Allen&Heath DR66 USER GUIDE - Manual (Page 29)

DR66 & DR128 Installer User Guide 29
Configuring Control
There are several ways to control the DR unit. Once the system is configured, the installation PC
can be disconnected and the DR operated on a day-to-day basis using the front panel keys,
remote keys, networked computer system or industry standard remote controller.
Front Panel and Remote Keys
These are assigned according to the application as momentary press up/down volume controls or
mutes for the channels or crosspoint matrix, partial or full patch recall, or patch select using scroll
keys. A stereo link function is provided so that one switch can affect two adjacent channels. The
front panel LEDs can be assigned as signal meters, mute or status indicators. The remote outputs
(DR66 only) can be assigned as status indicators or external equipment triggers.
Networked Computer System
The DR Gateway is an Allen & Heath software utility for Windows ® that allows the DR unit to be
controlled via an IP Network. This lets the installer access the unit remotely using the WinDR
System Manager application via a computer network, either through an Ethernet port or a dial-up
connection. For example, a DR running a public address system in a large company building could
be configured or controlled from any room that has access to the company computer network.
Alternatively, a DR unit could be interrogated or reconfigured from a remote location via telephone
using a dial-up connection. While the DR can be controlled and the signals metered on the remote
computer there is no audio transmitted through the network.
The gateway program is run on the host computer which connects to the DR unit via its RS232
serial port, and to the network via its Ethernet port. More than one DR can be connected if the
host has multiple serial ports. Remote computers access the DR by communicating with the host
through the network.
36The DR Gateway utility is provided within the WinDR self-extracting .exe file. Further details
are available in its Help file.
SysNet
SysNet is the Allen & Heath communication protocol that is used to control the DR from external
third party industry-standard remote controllers. Typical examples include sophisticated touch-
screen based systems such as AMX™ and Crestron™ and dedicated wall-plate controllers such
as those available from audace (www.audace.co.uk). Programmable systems such as these allow
the creation of customised control surfaces such as touch panel displays to suit the installation.
They also allow advanced network control. The installer simply provides the protocol details to the
remote controller supplier who can write the interface to suit. The SysNet protocol is detailed in the
document file provided with the WinDR software.
DR units running the earlier Version 1 operating software such as V1.83 need to have the SysNet
Option card fitted. This provides a 9-way D-connector serial port running the SysNet Version 5
protocol to interface with these controllers. Further details and fitting instructions are available
from Allen & Heath.
DR units running the newer Version 2 operating software do not need to have any option card
fitted. Instead, SysNet uses the existing RS232 port to communicate the faster 19200 baud MIDI
based SysNet Version 6 protocol. As such it can also communicate with other equipment running
Allen & Heath MIDI style protocols over RS232, but not with standard MIDI. Note that Version 2
does not allow simultaneous RS232 connection of the configuration PC and the SysNet
equipment.
Check the Allen & Heath web site for the latest version and information on the protocol. At present
SysNet allows the remote control of patch recall, input and output levels and mutes, and
crosspoint levels.