MONGOOSE Installation Manual REMOTE AUDIO DEVICES 1 1 2 2 1 2 1 2 3 1 2 1 2 4 1 2 1 2 5 1 2 1 2 6 1 2 1 2 7 1 2 1 2 8 1 2 1 2 ETHERNET CobraNet® 1 2 MONGOOSE OVERLOAD SIGNAL IN USE / CONDUCTOR COMM LOCATE ENABLED LINK / ACTIVITY LINK POWER IN MICROPHONE MICROPHONE SIG / OL POWER OUT IN MICROPHONE SIG / OL COMM AUDIO RX SIG / OL AUDIO TX POWER MICROPHONE MICROPHONE SIG / OL SIG / OL COMM AUDIO RX POWER AUDIO TX MICROPHONE COMM LINE OUTPUT LI
MONGOOSE Installation Manual IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS 1. Read these instructions. 2. Keep these instructions. 3. Heed all warnings. 4. Follow all instructions. 5. Do not use this apparatus near water. 6. Clean only with a dry cloth. 7. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions. 8. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat. 9.
MONGOOSE Installation Manual Contents IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS................................................................................................... 2 GETTING STARTED......................................................................................................................................... 4 Task 1: Install and connect the Mongoose.......................................................................................... 4 Task 2: Configure the Mongoose.......................
MONGOOSE Installation Manual GETTING STARTED Rane Corporation welcomes you to the world of the Mongoose. May it help erase all lingering memories of tangled analog cables! To help you get started with the installation of the Mongoose system, we have provided a simple breakdown of the key tasks and have presented them in the recommended order. If you are new to the Mongoose system, we recommend that you spend a few moments reviewing the basics of the system before beginning the installation.
MONGOOSE Installation Manual Regardless if you’re creating a new configuration or simply loading a pre-defined configuration, you will need to install, start, and use the Mongoose Tracker software. Note: The order of this task in the installation process is somewhat flexible. If you prefer, you can install and connect the Remote Audio Devices (RADs) prior to loading the configuration file. There are advantages, however, in loading the configuration first.
MONGOOSE Installation Manual You’ll be happy to see that Rane has taken much of the guesswork out of the verification process. Although you will review the LED status indicators on the RADs and on the Mongoose at the time you install these components, we recommend doublechecking these indicators in the final verification task. There are three primary sources of information to help you quickly troubleshoot any problem: 1.
MONGOOSE Installation Manual SYSTEM OVERVIEW So what is this Rane Mongoose system and why on earth does it have such a funny name? System Origins Rane Corporation is well aware of the pain, expense, and frustration of pulling and managing miles of analog cable throughout a large audio installation, not to mention the potential for inferior sound quality. For this reason, we have certainly heralded the advent and rapid adoption of digital audio networking. It’s likely that you have, too.
MONGOOSE Installation Manual Installation Requirements To include a Mongoose/RAD network in an audio system, the system must meet the following requirements: If you plan to use CobraNet to communicate between a Mongoose and other audio devices, those devices must be CobraNet-enabled. • You must have access to a computer running Microsoft Windows® XP (Service Pack 2 or higher) or any version of Vista or Windows 7 (including 64-bit).
MONGOOSE Installation Manual Hardware Details Following are illustrations and descriptions of the Mongoose host device and a typical RAD. The Mongoose Host Device The primary purpose of the Mongoose host device is to connect up to eight RADs to a CobraNet network. It is typically housed in the audio rack room along with the DSP and other audio equipment.
MONGOOSE Installation Manual 2 The CobraNet status indicators provide information about the Mongoose’s CobraNet connection. There are two sets of indicators for each CobraNet network – Primary and Secondary. Of course, the secondary network indicators function only if you have implemented a secondary (or backup) CobraNet network. � In Use/Conductor LED (yellow) – indicates that the CobraNet port is in use, in other words CobraNet packets are being sent or received by the Mongoose.
MONGOOSE Installation Manual Rear Panel Description 1 MONGOOS ONGOOSE MADE IN U.S.A. 2 3 100-240 V 50/60 Hz 40 WATTS 5 ETHERNE THERNET THIS DEVICE COMPLIES WITH PART 15 OF THE FCC RULES FOR A CLASS 'B' COMPUTING DEVICE. RANE CORP.
MONGOOSE Installation Manual Mongoose Block Diagram CobraNet Primary Ethernet MAC/Phys CobraNet Hardware Chip Secondary RX 2 Bundles, 16 Channels Ethernet MAC/Phys TX 2 Bundles, 16 Channels AES3 RX (x8), 16 Channels Ethernet Remote Audio Ports 1 Remote Audio Tranceivers 2 Remote Audio Tranceivers 3 Remote Audio Tranceivers 4 Remote Audio Tranceivers 5 Remote Audio Tranceivers 6 Remote Audio Tranceivers 7 Remote Audio Tranceivers 8 Remote Audio Tranceivers AES3 TX (x8), 16 Channels 32
MONGOOSE Installation Manual Remote Audio Devices The primary purpose of a Remote Audio Device (RAD) is to amplify, digitize, and transmit a digital audio signal via CAT 5 cable to a Mongoose host device. RADs can also receive a digital signal from the Mongoose and then convert it to analog before sending it to its attached audio equipment. RADs are capable of transmitting and receiving up to four channels of digital audio (two in each direction).
MONGOOSE Installation Manual Typical RAD Front Panel Custom Label Slot Removable Locking Tab Analog Audio Connection SIG / OL green if an audio signal is detected, red light during signal overload. POWER green when the RAD is receiving power, red if the voltage is low. COMM green if the communications pair is detected, red if there is a problem.
MONGOOSE Installation Manual 0 Locate mode (all four flashing green) – Mongoose Tracker software has a feature to verify the physical location of a specific RAD or Mongoose. When you place a RAD in Locate mode, the Power, Comm, Audio Tx, and Audio Rx LEDs on the front of the corresponding RAD flash green.
MONGOOSE Installation Manual Mongoose Tracker Software The Mongoose Tracker allows you to configure and troubleshoot the RADs and Mongoose devices in your audio system. The software is shipped with the Mongoose product. It is also available free-of-charge on the Rane website. To run the software, you must have Microsoft Windows® 7, XP (SP2 or higher), or Vista on your computer.
MONGOOSE Installation Manual TASK 1: INSTALLING THE MONGOOSE You can work on-site or off-site to install the Mongoose into the audio rack. Following are a few things to consider for each approach. • If installing on-site, we recommend that you install, connect, power on, and configure the Mongoose and install and terminate the CAT 5 cable prior to installing the RADs. Done in this order, you can verify that the RADs are working properly as soon as you connect them.
MONGOOSE Installation Manual 3. If the system will be using a CobraNet network, connect the Mongoose to it. If connecting to a network switch, plug one end of a standard Ethernet patch cable (or a crossover cable) into the Primary CobraNet port on the back of the Mongoose. Plug the other end into the CobraNet network switch. If connecting directly to another CobraNet-enabled device, plug one end of an Ethernet crossover cable into the Primary CobraNet port on the back of the Mongoose.
MONGOOSE Installation Manual Installing Multiple Mongoose Devices If you are installing more than one Mongoose, we recommend that you connect and name each device before proceeding. Each device is shipped with the same factory default name – Mongoose. By connecting and naming them all at once, there’s a greater assurance that you will provide a unique identifier for each device, which in turn will make the configuration step much easier and less prone to error.
MONGOOSE Installation Manual TASK 2: LOADING A CONFIGURATION FILE Although listed as the second task in the installation process, this can occur later in the process if necessary. To help with troubleshooting, however, we recommend loading this file prior to installing the RADs. Note: If you do not have a configuration file, but you want to test that the equipment is working properly, you can create a very simple configuration for verification purposes. It’s best to do this after installing the RADs.
MONGOOSE Installation Manual Note: If your system contains multiple devices and you are unsure of which one to open, use the Locate functionality to find the corresponding physical device. See "Locating a Hardware Device" on page 29 for details. 5. Load the configuration file. a. Click the Load icon in the toolbar. This opens a browse dialog box from which you can select the configuration file to load. b. Select the file you want and click OK.
MONGOOSE Installation Manual TASK 3: PULLING THE CAT 5 CABLE You can terminate and plug in the CAT 5 cable prior to or after installing the Mongoose into the audio rack. We recommend that you install the cable and the Mongoose before installing the RADs. If you’re curious how the twisted pairs within the CAT 5 cable are utilized for audio transmission, data communications, and power, see the illustration and explanation in "Remote Audio Devices" on page 13.
MONGOOSE Installation Manual RJ-45 (8P8C) Connector Data communications (COMM) 2 digital audio channels (Rx to RAD) 2 digital audio channels (Tx from RAD) CAT 5 CABLE Power: 24 VDC & ground 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Tab is on far side Task 4: Installing the RADs Once the CAT 5 cable is in place and the Mongoose is installed, connected, and configured, you can begin installing and testing the RADs. Two RAD installation procedures are described in this section.
MONGOOSE Installation Manual 24 • If the RAD is functioning correctly (and the Mongoose configuration matches the physical RADs), the following four LED indicators turn green: Power, Comm, Audio Rx, and Audio Tx. Each of these LEDs corresponds to a twisted pair within the CAT 5 cable, and a green light indicates that the twisted pair has been detected by the Mongoose and is working properly. See "Terminating the CAT 5 Cable" on page 22 for more details on the functionality of each twisted pair.
MONGOOSE Installation Manual 5. When you are confident that the RAD is working properly, you can attach it to the switchbox (inserting the label first, if you have it). • If the RAD contains an XLR tab and you do not need it, you should remove it before attaching the RAD to the wall. You can do so by inserting something with a small tip in the back of the RAD where the XLR tab is connected. Push down on the metal connection and pull the XLR tab away from the RAD.
MONGOOSE Installation Manual Installing a RAD in an Existing Mongoose System If you need to install a new RAD after a Mongoose system is already up and running, the process is fairly simple. RADs are hot-swappable. In other words, you can replace a RAD without having to power down the system.
MONGOOSE Installation Manual To replace an existing RAD with a different RAD model: 1. Follow steps 1 through 4 above. 2. Using the Mongoose Tracker software, view the configuration for the Mongoose. Since you have installed a different RAD model than was there before, you will see an error for the port on which this RAD is connected. You can either load a new configuration file that contains the new RAD or manually change the configuration of the device to reflect the new RAD model that you just installed.
MONGOOSE Installation Manual The following annotated screen shot illustrates what we’re talking about: 28
MONGOOSE Installation Manual Locating a Hardware Device If you want to doublecheck which physical hardware device you are viewing within the software, try using the Locate feature. This feature is available for both RAD and Mongoose devices. Within the Mongoose Tracker, you’ll see a Locate button for the Mongoose as well as for each RAD. The following screen shot points out these buttons: To locate a Mongoose, click the Locate button near the Mongoose name in the upper left corner of the screen.
MONGOOSE Installation Manual Swapping RAD Ports You’ve pulled all the CAT 5 cable, terminated all the connections, installed and connected the Mongoose and all the RADs, and have taken great pains to identify each cable that connects the RADs to the Mongoose device(s). You fire up Mongoose Tracker and (Rats! Er – Mongeese!), you’ve connected some of the RADs to the wrong ports. You placed the RADs in the right physical locations, but you simply connected them to the wrong ports on the back of the Mongoose.
MONGOOSE Installation Manual Save the Final Configuration File. We already delivered our lecture on the benefits of saving your configuration to a backup file – so we won’t do that again. Instead, we’ll just tell you how to do it. To save a Mongoose configuration to a file: 1. In the Mongoose Tracker toolbar, click Save As. Note: If the file has already been saved and you are merely saving a change to it, you can click Save instead of Save As. 2.
MONGOOSE Installation Manual 4. You can now begin testing the audio. First, we’ll discuss testing the audio input. a. Select a RAD output channel to use for your test. Plug an audio output device into it (for example, a loudspeaker). b. Select a RAD input channel to test. Plug an input device into the RAD (for example, a microphone). c. Using the audio routing matrix in the Mongoose Tracker software, route the input RAD channel to the output RAD channel.
MONGOOSE Installation Manual INSTALLING AND USING THE MONGOOSE TRACKER SOFTWARE This section provides some of the basic procedures for working with the Mongoose Tracker software component of the Mongoose system. You will find a brief overview of the software in "Mongoose Tracker Software" on page 16. More detailed information is available in the application’s help system. Installing Mongoose Tracker A CD containing the Mongoose Tracker software is included with your Mongoose hardware.
MONGOOSE Installation Manual Connecting a Computer to the Mongoose To load the configuration file, you obviously need a communications channel between your computer and the Mongoose. To do this, you can either connect your computer directly to the Mongoose or, if the Mongoose is connected to a network, connect your computer to that same network.
MONGOOSE Installation Manual To generate RAD labels: 1. Within the Mongoose Tracker, open the configuration file from which you want to generate labels. Alternatively, if you have loaded the configuration into a device, you can open the device itself. 2. Confirm that the RADs are configured appropriately. At a minimum, enter the names for the channels as this is needed for the generation of labels.
MONGOOSE Installation Manual Updating the Mongoose Firmware and/or the Mongoose Tracker Software The Mongoose and the RADs contain firmware that controls the functionality of the hardware and allows communication between the hardware and the Mongoose Tracker. It is important to verify that the firmware version on your hardware is compatible with the version of Mongoose Tracker that you are using. If they are not compatible, the system will not work.
MONGOOSE Installation Manual To determine if you need to update your Mongoose Tracker software, do one of the following: • By default, when Mongoose Tracker starts, it checks for the availability of updates to the software (if an Internet connection is present). If an update is available, Mongoose Tracker displays a link you can use to launch the update. You can disable this functionality (checking for updates on startup) within the Application Settings dialog box.
MONGOOSE Installation Manual TROUBLESHOOTING This section provides troubleshooting tips for specific situations. In each subsection are tables that list potential problems paired with possible causes and proposed action. Troubleshooting the Mongoose Hardware Problem Power light doesn’t come on when the device is plugged in Possible Causes Suggested Action Power outlet or power strip isn’t working. Try a different outlet or power strip. Mongoose power cord is malfunctioning.
MONGOOSE Installation Manual Displayed on the rear panel of the Mongoose are four status indicators for each connected RAD. If the Mongoose is communicating properly with a RAD, all four status indicators (Audio Rx, Audio Tx, Comm, and Power) should be on. The following table details possible causes and solutions for situations in which one or more of these indicators are off. Note: It is best to check these indicators in the following order: Power, Comm, Audio Tx, and Audio Rx.
MONGOOSE Installation Manual Troubleshooting the RAD Devices If a RAD is functioning properly and communicating with the Mongoose, all four of its status indicators (Power, Comm, Audio Rx, and Audio Tx) will be green. The following table details possible causes and solutions if one or more of these indicators are off or red. If you detect a problem with a RAD, we recommend first checking the Mongoose to determine if the problem is originating there.
MONGOOSE Installation Manual Troubleshooting the Mongoose Connection Before troubleshooting a connection issue, it may help if you understand the basics of how Mongoose Tracker discovers and then establishes communications with a Mongoose. Mongoose devices send occasional UDP messages.
MONGOOSE Installation Manual 4. Verify that the Mongoose device is operating properly. • Has the Mongoose completed its power-up cycle? You’ll know it is finished when its LED indicators stabilize (instead of racing across the device’s front panel). • Is the Mongoose Ethernet connection functioning properly? If it is, the Ethernet LINK indicator on the front panel displays a solid green light. If this light is flashing or off, there is likely a problem with the connection.
MONGOOSE Installation Manual • • To determine if the link-local IP address has been assigned to the proper NIC: Windows XP: Click Start, click Control Panel, double-click Network Connections, click the network connection on which the Mongoose resides, and then view the settings for this NIC in the Details box displayed in the lower left corner. Verify that the first two numbers of one of the IP addresses are 169.254. The second two numbers can be anything between 0 and 255.
MONGOOSE Installation Manual Troubleshooting the RAD Port status in the RAD Settings dialogs Color / Text OK Firmware Update In Progress RAD Model Mismatch Meaning Recommended Action The configuration matches the physical RAD as detected on the No action needed. port with no errors detected. No action needed. The Mongoose is in the process of updating the RAD’s firmware. Once the firmware update is complete, the Mongoose will establish communication with the RAD and update the status.
MONGOOSE Installation Manual Color / Text Meaning Recommended Action This error can occur when there is a communication error. If there is a communication error, fix that before investigating an Audio Rx error. Audio Rx Error Audio Tx Error The RAD is reporting that it does not sense an Audio lock from The twisted pair in the CAT 5 cable that receives Audio at the RAD from the the Mongoose. Mongoose could be miswired or broken.
MONGOOSE Installation Manual Color / Text Mongoose Port Power Failure Recommended Action Check the status on the individual RADs to determine which Mongoose The Mongoose has detected ports are experiencing a power failure. that the power level on one or more ports is below the allowed See the previous table on RAD Status for suggestions on troubleshooting threshold for ‘good power’. individual Mongoose port power failures.
MONGOOSE Installation Manual INDEX F A Firmware, upgrading or rolling back.................................36 Front panel description (Mongoose)..................................9 Apple computers, compatibility with..................................8 Audio Rx LED on RAD.......................................................................14 LED on the Mongoose device..........................................11 twisted pair used for..........................................................
MONGOOSE Installation Manual Mongoose Tracker installing...............................................................................33 overview...............................................................................16 starting.................................................................................33 N Naming a Mongoose device................................................21 O Overload LED on the Mongoose device.....................................................9 on the RAD...........
MONGOOSE Installation Manual FACTORY AUTHORIZED SERVICE Your unit may someday need to be serviced by the Rane Factory if you live in the USA. International customers should contact your dealer or distributor for service. You must call the Rane factory before shipping. Please do not return your unit to Rane without prior authorization.
MONGOOSE Installation Manual WARRANTY PROCEDURE - Valid in USA only NOTICE! You must complete and return the warranty card or register your product online to extend the Warranty from 2 years to 3 years! TO VALIDATE YOUR EXTENDED WARRANTY: Use the postcard that came in the box with your unit, or go to www.rane.com and click on New Product Registration. Fill out the warranty completely, being sure to include the model and serial number of the unit since this is how warranties are tracked.
MONGOOSE Installation Manual Declaration of Conformity Standard(s) to which conformity is declared: Application of Council directive(s): EN60065: Ed. 7.
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