Revision [1506]
This is an old revision of SetupC16 made by admin on 2010-01-01 20:42:37.
Setting Up Your C16
C16s connect directly to your EDS card via CAT5 (Ethernet) cable. Unless you want visual feedback from your MEC's indicator lights (some users don't) or need to access the hardware for re-patching, the C16 is the only part of PARIS' hardware you'll really need to have physical access to. Fortunately the C16's cable can be quite long (20' is absolutely fine) which allows you to move the rest of your PARIS equipment to an isolation box or dedicated "machine room" (assuming adequate ventilation), or even a separate room.
Certain things can potentially kill your C16 (and quite possibly your EDS card or even your motherboard) PERMANENTLY, so it's essential to remember the two C16 DON'Ts:
- DON'T use a "crossover" CAT5 cable. This will a) not work and b) very likely fry something. Regular CAT5 cable only! If you have any unlabeled crossover cables in your collection. identify them, mark them and avoid them; considering the low price of CAT5 cables it's a far better idea to buy a new dedicated cable for your C16 than to take the chance of potentially fatal damage to your PARIS rig.
- DON'T "hot-plug" your C16. They're not designed to be plugged in or unplugged while the computer is on. The potential consequences are similar to using a crossover cable, so always turn off your computer before plugging or unplugging either end of your C16's cable.
One more caveat to bear in mind - virtually all PARIS hardware is now either over a decade old (even the most recently released PARIS hardware is now approaching it). The C16 uses rotary encoders instead of potentiometers, and years of internal abrasion in normal use leaves tiny particles of metal rubbed off of the "wipers" of the encoder floating free inside them.
This can (and in fact, eventually will) cause one or more knobs to send "jumping" or "sticky" values, or fail to operate at all. The good news is that the minor servicing required to correct this can be done by any reasonably careful user. This is covered in a great "DIY" CeeSixteenRepair C16 servicing document by Aaron Allen.
