivers
4Mbps
16 Receivers
1Mbps
64 Receivers