Technical

FAQ:

Q: Where do I find a qualified A/V installer?
A: Go to CEDIA (the Custom Electronics Design and Installation Association) to find the top folks in the field.



Q: How do I control your switchers using RS-232?
A: Lattis A/V switchers are typically integrated with RS-232 control systems from AMX, Crestron, Vantage Controls, RTI, and others, and computer-hosted systems such as life|ware.

Two-way RS-232 communication provides both control commands and feedback messages. Parsing the returned messages is optional, but allows for a closed-loop system. The units may also be controlled using Infrared (IR) commands -- also, IR and RS-232 control may be used concurrently on the same switcher. If an IR command is used, the control system is immediately updated by receipt of a message (the same message that would result from the equivalent RS-232 command). A two-window Terminal by Bray (for win) is small and handy.





Q: How do I control your switchers using Ethernet?
A: Lattis A/V switchers may be ordered with the ethernet (-IP) option, and are typically integrated with Ethernet control systems from AMX. It is easy to add ethernet capability to drivers for most control systems. The control system simply opens a TCP/IP socket connection to the Lattis switcher, and then sends and receives using the exact protocol as used with an RS-232 connection.

Our IP switchers may use dynamic (DHCP), or static ethernet addressing. For AMX applications, Vaux IP switchers provide complete Duet Dynamic Discovery. The Lattis product manual, and a full-featured AMX Driver, are stored in the switcher's ftp area -- the AMX driver controls up to 64-zones of audio and/or video switching, volume/bass/treble, presets, paging, and more.

Two-way ethernet communication provides both control commands and feedback messages. Parsing the returned messages is optional, but allows for a closed-loop system. Vaux IP switchers are powered by powerful ethernet technology from Control Alternative Solutions. For multiple-switcher installations, a single IP switcher will provide communication to the control system, and standard RS-232 switchers will daisy-chain to it. An IP utility (for win) finds IP switchers for connection and configuration.

The units may also be controlled using Infrared (IR) commands -- also, IR and ethernet control may be used concurrently on the same switcher. If an IR command is used, the control system is immediately updated by receipt of a message (the same message that would result from the equivalent ethernet command).

Vaux RS-232/Ethernet interfaces have always been open -- Vaux has published the protocol for communicating with the Lattis system. The VauxProtocol definition is in the Lattis Manual, and is comprised of simple, yet powerful, ASCII commands and messages.



Q: How do I use IR control?
A: Lattis A/V switchers are typically integrated with IR (infrared) contol systems from RTI, Universal, and others. IR control systems, such as in-wall keypads or remote controls, may use Vaux IR codes to control zone routing, volume, EQ, etc, and also control the a/v system's source devices.

Lattis systems have support for infrared control when using Vaux IR commands, which may be used to operate the system from the front panel sensor, or remotely via an IR control or repeater system connected to the rear-panel IR-In jack. While Vaux no longer offers IR remote controls, public command sets were created from our RC-40-IR remote (a subset of these commands date back to our earlier RC-16-IR and RC-8-IR remote controls).

Vaux IR commands are avaiable in the Vaux IR Hex Code Set, which is a 16-zone by 40-source set of commands, in the industry-standard Pronto Hex format. A Vaux-captured 32-zone by 40-source Vaux IR RTI Code Set is also available. Some as-is, dealer-contributed IR code sets are also available.

The Lattis System can be controlled using IR commands, from different zones. The zone number is embedded in the IR command, so there is an independent set of IR commands for each zone (technically, up to 90 zones are available). All of the commands result in a single IR code (no macros).



Q: How do I connect the Control-Daisy-Chain?
A: When expanding a Lattis system, additional switchers are installed, and daisy-chain cables are connected. When multiple switchers are daisy-chained together, you only need to plug into one RS-232 Control port, and/or one IR-In port, on one switcher. A short modular cable (6P6C straight) connects from the Ctrl-Out jack on this first switcher, to the Ctrl-In jack of the next switcher, and so on. This control daisy-chain may connect any number of switchers together. It does not matter which switcher has the 232/IR connections, just the Ctrl-Out/Ctrl-In sequence of the modular cables.

For an ethernet daisy-chain, a single IP switcher will provide communication to the control system, and standard RS-232 switchers will daisy-chain to it. You connect the network to the IP switcher, and connect from the Ctrl-Out jack on the IP switcher to the Ctrl-In jack of the next switcher...

If you are daisy-chaining an audio unit with a video unit, then you are done -- they will share the same range of zones (eg: 1 to 16), and may be switched together, or independently, by using the appropriate RS-232 command (note that IR control only allows the audio and video to switch together).

Example: an LE-1600A is ready out of the box for zones 1 to 16 of stereo audio routing. By adding an LE-1216V, we will switch composite video along with the audio. The system is still addressed as a 16x16 switch (with 12 video sources). Simply add the control daisy-chain cable to finish.

Example: an LE-800A is ready out of the box for zones 1 to 8 of audio. When we add an LE-608HD we will switch HDTV sources (1 to 6) to HDTV zones (1 to 8) in parallel with the audio sources connected to the LE-800A. The system is addressed as an 8x8 switch (with 6 component-video sources).



Q: How do I expand the system for more zones?
A: If you are connecting multiple-audio or multiple-video switchers together, in addition to the control daisy-chain cables, you need to set the zone ranges to which the switchers should respond, and you need to parallel the input sources.

Each switcher has a programmable "Base-Zone" parameter, which is originally set to 1. The LE-1600A, for example, out of the box will respond to zones 1 to 16. Any zones outside this range are quietly ignored. By setting the Base-Zone to 17, the LE-1600A will respond to zones 17 to 32.

Example: an LE-1600A (Base-Zone=1) is ready out of the box for zones 1 to 16; adding a second LE-1600A, we need to set its Base-Zone to 17, so it handles zones 17 to 32. The audio sources are paralleled to both units with the optional ribbon-expansion cables. You now simply address the system as a larger 16x32 switcher.



Q: How do I parallel the input sources?
A: For a stereo-audio switcher, the preferred way to parallel the sources is by ordering the switchers with the ribbon-expansion (-RE) option. An 8-source switcher uses one ribbon cable, and a 16-source switcher uses two. The original sources connect to the phono jacks on the lower switcher, and the ribon cable(s) run up to the other switcher(s). You may parallel up to ten switchers this way. If you need to parallel switchers that do not have the ribbon connectors, you may use Y-cables or an audio distribution amplifier. For paralleling HDTV component-video or composite-video sources, you will need an appropriate video distribution amp to split the sources.

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