Rane HAL1x Installation Guide - Page 82

CHAPTER 3: Installing Your HAL System Task 3: Pulling and Terminating shielded CAT 5e Cabling You can terminate and plug in the shielded CAT 5e cables prior to or after installing the HAL into the audio rack. We recommend that you install the cables and the HAL before installing the EXPs, RADs and DRs. Each of these devices has the same cable requirements; Shielded CAT 5e or better. For more details about cable requirements including recommended type, maximum length, and termination, see "Shielded CAT 5e Cable Requirements" on page 67. If you're curious how the RAD network utilizes twisted pairs within the shielded CAT 5e cable for audio transmission, data communications, and power, see the illustration and explanationon page 23. Knowing how the wires are used can be helpful when troubleshooting RAD and DR connection problems. Following are a list of things to consider when installing the shielded CAT 5e cables: l The maximum allowed distance between devices. EXPs, RADs, and DRs each have different maximum CAT 5e cable lengths. See the CAT 5e Cable Requirements topic referenced above. l We recommend that you clearly label each end of each shielded CAT 5e cable you install. This makes it much easier to connect the proper shielded CAT 5e cable to the proper port on the back of the HAL and to the EXPs, RADs and DRs. It also helps guarantee that you install the proper EXP, RAD and DR in each designated location. l Speaking of labels, you should generate and insert a label into each RAD prior to installing it. It's possible you did this during an off-site build of the audio rack. If the audio designer did not provide you with labels, you can generate and print them yourself from within the Halogen software or you can use the default labels supplied with each RAD. See "Generating Device Labels" on page 94 for details. If the RADs are not available yet, you can still generate the labels and insert them later. DRs do not need labels, as they have LCD screens that display their configured names. l Most RADs require two, three, or four-gang standard switchboxes (for installation into a wall). A DR1 requires a one-gang switchbox, while a DR2 and DR3 require two-gang switchboxes. Switchboxes used for both RADs and DRs must have a minimum depth of 2 1/4" (57 mm). Task 4: Installing and Connecting HAL Expansion Units Installing and connecting an EXP device is simple. Just as with the HAL device, you can rely on the EXP's LED indicators to provide basic device and connection status information. The first EXP that you install connects directly to the HAL. Subsequent EXP devices can be installed but are then daisy-chained together. You need shielded CAT 5e or better cables to connect these devices. NOTE: The HAL1x supports a maximum of thirty-two EXP devices. To install a single EXP device: 1. Attach the EXP device to the audio rack in its designated location. 2. Connect the EXP device to the HAL. You need a shielded CAT 5e cable for this connection, with a max- imum cable length of 100 meters (300 feet). To connect the EXP to the HAL, plug one end of the CAT 5e 76