Comrex BRIC-Link User manual

1) Left Audio/AES3 Input: Accepts professional level,
balanced analog audio, or if configured, AES3
stereo digital audio for input.
2) Right Audio Input: Accepts professional level,
balanced analog audio.
3) Left Audio/AES3 Output: Delivers professional level,
balanced analog audio, or if configured, AES3
stereo digital audio for output.
4) Right Audio Output: Delivers professional level,
balanced analog audio.
5) Ethernet: 10/100baseT connection for network
connections.
6) Power: 4 Pin connector for attachment of Comrex
approved DC power adapter. Requires 24V DC @ 1A
Figure 1 – Rear Panel Diagram and Descriptions
1 2 3 4 5 6
Setting up the Hardware
This document describes how to quickly set up and
use BRIC-Link in its most common, point-to-point
mode. More detailed instructions are contained in
the manual on the CD shipped with the unit. It may
also be downloaded from the Comrex web site at
www.comrex.com
Quick Start Guide
At a minimum, BRIC-Link needs a source of power, an
audio connection, and a network connection.
Audio connections on the 1/4" jacks are wired in the
following fashion:
Tip
Balanced Audio +
Ring
Balanced Audio -
Sleeve
Ground
With a nominal input level of 0dBu (+20 dBu full scale).
You may apply AES3 digital audio to the left I/O
connectors if dip switch #1 (Input) and #2 (output)
are up.
Audio inputs should be
applied and levels checked
with Dip Switch #4 down.
If the audio indicators are
showing red, it indicates
the level is approaching or
reaching clipping stage. It is OK for audio levels to
reach the yellow stage often.
The Ethernet connector is a standard 10/100baseT.
A normal patch cord, such as used for a computer,
should be connected here.

Initial IP configuration is handled using the Windows-
based BRIC-Link Device Manager software. This
program was provided on the CD included with the
BRIC-Link hardware, and can also be downloaded
from the Comrex website.
In order to configure BRIC-Link, the Device manager
must be run on a computer located on the same
physical LAN connection as the BRIC-Link hardware.
If this is not possible, you may need to connect an
Ethernet crossover cable between the BRIC-Link
and the computer for configuration.
Once power is applied to BRIC-Link, you have five
minutes to configure the IP settings. After five minutes,
the power must be cycled on the hardware to make
these changes.
As shipped from the factory, BRIC-Link is configured
for DHCP, which means it will attempt to obtain an
IP address from your network. Using the Device
Manager software, you can change this to a fixed
IP with fixed netmask, gateway, and DNS settings.
As shown below, running the Device Manager and
clicking the “scan” button will produce a list of all
Comrex IP codecs found on the LAN.
Figure 2 - Device Manager Figure 3 - IP Configuration
Using the BRIC-Link Device Manangera
Choosing the codec that appears in the left hand list,
followed by pressing the Configure button, allows you
to set the IP parameters of the codec, as shown above.
Once you know the IP address (or have changed it)
using the Device Manager, the rest of the setup and
operation of BRIC-Link is done via the built-in web
page interface.

Once your IP settings are configured and BRIC-Link
has cleanly booted on your LAN, it’s time to take a
look at the BRIC-Link Web-based Interface. This is
done by pointing a web browser on your LAN to the
BRIC-Link IP address. To do this, simply type the
address into the URL bar of your browser.
Once you are connected to BRIC-Link, a login screen
will appear. Key in any user name along with the
default password (comrex, case sensitive) to get to
the Main User Interface display.
So now it’s time to make a connection on BRIC-Link.
We will assume that the network and audio connec-
tions have been made. Before you can establish an
outgoing connection on BRIC-Link, you must enter the
info about remote connection into the Connections
Tab. This acts like a phone book, saving the names
and IP Addresses of everyone to whom you connect.
As shown below, BRIC-Link comes pre-programmed
with three connections. Loopback is chosen when you
wish to test BRIC-Link by connecting the local encoder
and decoder together. The other two entries are con-
nections to Comrex in Massachusetts, and these may
be used for your testing (when they’re not busy with
other users). We maintain two CD players on these
codecs, feeding voice and music audio respectively.
Controlling BRIC-Link via the Web-Based Interface
Figure 5 - Store New Remote
Figure 4 - Connections Tab

To create your own outgoing connection, click Store
New Remote as shown to get the entry pop-up. Choose
a name for the remote (e.g.. WXYZ) followed by the IP
address of the remote. Leave the password field blank
Finally, you will need to choose a profile to use when
making these connections. BRIC-Link includes several
common default profiles to choose from, each of which
enables a simple full-duplex link using one of the avail-
able algorithms. If you wish for a more complex feature
set when making this connection, you will need to click
over to the Profile Tab and set up a specific profile using
your custom parameters. Custom options can include
one-way transmission, different encoders in each
direction, specialized packet arrangement, etc. See
the manual for more information on Profiles.
Once your remote connection entry is correct, it’s
simply a matter of pointing and clicking to connect and
disconnect a remote. When a connection is attempted,
the Current State value in the connection table will
change to reflect the progress of the connection. If the
connection fails, the reason for failure will be shown in
the Last State category. If it succeeds, the encoder and
decoder mode will be reflected in the Transmit and
Receive Status columns.
Disconnecting is just as simple — Highlight the desired
connection and click Disconnect to end the connection.
Controlling BRIC-Link via the Web-Based Interface (cont.)
BRIC-Link Remote Control Software
Toll Free in USA: 800-237-1776 • www.comrex.com
e-mail: [e-mail]
19 Pine Road, Devens, MA 01434 USA
Tel: [phone] • Fax: [phone]
Put Comrex On The Line.
If you have several BRIC-Links to control all at once,
use the BRIC Remote Control software included on
the CD. This will allow you to create a common
address book, common Profiles, and set up and
make connections between all your BRIC-Links with
a single interface. Instructions for how to use the
program are avaiable under the “Help” menu.
BRIC RC
REMOTE CONTROL