System information

ShowLink™ Network
The ShowLink network carries the wireless signals that enable remote control of Axient transmitters. The AXT610
ShowLink Access Point uses an independent 2.4 GHz wireless link to relay control signals to and from the ShowLink
transceiver inside of each Axient transmitter. A single AXT610 can control up to 16 Axient transmitters. Use additional
access points to increase capacity or to expand the coverage area of the network. Network traffic and transmitter handoffs
between multiple access points are self-managed and occur automatically. Since the ShowLink operates independently in
the 2.4 GHz spectrum, handoffs between access points do not interrupt the audio signal.
It is important to note that the transmitter/receiver audio signal does not require you to have a ShowLink network set up
and active. Additionally, any loss of ShowLink control will not affect the audio signal in any way.
Compatible Frequency List (CFL)
The AXT600 Spectrum Manager or Wireless Workbench can generate a compatible frequency list (CFL) for deployment
to devices on the network. The CFL also contains the calculated ‘backup’ frequencies that are continuously monitored for
quality by the Spectrum Manager. Backup frequencies are deployed to Axient receivers in the case of interference or in
response to a request for a new compatible frequency.
Frequency Coordination and Zones
Frequency coordination assigns clear frequencies within the UHF spectrum to devices for wireless audio channels. The
RF configuration tools included in Wireless Workbench 6 simplify frequency coordination. Use pre-configured equipment
profiles to quickly build a system or create your own types and include them in the Wireless Workbench device inventory.
Additional features in Wireless Workbench allow you to plan and avoid television stations and to define exclusion ranges
which the frequency calculation will avoid.
To maximize the number of frequencies available for larger venues such as corporate campuses, festival venues, and
theaters, you may be able to divide the environment into zones. Creating zones in Wireless Workbench tells the frequency
compatibility calculator to assume that systems in one zone will not create intermodulation distortion with systems in
another zone. The key is to place the devices in different zones and provide enough RF separation between each zone to
prevent intermodulation distortion (IMD). Factors that must be considered when creating zones are the physical distance
between zones, obstruction by building materials, the volume of surrounding RF traffic, transmitter output power, antenna
selection and placement, and overall quality of the wireless system.
Backup Frequency Monitoring
The AXT600 Spectrum Manager performs backup frequency monitoring of unallocated frequencies maintained in
the compatible frequency list (CFL) to ensure that they are available for use. The energy level of each frequency is
continuously sampled and compared against the exclusion threshold setting of the Spectrum Manager. If the energy on
any frequency exceeds the exclusion threshold for more than one sample, that frequency is marked as Degraded and
quarantined from use by receivers. The Spectrum Manager will continue to monitor Degraded frequencies and restore
them to Ready status if the sampled noise level is below the exclusion threshold for more than 30 continuous seconds.
Interference Detection and Avoidance
Axient provides real-time interference detection and avoidance on each individual receiver channel. Digital signal
processors (DSP) within the Axient receiver continuously monitor the received signal for interference from other wireless
devices. If the DSP detects interference, an alert is sent to the receiver display and to Wireless Workbench.
Adding an AXT600 Spectrum Manager and AXT610 Access Point to a receiver enables the system to automatically
deploy a clear backup frequency to the receiver when interference strikes. The access point sends the new frequency
from the receiver to a linked transmitter to complete a quick frequency change away from interference.
The interference detection sensitivity level and the interference avoidance mode can be configured and controlled from
the front panel of each receiver channel independently, or from Wireless Workbench.
Frequency Diversity
Frequency Diversity provides additional protection from interference for critical performances by transmitting the audio
from a single source over two independent frequencies. When configured for Frequency Diversity, the AXT400 receiver
continuously monitors and processes the audio quality of both signals to produce a single channel of optimized audio. If
one of the frequencies experiences interference, the receiver automatically adjusts the signals to preserve the quality of
the audio output.
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Part 1: Introduction