I was recently specifying a sound system with a Dante network for a project that sparked more than a little debate throughout the office on two subjects:
1) Whether or not to use heavy-duty etherCon cabling to last for a long period of time or to use standard-duty CAT5E cabling and throw the cables out as they get mangled.
2) Whether or not to use...
a) conventional network switches, standard CAT5E cabling.
b) conventional network switches, etherCon cabling with custom panels in the racks that translate the RJ-45 connectors on the switches over to etherCon.
c) network switches with etherCon connectors, etherCon cabling.
The use-case is for a sound system with portable four portable stage racks, an FOH console, a monitor console, and redundant networking. A primary and secondary switch located in two of the racks with stage boxes and one located at FOH.
Before I detail what it is I ended up specifying and why, I'd like to hear what different people prefer.
1) Whether or not to use heavy-duty etherCon cabling to last for a long period of time or to use standard-duty CAT5E cabling and throw the cables out as they get mangled.
2) Whether or not to use...
a) conventional network switches, standard CAT5E cabling.
b) conventional network switches, etherCon cabling with custom panels in the racks that translate the RJ-45 connectors on the switches over to etherCon.
c) network switches with etherCon connectors, etherCon cabling.
The use-case is for a sound system with portable four portable stage racks, an FOH console, a monitor console, and redundant networking. A primary and secondary switch located in two of the racks with stage boxes and one located at FOH.
Before I detail what it is I ended up specifying and why, I'd like to hear what different people prefer.