Escient MP-200 - Manual (Page 21)

PAGE 21
FireBall™
MP-200
User
’s Manual
RS-232 CONNECTIONS
COM ports 1 or 2 may be used for connecting an Escient ETP-1500 wired touch panel, external modem or to interface with a third party control
system such as AMX or Crestron.
Note: You should use the Ethernet control system for controlling FireBall from a third party control system whenever possible. Using
the Ethernet control system frees up the COM ports for other purposes, allows much longer distances between FireBall and the control
system, and provides a much faster path for data transfer.
IR CONNECTIONS
The direct IR input jack on the back panel of the FireBall is for controlling FireBall from a wired IR distribution system such as a Xantech system.
This connection must be an IR signal with a 36kHz carrier using an 1/8” mono or stereo connector.
The IR input jack provides 12V power. This means that you can directly connect a 12V IR receiver (like the Xantech series 291 units) to the FireBall
using a 1/8” stereo connector.
ETHERNET CONNECTIONS
The Ethernet jack on the back panel of the FireBall accepts any standard twisted
pair CAT5 Ethernet cable. If you are connecting FireBall to a home network,
you typically connect a standard Ethernet cable from your Ethernet router or
hub to the FireBall.
There are different grades, or categories, of twisted-pair cabling. Category 5
is the most reliable and widely compatible, and is highly recommended. It runs
easily with 10Mbps networks, and is required for 100Mbps networks. You can
buy Category 5 cabling that is pre-made, or you can cut & crimp your own.
Category 5 cables can be purchased or crimped as either straight-through or
crossed. A Category 5 cable has 8 thin, color-coded wires inside that run from
one end of the cable to the other. Only wires 1, 2, 3, and 6 are used by Ethernet
networks for communication. Although only four wires are used, if the cable has
8 wires, all the wires have to be connected in both jacks.