Ross Ultricore RCP-ME, User Manual, Page: 68 / 98

68 • Linking Remote Control Panels RCP-ME User Guide (v4.0)
Operating Linked Remote Control Panels
You can link multiple RCP-MEs together, or link them with one or more RCP-ME, RCP-NKMs, or RCP-NKQs, or
a combination thereof. The remote control panels must have Panel Link Addresses set, as outlined in the section
“
Linking Remote Control Panels ” on page 19. Once these addresses are set correctly, the remote control panels
transfer status, request, and response information between them. Up to 10 remote control panels may be linked
together to form one large remote control panel.
For example, if you want to operate an 80-button remote control panel with the inputs and outputs of a 32x32 router
mapped to the default menu buttons, you may link two RCP-MEs together (one for destinations and a second for
sources).
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The input and output labels should be identical across all remote control panels.
Function Buttons
Once remote control panels are linked, they operate in a manner similar to their unlinked 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
button is pressed. For example, a TAKE function will only operate if it is 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.
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).