NEXUS Base Devices are networked using XFOC fibre-optic
interface boards and duplex fibre-optic cables. This approach allows a
variety of network setups to be implemented, for example, a star-topology net with
parallel and redundant fibre-optic lines between Base Devices.
The Base Device network is an entity. All inputs, outputs, and processing channels
can be accessed and operated from anywhere on the routing system. In the GUI, a single
crosspoint simply connects an input to an output — it is up to the system to
establish the shortest available connection on the Base Device network.
Optical
Lines
The optical lines between Base Devices are
always bidirectional, transferring 128 audio channels plus communication and sync
information in each direction.
Fibre-optic cables are also convenient in mobile applications: Despite their immense
transmission capacity, they are thin and light-weight. The galvanic separation established
by optical lines avoids ground loops between Base Devices and increases electrical
secu-rity. Fibre-optic cables can span several thousand metres without
quality degradation and are insusceptible to electromagnetic and electrostatic
interference. Therefore, new fibre-optic cables can be run in existing cable ways
with no need for shielding.