Network Review

[mikedbom]

Please review my network layout.  I just want to make sure I'm not missing anything and that my layout will work. 

Thanks,

Mike B.

[tbone321]

It looks good to me.  Just remember that the Express needs the daughter board to be able to receive wireless.  Another possible future option would be the Conductor which can run your show without the need for the show computer or involving your network.

[mikedbom]

Thanks Tbone.  I have one Express with the wireless daughter board.  I have yet to test this setup as I still need a power supply for my SS Hub.  Looking forward to the Conductor as well. 

[chrisatpsu]

I have yet to test this setup as I still need a power supply for my SS Hub.

make sure your power supply is...
1. a single rail power supply (remember to use as many of the connectors on the psu to hook up to the Smart String Active Hub
2. the power supply has more power on the 12v side then what the ssc's are gonna pull.  (you want the ssc's at most to use 80% of what the PSU can power 60% is ideal)

[Jeffl]

Looks so good I printed a color copy.

[mikedbom]

make sure your power supply is...
1. a single rail power supply (remember to use as many of the connectors on the psu to hook up to the Smart String Active Hub
2. the power supply has more power on the 12v side then what the ssc's are gonna pull.  (you want the ssc's at most to use 80% of what the PSU can power 60% is ideal)

not sure what a "single rail" psu is.  i saw the note to hook up all the connectors.  can you oversize the psu for future nodes? 

[tbone321]

You can make the PSU as large as you want.  A single rail supply means that it has 1 12V regulator.  It will say in the specs if it is a single or multi-rail supply.  As Chris said, don't just go by the watts.  Make sure that the 12V current will match or exceed what you need.

[chrisatpsu]

you can go as big as you want, just don't undersize it...   
to help, i think newegg lists the number of 12v rails in their power supply.  they are a good place to at least do the reseach, then find the model number of that power supply and buy from wherever you like. I buy mine straight from there

[Gary]

I don't have any Smart String stuff, but doesn't the Etherdongle communicate to the computer via USB port?

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[tbone321]

No, the etherdongle uses ethernet

[Gary]

But in the upper-right corner of this image, it says "EtherDongle", and in the upper-left it looks like a USB Port, and the lower-left has an RJ45 Port. Or is it some sort of Photoshop job? 

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[mikedbom]

They are both ethernet ports.  the one on the top is the Magjak ethernet port.  it has activity lights.

[Gary]

And by looking at the picture, the Etherdongle has surface-mounted parts as well? I thought RJ was pulling back from all SMT stuff because of all the "assembly fears" that people had with the Aether I?

I personally found SMT on the Aether I bother interesting and gratifying.

[chrisatpsu]

only the two chips are surface mount, and the pcbs were sent somewhere to have those chips added...

when i got mine, i only had through hole stuff to solder on.