Ashly FR-16 Users Manual

FR-8 and FR-16 Remote Control

Operating Manual

Introduction

The FR-8 and FR-16 are Ethernet-based remote control devices for Ashly Ethernet compatible
products with DSP capabilities, including the Ashly ne24.24M, NE two-channel ampliers (with DSP),
NE multichannel power ampliers (with DSP), ne8800/4800 processors, and all Pema power ampli­ers. The FR-8 has eight assignable faders with a master fader, and the FR-16 has 16 faders with a
master fader. Each fader can be assigned to control an input or output DSP gain function, or assigned to
control an output mixer. Fader scaling is available whereby the user can set a maximum and minimum
value for each fader. The master fader provides an overall level control for selected faders. Buttons
above each fader provide mute control with LED, can indicate signal level for that channel with user
dened LED transition points, and will indicate communication failure with the target device. Each
unit is powered by Power over Ethernet (PoE), or by an external PoE injector, and has automatic IP
addressing. A clear window opening is provided above and below each fader to allow insertion of user
dened labels which are available as a document template on the Ashly website. The FR-8 and FR-16
are designed to mount to a standard four or seven-gang US electrical wall box array, can be mounted to
any at surface using the cutout template found on page 9, or can be used as a desktop device.

When the FR remote is rst connected or powered on, it attempts to communicate with all
devices it has been programmed to control, if any. Once communication with the targeted device(s)
is established, it waits to transmit any fader or switch position data to the targeted device until
a control is physically changed by the user, and then only the data for that control. This feature
prevents sudden and unexpected changes when reconnecting or re-starting the FR remote, as well as
when a new preset is recalled to the host device. When in doubt, make sure all faders are either in
the correct position or fully down before reconnecting.

ASHLY AUDIO INC.

847 Holt Road Webster, NY 14580-9103 Phone: [phone]

Toll-Free: [phone] Fax: [phone] www.ashly.com

Operating Manual - FR-8 and FR-16 Remote Level Controller

1. Network requirements

Ethernet communication is made by wiring with standard
Cat-5 cable terminated with an RJ-45 or Neutrik etherCON
connector through an Ethernet network router, switch, hub, or
patch panel to a PC running Protea NE Software v5.10 or higher.
Maximum cable distance is 100 meters (328 ft) from the nearest
router, hub, or switch. Ashly networked devices will auto detect
their Ethernet network connection, and adapt (Auto-MDIX) to either a straight through pin to pin, or
crossover Ethernet cable. Note that the push release tab on the back panel connector (as shown) is meant
only for etherCON connectors. Standard RJ-45 connectors have their own built-in release tab.

Power over Ethernet - FR remote controllers are powered using a class 2 IEEE 802.3af Power
over Ethernet (PoE) switch, hub, or in-line PoE injector. Power consumption is two watts maximum.

IP Address -

router or Link Local Addressing will assign IP addresses to each product automatically. When a router
is not available, most current NE products and remotes have the capability to assign their own IP address
based on Link Local Addressing. This allows the device to operate without the need to set up static IP
address. If the only option is to use an Ethernet switch instead of a router, and communications problems
remain which cannot be solved with the use of the Link Local standard, each device must have a static
IP address assigned from within Protea NE software. This is done by selecting “Manual Conguration”
in the Network Properties tab of each device, where the system/network administrator must assign each
product its own unique static IP address, each with the appropriate sub-net if applicable.

Firewalls - If Protea NE software does not detect the FR-8/16, the rewall in the host PC
should be turned off, as rewalls may block the device response to the controlling PC when network
communication is attempted. The current PC rewall status is found by clicking on the Windows
Start button, then Control Panel, then double clicking on the security shield where the rewall can
then be disabled. Once communications with the device is established, the rewall can be enabled
again, but if there continues to be communications problems then disable the rewall.

Wi-Fi and LAN – For the initial device auto-conguration process, any secondary Wi-Fi
connection should also be disabled, and the LAN (Local Area Network) connection must be enabled
on the PC. Secondary network connections may confuse the auto device discovery process. Go
to the Windows Control Panel, then Network Connections, to disable any secondary network con­nections. Once communications with the device is established, secondary network connections can
be enabled again, unless a communications problem remains with the FR-8/16, in which case the
secondary network connections should remain disabled.

There is no need to assign an IP address to FR-8/16 used with a network router. The

Connecting Device(s) - Connect an Ethernet cable with PoE (Power over Ethernet) to the
FR-8/16 unit. If a successful Ethernet connection has been made, a solid green LED (Link) lights up
near the device Ethernet port. If there is no green LED showing, there is either a problem with the
cable or the network source, which must be addressed before proceeding further. All RJ-45 Ethernet
ports ash green when active, so backtrack through any other cables, routers, or switches to nd the
problem. The ashing yellow LED (Data) indicates that data is owing to or from the device.

Communication Failure Indicator - If a fader has been assigned to control a specic device
function but has somehow lost contact with that device, the LED button above that fader will con­tinually ash to indicate communication has been lost.

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Operating Manual - FR-8 and FR-16 Remote Level Controller

2. Mechanical requirements

The FR-8 and FR-16 are designed to be mounted to an electrical wall box or modular box array,

to any at surface using the provided cutout, or as a freestanding desktop controller.

The FR-16 will mount to a modular 7-gang US electrical box, with a minimum box depth of

2.25”. The FR-8 mounts to a 4-gang electrical box. For mounting to a wall or at surface without
using a wall box, a mechanical drawing and cutout pattern are provided in this manual on pages 9.

Fader and switch function labels can be created using the document template found on the

Ashly website and referenced in this manual on page 10.

Follow these instructions for mounting to an electrical wall box or surface:

Note: Remove power

before mounting. Avoid

static shock disruptions
to this or other connected
devices by mounting to an
earth-grounded metal wall
box or other earth grounded
point. This prevents static
discharge from owing
through the data lines.

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Operating Manual - FR-8 and FR-16 Remote Level Controller

3. FR Firmware Update (Flash Reprogram)

To view the current FR rmware revision, click on it’s control surface Network Properties
tab and look under Hardware Conguration. If a newer rmware update is available on the Ashly
website, the user may download it and run the Flash Reprogram procedure found in the FR Device
Options menu. If the control surface is somehow unable to communicate with the FR device due to
a corrupt internal program, run ash reprogram from the main Proteane window under Flash Pro­grammer/Launch Flash Reprogram. This requires the FR device MAC address, found on the back
panel. When the FR device is put into ash reprogram mode, the highest channel LED turns green
and Master LED turns amber. All control function is suspended until reprogramming is completed

4. Protea NE Software

Protea NE Software version 5.10 or greater is required for the FR Remotes. Load it from the
supplied CD or Ashly website to a PC running Microsoft®
Windows 7/Vista/XP, 32 & 64 bit.

Network Tree - Start Protea NE Software and the
FR-8/16 should appear in the network tree in the “Ashly
Remotes” folder. From the factory, it should appear with
the name “FR-8 (or 16) Fader Remote” in green. If it
doesn’t appear, click the “Scan For Devices” button under
the network tree. All devices continuously broadcast their
availability to the software. All currently connected and
active products are highlighted in green, while products
which have been formerly connected but are currently
off-line or unavailable show up in red. To clear the network tree of all unavailable (red) items, right
click the top level item (Ashly Network) and select <Clear Inactive Devices In All Groups>.

Project Canvas - To congure the FR-8/16, double-click its icon in the network tree, which
brings up that FR-8/16’s control surface. Alternatively, drag the icon from the network tree onto the
project canvas and double-click it there. Drawing elements such as lines, rectangles, text, and image
les can be added to the canvas to complete a visual control screen displaying all Ashly devices
under control, which is then saved as a project le. Drawing elements are found as icons above the
canvas. To add text or image les, right click over empty canvas. The saved project le contains all
devices, settings, and drawing elements shown on the project canvas.

Once an image has been placed on the canvas, it must be manually deleted if that device is no
longer available to the software. Scanning for devices does not automatically remove images which
may have been installed at one time but are now off line. To clear the canvas of all devices and
drawn elements click <File - New>.

Design Mode - Design Mode must be enabled to work with devices or drawing elements in
the project canvas. Right-click on canvas to enable Design Mode. This allows placed objects to be

moved around, while unchecking Design Mode locks objects in place and prevents the addition of
other objects or devices. Further help is available in Protea NE software by navigating through the

online help menu.

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