Full Text Searchable PDF User Manual
VTX-WM1
Web Monitor Card
Installation and User Manual
VTX-WM1 Installation Guide v1.1
2
VTX Series User Manual v1.1
3
Introduction ...................................................................4
Applicability ............................................................................................... 4
What’s in the box .................................................................................... 4
Installation .....................................................................5
Preamble .................................................................................................... 5
Installing the VTX-WM1 card ............................................................... 5
Networking principles ............................................................................ 7
IP addresses and address allocation ................................................ 8
Server allocation .................................................................................. 8
Entering site and amplifier information .............................................. 8
Amplifier data – using the GUI ................................. 10
Amplifier Status ......................................................................................11
Monitors ..............................................................................................11
Configuration .....................................................................................11
Network status ......................................................................................11
Site Configuration ..................................................................................12
Port No. ...............................................................................................12
Login .....................................................................................................12
Short email format ............................................................................12
Event Log and log configuration .....................................................12
Impedance Tests .....................................................................................13
Configuring the Load ........................................................................13
Scheduling the tests ..........................................................................14
Contact Page ...........................................................................................14
Location of PCB jumpers and connectors .......................................15
Contents
VTX-WM1 Installation Guide v1.1
4
Introduction
Thank you for purchasing this Cloud product.
The VTX-WM1 Web Monitor Card is an
option for Cloud VTX Series power amplifiers.
Once correctly fitted and configured, it
will allow the performance and settings of
the amplifier in which it is installed to be
monitored at a remote location using standard
Internet browsers on any PC, Mac, PDA or
smartphone, without the necessity for either
dedicated software or hardware.
Topics in this manual include:
•
how to install the VTX-WM1 in a VTX
amplifier
•
how to make the necessary internal
connections and internal jumper changes
•
how to perform the initial card
configuration via an Internet browser
•
how to customise the card to suit the
installation
•
how to use the GUI
•
how to interconnect multiple amplifiers to
form a network
NOTE: a short video giving an overview
of the installation and configuration of the
VTX-WM1 is available on the Cloud website
www.cloud.co.uk
If fitting a VTX-WM1 for
the first time, you may find it helpful to view
this before commencing the installation.
Applicability
The VTX-WM1 card may be fitted to the
following amplifier models:
•
Cloud VTX4120 4-channel amplifier –
4 x 120 W
•
Cloud VTX4240 4-channel amplifier –
4 x 240 W
•
Cloud VTX4400 4-channel amplifier –
4 x 400 W
Note that the VTX-WM1 is not suitable for
older VTX models, such as the VTX 750, VTX
1200 or VTX 1500.
What’s in the box
Check that the box contains all of the following,
and notify your Cloud dealer immediately in the
case of any absences or evidence of damage:
•
VTX-WM1 PCB card
•
Rear plate (with RJ45 connector slot)
•
2 x self-tapping screws
•
Quick Installation Guide
VTX-WM1 Installation Guide v1.1
5
Installation
Preamble:
The process of installing web monitor cards
into VTX amplifiers is straightforward. If cards
are being fitted to multiple amplifiers installed
in one or more equipment racks, each rack will
need to be provided with internal CAT5 wiring
and an Ethernet switch. The Installation section
of the manual describes in turn: i) fitting and
testing cards in the amplifiers; ii) networking
principles and iii) overall system configuration.
Installing the VTX-WM1 card
1. Turn off the VTX amplifiers into which
the cards are to be fitted and unplug their
power cables. If the amplifiers are fitted in
a rack enclosure, disconnect all rear cables
from one amplifier at a time, and remove
it from the rack. Place the amplifier on a
flat surface.
2. Remove the amplifier’s top panel. Retain the
screws (eight) and the transformer bolt.
3. Locate the rear panel blanking plate, undo
the two screws securing it and remove
the plate. Retain the screws.
CHANNEL 2
CHANNEL 1
CHANNEL 3
CHANNEL 4
CH3
CH4
CH2
SPEAKER OUTPUTS
0V
C
H1
0V
C
H2
0V
CH3
0V
CH4
ON
OFF
ON
OFF
ON
OFF
BRIDGE
1-2
ON
OFF
BRIDGE
3-4
4 OHMS - MIN
BRIDGE
3-4
BRIDGE
1-2
POWER ~ 40-60Hz
10%
4. On the amplifier’s upper rear PCB
(Remote Vol PCB, PC331012), locate the
jumpers J109, J209, J309, J409, J110, J210,
J310 and J410. All of these (total 8) should
be removed. (Refer to pages12 &13 of the
amplifier manual for full details of amplifier
jumper locations.)
Remove these jumpers
VTX-WM1 card connectors
5. Plug in the four screened cables
terminating in 3-pin connectors as follows:
VTX-WM1
CARD
CONNECTOR
UPPER REAR
PCB
CONNECTOR
J107B
J107A
J207B
J207A
J307B
J307A
J407B
J407A
6. Connect all the flying leads before locating
the card in place. First, plug the two
7-way ribbon cables (from J805A and
J806A on the VTX-WM1 card) to J805B
and J806B respectively on the amplifier’s
main (lower) PCB. These are located just
in front of the four large capacitors; the
ribbon from J805A should be plugged into
J805B (the left of the pair, looking from
the rear) and that from J806A to J806B.
7. The remainder of the VTX-WM1 card’s
flying leads connect to the amplifier’s
upper rear PCB. Plug the 14-way and
6-way ribbon cables at the right-hand end
of the VTX-WM1 card (from J801A and
J802A respectively) into Molex headers
J801B and J802B on the upper rear PCB.
VTX-WM1 Installation Guide v1.1
6
8. The VTX-WM1 card can now be fitted
in place; the two rear supports should
engage with the edge of the heatsinks,
and the RJ-45 Ethernet connector should
protrude through the rear panel slot.
The two previously empty holes in the
amplifier rear panel should align with the
tapped holes in the card’s rear brackets;
secure the card using the two screws
supplied.
9. Locate the spare internal AC cable coming
from the amplifier power transformer. This
will have one red and two yellow wires
and will terminate in a 3-pin Molex plug.
It may be cable-tied; if so, cut the tie. Plug
the connector into the large 3-pin Molex
header on the front left corner of the
VTX-WM1 card.
10. Fix the new rear plate (supplied) over the
card slot using the two screws removed
in Step 3, so that the RJ-45 connector is
engaged with the square hole in the plate.
Replace the top cover.
11. We recommend that the amplifier is
connected to a computer at this stage
to check communications. Connect the
VTX-WM1 card’s Ethernet port to the
network port on a computer using a
standard CAT5 (or CAT5-e) network
cable, terminated with RJ45 plugs. Either
a “straight” or a “crossed” cable may be
used, as the VTX-WM1 auto-detects the
data lines. Power the amplifier on; it is
not necessary at this stage to connect
any audio inputs or outputs. Turn the
computer on and check that it has a static
IP address of the form 192.168.0.xxx,
where xxx can be any value between
1 and 254 except 127. Launch the Internet
browser normally used (e.g., Microsoft
Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Safari,
etc.)
12. Type the card’s default IP address -
192.168.0.127 - into the URL field of the
browser, and the screen shown below
should appear:
The amplifier type listed in the
Model
column should be that of the amplifier
in use. This confirms that the data
communications section of the card is
operating correctly. The card’s IP address
can be changed subsequently, and this
procedure is discussed in “Entering site
and amplifier information” on page 8.
13. Close the browser application. The
amplifier may now be disconnected from
the computer and powered off. Reinstall in
the rack and reconnect all rear cables.
14. Repeat the above procedure for the
remaining VTX amplifiers.
POWER
CONNECTOR
VTX-WM1 Installation Guide v1.1
7
Networking principles
The VTX-WM1 card communicates with a computer – or the building’s IT system - using standard
IP protocols over Ethernet. Physically, connections are made using CAT-5 cabling (4-pair UTP)
terminated with RJ-45 connectors.
If only one amplifier is to be used, it may be connected directly to a computer (as in Step 11 of
the Installation Procedure), or connected to the IT infrastructure once it has been assigned a
compatible IP address.
In systems where more than one VTX amplifier is being installed in a rack (or racks), each rack
should ideally* contain an Ethernet switch (10/100baseT or 10/100/1000baseT). This should have a
minimum of (N+2) ports, where N is the number of amplifiers the rack contains. Each amplifier’s
VTX-WM1 card should be connected to a port on the switch, using a standard CAT-5 network
cable. The switch should then be connected into the building’s IT infrastructure at the nearest
convenient point via structured cabling.
SWITCH
SWITCH
SWITCH
VTX #1
VTX #2
VTX #3
VTX #4
VTX #5
SWITCH
VTX #6
VTX #7
VTX #8
VTX #9
VTX #10
SWITCH
VTX #11
VTX #12
VTX #13
VTX #14
VTX #15
RACK 1
RACK 2
RACK 3
FIBRE or CAT5
FIBRE or CAT5
ANY COMPUTER ON
NETWORK
EXISTING BUILDING IT INFRASTRUCTURE
SWITCH
As many amplifiers and racks as required can be networked in this way, and these may, of course,
be anywhere in the building. The only requirement is that each rack switch is connected to
the same building network, so that all amplifiers in the system are accessible from a computer
elsewhere on the network.
* Amplifiers in multiple racks may be wired to a single Ethernet switch in one (adjacent) rack if wished, though this will neces-
sitate a significant amount of additional CAT5 cabling.
VTX-WM1 Installation Guide v1.1
8
IP addresses and address allocation
Every amplifier to be connected to the
computer network must be given a unique IP
(Internet Protocol) address. If the amplifiers
are to be connected to a building’s IT
infrastructure, the installer MUST check with
the IT administrator to determine which
addresses are available for use BEFORE
configuring the amplifiers’ VTX-WM1 cards.
IMPORTANT: Do not connect any amplifiers
to the Ethernet network until the addresses of
their VTX-WM1 cards have been individually
set. Connecting more than one device with
the same IP address onto a network will have
anomalous and unpredictable results and may
produce havoc for the other network users!
The VTX-WM1 card’s default IP address is
192.168.0.127. If only one amplifier is to be
connected for monitoring, you may leave this
address unchanged and ignore much of the
following procedure, provided that this specific
address will be available on the network.
If multiple amplifiers are to be monitored, one
(but only one) amplifier may retain this default
address, again subject to its availability.
Server allocation
Once all the amplifiers have been configured,
it will be possible to address the entire system
– i.e. all amplifiers – by entering any of the IP
addresses in use into the browser’s URL field.
The amplifier whose IP address is used will
then act as a server for all the amplifiers in the
system.
Entering site and amplifier
information
Once all the amplifiers have been reinstalled in
the rack together with the Ethernet switch and
network cabling, each amplifier comprising the
system may be individually configured:
1. Disconnect all the amplifiers except one
from the Ethernet switch. Also disconnect
the switch from the building’s IT network.
Turn all the amplifiers on.
2. Connect a computer to the Ethernet
switch and launch its normal Internet
browser.
3. Type the default address
http://192.168.0.127 into the URL field of
the browser, and the
Home
page shown
below should appear:
The amplifier type listed in the
Model
column should be that of the amplifier
being addressed.
4. Next, click the
Config
tab, which will give
the screen shown below:
* IT Network terminology
VTX-WM1 Installation Guide v1.1
9
5. Enter a suitable name for the installation
in the
Site Name
field (e.g., name of the
customer and/or building or location, etc.)
6. Use of a password is recommended as it
will prevent unauthorised access to the
network configuration pages - monitoring
of amplifier performance and settings is
always possible. Enter a password in the
Site Password
field. A password may
be up to 64 characters in length and will
be case sensitive.
7. If the network has an SMTP mail server,
you may enter an email address in the
Email target
field. This will enable
fault reports to be sent to this address
automatically. For this feature to work,
IP addresses for the mail server and the
system Gateway are also needed; you
should obtain this information from the
IT System administrator. Enter these
addresses in the
Mail Server IP
and
Gateway IP
fields respectively
by clicking the two
Set
buttons,
which will open the
IP address
configuration
dialogue box:
8. Click
Apply
to close the dialogue box.
9. Click
Apply
(on the
Config
page) to
confirm the data entered.
Click the blue
Cloud Amplifier
button in the left-hand pane (only one
amplifier will be listed at present). This
opens the
Amplifier Properties
page:
10. The first field,
Unit Name
, permits
the amplifier itself to be named. This
is extremely useful with large systems
employing multiple amplifiers. Each
amplifier will be referenced by the Unit
Name on all the GUI pages thereafter.
The name may, for example, be the area of
the building where the speakers that the
amplifier is driving are located. (The Unit
Name may be up to 100 characters in
length, but note it will be truncated to 16
characters for the amplifier button label.)
11. If the amplifier is to have an IP address
other than the default, click the
Set
button adjacent to the
IP address
field, which will open the
IP address
configuration
dialogue box:
12. Enter the IP address for the amplifier in
the four numeric fields and click
Apply
.
We strongly recommend that you keep
a careful record of all IP addresses used,
and also write the address in the IP space
on the VTX-WM1’s rear panel (or print a
label for this purpose).
VTX-WM1 Installation Guide v1.1
10
13. The VTX-WM1 card has an on-board
clock/calendar, which needs to be set
for the Event Log to be meaningful. The
default
Current Time
will be midnight
on Jan. 1
st
. 2000; click the adjacent
Set
button to open the
Clock setting
window.
Enter the current date and time in the five
fields in the format yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm
and click
Apply
.
14. Click
Apply
on the
Amplifier
Properties
page to confirm the data
entered.
15. Enter the amplifier’s new IP address into
the browser’s URL field to re-establish
communication with the card. The
Home
page will now confirm the Site and
Amplifier Names which were entered, and
there will also be a green tick and “OK” in
the amplifier’s
Network
field to confirm
communication with the new address. The
CloudNET
page will also confirm that
the amplifier has been designated Server
status.
16. Connect the next amplifier’s VTX-WM1
card to the Ethernet switch. Select the
Home
page tab, and after a few seconds,
the amplifier’s details will be added to
the amplifier list. On the
CloudNET
tab,
you will see that the additional amplifier
has a red cross in the
Server
column
– the first amplifier retains Server status
because the browser is still using its IP
address.
17. The additional amplifier will have the
default IP address; this will need to be
changed. Click the
Config
tab, and select
the new amplifier with its blue button
(it will still be named “Cloud Amplifier”).
Then repeat the procedure above, starting
at Step 10.
18. Continue this procedure, adding one
amplifier at a time, until all the amplifiers
in the system are registered on the
browser. Note each time, that the PC
may take a few moments to recognise
that a VTX-WM1 card has had its address
changed; this is normal.
19. When all the amplifiers have been
configured, the Ethernet switch may be
reconnected to the building’s IT network.
It is recommended that access to the
amplifiers is re-checked by entering the IP
address of one of them from a computer
elsewhere on the network.
Amplifier data – using the GUI
Once the amplifiers have been configured,
amplifier performance and settings can be
monitored from the web browser of any
computer on the network. To access the
system, enter the IP address of any of the
amplifiers into the URL field of the web
browser. This will show the
Home
Page, an
example of which is shown below:
The
Home
Page gives a overview of the entire
system. All amplifiers are listed, by the names
that they were given during configuration. The
VTX-WM1 Installation Guide v1.1
11
Model type is confirmed, and any Network
faults. If an amplifier cannot be found on the
network, a red cross appears in the Network
column, as shown below:
A green indicator in the
Channels
columns
confirms that each channel of each amplifier is
operating normally.
Amplifier Status
Each amplifier’s performance and settings may
be checked in greater detail by clicking on its
name in the
Unit Name
column. This gives a
display as below:
Each channel of the amplifier reports its status
as follows:
Monitors:
•
Internal heatsink temperature
•
Fan speed
•
Clip limiter circuitry status
•
Input signal level (in dBu)
Configuration:
•
High-pass filter – rear panel switch setting
•
Bridge mode – rear panel switch setting
•
Input linking – rear panel switch setting
•
Current level control – rear panel rotary
control setting
•
Current external level control – RL-1
remote control plate setting (if fitted)
Colours are used to indicate amplifier
conditions:
•
Green:
Normal operation
•
Yellow:
Becoming marginal
•
Red:
Outside acceptable limits
In the
Config
area, a green tick indicates that
a function activated by one of the rear panel
switches is ON, a red cross indicates that it is
OFF. The settings of the local and remote level
controls are shown as horizontal bargraphs,
with the “segments” changing from grey to
green as the level controls are advanced.
This page can be closed by clicking on any other
tab, or your browser’s “Back” button.
Network status
Clicking the
CloudNET
tab opens the
Network Overview page:
The CloudNET page lists all amplifiers on the
system, together with confirmation of each
VTX-WM1 Installation Guide v1.1
12
unit’s network status, server status and IP
address. Only one amplifier in the list should
have a green tick in the
Server
column. Note
that this page automatically refreshes every few
seconds, as the network is continuously polled.
Clicking the
Test
button in the
Test
connection
column causes the amplifier
in question to be polled immediately (often
referred to as “pinging”); it will then report its
current status.
As with the Home page, clicking on a
Unit
Name
will open the Amplifier Status page.
Site Configuration
Clicking the
Config
tab opens the Site
Configuration page. Some of the fields on this
page –
Site Name
,
Site Password
and
Email target
- will have been completed
during initial site and amplifier configuration.
Port No.
The default value for this field is 80, which will
be appropriate for most installations. However,
some large IT systems may require a different
port number to be used to avoid conflicts. Please
check with the IT system’s administrator as to
whether this is a requirement. An alternative
value may simply be entered if necessary.
Login
Access to the site and amplifier configuration
pages may be password-protected to prevent
unauthorised changes to IP addresses, etc. If a
password has been defined and the
Request
login
box checked, the password will be
requested before the
Config
tab is opened.
Request login
is active by default. After
logging in with the password, remember to log
out by clicking the
Log out
button at the top
of the amplifier list on this page.
The Amplifier Status and Network Status pages
are available at all times to all users, without a
password being required.
Short email format
If this box is left unchecked (the default), any
emails sent to the target address will only
contain abridged site information, and not a full
description of any fault conditions (see below).
Event Log and log configuration
A log is maintained for each amplifier on the
system. The log records power-on and power-
off, over-temperature, impedance test pass/
fail and email alert failures, all against the on-
board clock/calendar. The Event logging pane
on the Site Configuration page lets you define
which of these events are to be recorded and
whether any (or all) of them should generate
email alerts.
For each of the six event types, one of the
following options may be set:
•
None
– events of this type are ignored
•
Log only
– events of this type are
recorded in the log
•
Log & email
– events are recorded in
the log and also entered in an alert email,
but the email is not sent at this time.
•
Email Trigger
– events are recorded
in the log, and the alert email is sent; this
will contain the current event and any
events recorded via the
Log & email
option above.
The Event log for a particular amplifier may
be inspected by clicking on the amplifier’s
button in the list (opens the
Amplifier
Properties
page), and then clicking on
Event Log
below the button.
VTX-WM1 Installation Guide v1.1
13
Impedance Tests
The VTX-WM1 card includes a variable
frequency test oscillator which may be
programmed to apply a test tone (at 40 dB
below the amplifier’s maximum output level) to
the amplifier output at a future date and time,
and, if desired, at regular intervals thereafter.
(It is recommended that tests are scheduled
for the hours of building non-occupation).
The amplifier output voltage and current are
monitored during the test and hence the load
impedance checked. This gives the engineer
a first-line confirmation that all the speakers
connected to each amplifier channel are
present, connected and functional.
Clicking
Tests
(click the amplifier button
first) opens the
Test List
page for the
amplifier:
In order for the impedance tests to be
meaningful, an initial Load Configuration
test must be run, to establish a reference
impedance at the frequency to be used. The
upper pane of the Test List page is concerned
with this initialisation.
Configuring the Load
The amplifier must be powered on and each
channel connected correctly to its normal
speaker(s). Select each channel in use from
the drop-down list under
Channel
. (If any
channels are in Bridge Mode, select the lower-
numbered channel of the pair.) Select the
frequency to be used for the test from the
drop-down list under
Frequency
. If using a
bi-amped (or tri-amped, etc.) speaker system,
the frequency for each channel will need to
chosen to match the relevant driver type. The
frequency selected should be approximately in
the middle of the frequency response range of
the speakers/drivers connected to the channel.
Consideration should be also be taken of any
loudspeaker enclosure resonant frequencies
– these may be particularly evident at low
frequencies, and should be avoided, as their use
will give misleading results.
Click the
Config
button. This will generate
a dialogue box warning that a test tone is
about to be fed through the audio system.
Click
OK
if you are happy for this to occur.
A progress bar is displayed, and when the
test is complete an impedance value will be
displayed in the
Expected
field. To re-check
the expected value, set a
Tolerance
value
(30% is recommended initially) and click the
Test
button. A second test will be run, and
the results displayed.
The
Remove
button may be used to cancel
the current reference impedance value for the
selected channel. This should be done if, for
example, a loudspeaker has been removed or
replaced.
VTX-WM1 Installation Guide v1.1
14
Scheduling the tests
The test scheduler lets you set the date and
time at which the next impedance test will
be executed, and whether it is to be repeated
at regular intervals thereafter. It also lets
you set the schedule independently for each
amplifier channel, together with the frequency
to be used and the tolerance to be applied.
An impedance measurement outside the
prescribed tolerance will be classified as a Test
Failure, be recorded in the amplifier log and/
or generate an email alert (if set up in Event
Logging).
In systems with multiple amplifiers, each
amplifier may run its own set of tests
simultaneously if wished. However, it is not
possible to run tests on more than one
channel within each amplifier simultaneously, so
test times for the channels in any one amplifier
should be carefully staggered.
To add a test to the scheduler, select a channel
from the drop-down list under
Scheduled
Tests
, select the frequency to be used (see
remarks above), and select a tolerance; 30%
is recommended initially. Click the calendar
symbol to open the test scheduling calendar
window.
Select the date on which the next test is to
be run by clicking on it. The months can be
scrolled through with the ‘
|<
’ and ‘
>|
’ buttons
at the top. Next select the time at which
the test is to be run using the
Hours
and
Minutes
spin boxes.
If the test is to be repeated on a regular basis,
select the repetition rate using the lower set of
date/time spin boxes. Note that test intervals
can be set in increments of one minute up to
several years.
When all the scheduling data has been entered,
click
Apply
to close the window. The date
and time at which this particular test will be
next run is displayed. To add the test item to
the schedule, click the ‘
+
’ button at the end of
the test item line.
Further tests may be added using the same
procedure. Tests may be added with any or all
of the same settings, or different settings may
be used. A test item may be deleted from the
schedule by clicking its ‘
x
’ button. When the
test schedule for the amplifier is complete,
the process should be repeated for the other
amplifiers comprising the system.
Contact Page
Clicking the
Contact Us
tab links directly
to the contact page of the Cloud website. This
includes all company contact details, including
a query form. Please make use of this facility
if there are any technical points arising from
your VTX-WM1 installation on which you need
assistance.
Appendix
Location of PCB jumpers and connectors
Factory default jumper settings table
JUMPER
PURPOSE
FUNCTION
DEFAULT
J810
Reserved
J811
J812
J813
J814
Force defaults
Restores all factory default settings*
Off
J815
Force config
Disables password protection
Off
J816
Force IP 192.168.0.126
Fixes IP address
Off
J817
Force bootload
Only required for firmware updates
Off
* Default IP address, subnet mask, mail server IP and default gateway addresses.
VTX-WM1 Installation Guide v1.1
15
POWER
CONNECTOR
VTX-WM1 Installation Guide v1.1
16
Specifications
Tone Generator
Test Signal Level
40 dB below max amp
output
Injected post level controls,
other channels muted.
Frequency range
60 Hz to 20 kHz in 1/3-octave steps
Sensitivity
1 to 100 Ohm detection
Signal detector
Sensitivity
-30 dBu to +10 dBu
20 Hz to 20 kHz
Networking
DHCP
Not supported
Data rates
10 BaseT or 100 Base T (automatic selection)
Connector
RJ45; Auto MDI/MDIX
eMail protocols
SMTP (no encryption)
Supported Amplifiers
VTX4120, VTX4240, VTX4400
Recordable Events
Over temperature (90°C), Power on/off, Email error, Load Test pass/fail