Power Core RP v2 - Controls, Connectors and Indicators

This topic describes the controls, connectors and indicators of the current hardware revisions. Note that the front panel controls differ slightly, while the rear panel is the same for both revisions.

For more information about the connectors and cabling requirements, see Power Core RP v2 - Wiring.

Controls Overview

The controls are divided into the following areas.

Front View, Revision 3

1. SYSTEM Display & Menu Control

2. STATUS LED

3. RESET button

4. License DONGLE

5. CONTROL Network Ports

6. RAVENNA/AES67 Ports

7. MADI/AIOX Ports

8. System Data (SD) Card

9. Other CONTROL Ports

10. Wordclock (WCLK) IN & OUT

Front View, Revision 2

For Power Core revision 2, the asterisks (*) indicate a difference in functionality from a revision 3 frame: fewer RAVENNA/AES67 ports (6); no access to SD card (8); no USB port (9); GPIOs are included (11). All other controls work in an identical manner, with some variations in the connector labelling.

1 to 10. as described above.

11. GPIO

The table below compares the current hardware revisions; all differences are highlighted in bold.

		Revision 3	Revision 2	Notes
1.	SYSTEM Display & Menu Control	yes	yes
2.	STATUS LED	yes	yes
3.	RESET button	yes	yes
4.	DONGLE port	yes	yes
5.	CONTROL Network Ports	2	2	dwc0 = CONTROL A; dwc1 = CONTROL B
6.	RAVENNA/AES67 Network Ports	4	2	ra0 = RAVENNA A; ra1 = RAVENNA B
7.	MADI/AIOX Ports	4	4
8.	Front panel access to SD card	yes	no, access is internal
9.	USB service port	yes	no, use RS-422 port
10.	WCLK IN & OUT	yes	yes
11.	Front panel GPIO	no	yes	GPIO can be added via the rear expansion I/O

Rear View, all revisions

12. Expansion I/O Cards

13. Functional Earth

14. Power Inputs: AC & DC

Front Panel

SYSTEM Display & Menu Control

The front panel display and rotary encoder can be used to view or edit device parameters such as the IP address.

For more information, see Power Core RP v2 - SYSTEM Display.

STATUS LED

The STATUS LED indicates the health of the device and sync status.

If the LED is blinking at regular intervals, then the device is working properly and the LED color indicates the sync source/status.
If the LED is lit and static, then either the device is booting or there is an internal problem.

The tables below describe all possible meanings.

Blinking STATUS LED	Meaning
Blue ↔ Off	Synchronized to PTP master
Yellow ↔ Off	Trying to sync to PTP master
Red ↔ Off	Synchronized to internal clock
Green ↔ Off	Synchronized via Wordclock
Magenta ↔ Off	Synchronized via MADI
Red ↔ white	Device is PTP Master, sync source = internal
Green ↔ white	Device is PTP Master, sync source = Wordclock
Magenta ↔ white	Device is PTP Master, sync source = MADI

Static STATUS LED	Meaning
Off	System powered off
White	System starting
Color (not white)	System failure

RESET button

The RESET button can be used to reboot the device and load the warm start data. The button is recessed to prevent accidental operation.

This operation should NOT be performed while the device is live on-air!

License DONGLE

The DONGLE port should be used to connect the USB memory stick containing your system's WIBU license(s). A safety cap is available to prevent accidental removal of the dongle. If fitted, you will need a T10 star tool to remove the cap.

CONTROL Network Ports

The dwc0 and dwc1 network ports are used for administration and control. On Power Core revision 2, the ports are labelled A (dwc0) and B (dwc1).

In an mc² installation, at least one port must be used to connect the device to the management network.

It is possible to configure dwc0 and dwc1 as redundant interfaces using either a LACP bond or generic failover mode using the Power Core web UI.

The control network must be separate from the streaming network connected to the RAVENNA/AES67 ports (6).

RAVENNA/AES67 Network Ports

The RAVENNA/AES67 interfaces can be used to stream audio to and from the IP network.

On Power Core revision 3, there are up to four interfaces: ra0, ra1, ra2 and ra3. The first pair of interfaces are enabled as standard. The second pair of interfaces can be enabled by purchasing the optional AddOnRAV+ license.
On Power Core revision 2, there are two interfaces: A and B (enabled as standard).

In an mc² installation, the ports connect the device to the media network (to stream audio to and from the mc² console). The streams must be configured by HOME (as part of the system setup).

The RP offers three default configurations:

32x 8ch Streams
16x 16ch Streams
4x 64ch Streams

Using the AddOn RAV+ license doubles the stream count.

The streams are fully compatible with SMPTE ST2110-30/31, AES67 and RAVENNA. To achieve redundant streaming, compatible with SMPTE ST2022-7, you must use both interfaces: ra0/ra1 (or ra2/ra3).

The streaming network must be properly managed and configured.

MADI/AIOX Ports

The four MADI/AIOX ports may be configured in one of three modes:

Mode 1: Front Port 1, 2, 3, 4 are configured independently (4x64ch)
Mode 2 : Front Port 1 and 2 are a redundant pair, Front Port 3 and 4 are independent (1x64ch + 2x 64ch)
Mode 3 : Front Port 1 and 2 are a redundant pair, as well as Front Port 3 and 4 (2x 64ch)

System Data (SD) Card

The SD card stores all of the system software and configuration data.

On Power Core revision 3, the SD card can be accessed by removing the safety cover (included). This can be used to exchange the card (if you are replacing the hardware) or to remove and copy the card (to create a backup of the system data).

On Power Core revision 2, the SD card is internal.

Other CONTROL Ports

Power Core revision 3 supports three other control data ports.

CAN - this port is not used by mc² systems. It should be left unconnected.
RS-422 - this port is not used by mc² systems. It should be left unconnected.
USB - the USB port can be used for debugging.

On Power Core revision 2, there are two other control data ports: CAN and RS-422. These are not used by mc² systems and should be left unconnected.

Wordclock (WCLK) IN & OUT

The two WCLK connectors can be used for external synchronization.

If Ravenna streams are being used, then the Power Core RP v2must either be synchronized to PTP arriving from the streaming network OR configured as a PTP Master.

If Power Core RP v2 is a PTP Slave:

WCLK IN is not used.
WCLK OUT provides an output of the current system reference. It can be used to distribute a wordclock signal to non-PTP devices.

If Power Core RP v2 is a PTP master:

WCLK IN can be connected to provide an external sync reference.
WCLK OUT provides an output of the current system reference. It can be used to distribute a wordclock signal to non-PTP devices.

The WCLK OUT does not function while Power Core is being rebooted.

GPIO

On Power Core revision 2, there is a front panel GPIO connector. This provides 8 x GPI (optocouplers) and 8 x GPO (silent and self-healing relays) for local signalling and switched functions. These GPIO signals are available in HOME.

On Power Core revision 3, GPIOs can be added via the rear expansion I/O.

Rear Panel

Expansion I/O Cards

Up to 8 expansion I/O cards can be fitted to the slots at the rear of the frame. All cards are hot-pluggable. Options include: Mic/Line In, Line Out, Studio I/O, AES3 I/O, Dante, MADI, MADI SRC, and GPIO.

Functional Earth

The M4x8 screw must be used to ground the frame.

Please see Power Core RP v2 - Grounding.

Power Inputs: AC & DC

Power Core comes with dual power feeds: AC and DC. To use the DC input, you will need the external DC power supply which must be ordered separately. If both inputs are connected, then the two feeds provide main and redundant power.

Please see Power Core RP v2 - Power Supplies.