Specifications
Crestron DigitalMedia™ Design Guide
40 Check website (www.crestron.com) for product availability
Step 3: Prewiring
HDCP Wiring Notes
When HDCP is not used, there are no midpoint limitations inherent to DigitalMedia (as with QuickMedia
®
).
When HDCP is used, too many hops in a single signal path (source to sink) can create potential HDCP problems.
The maximum number of hops is six (i.e., source to wallplate to switcher to receiver to display is three; DM repeaters
and DM receivers are not added to the count).
Contact Crestron Sales Support Services for design support.
DM CAT (Twisted Pair Copper Wire)
When pre-wiring an installation using CAT5e or DigitalMedia Cable, ensure you have provided an area for repeater insertion
wherever one is required, as based on your distance calculations. Crestron recommends that you put the wire in a 2-gang box
or trim ring and leave a 1-foot loop available to splice in a repeater as necessary. There are foot markings on the DigitalMedia
Cable for determining length of run.
DM Fiber
When installing fiber optic cables, ensure that you have an adequate bend radius available in any conduit you are using. Most
fiber optic cables can support a bend radius of three inches under load. It is also recommended that you install spare fiber
optic strands in the event the fiber breaks. Crestron CresFiber contains 2 spare strands.
Designers should also remember that fiber equipment can be powered locally or via 24VDC from the DM switchers. If they are
to be remotely powered, two-conductor copper cable should be run for power. Consult the manual for wire gauge and power
calculations.
DigitalMedia Device Quantity Limits
There are some HDCP limits as shown, below. Otherwise, there are no DigitalMedia maximum limits. The size of the system
can be increased as far as you like, subject to normal limitations with regard to memory, program size, etc.
No more than 128 devices total (each DigitalMedia switch counts as one device)
You cannot go more than six levels – i.e., hops - deep (each DigitalMedia switch counts as one level)
For design assistance, contact Crestron Sales Support Services.