XTA 5 Series - Manual (Page 33)

✁ ✂ ✄ ☎ ✂ ✆ ✁ ✂ ✄ ☎ ✂ ✆ ✁ ✂ ✄ ☎ ✂ ✆ ✁ ✂ ✄ ☎ ✂ ✆ Operator’s Manual Page 33
Shadow ID Numbers
Shadow ID numbers allow extra units to share the same ID and follow the settings of the ‘main’ ID. This is useful for
larger systems (for example anything above a 4-way stereo system) where it is only necessary to set up one side of the
system, and allow the other unit to track it identically.
Using the shadow IDs in this way also reduces the apparent system complexity within AudioCore. This is due to the
fact that shadow ID’s NEVER send back any settings to AudioCore and because of this will NOT appear in the
list of connected units.
They can be thought of as listening to and acting upon all information addressed to them, but not replying. Up to 128
shadow units may be connected and assigned the same ID as the ‘main’ unit, but remember that the maximum total units
on any one RS485 network is 128.
Shadow ID numbers are accessible when the unit’s interface is configured, and will appear after ID number 128, starting
from 1 again, but designated shadow IDs with an ‘s’ after the number –
1s. Any ID can have multiple corresponding
shadows.
RS485 Interface
This interface is fitted as standard to all units and is accessed via the 3-pin
XLR sockets on the rear of the unit. Cables to connect units together or
to an RS232-485 converter will need to be wired one-to-one. We
recommend the use of standard shielded microphone cables, or a
balanced feed from a multicore.
RS485 is a fully balanced system, capable of sending data over distances
of up to one kilometre. Note, however, that this is the total length of
connection. The RS485 output of each unit is purely hardwired from the
input and so no electrical regeneration of the signal is provided. What
this means is that the distance from the first RS485 output to the last
RS485 input must not exceed 1km in total.
As this diagram illustrates –
The combined length of cables 01 + 02 + …NN < 1000 metres.
Note that this includes any units set up as shadow IDs.
XTA has a range of tried and tested interfaces, all of which are listed in
the XTA Interface Guide, available from our website. We can supply all
the interfaces described in this guide directly – please get in touch.