Professional AV Networking and Infrastructure
Prolight Concepts supplies networking equipment for live events, touring systems, broadcast, venues and fixed installations. The range includes managed NETGEAR AV switches, wireless access points, modular power supplies, fibre and copper transceivers, interface cards, direct attach cables and supporting network connectivity.
Professional AV networks may carry audio, video, lighting control, management and general data across shared or dedicated infrastructure. Equipment should be selected according to port count, connection speed, bandwidth, Power over Ethernet requirements, media type, network topology and the protocols used by the connected devices.
Choose the Right Networking Equipment
Managed AV Network Switches
Network switches connect devices and direct traffic across the wired network. The current range includes NETGEAR AV M4250 and M4350 managed switches with configurations covering Gigabit Ethernet, multi-gigabit, 10Gb and 25Gb connectivity. Selected models also provide PoE+, PoE++ and fibre-capable ports.
Choose a switch by calculating the required number and type of ports, the combined traffic bandwidth and any PoE demand. Features such as VLANs, IGMP snooping, multicast management, link aggregation and redundancy can be important in professional AV systems, but availability and configuration vary between models.
Wi-Fi Access Points
Wireless access points provide Wi-Fi connectivity for compatible control, monitoring and general network devices. The NETGEAR WBE718 is a tri-band Wi-Fi 7 access point with a 2.5Gb Ethernet connection and PoE+ power input.
Wireless performance depends on device compatibility, channel planning, building construction, interference, audience density and access-point placement. Wi-Fi should not automatically be treated as a replacement for wired connections where the application requires guaranteed bandwidth or predictable operation.
Transceivers and Direct Attach Cables
transceivers, port cards and DAC cables provide additional connection options for compatible managed switches. The range includes SFP and SFP+ modules for copper, multimode fibre and singlemode fibre applications, alongside passive direct attach cables for short switch-to-switch or equipment-to-switch connections.
Check the switch compatibility list, module format, data rate, fibre type, wavelength, connector and required transmission distance. SX, LX, LR, LRM and copper transceivers are not interchangeable simply because they use a similar module housing.
Switch Interface Cards
Interface cards expand selected modular switches with additional copper, fibre or opticalCON connectivity. Confirm the host switch series, supported slot, port speed and optical format before specifying a card. Modules designed for one switch family may not operate in another.
Network Switch Power Supplies
network switch power supply units are available for selected NETGEAR M4300 and M4350 switches. The correct supply depends on the switch model, required PoE budget, input version and redundancy arrangement.
A higher-wattage supply does not automatically increase the supported PoE output unless the switch is designed for that configuration. Check the switch documentation and power-supply compatibility before installation.
Ethernet Cables and Network Connectors
Ethernet cables provide copper connections between switches, access points, controllers and endpoints. Select the cable category, construction, shielding, connector type and length for the required data rate and installation environment.
networking connectors and ruggedised connection formats can help protect frequently handled links in touring and event applications. Standard RJ45 connections remain suitable for many protected racks and fixed installations, while ruggedised housings may be preferred for exposed stage connections and repeated deployment.
Planning an AV Network
- Port count: Allow for every endpoint, uplink and planned expansion connection.
- Port speed: Match 1Gb, 2.5Gb, 10Gb or 25Gb links to the bandwidth required by connected equipment.
- PoE standard: Confirm whether each powered device requires PoE, PoE+ or PoE++.
- PoE budget: Add the maximum power demand of all connected devices, not just the number of PoE ports.
- Multicast traffic: Configure managed switches correctly when using multicast-based audio or video systems.
- Copper or fibre: Consider link distance, electrical isolation, bandwidth and installation environment.
- Redundancy: Identify whether the application requires redundant power, links or separate primary and secondary networks.
- Management: Plan IP addressing, VLANs, security, monitoring and configuration backups before deployment.
AV Protocol Compatibility
Professional managed switches can be used with protocols and platforms such as Dante, AES67, NDI and other AV-over-IP systems when the selected model, bandwidth and configuration meet the system requirements. Compatibility should be confirmed against the documentation supplied by the switch manufacturer and the connected equipment manufacturer.
No single configuration is correct for every AV network. Video, audio and control systems can have very different bandwidth, multicast, timing and redundancy requirements. Test the completed configuration before deployment and retain a backup of the working switch settings.
Related Connectivity Categories