Operation Manual

7. Network Connections
VSXNET Subwoofer Operation Manual rev 2.0.0
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7. Network Connections
Interconnectionbetweenthenetworkcomputerandthespeakersisverystraightforward,usingtwistedpair
cableandsimpleconnectors.TheRS485interfaceoperatesonasharedbussothatasinglecomputercan
controlanyamplieronthebus,andthecomputermaygatherstatusinformationfromanydeviceonthebus.
Eachmodulecontainsauniqueaddresssothatnouserinputwillberequiredtocongurenetworknodes.
Itisonlydatathatiscarriedoverthenetworktocontrolsetupfunctions&ongoingsystemdiagnostics,therefore
ifanetworkfaultoccurs,audiocanstillbedelivered.Thisalleviatestheproblemoftotalsystemfailurethrougha
singlesystemcontrollergoingdown.AseachloudspeakercontrolsitownDSPfunctionsanyunforeseenfailure
wouldbeisolatedtoonlythatparticular‘node’.
RS-485isstandardforsendingserialdata.Itusesapairofwirestosendadifferentialsignaloverdistancesup
to4000feet(1200m)withoutarepeater.Thedifferentialsignalmakesitveryrobust,RS-485isoneofthemost
popularcommunicationsmethodsusedinindustrialapplicationswhereitsnoiseimmunityandlong-distance
capabilityareaperfectt.
IMPORTANT:AlwaysrunasignalgroundwithRS-485
ConnectionfromthePCtothenetworkisviaa3rdpartyRS232toRS485orUSBtoRS485interface.These
devicesarereadilyavailablefromyourITsupplier.Atthetimeofwritingthismanualextensivetestingwascarried
outwiththefollowingdevices:-
TannoyUSB—RS485Converter(PartNo.80013920)
K2fromKK(www.kksystems.com)
USB-COMifromEasysync(www.easysync.co.uk)
485SD9RfromB&Belectronics(www.bb-elec.com)
example network
VSXNET Series
RS485 link
RS485 link
RS485
3rd party RS232/
USB to RS485 interface
RS485 link
VSXNET Series
VSXNET Series VSXNET Series