QSC Audio RAVE 80 - Manual (Page 22)

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VI. FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
CAN I BUY HUBS, CABLES, AND OTHER EQUIPMENT FOR MY RAVE NETWORK
ANYWHERE?
Yes. One of the design goals of RAVE technology is that aside from the specialized RAVE devices themselves,
all other network-related equipment is common computer equipment available from many sources, including
local retail computer stores.
Almost all Ethernet patch cables sold in retail stores today are CAT-5 grade, which is the minimum required for
a RAVE network. Avoid CAT-3 cable, which is a lesser grade.
Fast Ethernet hubs, switches, and media converters are increasingly available from retail and wholesale computer
equipment suppliers.
DO I NEED A COMPUTER TO RUN OR SET UP MY RAVE NETWORK?
No. No computer is needed for setup or operation. Not ever.
CAN I ASSIGN MULTIPLE TRANSMITTERS TO THE SAME NETWORK CHANNEL?
No. The first unit to transmit on a network channel precludes all other units from transmitting on that same
channel.
If the two audio channel groups on a single RAVE 81 or 161 are assigned to the same network address, only the
first audio channel group (lower eight channel numbers) will be transmitted.
You can, however, set transmitters for redundant operation, in which case you actually would set them to the
same network channel. In that case, still, only one of the units—normally the master, unless a failure occurs,
and then the slave unit will take over—operates at any one time. See Section IV, Connections, for more
information on setting up RAVE units for redundant operation.
CAN I ASSIGN MULTIPLE RECEIVERS TO THE SAME NETWORK ADDRESS?
Yes. Although more than one transmitting group cannot occupy the same network address, multiple receiving
groups can, whether they are in the same RAVE unit or separate ones. The network behaves normally, and the
RAVE receivers, in effect, act as a distribution amplifier or audio multi.
CAN I RUN RAVE UNITS AND AN OFFICE LAN ON THE SAME NETWORK?
We don’t recommend it. You might not have any problems if you do, but keep in mind that normal LAN traffic
is unregulated and non-deterministic, whereas RAVE network data adheres to a rigid time schedule and packet
size. Thus, there is always a possibility that the office traffic will impinge temporally on the RAVE system’s
requirements.