When the shielded CAT 5e cable is in place and the HAL and EXPs (if needed) are installed, connected, and configured, you can begin installing and testing the RADs and DRs. Several installation procedures are described in this section. The first procedure provides the details of installing and testing RADs and DRs in a new HAL System. The remaining procedures explain how to replace a RAD or DR in an existing HAL System.
Before installing the RADs and DRs, you may want to familiarize yourself with their functionality and hardware features. See Overview of Remote Audio Devices and Overview of Digital Remote Devices. Also, if the audio designer did not provide you with labels for the RADs (and if you have not yet generated labels), you may want to print them before beginning the installation process. See Generating Device Labels for details.
note: When installing and testing RADs and DRs in a new HAL System, double-check that the HAL is connected and powered on (and, preferably, configured) before beginning the RAD/DR installation.
note: If you want to use RAD functionality in your audio rack near a HAL or EXP, a nice solution is to install RADs in the rack using special expansion devices. We suggest you take a look at the rack device products by Lowell (specifically the LD9-RMP) or by Radio Design Labs (specifically the RM-D9 rack mount product).
note: Labeling the RADs ahead of time provides additional verification that the right RAD is being installed. DR display labels appear dynamically on their LCD screen—when connected to a configured HAL.
If the RAD is functioning correctly (and the HAL configuration matches the physical RAD), the following LED indicators turn green: Power, Comm, Audio Rx, and Audio Tx. Each of these LEDs corresponds to a twisted pair within the shielded CAT 5e cable, and a green light indicates that the twisted pair has been detected by the HAL and is working properly. See Task 3: Pulling and Terminating shielded CAT 5e Cabling for more details on the functionality of each twisted pair.
The following bullets list other situations that may arise when installing RADs:
note: The Pager1 RAD has LED indicators as well as an LCD display screen. The LEDs on the back function like any other RAD, except in two situations: If there is a device mismatch, the mismatch message appears on the LCD screen (a flashing exclamation point and the words Configuration Mismatch). When the Pager1 is in Locate mode, a flashing L appears in the upper right corner of the LCD screen and the LCD backlight flashes. If the LCD screen displays Disabled when you turn its selector knob, this indicates that either the Pager1 has not been added to the HAL configuration's processing map or it has been added but does not have any Scenarios assigned to it. If all is A-OK with the Pager1, its status LEDs on the front of the device become active. In most cases when first installing the product, the Ready light will turn green. For more details, see PAGER1 RAD.
When you first connect the DR, its LCD screen illuminates and displays a spinning wheel and the text Connecting... . What you see next depends on what DR model you are connecting (we are assuming you have loaded a configuration):
note: If you have not loaded a configuration into HAL, this mismatch behavior is what you will see for each DR you install. Why? The HAL is not expecting a DR on the port because none is configured, therefore it reports a configuration mismatch. As soon as you load your configuration, the message will disappear (as long as the configured model matches the physical model detected).
note: The intensity of the DR's LCD backlight is configurable in the Halogen Hardware Workspace. Also configurable is the length of time that the screen stays lit. For details, see the DR Properties reference topic in the Halogen Help System.
Status information for each RAD and DR port on the HAL and EXP is displayed on the front and rear panel of the HAL/EXP. As long as all four indicators on a RAD are green and as long as the DR is displaying the appropriate information on its LCD screen, there is no need to check these LEDs on the HAL or EXP it is connected to. If a RAD indicator is solid red or the DR is reporting a problem, however, view the corresponding indicators on the HAL/EXP to determine if the problem is originating there. Following are descriptions of the indicators on the HAL:
RADs:
DRs:
Use the captivated screws on the RAD or DR to attach it to the switchbox. Note that the screws are in slots so that you can adjust the device if need be (for example, to level it inside a switchbox that isn’t level). Also, take note of the four metal circles at the top and bottom of each device—the ones that look like Mickey Mouse ears! You can bend or snap these off and use them for various purposes. For example, if the switchbox is not flush with the wall, you can slightly bend one or more of these circles to make the RAD or DR flush with the wall. Also, using a pair of needle-nose pliers, you can easily snap them off, and use them as washers behind the screws.
There may be times when you need to install a new RAD or DR after a HAL System is already up and running. Because the RADs and DRs are hot-swappable, in other words, you can replace a RAD or DR without having to power down the system, the process is fairly simple. If you are installing a RAD or DR in an existing HAL System, you are likely doing one of three things:
In all three situations, the HAL behavior is the same. It automatically detects the new RAD or DR and compares its model number to the model number configured in the HAL or EXP for that port. If the model numbers match, the HAL sends the relevant configuration data as well as any required firmware updates to the RAD or DR. If the model numbers do not match, the HAL or EXP front panel LEDs flash yellow (for RADs—the Enabled LEDs flash yellow, for DRs—its only LED flashes yellow). The mismatch is also indicated on the devices themselves. On the RAD, the Power, Comm, Audio Rx, and Audio Tx LEDs flash red. On the DR, a flashing exclamation mark appears along with the words Configuration Mismatch.
note: When replacing a RAD or DR with the same model, HAL automatically sends configuration data to the RAD/DR. You don’t have to do a thing except verify that the RAD/DR is working properly. This makes the process of replacing a RAD or DR as simple as using a screwdriver! Pop the old RAD or DR out, put the new one in, check for green lights or the proper display on the LCD screen, and you’re finished.