Network Switch – BROADFIELD NEWS

NETGEAR AV is making waves at ISE 2025! Join Richard Jonker, vice president of marketing & business development, as he highlights the latest innovations in professional AV networking.

What’s new from NETGEAR at ISE 2025?
Introducing Engage 2.0 – advanced AV network management software for seamless control
Expanded pro AV design team – more expertise to help professionals build powerful AV networks
Major growth in Certified Manufacturing Partners – stronger integration with leading AV brands

Whether you work in live events, corporate AV, broadcast or pro AV, NETGEAR’s latest technology is designed to simplify and elevate AV networking.

Learn more about NETGEAR HERE

Netgear and their AV switches that changed our installations

Jennifer P — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 19:00:00 +0000

In this article by Patrik Lindahl, the evolution of AV (Audio-Visual) installations and the transformative impact of Netgear’s ProAV switches on the industry are explored. Lindahl begins by discussing the traditional use of networks in AV installations, which were largely isolated and employed primarily for basic device communication. Over time, as AV and IT technologies converged, the complexity of AV systems grew. This evolution was driven by advancements such as the introduction of Dante and other proprietary protocols, as well as standardized protocols like AES67 developed to address interoperability challenges.

The shift from HDBaseT systems, which relied on point-to-point connections, to AV over IP (AVoIP) marked a significant turning point. This transition introduced unprecedented challenges as AV traffic became part of network switches, creating confusion for AV professionals and IT specialists alike. Between 2017 and 2018, the industry grappled with the complexities of managing multicast traffic, IGMP snooping, and the need for significantly increased bandwidth.

Netgear emerged as a leader in addressing these challenges with its ProAV switch product lines, including the M4250, M4300, M4350, and M4500. By developing IGMP Plus, a proprietary enhancement of the IGMP protocol, Netgear provided a solution that improved multicast traffic handling. The company also collaborated with leading AVoIP hardware manufacturers to create configuration profiles tailored to specific devices, simplifying setup and ensuring optimal performance.

Lindahl highlights how Netgear’s solutions have significantly streamlined network management for AV professionals. He shares insights from his own experience in AV product support, where Netgear’s switches have often been used to demonstrate the correct configuration of networks to customers. This approach has not only resolved technical issues but has also led to increased adoption of Netgear’s ProAV switches.

To further support AV professionals, Lindahl mentions creating instructional videos on setting up Netgear ProAV switches, both for standalone and multi-switch networks. These resources aim to alleviate the struggles many face when adapting to the complexities of modern AV networking.

Read the full article by Patrik Lindahl HERE

Learn more about NETGEAR HERE

Netgear’s AV over IP innovations | Technology demo | ISE 2024

Jennifer P — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 15:00:00 +0000

Reece Webb explores Netgear’s latest AV over IP solutions, including the groundbreaking M4350 series and Wi-Fi 7 technology, revolutionizing both commercial and residential spaces.

Learn more about Netgear M4350 HERE

Learn more about Netgear HERE

LDI 2023: NETGEAR AV Presents M4250 Switch and NETGEAR Engage Software for Switch Configuration

Jennifer P — Fri, 08 Dec 2023 15:00:00 +0000

Check out the latest from LDI Show 2023, a show that connects the entire live entertainment, design, and technology community with manufacturers of state-of-the-art gear. rAVe [PUBS] covers the entire show, recording product videos for all the audio, display, video, control, lighting and live event exhibitors.

Discover the cutting-edge features of the NETGEAR M4250 switch line. This innovative series offers robust multi-gig support and simplified configuration through the user-friendly Netgear Engage software. NETGEAR presents the M4250 switch with back ports and front indication lights, along with the unique avui and Netgear Engage software for easy switch configuration. Additionally, NETGEAR AV showcases the M4250 Switch with higher bandwidth multi-gig support and substantial uplinks. Learn more about the new NETGEAR switch with 10 gig ports and a 400 gig uplink, designed specifically for the broadcast industry and set to be available in January. Stay ahead of the curve with NETGEAR’s groundbreaking technology.

Watch the full video here:

Learn more about NETGEAR M4250 Switches HERE

Learn more about NETGEAR HERE

NETGEAR Focuses on the Broadcast Market at NAB New York 2023

Jennifer P — Mon, 13 Nov 2023 15:08:14 +0000

InBroadcast Global recently uploaded a video onto their YouTube channel discussing how NETGEAR Focuses on the Broadcast Market at NAB New York 2023.

NETGEAR continues to expand its influence into the Broadcast AV markets with addition of optimized profiles for SMPTE ST2110, IPMX, NDI, Dante, SRT, AES and many more. M4350-series managed switches check all the boxes with 1G to 100G ports, ultra-quiet fans, edge-to-core stackable, redundant power supplies, large power budgets up to 90W with PoE++ and other feature rich options our customer have come to expect.

This video is your celebrity pass to the eventual fate of broadcasting, as seen from the perspective of NETGEAR. We’re joined by industry specialists, visionaries, and the tech that is reshaping the telecom scene. Whether you’re a telecom expert or somebody enthusiastic about remaining at the very front of development, this video is for you!

Learn more about NETGEAR HERE

NETGEAR AV AVoIP Switches at IBC 2023

Jennifer P — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 17:00:00 +0000

At IBC 2023, KITPLUS speaks with Richard from NETGEAR AV. Join them as they explore what’s on display and their cutting-edge networking solutions tailored for AV and broadcast. They also discuss their AVoIP switches and the NETGEAR support they offer.

Learn more about NETGEAR Switches HERE

IBC 2023 NETGEAR AV adding SMPTE ST2110 for easier AV-over-IP network configuration

Jennifer P — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 14:33:00 +0000

NETGEAR offers certified profile setup configurations including NDI, SRT, Dante, AES, AVB and many others for audio/video/lighting/control. This quick and easy configuration process offers peace-of-mind when onboarding an IP switch for broadcast workflows. The soon to be added SMPTE ST 2110 profiles will offer same reliable and easy setup process. Additional features of the new M4350 series switches include reliable power redundancy, selectable levels of PoE up to 90W, high availability (HA) assurances, ultra-quiet fans, less time for installation and remote management as well as the NETGEAR Lifetime Ltd. Warranty with proAVdesign@netgear.com 24/7 support.

Watch the full video from InBroadcast Global below:

Learn more about NETGEAR HERE

Integrating NDI: Skillset

Jennifer P — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 14:00:00 +0000

In a recent article written by Eric Wenocur for Sound & Video Contractor, he discusses how using the right network switch is crucial to your NDI success. Installing the software tools on his workplace computers allowed him to test out NewTek’s NDI software platform for video over IP for the first time. Really fantastic, in fact. It wasn’t too difficult to send colorbars and a live video stream between the two machines. The NDI apps found each other and shifted signals on my home network; it was astonishing. But it’s also quite easy.

Soon after, he became involved in a challenging hybrid event project where NDI seemed like a decent option to eliminate most point-to-point SDI wiring and move a lot of signals around. Since NDI uses the Ethernet network to transport signals wherever they need to go, it may effectively replace an SDI matrix router. Video-over-IP can be advantageous in situations requiring flexibility and ad-hoc deployments.

In this instance, the event area has a minimum of four cameras and four displays. These are linked to a control room that houses computers for a live stream software production switcher, numerous Zoom participants, video playback, an on-stage videowall, and tech control. and more displays. Standard NDI compression is employed in this high-quality production environment, at a rate of about 130Mb/sec for 1080p60. In both rooms, the system has a sizable number of NDI-HDMI and NDI-SDI converters.

Production Network

This system’s “production network” is a VLAN within the organization’s larger network, but it also has its own switches for all A/V and control traffic. Switches are the brains of a network and must be taken into account when NDI is widely implemented. Two substantial NETGEAR M4300-series switches are present, one in the control room and the other in the event space. The switches provide a substantial conduit between the rooms thanks to their numerous 1Gb ports and connections to their 10Gb ports. At the required distance, CAT6A cable works perfectly, but the switches also support fiber SFPs.

To minimize stream duplication and ensure mDNS for device identification, managed switches with strong multicast capability are essentially necessary. Another reason robust switches are required is that the backplane bandwidth of the switch must be sufficient for all the anticipated traffic on the 1G and 10G ports. Additionally, both switches offer POE on half of the ports, which is advantageous (nearly necessary) for all of the installed NDI cameras and converters. (Take note that POE is very practical but has limitations regarding the overall power capacity of the switches and the ports.)

It’s both a blessing and a burden that NDI allows a receiving device to only “ask” for a stream from a sending device. Signals are easily sent where they are needed, but every new connection has the potential to add another 130Mb stream to the network. There may be choke spots where having too many streams causes problems, depending on the network topology.

An example of this is a computer running software to create multiviews (such as Birddog’s NDI Multiview app). Every source in a multiview grid, as well as the multiview outputs to displays, is an incoming stream to that computer. As a result, an 8-source window may use more than 1000Mb of data throughput on the computer’s NIC and switch port, which is far more than the 800Mb normally advised for a 1Gb interface. Would using the more compact NDIHX for multiview make sense? Maybe, but only if the hardware is capable of producing both full and HX streams simultaneously, as is the case with cameras. For all the encoding and decoding, these systems may need connectivity more than 1Gb and a pretty powerful computer.

The important thing to remember is that connecting to NDI at random has consequences; if you watch the video, a stream is coming from someplace. Although multicast may reduce the amount of bandwidth used by the source, each receiver of the source still receives a separate stream from a switch. Naturally, manufacturers are promoting 4K NDI solutions, which are fantastic if you need them but demand a lot of bandwidth (250–400Mb/s per stream).

Let’s also note that while NDI’s “plug and play” method is convenient at first, it can become tiresome with a lot of endpoints. It’s not always obvious who is who, and sources and destinations don’t always surface right away. Endpoints use their system names in NDI apps like Birddog’s Central control app. The settings page for that device will open in a browser when you click one (let’s say for a camera). However, you need to know the device’s IP address if you wish to visit the configuration page without using an NDI app. Therefore, it is advised to assign static addresses and maintain an accurate list.

Read the full article from Sound & Video Contractor HERE

Learn more about NETGEAR Switches HERE

Learn more about NDI HERE

Review: Netgear M4250 Network Switch

Jennifer P — Wed, 08 Mar 2023 20:00:00 +0000

Shawn Lan of Streaming Media Producer recently posted his review article on the NETGEAR M4250 line of network switches. The Netgear M4250 series of switches is a line of advanced Ethernet switches designed for use in professional AV (audio-visual) environments. These switches offer a number of features that make them well-suited for use in live streaming and other video production applications.

NewTek introduced the NDI protocol in April 2016 as a way to send high-quality audio and video signals over standard Ethernet networks. The NewTek TriCaster was the first device to support NDI, and since then, the protocol has gained widespread adoption throughout the video production industry.

NDI has been embraced by many major companies in the video production world, including camera manufacturers, software developers, and video switcher manufacturers. This has resulted in a wide range of NDI-compatible products, including cameras, encoders, decoders, video switchers, and more.

Managed Network Switch

The managed network switch is an important component of an NDI workflow, but it can also be intimidating for many video producers who are not familiar with network management. However, the Netgear M4250 AV line of switches is an excellent option for those looking to get started with NDI workflows.

One of the reasons why the Netgear M4250 AV line of switches is a good choice is because it is specifically designed for audio and video applications. It comes preconfigured with optimized settings for NDI workflows, so there is no need for users to navigate a complex user interface designed for network management.

Additionally, the Netgear M4250 AV line of switches is the only option listed under Network Products in the NDI Marketplace, which is a testament to its quality and compatibility with NDI workflows. While other managed switches can be configured to work with NDI, they may require more technical expertise and time to set up.

AV User Interface

The Netgear M4250 AV line of switches is a great option for setting up an NDI workflow, especially for those who may not have extensive networking experience. The switch has two UI options, the Main UI and the AV UI, with the latter being designed specifically for NDI workflows. Additionally, the M4250 is the only switch listed under Network Products in the NDI Marketplace, which suggests that it is the de facto standard for the industry.

While it is possible to configure other managed switches to work with NDI workflows, it may require navigating a user interface designed for network management, which could be intimidating for those who are not networking experts. Furthermore, using a different switch could limit the peer base for support.

The Networking Best Practice-White Paper guide and the archived “NDI Network Guidelines” document can be helpful resources for those who want to configure their own switch. However, they may require making decisions for most of the settings discussed, which could be overwhelming for those who are not comfortable with networking. Ultimately, the M4250 is a simple and efficient option for setting up an NDI network, as it can be configured quickly and properly using the AV console.

Bandwidth

It’s important to prioritize NDI traffic to ensure that it’s not delayed or dropped, as sustained throughput is needed for video signals. Segmenting the NDI traffic from other data and internet traffic is a best practice to ensure that the network is optimized for NDI workflows. Multicasting, which NDI uses, is a more efficient way to distribute data to multiple recipients on a network. With multicasting, the data is sent to a designated group of recipients who have expressed interest in receiving the data, rather than being sent to every device on the network like with broadcasting. This helps to minimize the amount of unnecessary network traffic and reduce the risk of network congestion or saturation. IGMP is the protocol used to manage and control multicasting on a network.

Read the full review from Streaming Media Producer HERE

Learn more about NETGEAR M4250 Network Switches HERE