Meyer Sound RMS 4.5, User Manual

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5
CHAPTER 1
NOTE:
A repeater is a network device that
connects multiple segments of a network
cable. It re-times, strengthens, and regenerates the
incoming signal then sends the signal back to the
network.
Network Terminator
An RMS network terminator is a simple resistive capacitive
device designed to prevent electrical reflections on the
network. The terminator can be installed at almost any
location in the network depending on topology.
Custom Twisted-Pair Connectors
When designing twisted-pair cable runs, it’s not
uncommon to use a custom wall plate or connector to
make the connections more user-friendly. This is typical for
a theater or touring rig depending on design requirements.
TWISTED PAIR VS. ETHERNET
RMS is available in both twisted-pair and Ethernet
versions. When deciding which technology to use for your
RMS system, consider the following:
■
The number of loudspeakers on the network
■
The amount of cabling needed to run the network
■
Fixed or portable installation
■
The distance between your host computer and the
loudspeakers on the network
■
Existing Ethernet network access points at the venue
(if available)
A simple twisted-pair network, for example, works in most
situations. It’s easy to wire and requires no additional
networking routers, switches or hubs, although a repeater
is required for runs over 1,640 feet. A more cost-effective
solution (and a practical solution when a repeater is
required) for installations with an Ethernet infrastructure is
to run multiple i.LON-10 Ethernet adapters. Using i.LON-
10s also minimizes data traffic on larger networks, making
the RMS system more responsive.
More important, the network could be overloaded by
running long lengths of twisted-pair cabling on a subnet.
Overloading an RMS network is usually the result of the
following:
■
You are attempting to pass more data through the
network than what it is equipped to handle. More
than 50 loudspeakers on one network segment may
overload the network in this way.
■
The distance between the host computer and the
first loudspeaker (max-to-node) is greater than 1,640
feet (500 meters) in a non-repeater system, or the
length of one network segment (node-to-node) in a
system using a repeater is greater than 1,640 feet (500
meters).
NOTE: For best performance, it is
recommended that the distance between
the host computer and a loudspeaker not be more
than 1,450 feet (450 meters).
If you overload the network, the result is that the critical
data will reach you very slowly – or not at all. Like any
network, the software and hardware components in RMS
are interacting continuously to transmit information to the
host computer about the loudspeakers connected to the
network.