Comrex BRIC-Link II 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: 1000Base-T connection for network connections.
6) Contact Closures:Four sets of contact closure Inputs
and Outputs are available on this port. Inputs can be
used to send signals to the far end of the link or trigger
connections. Outputs can be used to trigger remote
control gear like automation equipment.
7) Serial: Connection for asynchronous ancillary data.
8) Power: 4 Pin connector for attachment of Comrex
approved DC power adapter. Requires 24V DC @ 1A.
9) USB: Used to attach a USB to Ethernet adapter, for
using dual networks via CrossLock.
Figure 1 – Rear Panel Diagram and Descriptions
Setting up the Hardware
This document describes how to quickly set up and
use BRIC-Link II 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 website at
www.comrex.com
Quickstart Guide
At a minimum, BRIC-Link II needs a source of power, an
audio connection, and a network connection.
Audio connections on the XLR jacks are wired in the
following fashion:
1Ground
2Balanced Audio +
3Balanced Audio -
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 1000Base-T.
A normal patch cord, such as used for a computer,
should be connected here.
1 2 3 4 5 6
9
7 8

Initial IP configuration is handled using the Comrex
Device Manager software. This program was
provided on the CD included with the BRIC-Link II
hardware, and can also be downloaded from the
Comrex website.
In order to configure BRIC-Link II, the Device Manager
must be run on a Windows PC or MAC located on the
same physical LAN as the BRIC-Link II hardware.
Once power is applied to BRIC-Link II, you have five
minutes to configure the IP settings. After five minutes,
the power must be cycled on the BRIC-Link II to make
these changes via Device Manager.
As shown below, running the Device Manager and
clicking the Scan for Devices button will produce a list
of all Comrex IP codecs found on the LAN.
Choosing the codec that appears in the left hand list,
followed by pressing the Network Settings button,
allows you to set the IP parameters of the codec.
Once you know the IP address (or have changed it
using Device Manager,) the rest of the setup and
operation of BRIC-Link II is done through the built-in
Web-based Interface (explained on the next page).
IP Configuration - Device Manager
Figure 2 - Device Manager
Figure 3 - IP Configuration
By default, the BRIC-Link II listens to IP port UDP 9000 for
incoming BRIC Normal audio connections. TCP port 80
is the default port for the Web-based Interface. These
ports may be changed through the Device Manager.
In order to accept incoming calls, your network must
be configured to forward incoming traffic over UDP
9000 to the BRIC-Link II. This can be accomplished by
using port forwarding rules, a DMZ or by putting the
BRIC-Link II directly on a public IP address with a static
public IP address (recommended).
If you plan on using CrossLock (described on the
last page), you will need to forward incoming traffic
over UDP 9001 to the BRIC-Link II. Comrex highly
recommends the use of CrossLock. You can learn
more by referring to the product manual, or for a quick
configuration, the last page of this quickstart.
Network Configuration

Once your IP settings are configured and BRIC-Link II
has cleanly booted on your LAN, it’s time to take a look
at the BRIC-Link II Web-based Interface. This is done
by pointing a web browser on your LAN to the BRIC-Link II
IP address. To do this, simply type the address into the
URL bar of a flash-enabled browser.
Once you are connected to BRIC-Link II, a login screen
will appear. Key in any username along with the
default password, comrex (case sensitive).
The first screen will be the Connections tab. This
tab acts like a phone book, saving the names and IP
addresses of everyone to whom you connect.
To make an outgoing connection, you must first create
a new remote in the Connections tab. Using the
Web-based Interface, click the Store New Remote
button. Enter in a remote name for the connection,
the IP Address of the unit you are calling, the audio
connection password (default is blank) and choose a
factory profile to use.
Once you are finished creating your new remote, click
OK. To start the connection, select the remote from
the list and press the Connect button. To disconnect,
simply press the Disconnect button.
Controlling BRIC-Link II via the Web-based Interface
Figure 5 - Store New Remote
Figure 4 - Connections Tab
Making Connections with Switchboard
Switchboard is a feature that allows codecs to “sync”
with a cloud-based server managed and hosted by
Comrex. Switchboard allows for easy connections to
be made between codecs without any knowledge of
IP addresses on either ends of the link. It also provides
presence and status information and can help make
some connections through routers and firewalls that
might be difficult otherwise.
Switchboard recognizes devices by their MAC
address and provides information to units in the same
Switchboard fleet that are also online. Any online units
will automatically populate in the Connections tab,
bypassing the need to know IP addresses of the units.
Switchboard is optional and will need to be purchased
through your Comrex dealer. Once you receive the
Switchboard license and apply it to your codec, contact
Comrex to set up a Switchboard account.

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.
What is CrossLock?
CrossLock describes a new reliability layer that gets
established between Comrex devices in advance of a
connection. This layer takes the form of a Virtual Private
network (VPN) between the devices.
In addition to carrying the audio media, CrossLock
allows lots of other information to be shared between the
endpoints, including information about network quality
and far-end delay settings. This provides for much better
delay management on either end of the link.
To set up a CrossLock connection, you must know the
MAC addresses of the units on both ends of the link.
This is input on the “Store New Remote” pop-up in the
MAC Address field. You will also need to check Use
Crosslock to Connect. Enter in a remote name for the
connection, the IP Address of the unit you are calling,
the audio connection password (default is blank) and
choose a factory profile to use.
In addition, the codec receiving the connection must
have a similar entry made, with the MAC Address of the
calling unit populated.
NOTE: This is important. The receiving unit must
have an outgoing connection programmed into its
address book, containing the MAC address of the
calling unit, even if that entry is never used for
outgoing calls.
Creating a CrossLock Connection
←←
Viewing CrossLock Statistics
When a CrossLock connection becomes active, the
CrossLock stats are available to view on the CrossLock
tab. The stats are a very powerful tool to diagnose the
quality of connections as well as manage the delay
settings during the connection.
To learn more about the CrossLock stats tab, consult
your product manual.