URC HDA devices and software provide countless options to configure and optimize audio settings to achieve performance and flexibility for almost any application.
In most cases, the URC HDA-SW5 switch capacity is sufficient for most installations. However, if additional AVB ports are required the
Netgear M4250-10G2XF-PoE+ Network Switch can be used in a URC HDA audio system.
The following article details the required settings needed to use the Netgear M4250-10G2XF-PoE+ Network Switch with URC HDA Audio.
The Netgear M4250-10G2XF-PoE+Network Switch is an AVB-enabled switch that supports ten RJ45 ports and two SFP network ports for AVB steamed over fiber or additional SFP RJ45 ports.
Note: Many Netgear network switches now include the AVB profile. If the AVB profile is not visible, please update the switch firmware.)
This short guide defines the required settings needed to use the Netgear M4250-10G2XF-PoE+Network Switch with HDA Audio. This guide was written to get you started with using this switch with URC HDA Audio. Any other custom settings you set or change in the Netgear M4250-10G2XF-PoE+Network Switch are up to you and may affect the performance of HDA Audio.
*The Netgear M4250-10G2XF-PoE+ Network Switch is fully compatible with the URC HDA-SW5 AVB Network Switch.
Note: Tested with HDA firmware v1492 (minimum required), HDA-SW5 firmware v148 (minimum required).
Testing with Netgear M4250-10G2XF-PoE+Network Switch firmware version 13.0.2.34 (minimum required).
Netgear M4250-10G2XF-PoE+Network Switch user manuals and documentation can be found here.
Netgear M4250-10G2XF-PoE+Network Switch initial setup documentation can be found here.
Setting up the switch to use with HDA Audio
1. Log in to the AV UI:
Once you log in, you will be in the Configure/Overview section.
Please make note of the Firmware Version.
2. Go to https://www.netgear.com/support/product/m4250 to see the most up-to-date firmware version for your switch.
Download the firmware if the version is newer than the one currently on your Netgear switch:
3. Locate the file on your PC and Extract All:
4. In the AV UI of Netgear switch, go to Maintenance:
5. Click inside the Browser File box:
6. Locate the unzipped firmware file (.stk) then Open:
7. Click Upload:
8. Click “Reboot Now”
After rebooting, you may need to reload the page and log back in.
Firmware should now be up-to-date:
9. Next, we will select the URC Automation profile.
Click Network Profiles on the left-hand side:
10. You will see the “Default” profile under Configured Profiles. We will edit this profile. Click the three dots and choose Edit:
11. Click the drop-down under Profile Template:
12. Choose “URC Automation” then Apply:
Please note: “Edit VLAN Routing / DHCP Server” was left disabled. You may choose to change this if you are using this switch with devices using other streaming technologies.
Later, you can also adjust the AVB port assignments if you need to use another VLAN in the system.
You should now see:
- Default profile says “URC Automation”
- VLAN2 – Dynamic
Please note: BOTH the “Default – URC Automation” as well as the “VLAN2- Dynamic” Profiles must AUTOMATICALLY appear for HDA products to perform correctly.
If you do not see VLAN2 Dynamic:
- Try unplugging the switch for 15 seconds and plug it back
- If issue persists, check network cable and the switch that the Netgear switch is connected to. We encountered the issue here; it did NOT like being connected to our D-link switch. Once we moved it to another switch, VLAN2 - Dynamic appeared immediately.
13. Click Save up top. If you don't, the settings we applied will go away after a reboot of the switch.
Please note: The other ports are automatically able to be used for regular data even though the URC profile was applied. If using the switch with OTHER types of streaming technologies, see Setting up the switch to use with other streaming technologies below.
Taking a Netgear log: If the switch is configured correctly but you are experiencing issues when streaming audio between HDA devices, such as no audio, distorted audio, or static, it may be helpful to collect a log file for review by Netgear. Please follow the steps below:
Factory Default: If at any point you need to factory default the switch, it is best to do this from the Reset pinhole on the switch itself – press and hold for 10 seconds.
Setting up the switch to use with other streaming technologies
Any port on the Netgear switch needed for other streaming technologies like Dante, Q-Sys or video streaming should reside on their own VLAN within the Netgear switch, like the example shown below:
The Netgear switch supports templates for multiple streaming technologies that can be used when creating individual VLANs.
Using the Netgear Switch PoE and PoE+ with HDA-IO and HDA-130 Amplifier
The Netgear switch can power the HDA-IO stream injector/receiver and the HDA-130 amplifier. Select the “Power Over Ethernet” option and “PoE Interface Settings” in the switch configuration tool.
Select the ports requiring PoE and click Apply. For more information about other PoE settings, refer to the Netgear documentation for this switch.
SFP Ports
The SFP ports of the Netgear M4250-10G2XF-PoE+Network Switch were tested using SFP RJ45 adapters. No issues were found using this configuration.
SFP adapters used for these tests:
10Gtek Fiber SFP Adapters – product information can be found here.
The SFP Ports of the Netgear switch also support fiber SFP adapters.
Tested HDA Connections - Example
Important Note: In addition to clicking “Apply” in the area where you create a new network profile for AVB, you also have to hit “Save” at the top of the page. Otherwise, all the settings go away if the switch is rebooted.
Additional Information & Resources:
Netgear M4250-10G2XF-PoE+Network Switch user manuals and documentation can be found here.
Netgear M4250-10G2XF-PoE+Network Switch initial setup documentation can be found here.
More information on using third-party AVB network switches can be found here.
More information on using PreSonus AVB network switches can be found here.
More information on using Luminex Gigacore AVB network switches can be found here.
More information on using L-Acoustics AVB network switches can be found here.
To learn more about HDA products and programming, please see the HDA Programmers Guide or the Accelerator 3 online Programming Guide.
Please contact Netgear ProSupport for Netgear-specific technical support questions:
https://www.netgear.com/support/product/netgear-prosupport/
