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I-Tech Series Power Amplifiers
Operation Manual page 37
9 Appendix A: Network Basics
Figure 9.1 A HiQnet or TCP/IQ Network
Computer
Laptop
100Mb Switch
PS8810
I-T4000
I-T4000
I-T6000
I-T6000
I-T8000
9.1 TCP/IQ and HiQnet Networks
Background: A Local Area Network (LAN) is a group of computers in a venue that
share data, either through cables or via wireless transmission. Ethernet is a popular
LAN communication protocol for PCs. An audio network is a Local Area Network
made of audio devices and one or more computers. A subnet is a small network within
a larger network. For example, an audio network might have two subnets: one for enter-
tainment audio, and one for paging.
One use of an audio network is to control and monitor power amplifiers on stage from a
computer at Front-of-House. You can set amplifier levels, adjust crossovers, measure
speaker impedance, check for overheating and clipping, all from the house mixing con-
sole.
You need a way to send computer commands to several audio devices at once. This is
done with an Ethernet switch, which is something like an audio Y cable or distribu-
tion amp. The computer, and all the audio devices, connect to the switch as in Figure
9.1.
TCP/IQ is a network protocol that allows you to control and monitor certain Crown and
BSS audio products on an Ethernet network. HiQnet lets you control and monitor cer-
tain Harman products (including Crown) on an Ethernet network. Figure 9.1 shows a
typical HiQnet or TCP/IQ network.
TCP/IQ and HiQnet audio networks offer many advantages:
Use of “off-the-shelf” network hardware. TCP/IQ and HiQnet use standard
hardware commonly used in the computer industry, making it both low-cost and readily
available.
Better Performance. Meters display faster in realtime because the network is wide
bandwidth.
HiQnet and TCP/IQ provide these functions:
Quickly find all HiQnet components connected to the network.
Synchronize multiple control points on a network.
Control and monitor components on different Local Area Networks (LANs) through
the use of an IP router (explained later).
Upgrade firmware via the network.