Spectrum Brands MI.61XX Installing multiple boards synchronized by starhub, Hooking up the boards

Hardware Installation Installing the board in the system

Installing multiple boards synchronized by starhub

Hooking up the boards

Before mounting several synchronized boards for a multi channel system into the PC you can hook up the boards with their synchronization cables first. If there is enough space in your computer’s case (e.g. a big tower case) you can also mount the boards first and hook them up afterwards. Spectrum ships the boards together with the needed amount of synchronization cables. All of them are matched to the same length, to achieve a zero clock delay between the boards.

Only use the included flat ribbon cables.

All of the boards, including the board that carrys the starhub piggy-back module, must be wired to the starhub as the figure is showing ex- emplarily for three synchronized boards.

It does not matter which of the 16 connectors on the starhub module you use for which board. The software driver will detect the types and order of the synchronized boards automatically. The figure shows the three cables mounted next to each other only to achieve a better visi- bility.

As some of the synchronization cables are not secured against wrong plugging you should take care to have the pin 1 markers on the multiple connectors and the cable on the same side, as the figure on the right is showing.

Mounting the wired boards

Before installing the boards you first need to unscrew and remove the dedicated blind-brackets usually mounted to cover unused slots of your PC. Please keep the screws in reach to fasten your Spectrum boards afterwards. All Spectrum boards require a full length PCI slot with a track at the backside to guide the board by it’s retainer. Now insert the board and the extra bracket slowly into your computer. This is done best with one hand each at both fronts of the board. Please keep in mind that the board carrying the starhub piggy-back module requires the width of two slots.

While inserting the boards take care not to tilt the retainers in the tracks.

Please be very carefully when inserting the boards in the PCI slots, as most of the mainboards are mounted with spacers and therefore might be damaged if they are exposed to high preasure.

After the boards insertion fasten the screws of all brackets carefully, without overdoing. The figure shows an example of three boards with two installed modules.

(c) Spectrum GmbH 15