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[Pete Erskine]

Version 3 has been released.  Main new features are:

1.  Maximum of 6 base stations networked
2.  Maximum of 12 or 24 (with separate purchase) comm channels available no mater how many bases you use.  Even with 1 base you can have 12 (or 24)
3.  Browser based online programming available for all features.  Setup can be saved for use on other systems.

I was able to preview the Beta.  Every feature can be remotely controlled from the Browser.  Computer is connected to the Ethernet module and by entering the IP of the station, access is available to edit the system.  Most of the key elements can be programmed for an entire 6 base system just connecting to 1 base.

Base names and all the settings
Roles
Party line names
Program names

Beltpacks can be programmed when they are attached to the base

As soon as the final version is released I'll post pictures of the programming screens.
     
See the press release attached

[Mac Kerr]

Version 3 has been released.  Main new features are:

1.  Maximum of 6 base stations networked
2.  Maximum of 12 or 24 (with separate purchase) comm channels available no mater how many bases you use.  Even with 1 base you can have 12 (or 24)
3.  Browser based online programming available for all features.  Setup can be saved for use on other systems.

This looks very cool. I wonder how they are addressing the need for power in remote locations, and the device limit (power) on a single master.

Mac

[Pete Erskine]

This looks very cool. I wonder how they are addressing the need for power in remote locations, and the device limit (power) on a single master.

Mac

Still limited to 20 beltpacks per master.

[Mac Kerr]

Still limited to 20 beltpacks per master.

Hopefully they will release a remote power supply that does not have the UI of the current master, at a lower price. Having a PS at FOH and also backstage (or anywhere) connected by the network would be useful.

Mac

[brian maddox]

I was just talking with some guys at my last show about this update.  Pretty major upgrade to the Helix functionality.

The company i work with regularly uses the Eclipse Matrix system and leverages the IP capabilities of the IVC-32 card.  I noticed that the ClearCom press release says the Helix is using the 'I V Core' technology.  I'm assuming that this is the same underlying technology in the IVC-32 card.

It appears that the Helix system and the Eclipse system are converging in capabilities.  How do you see these two systems interacting in the future?  And is there a seamless way to connect these two systems together now via IP that you know of?  I'm encountering Helix and FreeSpeak more and more on job sites and the ability to easily tie in my IP panels and/or agentIC panels to the onsite Helix systems using some kind of IP solution would be great.  Currently i'm using analog 4-wire and/or 2-wire connections, which work, but it's not ideal.

Thanks.

[Pete Erskine]

It appears that the Helix system and the Eclipse system are converging in capabilities.  How do you see these two systems interacting in the future?  And is there a seamless way to connect these two systems together now via IP that you know of?  I'm encountering Helix and FreeSpeak more and more on job sites and the ability to easily tie in my IP panels and/or agentIC panels to the onsite Helix systems using some kind of IP solution would be great.  Currently i'm using analog 4-wire and/or 2-wire connections, which work, but it's not ideal.

Thanks.

It is already begun integration.  The IP card also transports control signals from Eclipse as well as the audio.  Not sure what this does but in the HelixNet system, every beltpack is IP addressable so eventually each BP can be a 5 button panel like Freespeak II.

Freespeak II is totally integrated.

[brian maddox]

It is already begun integration.  The IP card also transports control signals from Eclipse as well as the audio.  Not sure what this does but in the HelixNet system, every beltpack is IP addressable so eventually each BP can be a 5 button panel like Freespeak II.

Which is kinda what i'm looking for.  If i can attach via IP to a Helix frame and gain access to each belt pack as if it were a port on my Eclipse rack i'm pretty much golden.  Or perhaps more ideally for my purposes would be for each Channel on the HelixNet to be accessible as it's own port so that i could tie into local party lines with my own.  It'll be interesting to see how it all plays out.

I knew that the FreeSpeak was already integrated, although as i understand it, it does require that the matrix frame be located at the same location as the FreeSpeak base station.  Right now my Eclipse frame is located in a fixed location and i'm using V-series panels and IOS clients to access it via multiple remote show locations over IP.  I have given some thought to creating a travel rack that would have an Eclipse rack with an Analog card [for local matrix panels] and maybe a FreeSpeak card that i could interface with a FreeSpeak station.  Not cheap, but might be worth doing.

[Pete Erskine]

Which is kinda what i'm looking for.  If i can attach via IP to a Helix frame and gain access to each belt pack as if it were a port on my Eclipse rack i'm pretty much golden.  Or perhaps more ideally for my purposes would be for each Channel on the HelixNet to be accessible as it's own port so that i could tie into local party lines with my own.  It'll be interesting to see how it all plays out.

I knew that the FreeSpeak was already integrated, although as i understand it, it does require that the matrix frame be located at the same location as the FreeSpeak base station.  Right now my Eclipse frame is located in a fixed location and i'm using V-series panels and IOS clients to access it via multiple remote show locations over IP.  I have given some thought to creating a travel rack that would have an Eclipse rack with an Analog card [for local matrix panels] and maybe a FreeSpeak card that i could interface with a FreeSpeak station.  Not cheap, but might be worth doing.

The freespeak eclipse cards replace the base station.

[brian maddox]

The freespeak eclipse cards replace the base station.

Now that you say that, I remember reading that.  Thanks for the reminder.

[Chris Johnson [UK]]

The freespeak eclipse cards replace the base station.

Its worth saying too that an E-Que card (for FSII) is in fact the same exact hardware as an IVC-32 card, just with a different firmware, so I'd expect to see even more convergence here as the system is developed. Antennas over POE would be nice... I had some demo ones from CC once that had mysterious PoE ports...

[Pete Erskine]

Its worth saying too that an E-Que card (for FSII) is in fact the same exact hardware as an IVC-32 card, just with a different firmware, so I'd expect to see even more convergence here as the system is developed. Antennas over POE would be nice... I had some demo ones from CC once that had mysterious PoE ports...

The FSII antennas are POE and the antenna splitter supplies the power.

[brian maddox]

Its worth saying too that an E-Que card (for FSII) is in fact the same exact hardware as an IVC-32 card, just with a different firmware, so I'd expect to see even more convergence here as the system is developed. Antennas over POE would be nice... I had some demo ones from CC once that had mysterious PoE ports...

this i did NOT know.  Makes sense now why the instructions to update the firmware for the IVC card references the instructions for the E-Que card...

[Chris Johnson [UK]]

The FSII antennas are POE and the antenna splitter supplies the power.

I don't think thats correct Pete. The FSII antennae do use a cat5 connection, but are not POE (hence the much >100m cable spec). The demo antennae I had came with additional POE ports alongside the current ethercon.

[Pete Erskine]

I don't think thats correct Pete. The FSII antennae do use a cat5 connection, but are not POE (hence the much >100m cable spec). The demo antennae I had came with additional POE ports alongside the current ethercon.

Antennas are POE up to 1000'

[Chris Johnson [UK]]

Antennas are POE up to 1000'

I see where the confusion is.

Yes, i know they can be powered over the cat5, but they are not ethernet. not TCP/IP, cannot be routed over a network. Unlike say, acrobat antennae

[Pete Erskine]

Yes, i know they can be powered over the cat5, but they are not Ethernet, not TCP/IP, cannot be routed over a network. Unlike say, acrobat antennae

You are so right about the terminology.  The phrase "POE" is not appropriate for the power over cat5 which the Freespeak II antennas use.  The antenna audio connection over the cable is TCP/IP Ethernet compatible but also requires a separate sync signal (RS422/485) to make it work.  Additionally if you use routers, IP, the delay would stop the antenna from properly syncing to the other antennas.

Here is a technical description of the antenna data:
I don't have the pin out for the Cat5 interconnect.

FreeSpeakII components need audio (E1 32 channel multiplexed audio similar to T1) and DECT sync reference (sync pulse per 10ms… and a different sync pulse every 160ms).

-> The antenna transceiver will operate without the DECT sync reference using its own internal clock.  This makes it an RF island that may or may not allow seamless roaming to the rest of the system as it is not “frame synced” to the other antennas. This may also make for a desensitizing artifacts (if very close to other antennas) and inefficient use of the spectrum (as not all components start at the same time).

-> The antenna splitter will NOT operate AT ALL without the DECT sync reference.

-> The E1 can easily be converted to fiber using off the shelf media converters ($500 a pair)

-> The DECT sync shares the electrical specifications with RS422/485 and we have users successfully transporting it using such media converters.

-> Keep in mind that converting to IP is not advisable unless you want to create non-roaming “RF Islands” due to the latency it may incur and potential lack of synchronicity between the E1 and the DECT sync. Direct media conversion to fiber is strongly recommended.'

[ProSoundWeb Community]