Ashly FR-16, FR-8 User Manual

FR-8 and FR-16 Remote Control

Operating Manual

 Overview

The FR-8 and FR-16 are Ethernet-based remote controllers for all Ashly NE (network enabled)
products with DSP capabilities. Each fader and it’s push button LED can be programmed to adjust
signal level, select input source, or mute the signal. The FR remotes are ideal for networked sound
systems in meeting rooms, houses of worship, courtrooms, or other applications where simple but pro­grammable real-time level control is required.

Features

• 8 or 16 Assignable Faders with Master

• Push Button Switches with LED

• Mute/Unmute per Fader

• A/B Source Select per Fader (optional)

• Two Signal Level Indicators per Fader

• User Dened Signal Level LED Threshold

• Assignable Fader Scaling

• Front Panel Lockout

• Communication Failure Indicator

• Automatic IP Addressing

• User Dened Label Inserts

• Wall Box or Panel Cut-Out Mounting

Requirements

• Ethernet Network

• IEEE 802.3af Power Over Ethernet (class 2)

• Ashly NE DSP Device

• PC Running

Vista, or XP, 32 & 64 bit

• Proteane Software v5.11 or Higher

Microsoft® Windows 7,

Compatible Devices

• ne24.24M

• NE Two-Channel Ampliers (with DSP)

• NE Multi-Channel Ampliers (with DSP)

ASHLY AUDIO INC.

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

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

• NE4800 and NE 8800 DSP Processors

• Pema Ampliers

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

 FR Features (FR-8 not shown)

Front Panel

1) Push Button LED Label Window - Insert

switch label made from Ashly template doc

2) Push Button LED - Used to switch fader
Mute or fader A/B Source Select. LED also
indicates signal level or fader status

3) Channel Fader - Adjusts level of targeted
DSP gain stage or output mixer source

4) Channel Fader Label Window - Insert
switch label made from template doc

5) Power LED - Shows device is powered

6) Master Fader - Adjusts level of all

assigned channel faders

Rear Panel

1) RJ-45 Jack - Connects to Ethernet

Network with PoE or PoE injector

2) Link LED - Shows network is connected

3) Data LED - Shows Data is transferring

On Startup:

1. When the FR-8 or FR-16 is rst connected or powered on, it attempts to communicate with

all devices it has been programmed to control, if any.

2. Once communication with the targeted device is established, it waits to transmit any fader or
switch position data until a control is physically changed by the user. At that point only the data for
that control is sent.

***This feature prevents sudden and unexpected changes when reconnecting or re-starting the

FR remote control, as well as when a new preset is recalled to the host device.

PLEASE NOTE: When in doubt, make sure all faders are either in the correct position or fully

down before reconnecting

4) Lockout Connector - Used with contact
closure to disable all front panel controls

5) Serial Number and MAC Address - Used
for warranty or ash programming

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

 Typical Application

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

 Connecting to a Network

Network communication is made by wiring with standard Cat-5 Ethernet cable terminated with
a RJ-45 or Neutrik etherCON connector through a 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 (Auto­MDIX) 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 -

Ethernet (PoE) from a switch, hub, or in-line PoE injector. FR power consumption is a maximum of two
watts.

Link/Data LEDs -

LED will light. If the green LED is not lit, then there is either a problem with the connection or with
the network. This must be addressed before proceeding further, by backtracking through cables or
hardware to nd the problem. The yellow “Data” LED ashes when data is sent or received from the
FR device.

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 FR device, where the system/network administrator must assign each
product its own unique static IP address, each with the appropriate sub-net if applicable.

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

FR remote controllers require class 2 IEEE 802.3af Power over

Once a successful Ethernet connection has been made, the green “Link”

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.

Communication Failure Indicator - If an assigned fader has lost contact with

its targeted device, the LED button above that fader will continually ash red to indicate
communication has been lost.

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

 Mechanical Installation

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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