The primary purpose of a Remote Audio Device (RAD) is to amplify, digitize, and transmit a digital audio signal via shielded CAT 5e cable to a HAL host device. RADs can also receive a digital signal from the HAL and then convert it to analog before sending it to its attached audio equipment. RADs are capable of transmitting and receiving up to four channels of digital audio (two in each direction). To better fit your needs, however, Rane offers various RAD models. Most RAD models are designed to fit in a standard U.S. two, three, or four gang switchbox.
The HAL System offers a variety of RAD models, each of which serves a unique purpose. For example, a RAD1 contains two microphone input channels. When you design an audio system, you choose the RAD models that are appropriate for your application. You must then provide configuration information to HAL so that it knows which RAD models to expect on each port and what information to send to each RAD. For more information,
The shielded CAT 5e cable that connects the RAD to HAL also provides power to the RAD as well as a path for data communications. Data communications makes it possible to control the RAD’s configuration settings, view status information, and update a RAD’s firmware – all from the host HAL device. The following picture illustrates how the four twisted pairs within the shielded CAT 5e cable are utilized.
note: Configuration information for a specific RAD (for example, LED intensity, microphone sensitivity, and RAD and channel names) is stored in the HAL device, not in the RAD. This makes it easy to swap in a new RAD, if necessary, without losing configuration data.
note: Digital Remotes use only the orange pair (for data communications) and the brown pair (for power).
note: For some electrical systems (e.g., isolated grounding systems - sometimes called a single point or star ground) the grounding procedure outlined above may short two fingers of the building ground system. If this creates a problem, then use of non-conductive junction boxes, or insulating mounting methods are recommended (or very much required!).
note: The RAD16z is grounded differently than the above. The RAD16z galvanicaly isolates its RJ-45 jack, cable shield and grounded twist, and the HAL/equipment room ground from its logic and audio I/O grounds. This means no special ground is needed. This provides 500-volts galvanic isolation as well as standard Ethernet-like electrostatic protection as the RAD16z cables get hot plugged and unplugged.
Following is an illustration of the front of a typical RAD. Click each number to see a description of the associated RAD part.
Following is an illustration of the back and side of a typical RAD:
warning! As it is poor design to plug two microphones into a single microphone input, we do not recommend this practice.
note: RADs are hot-swappable. In other words, you can replace a RAD without having to power down the system. The HAL automatically detects the new RAD and configures it using the configuration data stored in the HAL. If the configured RAD and the physical RAD do not match, the HAL front panel Enabled LEDs for this RAD flash yellow. At the same time, the RAD's Power, Comm, Audio Rx, and Audio Tx LEDs flash red.
DeviceLabels.pdf
and is placed in C:\Users\<user>\Documents\HalogenLabels,
although this location may vary depending on your operating system.note: If you want to use different fonts or colors for the label text, you will need to create the label document yourself. To do so, download the Microsoft Word template from the Rane website. Enter the channel names, apply the appropriate fonts and/or colors, print the document, and cut and insert the labels.
Click the Hardware tab to open the Hardware Workspace.