GeniusPro/Lightpalette Operator's Manual - Strand Lighting

Ethernet Overview
Again this uses 50ohm coaxial cable with 50ohm BNC connectors but in a star topology. At the centre of the star a
partitioning repeater links the segments of the star together when they are operating correctly but isolates them if a
fault should occur (such as an open circuit) improving fault immunity.
Each segment of the star must be treated as a separate Thin Net segment with 50ohm BNC connectors at each node
and 50ohm BNC terminators at each end. Typically only one node would be connected on each segment for
maximum fault immunity.
Nodes are connected by BNC-T pieces which are generally connected directly to nodes. Each spur must be grounded
at one end only. Spurs from the segment to the nodes are not permitted. The maximum length of each segment is
185m (607ft) with up to 30 nodes per segment spaced at least 0.5m (1.5ft) apart.
BNC connectors and cables are not very rugged and need to be handled with care. Removing a terminator or
breaking the segment along any part of its length will stop all communications on that segment only, so this topology
is more secure than the Thin Net Backbone. This topology is best for larger systems, those with more than 2 nodes.
Twisted Pair (UTP, 10BASET, 10BT) Star
This uses 4 pair Un-screened Twisted Pair (UTP) telecommunication cable. In order to guarantee reliable operation,
the cable used should be either category 3,4 or 5, compliant with EIA/TIA568 spec. For the highest reliability and
compatibility with future higher speed networks, category 5 cable is recommended.
Permanently installed twisted pair cabling should use solid-conductor cable as this is cheaper and has a higher
performance, but should not be subjected to repeated bending or twisting.
Connections from fixed wiring should terminate in wall sockets, or patch panels, from which connections to consoles,
SN100s or repeaters should be made via patch leads. These leads use multi-stranded wire for added flexibility.
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