BLU-8 Programmable Controller

What is the BLU-8?

The BLU-8 sits in the product range between the BLU-3 and BLU-6, both simple wall-mounted controllers that connect to the control ports of a BLU-80 / BLU-32 / BLU-16, and the BLU-10 which is a networked touchscreen wall controller.

 

 

Features of a BLU-8

Image:blu8_hardware.jpg

 

  • Two rotary encoders

  • One 9-segment bargraph meter

  • Five pushbuttons

This is supported by the following aspects

  • IEEE 802.3af Power over Ethernet

  • 12-48V DC power

  • 100 Mbit Ethernet interface

 

 

BLU-8 Network operation

The BLU-8 is not designed to work on a network with CobraNet traffic. BSS recommends that CobraNet traffic is transferred on a separate network to the HiQNet control network.

The BLU-8 is capable of handling the following simultaneous communications :

  • Communication with a maximum of 8 HiQNet devices from all the pages configured on the BLU-8, PLUS

  • Communication with one programming device (London Architect).

 
For optimum performance, the BLU-8 should be used on a dedicated Soundweb London control network with only one instance of HiQnet London Architect present. In this condition the BLU-8 can be used to control the parameters of up to a maximum of 8 other HiQNet devices. It should be noted that as the network on which the BLU-8 resides becomes large, the responsiveness of the BLU-8 can be adversely affected by the volume of network traffic and as such, controls may become slower to respond.

If responsiveness is an issue then please follow the recommendations below to improve the situation :

 
RECOMMENDATIONS :-

  • No CobraNet traffic on the part of the network with the BLU-8. (CobraNet traffic swamping the network WILL affect the responsiveness of the BLU-8).

  • Use switches rather than hubs in your network implementation.

  • One London Architect PC active on the network at a time.

  • Minimise unnecessary 'broadcast' traffic reaching the BLU-8, the following two steps are aimed at reducing this traffic :

    • Ensure that all the HiQNet devices on the network are included in the London Architect design. If they are not part of the design then they can be powered off to reduce unnecessary traffic on the network.

    • If there are many devices on the network which the BLU-8 does not need to communicate with, then consider placing these devices on a different sub-net to the BLU-8 (on the other side of a network router). The Static Routes feature in London Architect can be used to ensure that the BLU-8 is discovered by London Architect even if the London Architect PC is on a different sub-net to the BLU-8.