4
CobraNet
TM
User’s Manual
Introduction
Thank you for purchasing a Renkus-Heinz CobraNet enabled system. This manual will provide you
with a brief overview of what CobraNet is and how to use it. It will also cover the CobraNet
hardware and its connections. In the software section of the manual, the programs required for
setting up and configuring the system will be covered in detail.
If more detailed information is required on CobraNet, please refer to Peak Audio’s web site located
at www.peakaudio.com.
What is CobraNet?
CobraNet is a real time digital audio distribution system over an Ethernet network. It provides the
user the ability to distribute multiple channels of high quality digital audio over a single CAT5 cable.
Because of the use of CAT5 cabling, installation costs can be greatly reduced.
System Design
The basic components required for a CobraNet system are shown in the block diagram below.
CobraNet requires a device to convert the analog audio signal to a digital signal, which then gets
inserted onto the Ethernet network. This is shown as the Input Box in the block diagram. The
Ethernet network next gets routed through an Ethernet switch. The CobraNet audio is received and
decoded by a device designed to take the signal off the Ethernet network. An example of such a
device would be a Renkus-Heinz self-powered loudspeaker with the CobraNet option or the
CobraNet Breakout Box. The last required item is a computer for monitoring and controlling the
network. The computer is only required for system installation and troubleshooting, not for day-to-
day operation of the system.
CobraNet System Example
