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are available in your access point/switch then do enable them.
By default, most network equipment will flood multicast traffic to
all hosts which is not ideal. If your access point or switch also
has IGMP snooping capability then enable this too.
The default outgoing multicast address is: 239.128.0.0
By default, the Intelli-X
2
uses the following UDP ports:
Port Use
50000 Outgoing multicast notifications
50001 Incoming multicast notifications (currently unused)
50002 Incoming unicast commands
Ethernet cables
Nowadays, computers and network devices automatically
detect the type of connection (irrespective of whether straight
or crossover Ethernet cabling is used). The Intelli-X
2
operates
in the same manner, hence there is no need to worry about
cable wiring when out in the field.
Remember that there are limits to Ethernet cable length
between two devices and this is 100 meters.
Going wireless
Using wireless networks may be challenging, but the key to
success is to use good quality rugged wireless access points
and configure them correctly.
Configuring an access point is not that difficult. There is no
requirement to install any software as the computer’s web
browser is sufficient (all access points have a built-in web-
server). Just type in the IP address of your access point into
your web browser and you’ll be able to configure the device.
It is good practice to keep the firmware of your access point
up-to-date, as you would do with your Intelli-X
2
. Some required
features may not be present at the time of purchase but may
have been added by now.
Recent Wi-Fi™ certified access points have basic Quality of
Service (QoS) features called Wi-Fi Multimedia (WMM). These
features are not always enabled by default. For reliable and
fast communication between the Intelli-X
2
and Intelli-Ware this
function should be enabled.
In some applications, there may be a requirement to boost the
signal level of both the access point and computer (outdoor
stadium shows for example). External boosters are available
but these will require that the original antenna of the access
point or computer be removed (this has a bearing on the type
of access point chosen). Note: always check local regulations
concerning maximum permitted wireless signal power before
up-rating your equipment.
If you wish to purchase a wireless access point, do consult
with your Apex distributor or with Apex directly to obtain a list of
recommended units.
Notes on networking
Providing that the network is properly configured, Intelli-Ware
is capable of automatically detecting and controlling any
Intelli-X
2
device connected to the network. Please refer to the
Intelli-Ware documentation for more details on controlling the
Intelli-X
2
remotely.
Configuring simple IP networks is something that most system
engineers would be aware of. Explaining the details of IP
networking is therefore outside the scope of this manual,
however we believe some salient points do require further
clarification.
IP Addresses
All computers, whether they are Windows, Linux or Mac OS
based, and most network-based devices such as the Intelli-X
2
,
obtain an IP address by the following means:
• If a static IP address has been assigned to the computer
or device, then that IP address must always be used.
Static IP addresses are fixed and do not change. This
is useful when installing Intelli-X
2
devices into fixed
installations whereby all networked audio equipment has
been assigned a unique and unchanging IP address. This
is very useful for network management.
• If the device or computer is set to automatic mode
(whereby no static IP address has been defined) then a
unique IP address will be used; however this address may
vary every time the device is connected to the network.
If a DHCP server is available on the network then the
Intelli-X
2
will use the IP address provided by it. If no DHCP
server is available, the Intelli-X
2
will automatically select a
unique and unused IP address in the range 169.254.1.0
to 169.254.254.255 (this is referred to as Auto-IP).
Further information
In most applications, communication between the Intelli-X
2
and
Intelli-Ware software will not require any configuration and will
effectively work ‘out of the box’. However, when the Intelli-X
2
is used in more network critical environments (e.g., broadcast
or AV installations) some additional network settings may be
required and the information provided below may be of interest.
The communication protocol used by the Intelli-X
2
is UDP/
IP based. It is based on Unicast communications (point-to-
point) for the remote control of properties (e.g., modifying an
input gain or the frequency of a filter) and Multicast (point-to-
multipoint) for auto-discovery of devices and property changes
(such as driving meters within Intelli-Ware). Multicasting is
preferred over broadcasting as it is more suited for network
bandwidth control.
Note that if IGMP (Internet Group Multicast Protocol) features