FLEX-6400/FLEX-6600 Hardware Reference Manual
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connected to a potential ESD threat
that you aren’t used
to: the Ethernet connection.
Many times, adjacent ESD and lightning can enter a shack over the power, cable, or
telephone lines. The ESD will then “jump” your Internet modem device and travel
throughout the house on the Ethernet cable. A small investment in a 100Mbit Ethernet
Surge/Lightning Suppressor could save your expensive FLEX-6400/FLEX-6600 from
damage.
8.4.2
Direct PC Connection (Link-Local)
The simplest method to connect your PC to your FLEX-6400/FLEX-6600 is using a Link-
Local connection. Simply plug the included Ethernet cable into the FLEX-6400/FLEX-6600
and then directly into the network connection on your PC, Microsoft Windows
™ will
recognize your radio and establish a local only connection. When the radio is activated, it
will begin to broadcast its presence on the Link-Local connection. Note that in Link-Local
mode, your radio will not be connected to or available to any other network connections
on your PC.
I -
It is not necessary to use a “crossover” Ethernet cable to establish a Link
-Local
connection with the FLEX-6400/FLEX-6600. The Ethernet interface on the radio has a
smart sensing feature that will detect a Link-Local connection and make the proper
adjustments internally.
8.4.3
Connecting via a Local Network
The most versatile method to connect your PC to your FLEX-6400/FLEX-6600 is to connect
your radio to your existing local area network (LAN). Using the included Ethernet cable
(or another appropriate cable), plug one end into the FLEX-6400/FLEX-6600 Ethernet port
and the other end into your existing Ethernet switch or home router. With this LAN
connection, your radio will automatically receive a network IP address and begin
broadcasting its presence with the radio is activated. The advantage of the LAN
connection is that all PCs on your LAN can have access to the radio.
8.4.3.1
Network Configuration Considerations
There are several points to consider when connecting your FLEX-6400/FLEX-6600 radio to
your LAN:
•
Your LAN must be configured to supply a network address to the radio. This is
known as Dynamic Host Control Protocol (DHCP). Most LANs do this by default. If
you can simply plug multiple PCs into your LAN to connect to the internet, your
LAN is very likely set up to serve DHCP to the radio. Once you have connected the
radio over the LAN via DHCP, you may assign a static IP address. Refer to the
SmartSDR Software User Guide
for more details.
•
Even though the FLEX-6400/FLEX-6600 is capable of operating in Gigabit, 100Mbit,
and 10Mbit LAN environments, FlexRadio highly recommends a minimum
