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Control Unit
OPERATING MANUAL
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CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
Thank You
We at Pliant® Technologies want to thank you for purchasing CrewCom®. Pliant brings our experience, expertise, and commitment
to quality technology with the new CrewCom System. In order to get the most out of your new CrewCom product, please take a few
moments to read this manual completely so that you better understand the operation of this product. For questions not addressed
in this manual, feel free to review the additional support documentation provided on our website or to contact Pliant’s Customer
Support Department:
Pliant Technologies, LLC
205 Technology Parkway
Auburn, AL 36830 USA
www.plianttechnologies.com
Phone: +1.334.321.1160
Toll-Free: 1.844.475.4268 or 1.844.4PLIANT
Fax: +1.334.321.1162
Copyright © 2018 Pliant Technologies, LLC. All rights reserved. The Pliant®, CrewCom®, and CrewNet™ word marks and the Pliant
“P” logo are trademarks of Pliant Technologies, LLC. Any and all other trademark references within this document are property of
their respective owners.
Model Information
This document applies to models CCU-22 and CCU-44.
Document Reference: 2018.02 D0000214_A
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Table of Contents
CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
Table of Contents
Safety Information ................................................................................................................................................1
Power Information ..........................................................................................................................................2
Introduction ..........................................................................................................................................................3
What’s in the box? ..........................................................................................................................................3
Additional Items Required ...............................................................................................................................3
CrewCom Overview ........................................................................................................................................3
CrewCom Conguration File Overview .............................................................................................................4
About Network Power .....................................................................................................................................6
Product Overview ..................................................................................................................................................7
CCU-44 .........................................................................................................................................................7
CCU-22 ........................................................................................................................................................10
Control Unit Display ......................................................................................................................................11
Setup and Installation .........................................................................................................................................12
Determining the Device Location ...................................................................................................................12
Connecting to CrewCom Devices ..................................................................................................................12
Powering the Control Unit .............................................................................................................................12
Applying CrewCom Conguration File ...........................................................................................................13
Adding More CrewCom Devices ....................................................................................................................15
Connecting Wired Intercom to the Control Unit .............................................................................................15
Setting Up Radio Packs .................................................................................................................................17
Operation ............................................................................................................................................................19
Understanding the Control Unit’s LEDs ..........................................................................................................19
Locking the Front Panel .................................................................................................................................20
Control Unit Settings .....................................................................................................................................20
Understanding Link Quality ..........................................................................................................................22
System Conguration ....................................................................................................................................23
Wired Settings ..............................................................................................................................................25
Radio Pack Settings .......................................................................................................................................31
Device Settings .............................................................................................................................................31
Local Headset Settings ..................................................................................................................................32
Local Area Network (LAN) Settings ................................................................................................................33
Restoring Factory Defaults .............................................................................................................................35
Relay Connection ..........................................................................................................................................36
Auxiliary IN/OUT Audio Wiring .......................................................................................................................36
Stage Announce Audio Wiring .......................................................................................................................36
Product Specications ........................................................................................................................................37
Control Unit Menu ..............................................................................................................................................38
Product Support ..................................................................................................................................................39
Returning Equipment for Repair or Maintenance ...........................................................................................39
Maintenance and Storage ...................................................................................................................................40
Cleaning .......................................................................................................................................................40
Temperature and Humidity ............................................................................................................................40
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CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
License Information ...........................................................................................................................................41
Warranty Information ..........................................................................................................................................42
Limited Warranty ...........................................................................................................................................42
Parts Limited Warranty ..................................................................................................................................42
Glossary ............................................................................................................................................................43
Index ..................................................................................................................................................................46
Table of Contents
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Safety Information
CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
Safety Information
The following section details important safety information related to the ownership and operation of the CrewCom Control Unit.
WARNING: Indicates a situation, which, when not avoided, has the potential to result in death or severe injury.
CAUTION:
1. Read these instructions.
2. Follow all instructions.
3. Heed all warnings.
Safe Operation Recommendations
• Install and operate in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions.
• Do not submerge the Control Unit in water.
Indicates a situation, which, when not avoided, results or has the potential to result in minor
injury or product failure or damage.
• Do not set food, water, or other beverage containers on or near the unit.
• Do not place unit in areas where it will be exposed to weather.
• Plug the Control Unit directly into an AC power inlet. Avoid using extension cords to power unit.
• Ensure the power cord remains free from areas of foot trafc. Do not allow power cord to become crimped, twisted, or
frayed.
• Clean by using a dry cloth only. Do not spray household cleaners or water onto the cloth. Never spray household cleaners
or water onto any part of the unit.
• Use only attachments/accessories that are specically made for or certied by Pliant Technologies with the Control Unit.
Any attempt to modify ports in order to use cables or wires that are not manufactured specically for or certied for use
on this system will void the product warranty.
• Unplug the Control Unit during periods of inclement weather and after use.
• Refer all Control Unit service to qualied Pliant Technologies service personnel. There are no user-serviceable
parts inside the CrewCom Control Unit. Opening the product may expose dangerous electrical components, which will
result in product failure. Any attempt to self-service or self-repair the unit will void the product warranty.
• Service is required if the Control Unit receives any type of damage to any of its parts or if it does not operate normally.
For example, if water or any other type of liquid has been spilled on the Control Unit or if it has been exposed to rain or
moisture, then service is necessary. Service is also required if debris or other objects have fallen into the unit or if it has
been dropped.
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CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
Safety Information
Power Information
WARNING – DANGER! Users should exercise extreme care when working with electricity. Additional
care should be used when working with electricity outdoors during inclement weather. When working
outdoors or near water, always connect the system into a ground-fault interrupting circuit.
AC Power Connection Safety
• Always connect the power cord to the CrewCom Control Unit before connecting to the outlet.
• CrewCom Control Units are powered by an internal power supply. The cord to connect the internal power supply to the
mains supply must conform to the following specications:
» The mains power cord shall have an IEC C13 connector at one end and a mains power plug at the opposite end.
» An IEC C13 plug has three pins. The center pin carries the earth/ground. The remaining two pins carry neutral and
live circuits.
» The conductors of the mains cords shall have adequate cross-sectional area for rated current consumption of the
equipment.
» The mains plug that connects to the mains supply must be approved for use in the country in which the equipment
will be used.
» The mains power cord must be an IEC mains 3-Wire grounding power cord complying with standard IEC60320;
IEC320/C13.
» Mains power cords used in the U.S. must also comply with standard UL817.
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Introduction
Introduction
What’s in the box?
• Control Unit
• AC Power Cord
• USB A to Micro B Cable
• Cat 5e cable, 15 ft. (4.6 m)
• Quick Start Guide
• USB Flash Drive that includes product documentation
• Warranty Extension Registration Card
Note: A one-year product warranty is standard with CrewCom products. Follow the product registration
instructions on the Warranty Extension Registration Card and visit www.plianttechnologies.com/customer/
account/login to extend your product warranty to two years at no charge. See page 42 for more
information about Pliant warranties.
CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
Additional Items Required
In addition to your Control Unit, at least one of each of the devices listed below is required to complete your CrewCom System (sold
separately with included components):
• Radio Transceiver
• Radio Pack
• Headset
CrewCom Overview
CrewCom is a versatile yet straightforward communications solution built on an intelligent wireless and wired network-based
distributed system architecture. Innovative technologies have been specically developed to facilitate intercom system growth
and effortless adaptation, along with unparalleled digital wireless reliability for consistent operation, even in the most demanding
production environments.
Decentralized Network Architecture
The CrewCom system utilizes a proprietary network backbone, known as CrewNet™, to coordinate and transport all system timing,
audio, signaling, and controls. This efcient, decentralized resource network delivers increased exibility over that of traditional
technologies, using a distributed network-to-device intelligence within a modular building block structure. System components can
easily be placed where they are needed or scaled to facilitate system growth, reconguration, and effortless adaptation to changing
environments. For increased infrastructure exibility, the CrewNet network is capable of operating over standard Cat 5e (or greater)
and/or Single Mode Fiber (SMF) connections.
Flexible RF Platform
CrewCom’s RF platform is vast and exible to meet the needs of virtually any wireless communication challenge facing production
and entertainment professionals worldwide. Each CrewCom wireless product is available in the 2.4GHz and 900MHz (North
America, Australia, and New Zealand only) ISM bands and any combination of these frequency ranges may be simultaneously
used on the same CrewCom system. CrewCom makes it easy to operate in challenging RF environments by combining support for
multiple simultaneous frequency bands, while also allowing for simple system setup without the need for an RF engineer.
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CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
In addition, a more robust RF link enhances RF range and reliability through a newly developed dual carrier double-send
transmission scheme that minimizes the adverse effects of inter-symbol interference. This innovation allows increased useful RF
range and improved performance, especially in large, reective environments.
Introduction
Intuitive User Experience
CrewCom’s family of products is designed around a system architecture that offers a high density of users with a more manageable
infrastructure and lower cost per user than typically found in large-scale wireless installations. The CrewCom system not only
consists of a range of wired and wireless hardware products but also incorporates an intuitive software application, known as
CrewWare, working together with the system hardware to enhance the experience of system administrators, designers, integrators,
and users. Each device’s user interface allows a quick learning curve with high functionality, and its ease of use is consistent across
all frequency bands, types of users, and applications.
CrewCom Devices
The following is a list of available CrewCom devices. For more information on each of these products and their conguration
capabilities, visit our website at: www.plianttechnologies.com
• Control Unit (CU) – the 1RU foundational element of the CrewCom system that establishes the CrewNet-based
infrastructure while also providing external connections to common established intercom systems. Unlike traditional
BaseStations, the CU contains no radio and is frequency agnostic, which sets the groundwork for a multi-frequency
capable system. For maximum exibility, any CU can access, control, and monitor any active device across CrewNet. The
CU is available in a “CCU-22” or “CCU-44” model, which simultaneously support up to (2) 2-Wire and (2) 4-Wire or (4)
2-Wire and (4) 4-Wire intercom connections, respectively.
• Radio Transceiver (RT) – a CrewCom radio device that houses a transmitter and receiver (2.4GHz or 900MHz) and
its corresponding antennas, enabling RF communications to CrewCom Radio Packs. Using the CrewNet network as the
system’s backbone, RTs can be positioned throughout a wide coverage area by being linked back to a Control Unit either
directly or through a Hub(s). Connectivity is accomplished using either Cat 5e (or greater) or Single Mode Fiber (SMF).
• Radio Pack (RP) – the direct portable wireless communication device connecting individual CrewCom users to the
CrewCom system. Each RP provides full duplex audio communications and, through customized function buttons, General
Purpose Output (GPO) control and event logging. The RP requires a connected headset and access to a Radio Transceiver
on the CrewCom system. Devices are available in 2.4GHz and 900MHz bands as well as two and four volume/talk button
congurations.
• Copper Hub – a CrewNet-based device with eight ports to allow extended interconnection for a variety of CrewCom
hardware. Ports one through seven are copper (RJ-45, Cat 5e, or greater); port eight can be either an additional copper
port or a duplex LC Single Mode Fiber port, but only one may be used at a time. The Hub provides for extensive system
expansion and exibility.
• Fiber Hub – a CrewNet-based device with eight ports to allow extended interconnection for a variety of CrewCom
hardware. Ports two through eight are duplex LC single-mode ber ports; port one can be either an additional ber port
or a copper port (RJ-45, Cat 5e, or greater), but only one may be used at a time. The Hub provides for extensive system
expansion and exibility.
CrewCom Conguration File Overview
The CrewCom system operates using a CrewCom Conguration File (CCF) to coordinate the processes and data that make up the
system’s operation. A default CCF is available for your CrewCom system out-of-the-box to provide your initial settings. You can use
CrewWare to customize your conguration to meet your specic needs beyond the default settings. The CCF stores the settings for
your Conferences and Proles, intercom settings, and connection information for your 2-Wire, 4-Wire, and CrewCom devices.
Conferences and Proles work together to create channels of communication between CrewCom users. They are dened for each
user, stored in the CCF, and available each time you set up. For more information about Conferences and Proles, continue reading
the following sections for their denition.
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Introduction
CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
About Conferences
A CrewCom Conference is an administrator-dened grouping of audio entities (inputs such as Radio Packs, wired intercom ports,
etc.). Conferences are then created dynamically by mixing one or more audio entities and routing them to Conference subscribers
accordingly. This method of subscription-based audio using Conferences is very powerful. Point-to-point associations may also be
easily constructed using this method. Each association requires a separate, unique Conference. Conferences in CrewCom are full
duplex (i.e. bidirectional) and there can be a maximum of 1,024.
Default Conferences are included as part of a system’s default conguration. New Conferences can be created using CrewWare.
About Proles
Each CrewCom Radio Pack has a Prole that contains a variety of system settings that are dened as either system-level settings or
user-adjustable settings.
• System-Level – These settings are part of the system's conguration and are usually assigned by a system administrator
through customization in CrewWare during setup. Find a full list of the system-level settings available for each Radio Pack
in the CrewWare Operating Manual or the Radio Pack Operating Manual.
• User-Adjustable – A user-adjustable setting is one that is classied as being adjustable by the Radio Pack user and is
limited to local device settings that do not alter the CrewCom Conguration File. The Prole can be used to determine
these settings, but they can also be customized directly from a Radio Pack after a Prole is loaded.
CrewCom Conguration File Defaults
A CrewCom CU contains a default CCF, enabling users to begin using their system immediately without further conguration. The
default CCF provides default proles for RPs that correspond to designated hardwired port and conference assignments. More
advanced customization to meet any user-specic needs beyond the default settings can be performed using CrewWare. Unless
modied by the user, all new Conferences or Proles automatically default to the original settings. See Table 1 for a list of default
associations between RP knobs and CU ports.
Note: In addition to the RP knob associations detailed in Table 1, each default Prole also sets assignments for the
RP’s Function buttons: Function 1 is Stage Announce, and Function 2 is Call (for Conferences with TALK enabled).
Table 1: CrewCom Default Conferences and Proles
Default Prole
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
RP Knob A RP Knob B RP Knob C RP Knob D
RPProle 44-1
CU Port 1 CU Port 2 CU Port 3 CU Port 4
RPProle 44-2* - - - -
RP Knob A RP Knob B
RPProle 22-1
CU Port 1 CU Port 2
RP Knob A RP Knob B
RPProle 22-2 - -
CU Port 3 CU Port 4
RPProle 22-3* - - - -
RPProle 22-4* - - - - - -
Default Conference Assignment
- - - -
RP Knob A RP Knob B RP Knob C RP Knob D
CU Port 5 CU Port 6 CU Port 7 CU Port 8
- - - - - -
- - - -
RP Knob A RP Knob B
- -
CU Port 5 CU Port 6
RP Knob A RP Knob B
CU Port 7 CU Port 8
*These defaults are only available with the CCU-44 model.
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CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
Introduction
About Network Power
Power-over-CrewNet (PoC) is a proprietary network protocol that carries operating voltage and current to CrewNet-compatible
devices connected to the Control Unit via RJ-45 connections (Cat-5e or greater.) Control Units must receive AC power via the
supplied power cord in order to operate and provide necessary PoC to connected CrewNet-compatible devices. In addition, PoC can
be supplied to devices downstream from a locally powered CrewCom Hub or RT.
For CrewNet-compatible devices using ber connectivity, local power must be supplied to that device using a Pliant 48VDC power
supply (sold separately).
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Product Overview
CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
Product Overview
The CrewCom Control Unit (CU) is a rack-mount device built to withstand the rigors of road use and rental applications. The
CCU-44 is an 8-intercom-port CU with the ability to support (4) 2-Wire and (4) 4-Wire ports simultaneously, providing eight
intercom inputs/outputs. The CCU-22 is a 4-intercom-port CU with the ability to support (2) 2-Wire and (2) 4-Wire ports
simultaneously, providing four intercom inputs/outputs. The CrewCom CU is the foundation for CrewNet. A separate Radio
Transceiver (RT) is required for RF communications. The CU is capable of supporting all models of CrewCom RTs at the same time
(2.4GHz or 900MHz).
CCU-44
Control Unit Front
A B C D E F G H
®
™
I J K L M
Figure 1: Control Unit Front View
(A) Local Headset Connection
The front panel headset connector is a 4-PIN XLR male. A compatible headset must be provided by the user.
(B) Talk Button for Local Headset
The Talk button works in conjunction with the Local Headset Connection. The Talk button enables or disables the microphone for the
local headset. A white “TALK” LED will illuminate when the mic is enabled. This button has an intelligent latching function: one short
press will latch the talk on; however, pressing and holding the talk button will cause the button to act as a momentary switch.
(C) Headset Volume Knob
Turning the Volume control adjusts the listening volume of the local headset.
(D) Wired Intercom Access Button
When pressed, the Control Unit LCD displays the Wired Settings screen.
(E) LCD Screen
Display for viewing real-time status of system, navigating menus, and making subsequent settings adjustments. The LCD screen is
the focal point of the Control Unit’s (CU) functionality. On the Home screen, the LCD displays the status of all Normal mode wireless
Radio Packs that are currently paired to the CU. In the menu, the LCD shows the menu items or information.
(F) Home Button
If the user is currently viewing the Home operating screen, pressing this button toggles to the secondary operating screen. (See page
11 for more information.) If the user is currently viewing the CU menu, pressing this button returns them to the Home screen. This
Home
also serves as an escape button; no changes that may have been in process are saved if
is pressed before saving.
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CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
(G) Navigational Controls
• Up – Moves the cursor or marker up on-screen; makes adjustments in edit mode.
• Down – Moves the cursor or marker down on screen; makes adjustments in edit mode.
• Left – Moves the cursor or progress bar to the left on-screen.
• Right – Moves the cursor or progress bar to the right on-screen.
• Enter (Center) – Selects the current cursor position or saves the current setting adjustment.
(H) On/Off Switch
Turns the power to the Control Unit on and off.
(I) Local Button
Opens the local headset settings on top of the current screen display, allowing for adjustments to the local headset settings.
(J) Radio Packs Button
Switches the Home screen to a selectable mode that allows selection of a (wireless) Radio Pack to edit its settings (via the
navigational controls).
Product Overview
(K) Menu Button
Accesses the main menu system of the Control Unit. While in the main menu system, one short press acts as an escape to return the
user to the previous menu without saving any changes.
(L) USB Micro B
For connectivity to a computer when updating device rmware.
(M) USB A
For Radio Pack pairing, additional CrewCom device connectivity to update rmware, and external USB ash drives.
Note: The CrewCom CU is currently compatible with FAT and FAT32 formatted USB thumb drives (up to 16
TB drive size). Some operating systems (e.g., Windows 10) promote NTFS format, but only allow FAT32
formatting up to 32 GB. For help with formatting larger USB thumb drives, contact Pliant customer support
at +334.321.1160 (option 3 for Service and Support).
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Control Unit Rear
J
Product Overview
CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
A B C D
Figure 2: CCU-44 Back View
(A) AC Power Connection
100–240V, 50/60 Hz 0.8A
(B) RELAY Connection
CrewCom includes ve General Purpose Output (GPO) contact closures for interfacing with other external devices (the Stage
Announce (SA) Relay and the four other GPO relays). The user has access to both the normally open and the normally closed
contacts for each relay. Rated load for all relay contacts: 0.3 Amp at 125VAC, 1 Amp at 30VDC. See page 36 for more
information.
(C) CREWNET Ports (RJ-45 or Fiber)
The CrewNet ports allow the Control Unit (CU) to connect to other CrewCom devices, supporting a proprietary network design
where all devices are part of a CrewCom Conguration File that shares data, timing synchronization, and audio. Up to two CrewNet
connections are supported per CU using either two RJ-45 copper (Cat 5e or greater) ports or an RJ-45 copper and Single Mode
Fiber (duplex LC connector) port. Any CrewCom device connected to CrewNet via a Cat 5e (or greater) cable will receive Powerover-CrewNet (PoC) from the CU via the CrewNet port. See the "Connecting to CrewCom Devices" section on page 12 of this
manual for more details and exceptions.
E
F G H I
Each CrewNet port’s status LEDs indicate the status of the CrewNet link. See the "Operation" section on page 19 of this manual
for more LED information.
(D) 2-WIRE Intercom Port (x 4)
The Intercom Channel ports (1, 2, 3, and 4) allow the user to connect the Control Unit to 2-Wire external intercom systems. The
XLR-3M/F 2-Wire intercom ports interface with Clear-Com, RTS, AudioCom (Balanced), and other compatible intercom systems. The
pairs of XLR-3M and XLR-3F are electrically identical—including the grounds—but the grounds of the four channels are electrically
isolated from each other. Each connector pair is transformer isolated. The 2-Wire Intercom settings can be adjusted under the
Wired Settings
(E) 4-WIRE Intercom Port (x 4)
The RJ-45 4-Wire Intercom ports (5, 6, 7, and 8) interface with 4-Wire intercom systems and devices. This is an audio-only port
and does not support data transfer. The connector is balanced and transformer isolated. Nominal line level is +5 dBu. The 4-Wire
Intercom settings can be adjusted under the
(F) STAGE ANNOUNCE (SA)
Stage Announce (SA) is used to output system audio to a dedicated audio output. SA uses an XLR-3M connector. The connector is
balanced and transformer isolated. Nominal line level is +5 dBu. The SA output level can be adjusted under the
menu or via CrewWare.
menu or via CrewWare.
Wired Settings
menu or via CrewWare.
Wired Settings
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CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
A B
(G) Auxiliary Audio Input (Aux IN)
Aux IN is used to supply program or other audio sources to the Control Unit. The Aux IN connector is a 1/4 in. (6.35 mm) Tip/Ring/
Sleeve jack. The Aux IN connector is balanced and transformer isolated. Nominal line level is +5 dBu.
(H) Auxiliary Audio Output (Aux OUT)
Aux OUT is used to supply intercom audio sources from the Control Unit (CU). The Aux OUT connector is a 1/4 in. (6.35 mm) Tip/
Ring/Sleeve jack. The Aux OUT connector is balanced and transformer isolated. Nominal line level is +5 dBu.
(I) Local Area Network (LAN) Port
The LAN port allows the Control Unit to connect to a network for conguration, control, and monitoring purposes using CrewWare.
The LAN port’s LEDs indicate the status of the LAN link. See the "Operation" section on page 19 of this manual for more LED
information.
(J) SYNC IN Port (RJ-45 or Fiber)
SYNC IN allows the Control Unit to receive and use a sync source from another CrewCom system, but not to connect to or be
included in that system’s conguration. This particular connection can support either an RJ-45 copper (Cat 5e or greater) port or a
Single Mode Fiber (duplex LC connector) port, but not both at the same time.
Important: No audio is shared between synced systems.
Product Overview
Each Sync In port’s status LEDs indicate the status of the sync link. See the "Operation" section on page 19 of this manual for
more LED information.
CCU-22
Control Unit Rear
The CCU-22 model has the same controls and functions as the CCU-44, with two exceptions: the 2-Wire and 4-Wire Intercom
Connections, which are outlined below.
Figure 3: CCU-22 Back View
(A) 2-WIRE Intercom Port (x 2)
The Intercom Channel ports (1 and 2) allow the user to connect the Control Unit to 2-Wire external intercom systems. The XLR3M/F 2-Wire intercom ports interface with Clear-Com, RTS, AudioCom (Balanced), and other compatible intercom systems. The
pairs of XLR-3M and XLR-3F are electrically identical—including the grounds—but the grounds of the two channels are electrically
isolated from each other. Each connector pair is transformer isolated. The 2-Wire Intercom settings can be adjusted under the
Wired Settings
menu or via CrewWare.
(B) 4-WIRE Intercom Port (x 2)
The RJ-45 4-Wire Intercom ports (3 and 4) interface with 4-Wire intercom systems and devices. These are audio-only ports and do
not support data transfer. The connector is balanced and transformer isolated. Nominal line level is +5 dBu. The 4-Wire Intercom
settings can be adjusted under the
Wired Settings
menu or via CrewWare.
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Product Overview
CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
Control Unit Display
Home Operating Screen
Serves as the primary operating screen and displays the status of the Control Unit’s connected Radio Packs.
Active RP
Link Quality
Strength Indicator
Battery Level
Frequency
Prole Name
Pack Name
Radio Signal
No RP Logged In
Note: The Link Quality Indicator (LQ) provides a diagnostic measurement of actual packet transmission from Radio
Pack to RT and vice versa. The LQ value on the Control Unit LCD represents the lowest LQ value of the two
possibilities. To discover more about which value is displaying on your device, you would need to consult the
individual Radio Pack or CrewWare. (See "Understanding Link Quality" on page 22
more information.)
Secondary Operating Screen
Displays additional information about the status of the Control Unit’s connected Radio Packs. Short press the Home button once to
toggle between the Primary and Secondary screens. After 60 seconds, the screen will timeout and revert back to the Home screen.
Talk Button is Active
Figure 4: Control Unit Primary Operating Screen
of this manual for
Connected RP
No RP Logged In
Note: Radio Signal Strength Value displays the actual value of the radio signal in dBm.
Talk Button is Active
Figure 5: Control Unit Secondary Operating Screen
Link Quality
Radio Signal
Strength Indicator
Remaining Battery
Time
Radio Signal
Strength Value
RT Name
Pack Name
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CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
Setup and Installation
Setup and Installation
Determining the Device Location
Determine a location for your Control Unit. If rack-mounting, secure using its rack-mounting hardware (mounting hardware sold
separately) or place the device on a clean, at surface. Wherever it is placed, ensure that the air input and output sections for the
Control Unit are not restricted.
Connecting to CrewCom Devices
After securely placing the Control Unit (CU), connect your additional CrewCom devices to it via an available CrewNet RJ-45 Copper
or duplex LC Fiber port. It is recommended (but not required) that all connections from the CU to other CrewCom devices be
made prior to powering up the system. Once the CU is powered up, it will prompt you for any necessary rmware or conguration
updates, which are covered in more detail in the following sections.
CrewNet Connectivity
• RJ-45 Ports – For an RJ-45 copper CrewNet port, use the supplied 15 ft. (4.6 m) Cat 5e cable, or your own Cat 5e (or
greater) cable (up to 330 ft. (100 m) in length). Any CrewCom device connected to CrewNet via a Cat 5e (or greater)
cable will receive Power-over-CrewNet (PoC) from the Control Unit via the CrewNet port. In some situations, there may be
too many connected devices or the cable lengths may be too long for the PoC to adequately power all devices, and this
will be indicated with the NET PWR LED lighting red. In this case, one or more supplemental Pliant 48VDC power supplies
must be used (PPS-48V included with Hub; sold separately with all other devices).
• Fiber (Optical) Ports – For a ber CrewNet port, a Single Mode Fiber cable (duplex LC connector) will be required (up
to 32,800 ft. (10,000 m) in length). Any CrewCom device connected to CrewNet via ber port must receive power via a
Pliant 48VDC power supply (included with Hub; sold separately with all other devices).
Powering the Control Unit
After connecting your CrewCom devices to it, power on the Control Unit (CU).
1. First, plug one end of the AC power cord into the CU and the other end into the wall outlet.
2. Then, turn on the CU via its On/Off switch on the right side of the front panel.
After the CU and the other CrewCom devices receive power and establish communication, the CU will ensure that each device
has the correct rmware version. If a device does not have compatible rmware, follow the instructions provided in the
Manual
to update to the correct version.
Note: See the CrewNet Connectivity section above for more information on how power is distributed for all
connected CrewCom devices.
CrewWare
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Setup and Installation
CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
Applying CrewCom Conguration File
Each Control Unit (CU) has a default CrewCom Conguration File (CCF) consisting of default Conferences, Proles, and settings.
After powering the system and updating the device rmware (if necessary), CrewNet will verify whether all physically connected
devices match the installed CCF. If all devices are recognized, CrewNet will begin working and setup will continue as normal. If a
mismatch occurs, you’ll need to resolve the error.
Users can manage and update the conguration from either the CU or CrewWare. For more information on connecting to and using
CrewWare, refer to the
Resolve Conguration Errors
When the CrewCom Conguration File (CCF) and CrewCom hardware conguration do not match, the Control Unit (CU) will
display an “alert.” This alert can have multiple different causes (i.e., the CCF contains more or less devices than what are currently
connected), but it generally means the CCF’s settings and data cannot operate correctly with the current physical setup.
• Device(s) Not Operating – To begin operating a new device that isn’t recognized by your CCF, you will need to update
or recongure your CCF; do this by following the prompts that display on the CU or CrewWare. See "Adding More
CrewCom Devices" on page 15 for more information.
• Missing Devices – If a device is missing from the expected conguration, you will receive an “alert,” and you can
delete the missing device (if you know you no longer need the device in this conguration) or troubleshoot the connection
to identify that all devices are connected properly and receiving power.
CrewWare Operating Manual.
Loading a CrewCom Conguration File
Follow the procedure below to load a new CrewCom Conguration File (CCF) to your system.
Important! Be sure you have saved a backup copy of your current conguration le prior loading a new one, in
case you need to revert back to it for any reason. See page 24 for more information on this procedure.
1. Make sure the master Control Unit (CU) is powered on and has completed loading the current conguration le, then
plug the USB thumb drive into the front of the CU. An External USB Drive menu screen will display on the CU LCD.
Important! Only load your CrewCom Conguration File to the master CU. Loading the le to a secondary CU may
cause system malfunction.
2. Navigate down the list of menu options until
delete the current le that is stored on the CU.
Figure 6: CU LCD Delete Conguration File Prompt
Delete System Conguration
is highlighted. Press the enter button and
3. Once the CU is nished deleting the old conguration le, wait an additional 60 seconds then remove the USB thumb
drive and power cycle all CUs.
4. At startup after power cycling, a blank grid will display on all CUs' screens since they do not have a conguration le.
13
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CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
Setup and Installation
5. Re-insert your USB thumb drive into the master CU and navigate to the
Upload System Conguration
menu
option.
Figure 7: CU LCD Upload Conguration File Prompt
6. Press the enter button and scroll until you nd the conguration le you wish to use, then press enter to select it. The CU
screen will display a blank grid while the conguration le loads.
Figure 8: CU LCD List of Available Conguration Files
7. Once the conguration le has nished loading, the master CU will display the following message: “CCF Loaded” along
with a conguration le summary. Wait until this message has appeared on all CUs' screens. (Secondary CUs will take
about 60 seconds longer than the master.) Once the message times out, the home screen will display on the front of the
CUs.
Figure 9: CU LCD Conguration File Summary Screen
8. Power cycle all CUs. The new conguration le will load and be in use.
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Setup and Installation
CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
Adding More CrewCom Devices
When adding additional CrewCom devices (e.g., a Hub, RT, or additional Control Units) after you’ve applied your CrewCom
Conguration File, the new device will not operate unless it matches the current conguration and has a compatible rmware
version. If these conditions are met, the new device will begin operating immediately. If not, you should follow the CU LCD prompts
for accepting the new device and rectifying this incompatibility. You may choose to accept each added device one at a time, or you
can choose to accept all devices at once.
Note: Accepting a newly connected device will automatically update the current CrewCom Conguration File
(CCF) and overwrite the previous one. However, CCF changes are not saved ofine automatically when the
system is powered off. To save a CCF ofine and separate from the CU, see "Saving CrewCom Conguration
File" on page 24.
Adding a Radio Transceiver (RT)
After following the prompts on the Control Unit (CU) (or CrewWare) to accept each new RT, add it to the current CrewCom
Conguration File, and update its rmware, you must also conrm each new RT’s radio band, hopping pattern, and mode setting
before it will operate.
• Radio Band – All radios on a CrewCom system of the same frequency must be set to the same Radio Band. For the rst
RT connected, the Radio Band is selected automatically by choosing the widest Radio Band setting for that frequency
band. All subsequent RTs will be assigned the same Radio Band as the existing RTs of that frequency. The Radio Band you
use should follow the rules governing radio use in your country. You can change the system Radio Band selection from
CrewWare, choosing either
Full, High
, or
Low.
• Hopping Pattern – The RT’s hopping pattern is selected automatically by comparing all the existing RTs and choosing
the next compatible number (within the same frequency band) available on CrewNet. You can either leave the hopping
pattern the system selects or edit the hopping pattern to your preference. If you select a hopping pattern that is not
compatible with the CU’s setting, a warning will display prompting you to conrm your preferred settings.
• RT Mode – Upon connecting a new RT, you will receive a prompt to conrm the Normal Operational Mode setting.
Connecting Multiple Control Units
Control Units (CU) can be connected to the network via any available CrewNet port (excluding CrewNet IN ports on RTs). CrewNet
supports up to 2 Control Units. Before connecting a second CU to an existing network, be sure to restore factory defaults on the
new CU. This will prevent conicts with the existing CU on the network. (See page 35 for more information about restoring
factory defaults.) If a CU is connected after you have applied a CrewCom Conguration File, it will need to be accepted to the
network via the CU display or CrewWare.
IMPORTANT: No audio is shared between synced systems.
Connecting Wired Intercom to the Control Unit
External Audio Sources
Both 2-Wire and 4-Wire ports can be used simultaneously. You may congure these connected sources using the CU’s display or
CrewWare. For more information on this process, see "Wired Settings" on page 25 of this manual.
2-Wire
Connect a 2-Wire intercom system to the Control Unit’s (CU) 2-Wire intercom ports (labeled 1–2 on CCU-22 and labeled 1–4 on
CCU-44).
Congure the 2-Wire connection from the CU's
Congure a 2-Wire Intercom Connection" on page 27 for more information about updating these settings from the CU.
Wired Settings
menu or CrewWare's Device Management tab. See "Steps to
15
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CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
4-Wire
Connect a matrix intercom system to the CU’s 4-Wire intercom ports (labeled 3–4 on CCU-22 and labeled 5–8 on CCU-44).
Setup and Installation
Congure the 4-Wire connection from the CU's
Congure a 4-Wire Intercom Connection" on page 28 for more information about updating these settings from the CU.
Wired Settings
menu or CrewWare's Device Management tab. See "Steps to
Relay
To connect and enable relays to external General Purpose Output (GPO), connect any (or all) of the relays via the DA-15 Relay
connection on the back of the Control Unit (CU). Congure the triggers for each relay via the CU's
CrewWare. For more information on conguring Relay settings, see the "Using Stage Announce" section on page 31 of this
manual.
Wired Settings
menu or
Stage Announce
To connect Stage Announce (SA), connect an audio destination to the SA output via the XLR-3M on the back of the Control Unit
(CU). Congure and set the SA audio level via the CU’s
SA settings, see the "Using Stage Announce" section on page 31 of this manual.
Wired Settings
menu or CrewWare. For more information on conguring
Auxiliary In
To connect and congure Aux IN, connect an audio source to Aux IN via the 1/4 in. (6.35 mm) TRS jack. Choose the destination(s)
for Aux IN via the Control Unit’s
be assigned to any combination of up to 10 possible Aux Conferences, with individual levels for each Conference under the
Settings
menu. For more information on conguring Aux IN settings, see the "Operation" section on page 19 of this manual.
Wired Settings
menu or CrewWare; then, set the audio level(s). Audio supplied to Aux IN can
Wired
Auxiliary Out
To connect and congure Aux OUT, connect an external device to Aux OUT via the 1/4 in. (6.35 mm) TRS jack. Choose the
Conferences to be routed to Aux OUT via the Control Unit’s
Audio supplied from Aux OUT can be assigned from any single Conference, with level control under the
more information on conguring Aux OUT settings, see the "Operation" section on page 19 of this manual.
Wired Settings
menu or CrewWare; then, set each relative level(s).
Wired Settings
menu. For
Audio from Aux OUT comes from any CrewCom audio entity such as Radio Packs and the local headset of a CU, but no audio from
the hard-wired intercom channels is routed to Aux OUT.
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Setup and Installation
CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
Setting Up Radio Packs
Radio Pack Power and Battery
Radio Packs (RP) are powered with one Lithium-Polymer rechargeable battery for more than 10 hours (2.4GHz) or 9 hours
(900MHz), or they may be powered with three AA Alkaline batteries for approximately 5 hours (2.4GHz) or 4.5 hours (900MHz).
1. Before powering on an RP, install its battery by doing the following:
a. Hold the RP at about a 45 degree angle, pointing the bottom
end down. Then, depress the RP’s belt clip and hold it.
b. Press the battery-release button on the bottom of the RP and
pry open the battery door. Remove the door.
c. While still holding the RP at an angle and depressing the belt
clip, install a fully charged Lithium-Polymer rechargeable battery
or three AA batteries in the RP.
d. Place the battery door back on the RP, making sure to align its
tab and secure the door by pressing until it clicks.
2. Turn on the RP by pressing and holding the Power button on the
back of the RP for three seconds.
Note: The RP will not operate unless it has been paired to a Control
Unit; if it has not been paired it will indicate “No Pairing
Information Available” on its display.
Figure 10: RP Battery Compartment Door
Pairing a Radio Pack (to a Control Unit)
CrewCom Radio Packs (RP) must be paired to a Control Unit (CU) before they can operate
on any CrewCom system. Once RPs are paired to a CU, this process does not need to be
done again unless the RP is being paired to a new or different CU (for example, after a
replacement is made for repairs). A maximum of 255 RPs can be paired to a single CU;
however only 18 of those RPs can be active at one time. If having more active RPs is
applicable, you will need another CU. The limit for CrewCom is 36 RPs on two CUs.
A Radio Pack (RP) may be paired without installing a battery, if applicable. The CU will
provide power to the RP during the setup process. If no battery is installed, the RP will shut
off as soon as it is disconnected from the CU. During the pairing process, do not disconnect
the RP until you are instructed to do so. To pair your RP, use the following steps:
1. Connect an RT to the selected CU. Power on the CU.
2. Wait about two minutes for the conguration le to load on the system. The CU will display a "CCF Loaded" message
and a conguration le summary during the load process--wait until this message has cleared from the bottom CU screen
before taking further action. Once the message times out, the home screen will display on the front of the CU.
3. Ensure the selected RP is powered OFF.
Figure 11: RP Battery Removal/Insertion
4. Connect a USB-to-Micro-USB cable from the CU to the device (micro end goes into the RP’s USB port beneath its rubber
port cover). The RP will power on by itself.
5. Follow the prompts that display on the RP LCD.
a. Your RP must match the system rmware version. The system will check that the RP rmware matches. If it does not,
disconnect the RP from the CU and connect it to your PC to update rmware from CrewWare. For more information
on this procedure, see the
b. If the rmware matches, the pairing process will automatically begin and should take about 30 seconds. Do not
disconnect during this process.
CrewWare Manual
.
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CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
6. Once pairing is initiated, you will be prompted via the RP’s LCD to select a Prole to apply to your RP (only Proles
compatible with the RP model will be available); use the RP function button and volume knobs to navigate and select
your choice from the list of available options.
Note: Default Proles are available as part of the Control Unit's default CrewCom Conguration File. For
more information on default Prole settings, see "CrewCom Conguration File Defaults" on page
5 of this manual. For more information on creating custom Proles, see the CrewWare Operating Manual.
7. Wait for the Prole to load. The RP LCD will display a “Pairing Complete” message when the prole is nished
loading.
8. Disconnect the USB cable from the device. The RP will power off automatically when disconnected.
9. Power on the RP and wait for it to log in to the system. The initial login may take up to 1.5 minutes. When an RP is
logged in, its RSSI indicator will display on its primary screen.
10. Verify that the RP paired correctly and is displayed on the CU LCD and CrewWare (if connected).
Note: RPs can be paired while CrewWare is ofine or while it is in "Live" mode. When in Live mode, you
should see the RPs appear in CrewWare’s real-time pack display as they are paired. Ofine mode will
not display newly paired RPs until the system is “Live.”
11. The RP is ready for use. Repeat steps 3–10 until every RP is paired.
Setup and Installation
For more information on RP operation see the
CrewCom Radio Pack Operating Manual
.
18
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Operation
CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
Operation
Understanding the Control Unit’s LEDs
Each LED on the rear of the Control Unit (CU) indicates a particular condition or status for the device. See Table 2 for details about
each meaning.
Table 2: Control Unit's LEDs
Port/LED Description
CrewNet LEDs Left Green – CrewNet connection is good.
Red – CrewNet connection has a problem.
Off – No CrewNet connection detected.
Right On (Green) – 1000 Mbps link is detected.
Blinking (Green) – Activity is detected.
Off – No CrewNet connection detected.
LAN LEDs Left Green – LAN link is connected.
Off – No LAN connection detected.
Right Blinking (Amber) – LAN activity is detected.
Off – No LAN activity detected.
Sync LEDs Left Green – Sync connection is good.
Red – Sync connection has a problem.
Off – No Sync connection detected.
Right On (Green) – 1000 Mbps link is detected.
Off – No Sync connection detected.
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CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
Operation
Locking the Front Panel
The Front Panel Lock function is intended to minimize the probability of unintentional adjustments to the system. The buttons and
knobs on the front of the Control Unit (CU) will not function until unlocked, except for the power switch, which will power the unit
off, and the Volume knob and Talk button, which will allow communication with a connected local headset. When the CU is rst
powered ON, it is always unlocked. Lock and unlock the CU front panel by holding the
button once for ve seconds.
Home
button, then pressing the
Enter
Control Unit Settings
The Control Unit (CU) can be congured depending on user preferences. The following settings and processes can be found in the
CU’s menu under
Manual
for more information.
Naming a Control Unit
Control Units (CUs) can be given a 16-character long name and an 8-character short name for display in the various CrewWare
menus and diagrams. The default setting for CU Name is the device's electronic serial number. Use these steps to change the CU
name:
Control Unit Settings.
These settings can also be managed using CrewWare; refer to the
CrewWare Operating
1. Scroll through the CU Settings options and select
2. Use the CU’s up/down navigation buttons to scroll to each desired letter. Then, use the right/left navigation buttons to
move to each letter of the name.
Enter
3. Press
to save your changes.
Figure 12: Edit Control Unit Name
Control Unit Name
to enter “edit” mode.
Adjusting LCD Display Settings
The LCD display has a few adjustable settings such as Contrast, Brightness, and Backlight Time Out.
LCD Contrast
Allows adjustment to the LCD’s contrast; use the navigational controls to increase or decrease the level of contrast and press
to save your changes. The default setting for LCD contrast is 3.
Enter
20
Figure 13: Edit Control Unit LCD Contrast
Page 25
Operation
CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
LCD Backlight Brightness
Allows adjustment to the LCD’s brightness; select either
backlight brightness is
High
.
Figure 14: Edit Control Unit LCD Backlight Brightness
High, Med
, or
Low
for brightness level. The default setting for LCD
LCD Backlight Time Out
Enables users to set the amount of time the LCD’s backlight will stay lit after engaging the Control Unit’s interface. Select either
30
, or 10 seconds or disable the backlight timer entirely by selecting
Never
.
Never
. The default setting for LCD backlight time out is
60
,
Figure 15: Edit Control Unit LCD Backlight Time Out
LED Brightness
Enables users to adjust the brightness of the Control Unit LED indicators. Select either
setting for LED brightness is
Figure 16: Edit Control Unit LED Brightness
High
.
High, Medium, Low
, or
Off
. The default
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CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
RP to RT
RT to RP
Operation
Understanding Link Quality
The Link Quality (LQ) is a numeric value that provides a real-time metric on the quality of communication between the Radio
Transceiver and the Radio Pack. The LQ serves as a diagnostic tool for proper system operation and troubleshooting Radio Packs.
• The LQ value represents the number of successful audio packets
of the last 100 transmissions—99 being the most, 0 being the
least
• With CrewCom, the receiving LQ signal is reported for both the
Radio Transceiver and Radio Pack. The Radio Pack’s on-screen LQ
indicator with the box around it is the Transceiver’s LQ from the
RP. If this LQ is lower than normal, then it is an indication that
you may have an issue related to interference, the transceiver,
or a cable connection. If only the RP’s LQ is low, it could be an
indication that you may have an issue related to interference or
the Radio Pack.
• What should the LQ value be during operation? — The LQ will not remain at an exact value during system operation.
Depending on what degree of outside interference or attenuation (blocking) is present, the LQ will uctuate during
normal operation. Fluctuations in LQ can and will span a wide range of values. The lower the LQ, the poorer the audio
quality will be during operation. During start-up, within adequate range and no outside inuences present, the LQ should
display “99” which is the highest LQ value a Radio Pack or Radio Transceiver can have.
Link Quality
Figure 17: RP Primary Screen LQ Indicator
Link Quality
• What if the LQ on a single Radio Pack is below “99” at start-up? — This depends on where the Radio Pack is located at
start-up, but if the other Radio Packs on the same Radio Transceiver are at “99” this is a good indication that an isolated
radio issue exists within that Radio Pack. If the LQ value has dropped considerably lower or if that unit is experiencing
poor audio quality, it may require service.
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Operation
CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
System Conguration
The following settings and processes can be found in the Control Unit’s menu under
Setting Sync Priority
One of the key features of the CrewNet architecture is the ability for every device on the network to be synchronized. One Control
Unit (CU) must be set as the “Sync Master” since the synchronization (or timing) originates from the CU. When multiple CUs are
present in any conguration, you have the option to set the CUs as either Master or Secondary. In this sub-menu, you can select
from a list of CUs (highlighting your selection) and move it to the top of the list to prioritize it. The default setting for sync priority is
"Master." For more information about connecting multiple Control Units, see page 15 of this manual.
If the master CU is powered off or becomes inoperable, it is likely you will need to recongure the system to enable the secondary
CU to serve as the master.
Viewing Conference Information
Users can view details about each Conference on the system from the Control Unit LCD. Because a system supports up to 1,024
Conferences, you can sort Conferences (alphanumerically) by Name or by Type. CrewWare is required to create or edit Conferences.
System Conguration
.
Figure 18: Conferences Menu Screen
23
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CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
Operation
Viewing Prole Information
Users can view details about each Radio Pack Prole on the system from the Control Unit LCD. Because a system supports up to
1,024 Proles, you can sort Proles (alphanumerically) by Name or by Type. CrewWare is required to create or edit Proles.
Figure 19: Proles Manu Screen
Saving CrewCom Conguration File
Changes to the conguration during operation will be saved in real-time. However, if you wish to save a copy of the conguration
le for later use, follow these procedures.
Note: The CrewCom CU is currently compatible with FAT and FAT32 formatted USB thumb drives (up to 16
TB drive size). Some operating systems (e.g., Windows 10) promote NTFS format, but only allow FAT32
formatting up to 32 GB. For help with formatting larger USB thumb drives, contact Pliant customer support
at +334.321.1160 (option 3 for Service and Support).
1. Insert a USB thumb drive into the CrewWare computer.
Note: Make sure the USB thumb drive has enough space on it to save the le (at least 50 KB).
2. Make sure your Control Unit(s) are powered on.
3. Launch CrewWare and connect to your Control Unit(s).
File
4. Go to
choose to save an additional backup copy to the Documents folder on the computer.
Note: The le name must be 8 characters or less.
5. Once the le has been saved to your USB thumb drive, you can exit out of the software and eject your USB thumb drive
from the computer. See "Loading a CrewCom Conguration File" on page 13 for more information about how to load
the saved le onto a system.
and click
Save System Conguration As…
and save your le to your USB thumb drive. You may also
24
Page 29
Operation
CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
Wired Settings
The following settings and processes can be found in the Control Unit’s menu under
Editing Intercom Settings
This menu option displays all the 2-Wire and 4-Wire settings on the LCD. Intercom settings can be edited from the Control Unit (CU)
or via CrewWare. Use the Navigational Controls on the front of the CU to move from setting to setting, and use the
select a setting for editing.
Wired Settings
.
Enter
button to
Figure 20: Intercom Settings LCD Display
A. Device
Displays the selected device's name.
B. Port
Displays the individual device ports for which intercom settings can be adjusted.
C. Intercom Type
Allows selection from the four possible intercom types: Off, RTS, AudioCom (Balanced), and ClearCom.
Table 3: 3-Pin Wiring Scheme
Pin # Clear-Com AudioCom RTS
1 Common Common Common
2 Power Audio (-) & Power Audio 1 & Power
Male
21
3
3 Audio Audio (+) & Power Audio 2
Figure 21: 2-Wire Intercom Type Options
The above types of intercom only affect 2-Wire operation and do not control 4-Wire operation. When connecting to a 4-Wire
intercom system, you must enable the port (On/Off) before using. The default setting for Intercom Type is OFF.
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CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
Operation
D. Call
Each wired intercom port (2-Wire only) can be individually set to send and receive a
CrewCom-generated call signal to/from a connected wired intercom system. To do
so, turn that port’s Call function ON. Turning the Call function
OFF
only prevents
the signal from entering or leaving CrewCom via the respective port. Call signals
can still be generated and transmitted by entities across CrewNet. The default
setting for Call is
OFF
.
Figure 22: Intercom Type Options
E. Mic Kill
Each wired intercom port (2-Wire only) is capable of receiving a mic kill signal from a connected wired intercom system. Each
port is capable of sending a mic kill signal to connected RTS and AudioCom systems. The mic kill signal is passed through to
OFF
any Conference associated with the intercom port where the signal came through. Turning the Mic Kill signal
only prevents
external mic kill signals from entering or leaving CrewCom via the respective port. Mic Kill signals can still be generated and
transmitted by entities across CrewNet. The default setting for Mic Kill is OFF.
Note: CrewCom does not send Mic Kill signals to Clear-Com 2-Wire systems.
F. Echo Cancellation (ECAN)
Echo Cancellation (ECAN) assists in reducing echo from 2-Wire and 4-Wire intercom connections.
For 2-Wire ports, hardware connections need to be optimized with the null procedure to minimize echo in the physical link so that
the software can reduce any residual echo. ECAN is on
by default in 2-Wire (it is off by default in 4-Wire).
If a port is never utilized in a system, ECAN can be turned off to ensure that it cannot create undesirable effects. This should not be
necessary, though, and it is highly recommended that you keep ECAN on at all times for 2-Wire connections. It is better to leave
ECAN off for 4-Wire connections unless it is necessary on a given port.
ECAN is disabled while the Control Unit’s Auto Null menu screen is active to ensure that the hardware is optimized for echo
reduction.
G. Intercom Audio In/Out
The IN level control adjusts the incoming level (from the connected wired intercom)
of the currently selected wired intercom channel. If an intercom port is disabled, the
IN Level control is inactive. The default setting for Intercom In is "0."
The OUT level control adjusts the outgoing level (from CrewCom) of the currently
selected wired intercom channel. If an intercom port is disabled, the OUT Level
control is inactive. The default setting for Intercom Out is "0."
Figure 23: Intercom Type Options
26
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Operation
CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
Steps to Congure a 2-Wire Intercom Connection
Always conrm that the non-Pliant 2-Wire intercom system and the CrewCom wireless system are functioning properly separately
before connecting them together.
Under the
Wired Settings
1. Use the Navigational controls to navigate to the desired setting for a 2-Wire port (CCU-22 ports 1 and 2; CCU-44 ports 1
through 4).
a. For intercom “Type,” press
(Balanced)
Enter
b. Determine if you would like to send and receive Call signals from CrewCom to the connected 2-Wire intercom
system. Press
information.
c. If desired, set Mic Kill to send and receive signals from a connected 2-Wire intercom system. Press
select ON or
Note: CrewCom does not send Mic Kill settings to Clear-Com 2-Wire systems.
d. The Echo Cancellation (ECAN) setting for the 2-Wire ports is on by default. Pliant highly recommends that ECAN
remain on even if a 2-Wire system is not in use. If you wish to change this setting, press
or
OFF
2. Now that your settings are established, connect the 2-Wire intercom system to the appropriate ports via 3-pin XLR
cables/connectors.
3. After connecting the 2-Wire intercom system, initiate Auto Null for the appropriate ports or all ports of this particular
CU.
menu, select
, or
Clear-Com
when the desired setting is highlighted.
Enter
OFF
. See the "Mic Kill" section of this manual on page 26 for more information.
. See the "ECAN" section of this manual on page 26 for more information.
Intercom Settings
Enter
to view the available list of compatible types:
. You can also select
to view and select ON or
:
Off
. Use the navigation buttons to scroll through the list, and press
OFF
. See the "Call" section of this manual on page 26 for more
RTS Ch 1, RTS Ch 2, AudioCom
Enter
Enter
to view and select ON
to view and
4. Adjust IN/OUT audio levels between the CrewCom System and the 2-Wire intercom system as needed.
a. With appropriate mic gain settings and expected nominal levels from the interfaced system, the 2-Wire settings you
can expect to see for RTS, Clear-Com, and AudioCom are provided in Table 4.
Table 4: 2-Wire Intercom Settings
RTS Clear-Com AudioCom
2W OUT 0 0 +3
2W IN 0 0 -3
5. If you need conferences for 2-Wire other than the default Conferences detailed on page 24 of this manual, you will
need to create new conferences in CrewWare and assign the new conferences to the wired ports. See the
Manual
for more information about this process.
CrewWare
27
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CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
Operation
Steps to Congure a 4-Wire Intercom Connection
Always conrm that the non-Pliant 4-Wire intercom system and the CrewCom wireless system are functioning properly separately
before connecting them together.
Under the
Wired Settings
1. Use the Navigational controls to navigate to the desired setting for a 4-Wire port (CCU-22 ports 3 and 4; CCU-44 ports
5 through 8).
a. For intercom type, press
press
b. If desired, enable Echo Cancellation (ECAN) for the 4-Wire ports. See the "ECAN" section of this manual on page
26 for more information.
2. Now that your settings are established, connect the 4-Wire intercom system to the appropriate ports via RJ-45 cables/
connectors.
3. Adjust in/out audio levels between the CrewCom System and the 4-Wire intercom system as needed.
a. With appropriate mic gain settings and expected nominal levels from the interfaced system, the 4-wire settings you
can expect to see for RTS, Clear-Com, and Riedel are provided in Table 5.
Table 5: 4-Wire Intercom Settings
4W OUT +2 -3 +1
4W IN -2 +3 -1
4. If you need conferences for 4-Wire other than the default conferences detailed on page 24 of this manual, you will
need to create new conferences in CrewWare and assign the new conferences to the wired ports. See the
Manual
for more information about this process.
menu, select
Enter
when the desired setting is highlighted.
Intercom Settings
Enter
to turn the port on or off; use the navigation buttons to scroll through the list, and
RTS Clear-Com Riedel
:
CrewWare
CrewCom 4-Wire / RJ-45 Connection
Wiring schemes vary, and it is important to ensure that the cable is wired correctly for proper system operation. CrewCom utilizes
RJ-45 jacks for connection to a 4-Wire port. Only two pairs of wires are utilized—one to send audio and one to receive audio. Any
twisted pair wiring can be used to connect between the 4-Wire and the CrewCom system. See the table below for a list of the
4-Wire RJ-45 pin connection list.
Note: Pins 1 and 8 are tied, and pins 2 and 7 are tied.
Table 6: 4-Wire RJ-45 Connections
RJ-45 Pin # CrewCom 4-Wire Pin #
Pin 1 Pin 8
Pin 2 Pin 7
Pin 3 Audio Output (+)
Pin 4 Audio Input (+)
Pin 5 Audio Input (-)
Pin 6 Audio Output (-)
Pin 7 Pin 2
Pin 8 Pin 1
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Page 33
Operation
CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
Initiating Auto Null
In order to minimize echo resulting from connection to an external 2-Wire system, it is necessary to optimize the hardware of
the hybrid circuitry in the Control Unit (CU) to match line impedance. CrewCom provides a user-initiated Auto Null feature that
automatically optimizes the 2-Wire interface. Nulling only impacts 2-Wire hard wired intercom connections. Auto Null sends a
series of tones to each of the 2-Wire intercom channel connections. Activate Auto Null for new connections or whenever the 2-Wire
system changes, such as when additional non-CrewCom wired Packs are added or removed, or when cable lengths are changed.
During the nulling process, the CU DSP monitors the echo and adjusts the line characteristics (Resistance, Inductance, and
Capacitance) to optimize the interface to the external 2-Wire system. When Auto Null is initiated, all of the functions, including
communication, of the intercom channel being nulled are interrupted. The nulling process takes approximately 10–15 seconds per
channel. You may need to re-adjust the intercom levels to a proper level after the 2-Wire intercom lines have been nulled.
Auto Null Procedure
During the Auto Null process, the LCD will display each 2-Wire port’s resistance (R), inductance (L), capacitance (C) and amplitude.
There are two options for auto nulling your CrewCom system –
the Auto Null process:
1. Turn off all Talk buttons on wired equipment. Since CrewCom monitors a self-generated tone to adjust the null
characteristics, any sounds entering through the wired intercom system will interfere with the nulling process.
Menu
2. On the Control Unit, press
3. Scroll through the menu options to the
4. Select
Run All
interrupted for about 60 seconds during the Auto Null process (about 15 seconds per channel). An alert will display,
asking you to conrm that you want to proceed.
a. Auto Null with CrewCom will send a mic kill signal to connected AudioCom and RTS wired systems, but not to
Clear-Com wired systems. Auto Null operation will mute the audio from CrewCom Radio Packs as it connects to
connected wired systems; however, those wireless Radio Packs will still communicate with one another while the null
is in progress.
to start the Auto Null process for all 2-Wire ports of the selected device. Normal functions will be
to open the main menu.
Wired Settings
Run All
and select
and
Run by Port
Auto Null
. The following steps detail how to initiate
.
Figure 24: Auto Null in Process
b. After you conrm to proceed, progress of the null process can be observed on the LCD Display. The display will
indicate “Auto Null Complete” once the Auto Null process is completed.
5. If nulling “by port,” you will be prompted to select which ports after conrming your
Home
6. Press the
button to escape to the Home screen or press the
Menu
button to return to the previous screen.
Run by Port
selection.
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CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
Operation
Changing Aux IN and OUT Levels
Aux IN (Program Audio) Level
Aux IN (sometimes referred to as Program Audio) can be used to bring the program or other audio into the Control Unit (CU).
Audio from the Aux IN connection is routed only to CrewCom devices and is not routed externally to other intercom systems. Audio
supplied to Aux IN can be assigned to any combination of up to 10 possible Conferences, with individual levels for each Conference
under the
main menu, scroll through the menu options to the
Wired Settings
menu. The default setting for Aux IN Level is "0."To adjust the Aux IN level, press
Wired Settings,
and select
Auxiliary Input.
Menu
to open the
1. Use the navigation controls to scroll to the Aux IN setting and press
Enter
to select it.
2. Use the Up and Down navigation buttons to adjust the current value displayed on the LCD.
3. Press
to save; or
Menu/Home
to escape without saving changes.
Enter
Audio levels are expressed as a numerical value from -10 to +10.
Figure 25: Aux IN Level
Aux OUT Level
Audio from the Aux OUT connection can be assigned from one Conference. Audio from the Aux OUT connection comes from any
CrewCom audio entity such as Radio Packs and the local headset of a Control Unit (CU), but no audio from the hard wired intercom
channels is routed to Auxiliary Out. Audio supplied from Aux OUT can be assigned from any single Conference, with level control
under the
Wired Settings
To adjust the Aux OUT level, press
select
Auxiliary Output.
menu. The default setting for Aux OUT Level is "Off."
Menu
to open the main menu, scroll through the menu options to the
Wired Settings,
and
1. Use the navigation controls to scroll to the Aux OUT setting and press
2. Use the Up and Down navigation buttons to adjust the current value displayed on the LCD; press down until the value is
OFF to turn off Aux OUT and restrict audio from Conferences.
3. Press
to save; or
Menu/Home
to escape without saving changes.
Enter
Audio levels are expressed as a numerical value from -10 to +10.
Figure 26: Aux OUT Level
30
Enter
to select it.
Page 35
Operation
CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
Using Stage Announce
The Stage Announce (SA) function in the Control Unit (CU) is used to send a Radio Pack’s (RP) microphone signal to a dedicated
external audio output. When a user activates the SA function from an assigned button on an RP, their microphone is re-routed from
any selected Conferences and is sent to each connected CU's SA audio output.
In addition, a relay closure contact is available via the Relay connector on the CU. Pressing the SA button enables the headset
microphone, regardless of the status of the Talk buttons. If enabled, all RPs can access this feature. If more than one CU is present,
SA audio will be routed out both (or all) of the CUs' SA ports simultaneously.
The SA output connector is an XLR-3M. The SA connector is balanced and transformer isolated and outputs nominal line level audio
on a numerical scale from -10 to +10. The default setting for SA Relay is "Enabled." The default setting for SA Audio is "0."The SA
connector output level can be adjusted at the
may be congured to also control an additional relay assigned via the Prole. See the "Relay Connection" section on page 9 of
this manual for more details.
Stage Announce
menu screen, under
Wired Settings
. In addition, the SA button
Figure 27: Stage Announce Settings
Radio Pack Settings
Pressing the
displays a list of all connected Radio Packs (RP), including detail of each RP’s model, frequency band, and mode. For more
information on setting up and using your RPs, see the
Changing Prole Assignments from the CU
Note: To edit prole-level settings, you will need to access the Prole Management tab in CrewWare.
Packs
button on the front panel of the Control Unit or pressing
CrewCom Radio Pack Operating Manual
1. Access the CU’s
2. Choose a method by which to sort the paired RPs (e.g., Sort by Name, Sort by Type, etc.)
3. Select the RP from the list to view its device settings options.
4. Select
5. Scroll to the desired prole and press
Prole
Radio Pack Settings
to view a list of available proles.
menu. (Do this quickly by pressing the
Enter
to select it.
Menu
and navigating to
.
Packs
button on the front of the CU.)
Radio Pack Settings
Device Settings
This Control Unit menu displays view-only settings for CrewCom devices connected to the system. To edit these settings, use the
Device Management tab in CrewWare.
• Radio Packs - Select a prole or edit the RP long name, battery alert, and display options.
• Radio Transceivers – View a list of connected RTs and edit each one’s information.
• Hubs – View a list of connected Hubs.
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CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
Operation
Local Headset Settings
The following settings can be accessed by pressing the LOCAL button on the front panel of the Control Unit or by pressing
and navigating to
Selecting the Local Headset Conference
The Control Unit headset connector is a functional user communication point, designed primarily for setup and troubleshooting. The
Front Panel Headset allows you to communicate on any one of the Conferences at a time. Select a Local Headset Conference from
the list available in this menu option. The default Local Headset Conference setting is "Def Conf 1."
Changing the Local Headset Mic Gain
For dynamic microphones, select from within a range of +6 to +35 dB. For electret microphones, select from within a range of -12
to +17 dB. When the Mic Gain is set too high, it is possible to induce clipping, feedback, or echo. When set too low, words may
sound too quiet to other listeners. Headsets by different manufacturers or different models of headsets will require widely varying
Mic Gain settings.
The default setting for dynamic local mic gain is "6" (+23 dB). The default setting for electret local mic gain is "3" (–4 dB).
Selecting the Local Headset Mic Type
Select from
connected mic, you will be prompted to accept the exception. It is highly recommended that the default
Local Headset Settings
Auto-detect, Dynamic
, or
.
Electret
mic type. If you select a mic type that does not match the detected type of the
Auto-detect
is used.
Menu
Adjusting the Local Headset Sidetone
Sidetone value is expressed in dB. When adjusting sidetone, you will see a level indicator with a numeric value between 0 dB and
-24 dB. The default setting for local headset sidetone is "Med" (-12 dB). Speak into the headset microphone at a typical speaking
level and adjust the sound of your own voice in your headset. Press
Enter
to accept the changes.
Using the Local Headset
Talk and Volume Controls for the headset are located to the right of the connector.
A white “TALK” LED will illuminate when the mic is enabled. CrewCom uses an intelligent latching method for talk buttons. Quickly
pressing and releasing TALK will cause the mic button to latch. The white “TALK” LED will stay lit and the microphone will remain
enabled. Pressing and holding TALK will cause the button to act in a momentary fashion. The white “TALK” LED will remain lit and
the microphone will remain enabled only as long as the button is pressed.
32
Page 37
Operation
CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
Local Area Network (LAN) Settings
The following settings and processes can be found in the Control Unit’s menu under
Dynamic Host Conguration Protocol (DHCP) is a system that allows each component on a computer network to automatically
obtain the network address information required for Network Interface Devices to communicate with one another. The CrewCom
system can utilize DHCP if it is enabled on your Local Area Network (LAN). To use DHCP, the CrewCom Control Unit will need to
be congured as a DHCP client. If DHCP is not enabled on your LAN, then the CrewCom system can be congured to use static IP
Addresses. After the CrewCom system is fully booted-up, and the Control Unit is assigned an IP Address (either through DHCP or
manually), CrewWare can connect to the Control Unit. Detailed procedures for LAN conguration are detailed in the
Operating Manual
Changes made to the Control Unit LAN settings requires a restart of the Control Unit.
.
TCP/IP Mode
Select either
DHCP Client
•
DHCP Client:
automatically receives an IP Address from the DHCP server.
•
Manual
LAN installation.
: You'll be required to manually set the IP Address, Subnet Mask, and Default Gateway to meet the needs of your
or
Manual
Enables automatic LAN communication for the Control Unit. In this mode, when the CU is booted, it
.
LAN Settings
.
CrewWare
Figure 29: LAN Settings
TCP/IP Address
Input the appropriate TCP/IP Address using the CU's navigation buttons.
Figure 30: TCP/IP Address Input
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CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
Operation
Subnet Mask
Input the appropriate Subnet Mask address using the CU's navigation buttons.
Figure 31: Subnet Mask Input
Default Gateway
Input the appropriate Default Gateway address using the CU's navigation buttons.
Figure 32: Gateway Input
MAC Address
Reference the MAC Address screen if needed for setting up your LAN connection.
Figure 33: MAC Address Read-Only Screen
34
Page 39
Operation
CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
Restoring Factory Defaults
Users can choose to restore factory defaults or clear memory for the device or system. When restoring factory defaults, these settings
are reset to their original factory settings:
Table 7: Original Factory Settings
Reset by
Control Unit Setting Control Unit Default
CU Name (Long) ESN# X
CU Name (Short) ESN# X
Contrast 3 X X
Backlight Brightness High X X
Talk LED Brightness High X X
Sync Priority Master X
Intercom Type OFF X X
Intercom Call OFF X X
Intercom Mic Kill OFF X X
Intercom Echo Can ON (2-Wire); OFF (4-Wire) X X
Intercom IN (2w/4w) 0 X X
Intercom OUT (2w/4w) 0 X X
Auxiliary IN 0 X X
Auxiliary OUT OFF X X
SA Relay Enable X X
SA Audio 0 X X
Local Conference Def Conf 1 X
Local Mic Type Auto Detect X X
Local Mic Gain (Dynamic) 6 (+23 dB) X X
Local Mic Gain (Electret) 3 (−4 dB) X X
Local Sidetone Med (−12 dB) X X
TCP/IP Mode DHCP Client X
Access Rights Admin X
“Restore
Defaults”
Reset by
“Clear
Memory”
When clearing a device’s memory, settings are reset to their original factory settings as detailed in the above Control Unit Defaults
list, and the Prole pairing information is erased.
Note: Resetting factory defaults does not erase Prole pairing information.
35
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CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
Ring
Sleeve
Audio −
Chassis Ground
Operation
Relay Connection
Rated load for all relay contacts: 0.3 Amp at 125VAC, 1 Amp at 30VDC. The following pinout is for the DA-15 connector on the rear
of the Control Unit:
ConnectionsPins
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 Relay 5 NC
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Relay 1 NC
Relay 1 NO
Relay 2 COM
Relay 3 NC
Relay 3 NO
Relay 4 COM
Relay 5 NO
Relay 1 COM
Relay 2 NC
Relay 2 NO
Relay 3 COM
Relay 4 NC
Relay 4 NO
Relay 5 COM
DA15 Female Connector
8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
15 14 13 12 11 10 9
Figure 34: Relay Pin Diagram
Auxiliary IN/OUT Audio Wiring
Figure 35: Auxiliary IN/OUT Audio Wiring Diagram
Stage Announce Audio Wiring
Male
21
3
Tip
Pins Connections
1 Ground
2 Audio +
3 Audio –
Audio +
36
Figure 36: Stage Announce Audio Wiring Diagram
Page 41
Product Specifications
CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
Product Specications
Table 8: Product Specications
Specication* CCU-22 CCU-44
Hardwired Intercom Audio Channels 4 8
Active Radio Packs (Normal Mode) 18 (18 active Normal mode Radio Packs requires use of 3 RTs.)
No. of Paired Radio Packs Supported (per CU) 255
USB Ports (1) USB Type A; (1) Micro USB
Front Panel LCD Display 512 × 128 resolution
Stage Announce and GPO Closures 5 Relays via DA-15
CrewNet Ports (supports two connections) (2) RJ-45 for copper; (1) duplex LC for Single Mode Fiber
Sync In Ports (supports one connection) (1) RJ-45 for copper; (1) duplex LC for Single Mode Fiber
2-Wire Intercom Connection
2-Wire Compatibility Clear-Com, RTS, and AudioCom (Balanced)
4-Wire Intercom Connection 2 ports via RJ-45 4 ports via RJ-45
Stage Announce Output XLR 3M, , balanced, transformer isolated
Aux IN
Aux OUT
LAN Port
Power Input/Connector 100–240V ~ 50–60 Hz, 0.8A
Dimensions
Weight 2.7 kg (5.9 lbs) 2.9 kg (6.5 lbs)
Operating Environment -20° to 50° C (-4° to 122° F); 10% to 90% Humidity.
Maximum CrewNet Line Length Copper 100 m (330 ft.); Fiber 10,000 m (32,800 ft.)
2 ports via XLR 3F
with XLR 3M loop (2 ports)
6.35 mm (1/4 in.) 3 conductor jack, 17.5 dBu max in,
balanced, transformer isolated
6.35 mm (1/4 in.) 3 conductor jack, 12 dBu into 600 ohms,
balanced, transformer isolated
(1) RJ-45
10/100 BASE-T 802.3 compliant
1 RU, 48.26 cm × 4.39 cm × 29.67 cm
(19.00 in. × 1.73 in. × 11.68 in.) metal enclosure
4 ports via XLR 3F
with XLR 3M loop (4 ports)
Maximum Altitude 3,000 m (9,842 ft.)
RoHS Compliant Yes
*Notice About Specications: While Pliant makes every attempt to maintain the accuracy of the information contained in this
manual, this information is subject to change without notice. Please check our website for the latest system specications and
certications.
37
Page 42
CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
Control Unit Menu
Control Unit Menu
The following menu tree displays the Control Unit’s primary menu options and settings:
Control Unit Settings System Conguration Wired Settings Radio Pack Settings
Control Unit Name
Long Name
Short Name
LCD Contrast
LCD Backlight
Backlight Time Out
LED Brightness
Master Sync Priority
Conferences
View All Conferences
Proles
Intercom Settings
Auto Null
Null All Ports
Null by Port
Auxiliary Input
Auxiliary Output
Stage Announce
Enable/Disable Stage
Announce Relay
Edit Stage Announce
Audio level
Choose Sort Order
List All Radio Packs
(list model, frequency
band, and mode)
Device Settings Local Headset Settings LAN Settings Tech Menu
Radio Transceivers
Hub
Audio Expansion
Local Headset Conference
Local Headset Mic Gain
Local Headset Mic Type
Local Headset Sidetone
TCP/IP Mode [editable]
TCP/IP Address [editable]
Subnet Mask [editable]
Default Gateway [editable]
MAC Address [non editable]
38
Factory Defaults
Restore Prole Defaults
Clear Memory and
Restore All
Page 43
Product Support
CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
Product Support
Pliant offers technical support via phone and email from 07:00 to 19:00 Central Time (UTC−06:00), seven days per week.
1.844.475.4268 or +1.334.321.1160
technical.support@plianttechnologies.com
Visit www.plianttechnologies.com for product support, documentation, and live chat for help. (Live chat available 08:00 to 17:00
Central Time (UTC−06:00), Monday–Friday.)
Returning Equipment for Repair or Maintenance
All questions and/or requests for a Return Authorization Number should be directed to the Customer Service department
(customer.service@plianttechnologies.com). Do not return any equipment directly to the factory without rst obtaining a Return
Material Authorization (RMA) Number. Obtaining a Return Material Authorization Number will ensure that your equipment is
handled promptly.
All shipments of Pliant products should be made via UPS, or the best available shipper, prepaid and insured. The equipment should
be shipped in the original packing carton; if that is not available, use any suitable container that is rigid and of adequate size to
surround the equipment with at least four inches of shock-absorbing material. All shipments should be sent to the following address
and must include a Return Material Authorization Number:
Pliant Technologies Customer Service Department
Attn: Return Material Authorization #
205 Technology Parkway
Auburn, AL 36830-0500
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CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
Maintenance and Storage
Maintenance and Storage
Cleaning
Generally, the CrewCom hardware should be cleaned only with a dry cloth. A soft cloth with rubbing alcohol may be used to wipe
the devices if needed, but you should avoid using rubbing alcohol on plastic components. Never spray solvents or chemicals onto
the devices.
All electronic devices can be susceptible to particulate contamination. If yours are exposed to an extremely dusty environment,
contact Pliant’s Customer Service for internal cleaning.
Temperature and Humidity
CrewCom components are designed to be very durable and can tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions; however, you
should take all necessary precautions to keep your system devices safe, dry, and out of extreme conditions.
The Radio Transceiver is weather-resistant, including gaskets intended to prevent moisture entry from the top and sides. The Cat 5e
cable connection on the bottom is not water tight. If it is to be used in an outdoor environment, protect the RT with a protective
enclosure that will not interfere with the radio signals.
The Radio Packs are designed to work wherever people work. While the Radio Pack design is weather-resistant, Radio Packs should
not be submerged in liquids unnecessarily. Protect the battery compartment from water when changing batteries. The battery
compartment offers a route to the electronic circuitry.
40
Page 45
License Information
CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
License Information
Warning: Changes or modications to this device not expressly approved by Pliant could void the user’s authority
to operate the equipment.
1. FCC Notices
1.1. This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to part
15 of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when
the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio
frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful
interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful
interference in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own expense.
2. Canada, Industry Canada (IC) Notices
2.1. This Class A digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian Interference Causing Equipment
Regulations.
Cet appareillage numérique de la classe A répond à toutes les exigencies de l’interférence canadienne causant des
règlements d’équipment.
41
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CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
Warranty Information
Warranty Information
Limited Warranty
CrewCom products are warranted to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of two years from the date of
sale to the end user, under the following conditions:
• First year of warranty included with purchase.
• Second year of warranty requires product registration on the Pliant website.
Tempest professional products will carry a two-year product warranty.
All accessories carry a one-year warranty.
The sole obligation of Pliant Technologies, LLC during the warranty period is to provide, without charge, parts and labor necessary
to remedy covered defects appearing in products returned prepaid to Pliant Technologies, LLC. This warranty does not cover any
defect, malfunction, or failure caused by circumstances beyond the control of Pliant Technologies, LLC, including but not limited
to negligent operation, abuse, accident, failure to follow instructions in the Operating Manual, defective or improper associated
equipment, attempts at modication and/or repair not authorized by Pliant Technologies, LLC, and shipping damage. Products with
their serial numbers removed or effaced are not covered by this warranty.
This limited warranty is the sole and exclusive express warranty given with respect to Pliant Technologies, LLC products. It is the
responsibility of the user to determine before purchase that this product is suitable for the user’s intended purpose. ANY AND
ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, ARE LIMITED TO THE DURATION OF
THIS EXPRESS LIMITED WARRANTY. NEITHER PLIANT TECHNOLOGIES, LLC NOR ANY AUTHORIZED RESELLER WHO SELLS PLIANT
PROFESSIONAL INTERCOM PRODUCTS IS LIABLE FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND.
Parts Limited Warranty
Replacement parts for Pliant Technologies, LLC products are warranted to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for
120 days from the date of sale to the end user.
This warranty does not cover any defect, malfunction, or failure caused by circumstances beyond the control of Pliant Technologies,
LLC, including but not limited to negligent operation, abuse, accident, failure to follow instructions in the Operating Manual,
defective or improper associated equipment, attempts at modication and/or repair not authorized by Pliant Technologies, LLC, and
shipping damage. Any damage done to a replacement part during its installation voids the warranty of the replacement part.
This limited warranty is the sole and exclusive express warranty given with respect to Pliant Technologies, LLC products. It is the
responsibility of the user to determine before purchase that this product is suitable for the user’s intended purpose. ANY AND
ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, ARE LIMITED TO THE DURATION OF
THIS EXPRESS LIMITED WARRANTY. NEITHER PLIANT TECHNOLOGIES, LLC NOR ANY AUTHORIZED RESELLER WHO SELLS PLIANT
PROFESSIONAL INTERCOM PRODUCTS IS LIABLE FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND.
42
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Glossary
CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
Glossary
Admin Level: Refers to System Security levels; the least restrictive level setting.
Amplitude: The magnitude of a sound wave or electrical signal, measured in decibels. Higher amplitude means louder sound and
lower amplitude means softer sound.
Audio Entity: An audio input (source) on a CrewCom system.
Audio Output: Outputs are created by mixing one or more audio entities. This could be for use at any headset connection or for
output to a wired connection.
Auto Detect: The CrewCom Radio Pack (RP) has the ability to automatically detect the type of microphone (dynamic or electret)
that is plugged into its headset connector. The Auto Detect setting is an option in the RP menu along with the manual selection of
dynamic or electret microphones.
Auto Null: A function used to minimize echo by monitoring the echo and adjusting the line characteristics (Resistance, Inductance,
and Capacitance) to optimize the hybrid circuitry interface to an external 2-Wire system.
Auxiliary Audio Input (Aux IN): Typically referred to as Program Audio, Aux IN is an audio input to CrewCom that allows the
user to bring in line level audio.
Auxiliary Audio Output (Aux OUT): An audio output that allows a line level audio signal to be sent to an external device.
Call Functions: Call signals may be initiated by entities across CrewNet. Each 2-Wire intercom port may be individually set to send
and receive a CrewCom-generated call signal to or from a connected wired intercom system by selecting ON to enable the Call
function. Turning the Call function off prevents the signal from leaving CrewCom via the respective port.
• Call: An RP Function button option. When enabled for wireless devices, a call signal will be sent to the RPs of each
conference whose Talk button is currently active on that individual RP. When enabled for external hardwired intercom
devices, a signal will be sent to any connected 2-wire devices associated with a conference whose Talk button is currently
active on that individual RP (as long as outbound call is enabled for the CU port associated to the conference). Call can
be enabled for both wireless and hardwired devices or limited to only one type.
• Call on Talk: An RP Talk button function. When enabled, a call signal will remain active while the Talk button is active.
This function is commonly used in applications where a two-way radio interface is connected.
• Call on Conference: An RP Function button option. When enabled for wireless devices, a call signal will be sent to the
RPs of the assigned conference, regardless of the associated Talk button's status. When enabled for external hardwired
intercom devices, a signal will be sent to any connected 2-wire devices associated with that conference (as long as
outbound call is enabled for the associated CU port). Call on Conference can be enabled for both wireless and hardwired
devices or limited to only one type.
• Call Device: A CrewWare function that allows the user to call a specic Radio Pack from the Device Management tab of
CrewWare.
Capacitance: The indication of how much charge that a cable can store within itself. Capacitance is created within a cable and
changes based on cable length, conductor diameter, insulation thickness and insulation type. Within CrewCom it is one of the three
2-Wire line characteristics used to Auto Null the CrewCom system.
Conference: A grouping of audio entities. Wireless Radio Packs (or other CrewCom I/O) may be subscribed to one or more of 1024
available Conferences.
Control Unit (CCU-22 and CCU-44): A CrewCom device that is used to establish a CrewNet system and provides initial system
audio I/O. It is compatible with all levels of wireless Radio Packs.
CrewCom Conguration File (CCF): A le that stores all of the device setup and conguration parameters for a CrewCom system.
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CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
CrewNet: The digital proprietary network used to move audio and to control data, timing, and other functional signals used in
CrewCom.
CrewWare: Software tool developed to incorporate all the necessary mechanisms for facilitating graphically based system
construction and full system control, monitoring and diagnosis
Default Gateway: An access point that a networked computer uses to send information to a computer in another network or the
internet.
Dynamic: A type of headset microphone used in professional headsets that do not require any type of external power for operation.
In general, dynamic microphones have a lower output than Electret microphones.
Dynamic Host Conguration Protocol: A system that allows each component on a computer network to automatically obtain
the network address information required for Network Interface Devices to communicate with one another. The CrewCom system
can utilize DHCP if it is enabled on your Local Area Network (LAN).
Echo Cancellation (ECAN): Function to help reduce echo from both 2-Wire and 4-Wire intercom connections.
Electret: A type of headset microphone used in professional headsets that requires an external power source, such as from a
CrewCom Radio Pack. In general, electret microphones have a higher output than dynamic microphones.
Firmware: (As it relates to CrewCom) all of the embedded code that exists in any CrewCom device. All of this embedded code,
including radio code, is upgradeable easily by the end user. It is required that all CrewCom devices operate on the same version of
the rmware.
Glossary
Frequency Band: The area of the RF spectrum in which a device operates. For CrewCom, this is 2.4GHz (2400–2483 MHz) and
900MHz (900–928 MHz).
Front Panel Lock: A function that is intended to minimize the probability of unintentional adjustments to the system.
GPO Relay: General Purpose Output. Electromechanical switches, which create a simple contact closures, used to trigger an event
or automation outside of the CrewCom system.
Hopping Pattern: A radio setting that determines the order in which the radio frequencies are used.
Hub: A device that provides routing and expansion capabilities to a CrewNet infrastructure allowing the connection of multiple
CrewCom devices.
Inductance: The indication of the amount of energy stored in the magnetic eld around the cable. Inductance is created within a
cable and changes based on cable length and conductor diameter. Within CrewCom it is one of the three 2-Wire line characteristics
used to Auto Null the CrewCom System.
Intercom Settings: Menu option that allows selection of Device, Port, Intercom Type, Call, Mic Kill, ECAN, and Intercom Audio In/
Out.
ISM Bands: Industrial, Scientic, and Medical Bands. A part of the radio spectrum that can be used for any purpose without a
license in most countries.
Link Quality: The percentage of successful audio packets sent/received (two different LQ numbers) between a wireless Radio Pack
and the Radio Transceiver.
Mic Gain: Determines the headset microphone audio level being sent from the microphone pre amp. The user may experience
feedback or echo on their headset if the Mic Gain is set too high. If set too low, the noise gate may clip words or other listeners may
not hear the mic audio. Different models of headsets and different individual preferences require different Mic Gain settings.
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Glossary
Mic Kill: Each wired intercom port (2-Wire only) is capable of receiving a Mic Kill signal from a connected wired intercom system.
Each port is capable of sending a mic kill signal to connected RTS and AudioCom systems. The Mic Kill signal is passed through to
any Conference associated with the intercom port where the signal came through. Turning the Mic Kill signal off prevents external
Mic Kill signals from entering or leaving CrewCom via the respective port; however, Mic Kill signals may continue to be generated
and transmitted by entities across CrewNet. CrewCom does not send Mic Kill signals to Clear-Com 2-Wire systems.
CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
Nominal Line Mode:
Optimize 2-Wire port hardware connections by nulling them in order to minimize echo in the physical link and enable the
Null:
software to remove any residual echo.
Pass Code: A pass code is used to access certain permissions granted by the system administrator and pre-dened by CrewCom Security and
Access Rights.
Power-Over-CrewNet: A proprietary network power system that provides operating voltage and current to devices that are connected to the
CrewCom Control Unit.
Prole: A Radio Pack Prole assigns functionality to a Radio Pack’s local controls, knobs, and buttons as well as what Conferences it subscribes
to.
Program Audio: A more commonly used term for “Auxiliary Audio Input,” which is an audio input to CrewCom that allows the user to bring in
line level audio.
Radio Band: The frequency band that the radio transmits and receives within.
Radio Pack: The direct portable wireless communication device connecting individual CrewCom users to the CrewCom system. Sometimes
commonly referred to as a BeltPack.
Radio Transceiver: A device used to remotely locate a radio and its corresponding antenna to provide an expanded coverage area.
Relay:
amplier for Stage Announce).
Found on a Control Unit, a simple electrical switch closure that allows for automation of specic external devices (e.g., to trigger an
The typical or normal signal level with which the product operates.
Resistance:
nulling it is used in the calculation to reduce echo.
Sidetone: The effect of sound picked up by the headset microphone and instantly introduced at a low signal level into the earpiece of the
headset.
Stage Announce: An audio output that allows a line level audio signal, typically a Radio Pack’s (RP) microphone signal, to be sent to a
dedicated external audio output for connection to an external device.
Subnet Mask:
Sync Master: The Control Unit that is currently providing the master timing signal for the CrewNet network.
System Administrator: A CrewCom top-level user who has conguration knowledge and capabilities. Certain system changes
should be performed by the administrator.
User Level: Refers to System Security levels; the most restrictive level setting.
Wired Intercom: Any hard wired duplex audio port for getting audio in or out of a system.
A measure of the difculty to pass an electric current through a cable. The longer the cable the higher the resistance. In auto
A 32-bit number that masks an IP address, and divides the IP address into network address and host address.
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CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
Index
Symbols
2-Wire 4, 7, 9, 10, 15, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 37
4-Wire 4, 7, 9, 10, 16, 25, 26, 28, 37
Index
Firmware 17
Frequency
2.4GHz 7, 17
900MHz 7, 17
Frequency Band 3
Front Panel Lock 20
A
AC Power 2, 3, 9
Amplitude 29
Audio Entity 16
Auto-Detect 32
Auto Null 27, 29
Auxiliary Audio Input 10
Auxiliary Audio Output 10
Aux IN 16, 30
Aux OUT 16, 30
C
Call 26, 27, 35
Capacitance 29
Cat 5e. SeeCopper
Conference 4, 5, 13, 16, 23, 26, 27, 30, 31, 32, 35
Control Unit 3, 7, 12, 23
CCU-22 7
CCU-44 10
Menu 38
Operation 18
Overview 4, 7
Specications 37
Copper 3, 4, 9, 10, 12
CrewCom Conguration File 5, 13, 15, 18
CrewNet 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 12, 13, 15, 19, 23, 26, 37
CrewWare 4, 5, 9, 10, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 31
D
Default Gateway 34
Dynamic 32, 35
Dynamic Host Conguration Protocol 33
E
Echo Cancellation 26, 27, 28
Electret 32, 35
F
Factory Defaults 35
Fiber 3, 4, 9, 10, 12, 37
G
GPO Relay 9
H
Headset 3, 7, 32
Hopping Pattern 15
Hub 4, 15, 31
I
Inductance 29
Intercom Settings 25, 27, 28
ISM Bands 3
L
LED 7, 9, 10, 19, 32
Link Quality 11, 22
M
Mic Gain 32, 35
Mic Kill 26, 27, 35
Mic Type 35
Mode
Normal 7, 15, 29, 37
N
Nominal Line Level 10
Null 26
P
Power-Over-CrewNet 6, 9, 12, 45
Prole 4, 5, 13, 18, 24, 31, 35
Program Audio 30
R
Radio Band 15
Radio Pack 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 16, 17, 18, 22, 24, 30, 31, 37
Setup 16
Radio Transceiver 3, 4, 7, 11, 15, 22, 31
Relay 9, 16, 31, 36
Resistance 29
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RJ-45 6, 9, 10, 12, 28, 37
RSSI 11
S
Sidetone 32, 35
Stage Announce 9, 16, 31, 37
Subnet Mask 34
Sync Master 23
System Administrator 4
W
Warranty 3, 41
Wired Intercom 7, 29
Index
CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
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CONTROL UNIT MANUAL
Pliant Technologies, LLC
205 Technology Parkway
Auburn, AL 36830 USA
www.plianttechnologies.com
Phone +1.334.321.1160
Toll-Free 1.844.475.4268 or 1.844.4PLIANT
Fax +1.334.321.1162
Copyright © 2018 Pliant Technologies, LLC. All rights reserved. The Pliant®, CrewCom®, and CrewNet™ word marks and the Pliant “P” logo
are trademarks of Pliant Technologies, LLC. Any and all other trademark references within this document are property of their respective
owners.
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