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8 Remote Audio Device (RAD) ports
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You can install a Digital Remote (DR) in any RAD port, so the EXP1 includes support for additional DRs
when needed.
Shielded CAT 5e Cable Requirements
Connections between Expansion Units (EXPs), Remote Audio Devices (RADs) and Digital Remotes (DRs) all
have the same cable requirements: Shielded CAT 5e or better. This section includes more details about the CAT 5e
cable requirements, including recommended cable type, maximum lengths, and proper termination.
Cable Type
The HAL System wiring complies with the standard shielded CAT 5e T568-A or T568-B termination. You can use
a shielded CAT 5e, or a CAT 6 cable (UTP-plus overall shield with drain wire and 24 AWG). To comply with the
FCC and European emissions standards, you must use cable for all EXP, DR and RAD devices that has screened
twisted pairs (four unshielded twisted pairs surrounded by a single foil shield with a drain wire). This is variously
referred to as either F/UTP, S/UTP, FTP, and ScTP. An example is Belden 1212F.
You'll also sometimes see the term STP, although technically this refers to individually-shielded twisted pairs. For
the remainder of this guide, we'll be using the term shielded CAT 5e to represent all of these choices.
Maximum Cable Lengths
Device Meters Feet
EXP 100 300
RAD 150 500
DR 300 1000
Terminating the shielded CAT 5e Cable
When terminating the cable, it is important to maintain the natural twist of each wire pair as close to the ter-
mination as possible. Use a standard shielded RJ-45 connector to terminate the cable. Note that outputs are short-
circuit protected.
NOTE: Here is a bit of trivia for you. What are commonly referred to as RJ-45 jacks are not RJ-45 at all but
are 8P8C (8 Position 8 Contact) modular connectors. We’ll bow to convention, however, and use the more
recognized term of RJ-45.
RADand DRGrounding
Careful grounding of Rane RADs (remote audio devices) and DRs (digital remotes) is important for optimum per-
formance. Except for the DR4, all RADs and DRs are powered from the +24 VDC & Ground twisted pair located
within the shielded CAT 5e (or better) cable connecting them to the HAL system of multiprocessors. The exposed
metal of all RADs and DRs is connected to the ground conductor inside the cable and to the cable shield when
properly terminated. The shield conductor and the ground twist are in parallel and are connected together at both
CHAPTER 2: Hardware Component Details
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