# Ultra FX Card Avantis

**URL:** <https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/ultra-fx-card-avantis/33033>\
**Category:** Avantis Troubleshooting\
**Created:** [28 September 2026 16:32 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/ultra-fx-card-avantis/33033 "2026-09-28T16:32:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![SES](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8baadc/32.png) [@SES](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/SES)\
**Post date:** [28 September 2026 16:32 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/ultra-fx-card-avantis/33033/1 "2026-09-28T16:32:22Z")

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I recently had the Ultra FX card fitted to my desk, I rarely had issues using most theatre in-house Cat5 tie lines but now the desk has become very unstable when using anything other than a direct connection between the desk and stagebox

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**Author:** ![Brian-1](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forums.allen-heath.com/brian-1/32/4395_2.png) [@Brian-1](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/Brian-1)\
**Post date:** [28 September 2026 18:01 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/ultra-fx-card-avantis/33033/2 "2026-09-28T18:01:37Z")

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I don’t think installing the RUFX card changed any of this. I honestly think you just got lucky for a long time regarding un-supported non-direct connections between your stage boxes and the console and your luck finally ran out.

There is no question that the A&H proprietary protocols (GigaAce, DX, DSnake, etc) work best when there is a “direct connection”. In fact, direct connections are the only “officially supported” technique. That’s not to say that adding in network switches _can’t_ work because they can, but it definitely adds a layer of complexity that can easily break the system if not handled correctly. For example, those non-direct connections are not going to work without a dedicated VLAN set up in the network switch for each and every connection between two A&H devices because you have to keep the A&H traffic isolated from the regular network traffic. I’d be shocked if the venues you frequent have dedicated VLANs setup for this purpose which would explain why it doesn’t work.

This A&H article is a good place to start if you are thinking about using “non-direct” connections. [https://support.allen-heath.com/hc/en-gb/articles/45526905505425-gigaACE-and-DX-networking-VLANs-and-Fibre-Optics](https://support.allen-heath.com/hc/en-gb/articles/45526905505425-gigaACE-and-DX-networking-VLANs-and-Fibre-Optics)

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**Author:** ![mr-b](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forums.allen-heath.com/mr-b/32/1526_2.png) [@mr-b](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/mr-b)\
**Post date:** [29 September 2026 15:53 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/ultra-fx-card-avantis/33033/3 "2026-09-29T15:53:55Z")

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Absolutely concur with Brian on this, I have used an Avantis extensively since its UFX card was fitted with no issues, and Point to Point is the best way to connect the console to the I/O rack. In fact this is the case for all Allen and Heath products. The only variation on this I use and would recommend is the use of media converters to take advantage of the benefits from fibre optic cables. I admit to having no experience with V-LAN systems but I understand that it should work but I would still go for a direct connection.

Regards