Ross NK Routing Systems RCP-QE, User Manual, Page: 63 / 68

RCP-QE User Guide (v02) Operating the RCP-QE • 5–9
transfer status, request and response information between them. Effectively, the remote control panels combine to
form one big remote control panel. Up to 255 remote control panels may be linked together.
For example, if you want to operate a 34-key remote control panel with the inputs and outputs of a 32 × 32 routing
switcher, you may link two RCP-QE panels together. Another use may be to define all the crosspoints that you need
without using menus and pages. To do this, you need as many keys as there are crosspoints.

The input and output assign labels should be identical across all remote control panels.
Function Buttons
Once remote control panels are linked, they operate in a manner similar manner as to their the unlinked state
operation. If a special function button (CHOP, DE-ASSIGN, or a PANEL LOCK, PROTECT, Breakaway,
Breakaway Step or machine control) is assigned to one remote control panel, it is effective across all linked remote
control panels, regardless of the location of other relevant buttons.
• A TAKE button does not operate across menus within the same remote control panel however, it does operate
across linked remote control panels as long as it is on a current menu at the time that the source/crosspoint/macro
key is pressed. For example, a TAKE function will only operate on a currently visible menu on any of the linked
remote control panels. If a TAKE button is not visible, then the TAKE function will not operate.
• If a TAKE button is assigned, the selected source/crosspoint/macro button and the TAKE button flash to indicate
that the remote control panel is waiting for TAKE to be pressed.
• Only a single CHOP button is supported.
• Only a single button is supported for any given MACRO.
• A PROTECT will operate across linked panels to each linked panels current protect mode. For example, if a
PROTECT is issued from a linked panel with a Protect mode of “
block_all
”, but a linked panel has a Protect
mode of “
block_others
” then the two linked panels will interpret the PROTECT function differently. This
may have unintended consequences. It is recommended that all panels in the linked panel setup are configured
with the same Protect mode. Refer to the section “
Configuration ” on page 4–6 for more information on the
Protect mode options.
Destinations and Sources
Destinations and sources from different remote control panels may be selected. For example; a destination button is
pressed on one linked panel, then a source selected on another linked panel will result in the router/s switching that
source to that destination on the current breakaway.
Crosspoints
A crosspoint button is a source, destination, and breakaway all in one button offering single button press router
switching. Crosspoints can only be programmed to a remote control panel via Dashboard. Crosspoint buttons
operate normally in linked panel mode.
Switching
When a breakaway, destination and source are sent in a switch request from a remote control panel, each linked
remote control panel receives the level mask (levels that make up the breakaway), destination and source
information via a linked panel message, and either reflects the status, or behaves accordingly (for example, locking
the remote control panel or entering macro record mode).
Breakaways
Breakaway numbers are not sent in the switch request, thus removing the need for identical breakaway definitions
across linked remote control panels. As such, breakaway step is not available across linked remote control panels.
You can view the breakaways within the same remote control panel, in line with unlinked behavior.