We are looking into buying a GLD 80 and AR2412, but we are wanting to do different FOH locations. Can I run my AR2412 through a normal network switch to get those different locations in the room without anything messing up/ or at all? Thanks Peter
Why different locations? You should choose a location for best overall hearing. In the middle preferably especially if stereo. Not past critical distance in the room. Find it. Stick with it. That is your reference point. If you need/want to move around put a wifi router on it and walk around with an iPad.
We can’t always have it in the middle of the room, due to it being a Fellowship Hall and the only time it will be in the middle is one night of the week, any other time it will be in a far back corner due to other events happening in the room, and we’re wanting to be able to use it in those other locations during dinners, receptions, fairs, ect. Any time there will be a concert of musical event, it will be positioned in the middle.
Run CAT? cables to all locations. Have them labeled at the stage box. Patch as needed. I have done that in a multipurpose room. Same situation.
We planned on running CAT to all 3 locations, actually 2 cables 2 to each location for redundancy, but instead of repatching all the time and making it volunteer friendly, we wanted to use a switch.
Have a look at Nicola’s response in this thread:
https://community.allen-heath.com/forums/topic/dsnake-and-multiplepatch-points
Apparently, any fast layer 2 (i.e., non-managed) switch should work. Might want to try it out with patch cables before spending a bunch of time pulling stuff through walls though.