The newly developed system provides a flexible solution to the restrictions which many hire/production companies are finding with Cat 5 cable systems.
According to Wigwam Hire director Chris Hill, using complicated extender units to cover distances over 100m is totally impractical and requires their field engineers to become IT network specialists. At the same time he criticised the inadequacies of RJ 45 fixed connectors when exposed to both festival and touring conditions as well as the extended prep time now required with so many digital manufacturers supporting their own proprietary platforms and connector protocols.
Using Optocore's new modular R serves technology the new OptoRack "guarantees"high quality audio and data transmission over distance to all systems ports and will enable simple, reconfigurable plug and play at the FOH and stage end, with a locked-out preset.
The OptoRack is divided into two racks with one X6R-FX and one X6R-TP each. The Stage Rack offers a 24/8 analogue and 16 AES channels (32 audio channels), with four RS 485 and three RJ45 LAN ports providing the data connection. The FOH Rack offers an 8/24 analogue and 16 AES channels (32 audio channels), with four RS 485 and three RJ45 LAN ports providing the data connection.
"This provides us with a simple, yet future-proofed returns system solution," says Chris Hill.
Said International Sales Manager Mike Case, "It was a case of replacing hybrid digital/analogue snakes with something longer, such as a fibre optic system.
"Essentially, Wigwam wanted a system that was plug and play, very compact and ultra-reliable, fully redundant and light weight, requiring minimal prep time. OptoRack is expandable up 32 channels analogue and 32 AES, with six LAN ports for data control. And bundling the rack with both the FX and TP X6R converters, which utilises the SANE add-on, is great for adding multiple channels of analogue across both devices."
(Jim Evans)
