User Guide

Model 373A User Guide Issue 1, April 2019
Studio Technologies, Inc. Page 17
MODEL 373A
INTERCOM BELTPACK
support on all Ethernet switch ports that are
associated with Dante devices. Some imple-
mentations of EEE can incorrectly interpret
that a connected Dante device is not present
and prevent proper operation.
Application Firmware Version
Display
There are two ways in which the version
number of the Model 373A’s application
firmware (embedded software) can be identi-
fied. One requires only the Model 373A unit
and involves a button-press sequence per-
formed upon power up. The other method
utilizes the Model 373A and the STcontroller
software application. Either method may
prove to be useful when working with fac-
tory personnel on application support and
troubleshooting.
As part of the Model 373A’s power-up se-
quence the unit’s application firmware
(embedded software) version number can
be displayed. Before connecting the PoE-
enabled Ethernet cable, press and hold the
talk pushbutton. Then connect the Ether-
net cable. Upon application of PoE power
the Model 373A will go through its normal
power-up sequences followed by a display
of the firmware version. The LED associ-
ated with the talk button will “flash” green
to display the major version number. Then,
after a short pause, the talk button’s LED will
“flash” orange to display the minor version
number. Once the version number has been
displayed the talk button can be released
and normal operation will begin. As an ex-
ample of what would be a typical application
firmware display, if the LED in the talk but-
ton first “flashes” green once then “flashes”
orange twice this would indicate that applica-
tion firmware version 1.2 was present in the
Model 373A.
Using the Dante Controller software applica-
tion, the Model 373A’s IP address and related
network parameters can be manually set for
a fixed (static) configuration. While this is a
more-involved process than simply letting
DHCP or link-local automatically assign an IP
address, if fixed IP addressing is necessary
then this capability is available. But in this
case it’s highly recommended that each unit
be physically marked, e.g., directly using a
permanent marker or “console tape,” with its
specific static IP address. If knowledge of a
Model 373A’s IP address has been misplaced
there is no reset button or other method to
easily restore the unit to a default IP setting.
In the unfortunate event that a device’s IP ad-
dress is “lost,” the Address Resolution Proto-
col (ARP) networking command can be used
to “probe” devices on a network for this infor-
mation. For example, in Windows OS the arp
–a command can be used to display a list of
LAN information that includes MAC address-
es and corresponding IP addresses. The
simplest means of identifying an unknown IP
address is to create a “mini” LAN with a small
PoE-enabled Ethernet switch connecting a
personal computer to the Model 373A. Then
by using the appropriate ARP command the
required “clues” can be obtained.
Optimizing Network
Performance
For best Dante audio-over-Ethernet perfor-
mance a network that supports VoIP Quality-
of-service (QoS) capability is recommended.
This can be implemented on virtually all
contemporary managed Ethernet switches.
There are even specialized switches that are
optimized for entertainment-associated appli-
cations. Refer to the Audinate website (www.
audinate.com) for details on optimizing net-
works for Dante applications. Also, be certain
to disable Energy-Efficient Ethernet (EEE)