Sonifex has introduced a new Internet protocol extender, the Redbox RB-IPE, which is designed to remotely control equipment at unmanned sites.
The 1U rackmount unit provides remote control of general-purpose input/output (GPIO) and analog control voltages over an Ethernet network via its built-in Web server. It is possible for two RB-IPE units to control each other, says the company, or one can be controlled by a combination of Ethernet commands and the Web server interface, which can be configured with a static IP address or using dynamic host configuration protocol.
The RB-IPE features 16 general-purpose inputs on eight RJ-45 connectors, consisting of eight isolated current sink inputs and eight pull to ground protected inputs. It also has 16 general-purpose outputs on eight RJ-45 connectors using eight isolated relay changeover contacts and eight opto-isolated contacts. These rear panel connectors have an LED for each GPIO, indicating its state.
On another eight RJ-45 connectors, states Sonifex, there are also 8 x 0 to 3.3V/5V/12V input signals and eight output signals nominally at 0 to 3.3V output, with other output voltage configurations possible. It is possible to control the outputs from the inputs of another RB-IPE, or from Ethernet commands, allowing any tallies and control signals, together with analog potentiometer movements, to be sent across a network.
