Installing a GPIO Switch Panel

Connections

Switch panels using GPIO connections are a straight- forward installation using standard multiple-conductor cable with DB-15M connectors. You can fabricate this cable or purchase one, such as the Cables To Go #02639, a 10-foot version available from Provantage, Best Buy or online from CablesToGo.com.

Cables between the GPIO switch panels and the Axia GPIO Node are pin-for-pin (thru cables), with male gender connectors on both ends. Each group of 5 buttons will be associated with a single GPIO port and will require a connection as described above.

Testing and Using the Panels

In order to verify basic connectivity of a GPIO panel, you may simply use your web browser to view the GPIO configuration page of the Axia console or GPIO node to which your GPIO panel is connected. When you press a button on the panel, you will see the corresponding activity indicator turn Green. If you associate your panel with a Livewire channel such as a microphone source, you will be able to see the outputs change as well when the ON/OFF status of the channel changes.

In the example shown in Figure 2, we have associated GPIO port one with a control room guest microphone. We can see that GPO pin 2 is illuminated which indicates channel OFF status for a CR guest microphone. Refer to your Axia console manual or Appendix A of the GPIO node manual for a complete listing of GPIO profiles.

GPIO panels can be used to monitor and control the logic functions of a Livewire source, or they may be monitored and controlled by Pathfinder. Please refer to the manual for your Axia console or GPIO node for more information on the built-in functions associated with GPIO ports.

Installing an Ethernet Switch Panel

Connections

Ethernet panels require only a network connection to your PoE enabled Ethernet switch.

Once you have connected a new Ethernet accessory panel to your network, it will need an IP address. These panels support the standard Axia “manual BOOTP” configuration. A new address can be configured using Axia’s iProbe management software or the bootps.exe utility.

Each unit has a “paper clip” button at the back near the Ethernet controller. Pressing this button puts the unit into IP configuration mode whereby a BOOTP request is sent, triggering an iProbe pop-up as shown in Figure 4. Enter the desired IP address and network mask in the appropriate boxes, then click "OK." The panel will now acquire the desired IP address. Once the panel has an IP address, it may be used as an logic control device on a Livewire network.

The 8-Button OLED panel has a slightly different setup than other panels, and a single press of the ID button will enter setup mode. The front panel displays will indicate IP ADDR CHANGE and the BOOTP server will prompt you for a new IP address. Once the desired address has been entered, press the ID switch a second time to exit setup mode.

Testing and Using the Panels

Once you have your Ethernet panel connected, you can run a simple test to be sure it is properly configured by using Telnet or other communication software such as PuTTY to communicate directly with the panel.

If using Telnet, open up a command prompt. Then use Telnet directed at either the IP address of the Axia console or the Ethernet panel and specify port 4010. The Telnet syntax from a command prompt for the example shown in Figure 5 is: telnet 192.168.0.110 4010

Figure 5 shows the results for one press on four buttons. In addition to the button activity, you will also note the type of panel and the button numbers. In this example, we see the device identified as a Accessory Panel #2 showing Buttons 1 through 4.

The primary tool used to monitor and control switches and indicators on an Ethernet Switch Panel is Axia’s Pathfinder Core Pro. Each button is programmed in a manner similar to other LCD panels. Please refer to the Pathfinder Core Pro manual for detailed uses and programming instructions.

Overview

The power of Pathfinder Core Pro provides endless flexibility and advanced features for the switch panels. Pathfinder can perform many logic-based actions related to routing audio, alarms, console control and much more. Pathfinder has many other uses as well including the ability to create software router control panels and to emulate some types of hardware audio routers.

The different types of LCD SmartSwitch and Film Cap switch panels include: