Williams Sound FM 557 Users Manual

FM +

Assistive Listening System FM T55

USER MANUAL

MAN 245B

FM +

Table of Contents

Safety Warnings and Instructions �� 3 Recycling Instructions �� 3 System Overview �� 4 Quick Setup Instructions �� 5 Wi-Fi Network May Be Required ��6 Router and Network Equipment Selection ��6 Wiring and Connections �� 6

Ethernet and Dante RJ-45 Connection �� 7 Audio Source Connections �� 7 Multi-Channel Sources �� 7 Connecting Additional Sound Systems �� 7 Avoiding Hum in the Audio (as a Result of a Ground Loop) �� 8 Selecting an Audio Source Appropriate for Hearing Impaired Listeners �� 8 Installing the ANT 025 Whip Antenna �� 8 Connecting to other Devices ��9

Controls and Features �� 10 System Settings �� 11

Audio Settings ��11 Audio Source ��11 Audio Input Gain ��11 Audio Presets ��11 High-pass Filter �� 12 Low-pass Filter �� 12 Compression �� 12 Headphone Volume �� 12 FM Output Power �� 12 Time-Out �� 12 Screen Lock �� 12 User-Entered Transmitter Description ��13 Channel ��13 Restore Defaults ��13 Network Settings ��13 Adjusting Network Settings ��13 Dante Settings ��14

Web Control Interface �� 14 WaveCAST App with FM + �� 19

Connecting the App to the Channel �� 19 Listening via the App �� 19 Note on Wi-Fi Assist/Smart Network Switching �� 19

WaveCAST Receiver �� 19 FM Receivers �� 19 Troubleshooting ��20

Website problems �� 20 Audio problems �� 20 Wi-Fi reception diculties �� 20 FM reception diculties �� 21 Remote Control is not working over the hardwired Ethernet network �� 21 Remote Control is not working over Wi-Fi �� 22

FM Plus Speciﬁcations ��24 Regulatory Statements ��26

FCC �� 26 IC �� 26

2-Year Warranty �� 27

Safety Warnings and Instructions

WARNING! TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE. CAUTION! TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE COVER. NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER

SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.

Precautions:

1. Power – WARNING, BEFORE TURNING ON THE POWER FOR THE FIRST TIME, READ THE FOLLOWING SECTION CAREFULLY. The unit is designed for use only with the line cord of the region in which it will be operated.

2. Voltage Label (Rear Panel) – A label located at the rear panel power connection indicates the DC power input for the unit. The label will read 24VDC. Use the Williams AV TFP 062 power supply for this unit.

3. Do not plug in the input, output, Ethernet, or Dante connections while the power switch is switched to the on position.

4. Do not touch the FM + [D] with wet hands. Do not handle the FM + [D] or power cord when your hands are wet or damp. If water or any other liquid enters the FM + [D] cabinet, take the FM + [D] to qualiﬁed service personnel for inspection.

5. Place the FM + [D] in a well ventilated location. Take special care to provide plenty of ventilation on all sides of the FM + [D] especially when it is placed in an audio rack. If ventilation is blocked, the FM + [D] may over heat and malfunction.

6. Do not expose the FM + [D] to direct sun light or heating units as the FM + [D] internal components temperature may rise and shorten the life of the components. Avoid damp and dusty places.

7. Care – From time to time you should wipe o the front and side panels and the cabinet with a soft cloth. Do not use rough material, thinners, alcohol or other chemical solvents or cloths since this may damage the ﬁnish or remove the panel graphics.

FM +

Recycling Instructions

Help Williams AV protect the environment! Please take the time to dispose of your equipment properly.

Product Recycling:

Please do NOT dispose of your equipment in the household trash. Please take the equipment to a electronics recycling center for proper disposal.

Battery Recycling:

Please do NOT dispose of used batteries in the household trash. Please take the batteries to a retail or community collection point for recycling.

FM +

System Overview

The groundbreaking FM + provides the industry-ﬁrst choice of using traditional FM receivers or using personal electronic devices over Wi-Fi for hearing assistance. Along with this ﬂexibility comes exceptional audio quality, as the FM + is built on a professional digital audio (DSP) platform.

The new FM + is designed to support those who want to use their own smartphones and headphones for a more discreet assistive listening experience. Simplicity is also available for those who want a more traditional assistive listening system with a dedicated FM receiver and headset. Venues no longer need to choose between providing FM or Wi-Fi assistive listening systems. FM + supports the iOS and Android WaveCAST Apps and the Wi-Fi Receiver-- in addition to all of the current and legacy Williams Sound FM receivers operating on the 72-76 MHz bandwidth.

Developed for hearing assistance in public venues, the FM + includes a complete audio processor optimized for the needs of hearing impaired people and are easily integrated with an existing sound system, or used with a microphone as a stand-alone system.

FM RECEIVERS

FM + TRANSMITTER

LINE-LEVEL INPUT

LINE-LEVEL OUTPUT

SOUND SYSTEM/ AMPLIFIER

DANTE™ AUDIO SOURCE,

MIXING BOARD,

etc.

LAN NETWORK ROUTER

ETHERNET

Dante™ Audio (FM+ D only)

LOUDSPEAKER

MICROPHONE

TABLET OR PHONE

WITH WI-FI

DANTE NETWORK*

Dante™ Audio

*If Dante™ Audio is to be physically isolated from the LAN, a separate NETWORK ROUTER and/or SWITCH may be required. The LAN router may also be conﬁgured to keep Dante™ Audio separated from the LAN with port management or other techniques, but as Dante trac increases, LAN performance may decrease.

Wi-Fi Receiver

WI-FI

Quick Setup Instructions

1. Position the FM + transmitter near the sound system or mixer from which it will receive audio. We do not recommend wall or ceiling mounting, or putting the device on a cart.

2. Connect the power supply to the Power Supply connector located on the back of the FM +. Press in the power button on the front of the FM +. The power button should light up. If not, go back and check the power connections.

3. Choose and conﬁgure the audio source. The audio source must be conﬁgured in the menu before plugging the source into the jack (except Dante Audio - skip to step 9). Push the Menu button and push the > button once to display AUDIO SOURCE on the screen. Push the > button to access the audio sources. Using the ^ or v menu buttons, choose between ANALOG LINE IN, MIC, PHANTOM MIC +12V, 400 Hz Test Tone, or DANTE. When the desired audio source is displayed, press the right arrow (>) to apply the setting. Press the Menu button to exit the menu.

4. Push the power button to turn the unit o.

5. Connect the audio source to the audio input jack on the rear of the FM +.

6. Push the power button to turn the unit on.

7. With the audio source playing, adjust the Audio Level on the FM + so that the green 0 dB LED generally lights and the red +9 dB LED lights occasionally. To do this, use the Hot Buttons while on the main info screen. Press the ^ button to increase the audio level in 1.0 dB steps, or press the v button to decrease the audio level in 1.0 dB steps.

8. Select an Audio Preset. The FM + has three pre-conﬁgured Audio Presets to choose from: Hearing Assist, Music, and Voice. A Custom preset is also available. The performance of the FM + is optimized for each of the pre-conﬁgured Audio Presets. Using the menu and control buttons on the front of the FM +, push the Menu button, the display will change to show Audio Settings. Use the forward > button to display Audio Source in the selection box. Push the down v button to show Audio Presets. Now press the right arrow > button to display the list of Presets. Use the ^ and v buttons to alternate between Hearing Assist, Music, Voice and Custom selections. When the desired Audio Preset is displayed, press the right arrow (>) to apply the setting. If Custom is desired, push the right arrow > button to enter the custom settings. Press the Menu button to exit the menu.

9. (FM + D only) Connect a CAT 5e Ethernet cable from the Dante network to the connector labelled Dante on the transmitter. (Note: Dante IP Address and other settings are conﬁgured externally through Dante Controller; there are no settings in the transmitter for Dante, other than choosing Dante as the input source).

10. If Dante audio is being used, the Dante source must be connected, must be playing audio, and the Dante Controller must be used to route audio from the Dante source to the FM +.

11. Install an appropriate antenna for your system conﬁguration. For a full list of antenna options, please go to our website www. williamsav.com. See the 72 MHz Antenna Selection Guide on the Williams AV website for further installation advice.

12. Set the Transmitter Channel. The FM + is shipped from the factory with the channel/frequency set to Ch.1 (72.1 MHz). To change the channel/frequency, while on the main info screen, use the buttons < and > to change channels.

13. To test Wi-Fi Audio, use a personal device with the WaveCAST App installed to listen to the audio and test that device is working and sounds correct over Wi-Fi.

14. To test FM Audio, listen with an FM receiver. Walk around the listening area. The signal should be clear and quite loud when the volume is turned up.

To adjust any settings via a web browser:

1. Connect a CAT 5e Ethernet cable from your local area network, or Wi-Fi router to the connector on the transmitter labelled Ethernet. This network will be used to broadcast the audio.

2. Open a web browser on a computer or mobile device that is also connected to the same local network as the FM +.

3. In the address bar of the browser, type in the IP address that is shown on the front of the transmitter's main info screen, and push the enter key on the keyboard. (Note: it is not necessary to type “http://” or “www.” preceding the IP address.)

4. The browser will open the transmitter's web page, displaying a Login button. Click the log-in button and enter the user name “admin” and the default password “admin”.

5. The web browser will now show the transmitter's Home Page, which shows the current FM + status info. The tabs at the top navigate to dierent pages that allow adjustment of the transmitter's settings.

FM +

Wi-Fi Network May Be Required

If Wi-Fi audio is desired, the FM + connects to the installation location's Wi-Fi Network. It does not provide a network on its own. The Wi-Fi network will need to be installed and established before the FM + can be used.

You may connect the device to a computer via a hardwired connection to help troubleshoot any networking problems.

A Wi-Fi network is not required for broadcasting audio over FM.

Router and Network Equipment Selection

The FM+ does not come with its own router or networking equipment. It is intended to be set up on an already existing Wi-Fi network; however, upgrades to your network equipment may be necessary depending on the performance desired from the FM +. For instance, a higher-end, more powerful router will allow more users to connect to your audio stream than using a cheaper, less powerful router.

The Wi-Fi network will need to be accessible to the users who will be listening to the audio. A public or Guest Wi-Fi network will usually be ideal for ease of accessibility. If the user's devices cannot connect to the network due to security settings, they will not be able to hear the audio.

The FM + system will put a demand on the network. If the network cannot handle the demand, whether because it is being used for other networking needs or because the networking hardware is not strong enough, the FM + will be unable to reach it's maximum audience.

When streaming to a small or medium sized audience, a basic networking conﬁguration may suce. When streaming music using multiple channels (such as having several FM + units on your network), a powerful router and network conﬁguration is more likely to be required.

The WaveCAST Networking Guide is available on the Williams AV website for additional networking tips. The WaveCAST networking guide applies to the FM + as well as the WaveCAST.

Wiring and Connections

+ 9

+ 6

+ 3

0 dB

– 3

– 6

– 9

– 12

– 15

– 18

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Power Supply Connection

Connect the TFP 062 power supply to the Power Supply Jack located on the rear of the FM + transmitter.

Analog

Audio

Line OutLine / Mic In

RoHS

Ethernet

Streaming Audio Out

RF75Ω Ant

24VDC

0.75 A

Ethernet and Dante RJ-45 Connection

If connecting to a network or directly to a PC, a CAT 5e cable must be used. In some cases, (like older PCs) a crossover cable may need to be used.

Audio Source Connections

The FM + transmitter will accept the following audio sources:

1. Balanced Microphone with or without 12 volt phantom power (DIN 45596) on a 3-pin (XLR) connector.

2. Balanced/Unbalanced microphone with or without phantom power on 1/4 inch (TRS) jack

3. Balanced/Unbalanced Line on a 3-pin (XLR) connector.

4. Balanced/Unbalanced Line on 1/4 inch (TRS) jack.

5. Dante on an RJ-45 jack (optional).

WARNING: The FM + is not designed to accept 70 volt speaker signals! This may result in damage to your system� The sound source should come directly from the system mixer or digital source as a low-level or unprocessed signal�

IMPORTANT: When a suitable audio source has been determined, you MUST conﬁgure the audio source in the menu of the FM + before plugging that source in�

IN PHASE

FROM MICROPHONE

3 PIN CONNECTOR

1 2

3 PIN CONNECTOR

1 2

FM +

BALANCED LINE/LOW IMPEDANCE MICROPHONE

IN PHASE

BALANCED LINE USING 1/4" CONNECTOR

SOURCE A

SOURCE B

CONNECTING TO A MULTI-CHANNEL OR STEREO SOURCE

4.7 K

UNBALANCED LINE USING 3–PIN CONNECTOR

UNBALANCED LINE USING 1/4" CONNECTOR

Multi-Channel Sources

By constructing a simple resistive mixer, stereo (or 3 channel) sources can be connected to the FM +. Additional channels can be accommodated by adding a resistor for each source.

Note: The Dante audio input will automatically mix the left and right channels.

Connecting Additional Sound Systems

The Analog Audio Line Output (RCA) jack can be used for monitoring, recording, or routing the FM +'s processed audio into another sound system. For help connecting your sound system, contact Williams AV's TechBlue technical support team.

FM +

0.75A

Streaming Audio Out

Ethernet

RoHS

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Analog

Audio

Line OutLine / Mic In

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24VDC

RF75Ω Ant

REMOTE ANTENNA JACK FOR 75 Ohm ANTENNAS

CHASSIS STUD MOUNT

ANT 025 ANTENNA (INCLUDED)

Avoiding Hum in the Audio (as a Result of a Ground Loop)

A hum created by a ground loop can often be eliminated by connecting a capacitor in series with the audio line shield to the transmitter’s ground. This method also maintains good radio frequency (RF) shielding. Determining the eectiveness of this method for your installation usually requires some experimentation.

IN PHASE

1 2

.01 uF CERAMIC DISC CAPACITOR

3-PIN CONNECTOR

BREAKING A GROUND LOOP WHEN CONNECTING TO A UNBALANCED LINE

BREAKING A GROUND LOOP WHEN CONNECTING TO A BALANCED LINE

Selecting an Audio Source Appropriate for Hearing Impaired Listeners

The FM + transmits audio with excellent ﬁdelity. Therefore, the audio source signal should be of the highest audio quality and not subject to a compressor, limiter, reverberation, or other signal processing equipment. While compressed audio is available through the FM +, excessive compression is not helpful to the hearing impaired and can contribute to excessive noise in the audio.

The FM + audio source signal is usually connected to a mixer’s line output signal which is behind the mixer’s parametric equalizers but ahead of any equalization used for house loudspeakers.

If audio delay is available for use in large auditoriums, it’s usually best to use it. Because radio signals travel faster than sound, delaying the transmitted audio so that an average listener (in the middle of the listening area) hears the transmitted audio a few milliseconds after audio from the main sound reinforcement system speaker is helpful. This will also help audience members who lip read.

Installing the ANT 025 Whip Antenna

Gently thread the ANT 025 onto the stud recessed in the hole on the top of the transmitter.

NOTE: If the FM + is going to be rack mounted, you will not be able to install the ANT 025 whip antenna. For rack mounting,

consider installing a remote antenna like the ANT 005 or ANT 024 - these antennas require using the Remote Antenna Coaxial Jack (above) and a long length of terminated coaxial cable. Another option is to mount the antenna on the rack itself - consider the ANT 029 which includes a 1RU bracket and a 3ft terminated coaxial cable.

For a full list of antenna options, please go to our website www.williamsav.com. See the 72 MHz Antenna Selection Guide on the

Williams AV website for further installation advice.

Connecting to other Devices

The Analog LINE/MIC Input (XLR / 1/4") jack can be used with standard pro audio electronics such as standard pro audio line level condenser microphones up to 15v or an analog line output from a mixer. The combination jack accepts either XLR or 1/4” (TRS). This source must be conﬁgured in the menu before plugging the source into the jack.

The Analog Audio Line Output (RCA) jack can be used for monitoring, recording, or routing processed audio to another sound system.

The Remote Antenna Connection can be used to connect a remote antenna to the FM + when the whip antenna won’t be used (as in the case of rack-mounting) or when a larger coverage area is needed. See the Williams AV Antenna Guide for a full range of antenna and mounting options.

The Ethernet and Dante RJ-45 jacks can be used to connect the FM + to either a local network or directly to a single computer or Dante device. An Ethernet connection will not allow the WI-Fi broadcast features to work, a Wi-Fi connection must be established.

DANTE NETWORK (SWITCH)

DANTE AUDIO AND NETWORK CONTROL CAN BE COMBINED ON THE SAME NETWORK IF DESIRED (NOT SHOWN).

FM +

ANALOG MIXER OR AUDIO SYSTEM

AUDIO LINE IN (RCA)

ANALOG AUDIO LINE OUT (RCA)

FM +

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LINE/MIC INPUT

(XLR OR 1/4”)

BALANCED, UNBALANCED, OR PHANTOM.

MICROPHONE (CONDENSER OR OTHER)

ANALOG

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Line / Mic In

Analog

Audio

Line Out

DIGITAL

INPUT

(RCA)

RF75Ω Ant

LINE

Digital Audio

CAT5e CABLE

Made in USA

RoHS

Ethernet

Streaming Audio Out

REMOTE ANTENNA CONNECTION (F-CONN, COAXIAL)

REMOTE ANTENNA CONNECTION OR CHASSIS MOUNT ANTENNA CAN BE USED, BUT NOT BOTH AT THE SAME TIME

24VDC

0.75A

REMOTE ANTENNA

LAPTOP (OR DESKTOP)

COMPUTER

ETHERNET NETWORK ROUTER

TO AC POWER SOURCE

ANALOG LINE

OUTPUT

(1/4” or XLR)

ANALOG MIXER

+ 19 hidden pages

Williams Sound FM 557 Users Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Safety Warnings and Instructions

Recycling Instructions

System Overview

Quick Setup Instructions

Wi-Fi Network May Be Required

Router and Network Equipment Selection

Wiring and Connections

Ethernet and Dante RJ-45 Connection

Audio Source Connections

Multi-Channel Sources

Connecting Additional Sound Systems

Avoiding Hum in the Audio (as a Result of a Ground Loop)

Selecting an Audio Source Appropriate for Hearing Impaired Listeners

Installing the ANT 025 Whip Antenna

Connecting to other Devices