AN INTRODUCTION TO NETWORKING

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AN INTRODUCTION TO NETWORKING
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What is Networking?

• Websters defines it as The linking of a number
  of devices, such as computers, printers, and AV
  gear into a network (system) for the purpose of
  sharing resources.

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• In pro audio it is the ability to connect
  components from many different manufacturers
  using Cat5 or fiber cables.

Network Capable Amp
Network Capable Amp
Whirlwind E Snake
Analog cables
Cat5 cables
Fiber
Yamaha M7 Digital Console At F.O.H.
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WHY DO I WANT TO BUILD A NETWORK?

• OR
• WHATS IN IT FOR ME?
  
  
  
  
  
  

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1 REDUCED SYSTEM COST

• In many cases, especially installs, the overall
  system cost can be greatly reduced.
• These savings come in reduced cabling,
  infrastructure, and labor costs.
• The savings can be seen in the following example

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Stadium Install

• There is a total of 4600 ft of cable in this
  analog design example, and most of the conduit is
  3. With cable and conduit estimated at 44,700,
  and a labor estimate of 1,900, the total
  infrastructure cost for this analog system is
  46,600.

ANALOG PROCESSING EQUIPMENT
2-32 PAIR CABLES
2-32 PAIR CABLES
PA-1
PA-1
PA-2
PA-2
SPARE
SPARE
PA-3
PA-3
Equipment Room 1
Equipment Room 2
2-32 PAIR CABLES
PA-1
PA-2
SPARE
PA-3
Equipment Room 3
Analog System
2001 Peak Audio, Inc.
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• While the network design may look more complex,
  its actually simpler from an infrastructure
  perspective, and much less costly. Networks can
  carry more channels over fewer wires, and using
  fiber in the existing cable tray reduces the
  infrastructure cost to under 3,000.00.

ANALOG PROCESSING EQUIPMENT
PA-1
PA-1
100 BASE ETHERNET SWITCH WITH FIBER
100 BASE ETHERNET SWITCH WITH FIBER
CN
CN
CN
PA-2
PA-2
CN
PA-3
PA-3
CN
Equipment Room 2
Equipment Room 1
100 BASE ETHERNET SWITCH WITH FIBER
CN
PA-1
CN
100 BASE ETHERNET SWITCH WITH FIBER
CN
CN
PA-2
PA-3
ANALOG CABLES
Equipment Room 3
CAT5 CABLE
FIBER
Cobranet System
8 CHANNEL COBRANET DEVICE
CN
2001 Peak Audio, Inc.
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3 FLEXIBILITY

• In a properly designed network any input can be
  routed to any output without having to physically
  move wires or without the use of expensive
  patchbays. This allows a system to be
  reconfigured whenever necessary without hardware
  or wire changes.
• Analog systems cant do this, they are what they
  are.

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2 REDUNDANCY

• A networked system can be designed for complete
  and automatic redundancy.
• The redundancy can be as simple as two basic
  networks, or as robust as one based on ring
  topology.

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TWO NETWORK SYSTEM
Cobranet Input Device

• In this system the two Cobranet devices are
  connected by their primary and secondary Cat5
  jacks. If the primary jack of either device
  fails, the system will automatically switch to
  the secondary jacks of both units with no
  interruption in the audio signal.
• If any one of the four Ethernet switches fails,
  the signal path will move to the switches that
  are still functioning.

Ethernet Switch
Ethernet Switch
Cat5 Cables
Ethernet Switch
Ethernet Switch
Cobranet Output Device
Primary Network
Secondary Network
Network Jumper
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RING TOPOLOGY NETWORK
CN
Ethernet Switch With Ring Topology

• In this system, digital data is traveling in a
  ring to all four switches.

Ethernet Switch With Ring Topology
Ethernet Switch With Ring Topology
CN
CN
Ethernet Switch With Ring Topology
Cobranet Device
CN
CN
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RING TOPOLOGY NETWORK
CN
Ethernet Switch With Ring Topology

• Signal will still flow to all four switches even
  though one cable is damaged.

Ethernet Switch With Ring Topology
Ethernet Switch With Ring Topology
CN
CN
Ethernet Switch With Ring Topology
Cobranet Device
CN
CN
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4 IMPROVED PERFORMANCE

• Replacing copper based analog cabling with a
  digital system using Cat5 or fiber will reduce
  the overall noise floor of the system.
• With a digital system using fiber, the potential
  for a ground loop is eliminated!

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5 LIGHTER WEIGHT

• 750 feet of fiber on a reel weighs less than 50
  pounds.
• 750 feet of 58 pair analog cable weighs 366
  pounds.

750 ft of fiber on a WD1 reel
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WHICH DIGITAL TRANSPORT PROTOCOL IS RIGHT FOR MY
NETWORK?
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• Currently there are two major open transport
  protocols in the marketplace, Cobranet and
  EtherSound.
• Cobranet has a stronger presence in the U.S. and
  in the install market.
• EtherSound is popular in Europe and is making
  inroads in the live sound market.
• Cobranet and Ethersound are supported by over 60
  major manufacturers.
• Both use standard Ethernet hardware.
• Whirlwind supports either protocol in its E
  Snake product line.

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• Many companies have introduced their own closed
  protocols.
• While this approach has advantages for the
  manufacturer, it limits the end users ability to
  connect a product from one manufacturer with that
  from another.
• In many cases, proprietary switches and cabling
  are necessary, thus limiting options and
  availability for the end user.

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Whirlwinds Complete Digital Audio Management
Platform
ES2 16 Channel frame
ESF 32x32 Channel Frame
40x40 Digital Processor
CO8a 8Channel Output Device
DCS88 8x8 Low Power Transceiver
E Beam Wireless Ethernet Transport
CO2a 2Channel Output Device