Crown Audio I-Tech Series Appendix A Network Basics, I-T4000 I-T4000 I-T6000 I-T6000 I-T8000

I-Tech Series Power Amplifiers

9 Appendix A: Network Basics

9.1 TCP/IQ and HiQnet Networks

Background: A Local Area Network (LAN) is a group of computers in a venue that share data, either through cables or via wireless transmission. Ethernet is a popular LAN communication protocol for PCs. An audio network is a Local Area Network made of audio devices and one or more computers. A subnet is a small network within a larger network. For example, an audio network might have two subnets: one for enter- tainment audio, and one for paging.

One use of an audio network is to control and monitor power amplifiers on stage from a computer at Front-of-House. You can set amplifier levels, adjust crossovers, measure speaker impedance, check for overheating and clipping, all from the house mixing con- sole.

You need a way to send computer commands to several audio devices at once. This is done with an Ethernet switch, which is something like an audio Y cable or distribu- tion amp. The computer, and all the audio devices, connect to the switch as in Figure 9.1.

TCP/IQ is a network protocol that allows you to control and monitor certain Crown and BSS audio products on an Ethernet network. HiQnet lets you control and monitor cer- tain Harman products (including Crown) on an Ethernet network. Figure 9.1 shows a typical HiQnet or TCP/IQ network.

TCP/IQ and HiQnet audio networks offer many advantages:

•Use of “off-the-shelf” network hardware. TCP/IQ and HiQnet use standard hardware commonly used in the computer industry, making it both low-cost and readily available.

•Better Performance. Meters display faster in realtime because the network is wide bandwidth.

HiQnet and TCP/IQ provide these functions:

•Quickly find all HiQnet components connected to the network.

•Synchronize multiple control points on a network.

•Control and monitor components on different Local Area Networks (LANs) through the use of an IP router (explained later).

•Upgrade firmware via the network.

Computer

Laptop

PS8810

I-T4000

I-T4000

I-T6000

I-T6000

I-T8000

100Mb Switch

Figure 9.1 A HiQnet or TCP/IQ Network

Operation Manual page 37