Cambridge Audio 640H manual Making the physical connection, Network connection selection

1. Making the physical connection

This document explains how to connect your 640H to a network. Networking (i.e. connecting devices together) can allow you to expand the overall capabilities of your 640H. By networking your 640H to a PC, Mac or other device, you will be able to have access to (and play) music files stored on other devices. You can also access the internet for CD database lookup and internet radio.

Before setting up your network, we encourage you to read through the entire section and then decide on the network layout that you wish to implement. We advise this because different network layouts require different setups of your 640H and your computer.

Network connection selection

There are many network variations you can make with your 640H, but to keep things simple we will be explaining some basic network types:

Network Type A: "Basic" Wired Network via Cable set-top box modem

Set-top box/modem

If you have a broadband (internet connection) service supplied by your telecom provider but you do not have a PC/Mac, you can connect directly to the built in modem in your Cable set top box to access the CD recognition and internet radio (iRadio) features on the 640H.

Your modem plugs into the telephone or cable TV sockets (for DSL and cable broadband modems respectively), and converts the incoming signals into Ethernet format.

While your set top box and 640H are switched off, make a wired connection between the two units via an Ethernet cat5e lead (see the ‘640H network advice’ section for more information). Switch on the modem and follow your broadband connection set up and set top box instruction manual to check it has a connection to the internet. Once you have confirmed this, switch on the 640H. When the 640H has finished its start up checks and has the UI (User Interface) displayed, check the Ethernet connection on the rear panel of the 640H. If the green LED above it is lit, there is a good physical connection to the modem.

Note: It is also possible to add a cable broadband router to the set top box, and plug the 640H into the router (see Network Type C).

Network Type B: "Peer to Peer" Wired Network with no Router, Hub or Switch

Or other network compatible device

This involves connecting one 640H to another 640H or network compatible device (i.e. a PC/Mac). This is a network where only two units are connected directly to each other with no router, hub or switch. When networked, the 640H can play, burn a copy or transfer music from the other device.

To connect the two devices together, you must use an Ethernet cross- over lead (see the ‘640H network advice’ section for more information). Plug one end of the lead into the 640H Ethernet port and the other end into the other devices' Ethernet port. If the green LED above the 640H Ethernet port is lit, there is a good physical connection to the other device.

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Network Type C: "Home" Wired network via a Router, Hub or Switch

This is the most common network where a router (a device that routes signals from the phone line to multiple network devices on a network), hub or switch (devices that allow data to be shared between many network devices) is used to connect multiple devices together. These could be one or more 640H's, PC's, Macs and network devices. Each 640H can then play back or move content from/to other devices. If connected to the internet (via a router or PC/Mac), the 640H can also access the CD recognition and internet radio (iRadio) features. Using a router is the recommended way to connect 640H's to other 640H's and network devices.

If you already have an existing home network, then adding the 640H to it is simple via an Ethernet cat5e lead from the 640H to the router, hub or switch. If you do not currently have a network, then we recommend you seek expert help on computer networking configuration.

Network Type D: "Wireless" Network

The 640H supports wireless networking via its Ethernet port. To make the 640H wireless, you need to purchase a "Wireless Ethernet Bridge" (a device that converts an Ethernet wired connection to a wireless connection) from any good IT retailer. The 640H is connected to the bridge via an Ethernet Cat5e lead.

Although these devices operate wirelessly, they appear to the 640H as a normal Ethernet connection, and therefore the 640H is setup in the same way as the wired networks described above. The 640H is compatible with the wireless 802.11b and 802.11g standards.

Note: The Wireless Ethernet Bridge that you purchase will need setting up according to your network setup and the instructions that come with the bridge. Before connecting the bridge to the 640H, it is always best to test that the bridge is fully set up to your network according to the bridges' user instructions.

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