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R/C Manual 4. BUILDING A PROPER NETWORK
4. Building a Proper Network 4.1 STANDARD PARTS
Networks used for remotely controlling 1788A’s are built from standard Ethernet
components such as Routers, Hubs and Switches. Standard CAT5/6 Ethernet cabling is
used throughout.
4.2 NETWORKING SPEED
The network can run at 10 Base-T and 100 Base-T speed. We recommend using 100 Base-T
hardware, especially when the number of preamps and controllers exceeds a few units.
4.3 DHCP SERVER
The Aphex 1788A network requires a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol Server (DHCP
Server). This is because IP addresses are not hardware assignable to individuals in the
network constellation. Each IP address must be served up dynamically, on demand. This
greatly simplifies the administration and flexibility of the network in certain ways.
The DHCP Server can be a hardware unit or a computer configured to be a DHCP
Server. Hardware DHCP Servers usually take the form of a DSL Internet Router. These are
inexpensive and reliable. You need not have an Internet connection. In fact, we highly
recommend avoiding it. The Internet Port should just be left open.
Important Rules
1. Be sure your DHCP Server has ports 1198 and 1199 available and unlocked.
2. Only one DHCP Server can be allowed to exist on the LAN. If any additional Routers
are attached to the LAN, they must have their DHCP Servers disabled.
4.4 CAT 5/6 WIRING
A 1788A network likes to run clean. No error correction is used, although fault tolerance
is built into the system. Anything less than Cat 5 cable is risking dropped commands.
Standard commercial wire is suitable.
4.5 HUBS & SWITCHES
Unless your system is very small, you will need to gain more Ethernet ports than what
came on your Router. Or, you may need to run one long network line from the Router to a
remote rack of 1788A’s. In that case, we recommend incorporating Switches rather than
Hubs to expand the network. Figure 2-5 shows some examples where Switches are shown
to split out from the Router. Hubs, although cheaper, are not recommended. We have
seen them jam up requiring a complete restart with as few as four 1788A’s.
4.6 SHARING EXISTING LANs
Usually, the Aphex preamps and controllers can share almost any conventional LAN with
certain minimum requirements. First, there must be a DHCP Server on the LAN. Second,
Internet 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Fig. 4-1. Typical DSL Router
(Containing DHCP Server)