FS S5850C AV over IP Switch Series — Your Ideal Choice for AV

Back in the day, point-to-point connections ruled the AV (Audio-Visual) world. Picture a traditional conference room: thick, tangled cables from projectors to speakers, and a pile of remote controls no one understood. While impressive in their time, they no longer suffice in our digital-first era. Enter the next big thing: AV over IP (Audio-Visual over Internet Protocol). By moving audio and video signals over networks instead of wires, we’ve unlocked a world of possibilities in terms of flexibility, cost-efficiency, and scalability. However, as more enterprises embrace this technology, they often encounter several challenges with IP-based networks. In this blog, we will examine these key issues and introduce the FS S5850C AV over IP switch series, designed for modern AV needs.

Key IP Challenges in AV

The adoption of IP-based systems in the AV industry has transformed how audio and video content is distributed. However, this transition comes with its share of challenges.

1. Complex AV Environments

The requirements for AV systems are distinctly different from those of IT environments, introducing greater complexity. For instance, delivering IP-based AV packets to multiple conference rooms demands a high level of QoS. Additionally, configuring IT switches for AV can be intricate and time-consuming. AV systems must be meticulously configured and carefully aligned with network protocols to ensure smooth streaming, low latency, and high-quality performance. Mismanagement may result in issues like video jitter, lag, or complete system failure, which can jeopardize the user experience.

2. Communication Barriers Between AV and IT Teams

The convergence of AV and IT technologies introduces another challenge: communication barriers. IT professionals and AV experts often use different terminology, standards, and have varying expectations. Traditional AV teams often have limited exposure to IT networking concepts, while IT professionals may lack specific knowledge of AV protocols and standards. This gap leads to potential misconfigurations, operational inefficiencies, and increased chances of errors.

3. Support and Maintenance Requirements

Pro AV users demand expert support. As the integration of AV and IP systems grows, professionals skilled in both domains are essential. They must understand AV standards, protocols like IGMP, and how these intersect with IT infrastructure to ensure seamless integration and operation.

The Answers: FS S5850C AV over IP Series Switches

To address these demands, FS has launched the S5850C switch series, which includes the S5850C-24S2C, S5850C-12XMS2C, and S5850C-24XMG2C models, specifically designed for 10Gb AV environments. Let’s explore how this series effectively addresses the challenges faced in modern AV applications.

Meeting Complex AV Network Needs

The FS S5850C series offers flexible speed interfaces ranging from 100M to 100G, with up to 880 Gbps switching capacity and a forwarding rate of 654.72 Mpps. This allows them to effortlessly handle the large volumes of data typical in AV applications, providing the necessary bandwidth for smooth audio and video streaming without latency issues. The series also integrates a range of features to ensure stability and flexibility:

Diversified Multicast Protocols:

Includes

IGMP

V1/V2/V3, PIM-SM, PIM-DM, PIM-SSM, and more. This is crucial for optimizing AV streaming in large networks, such as those used in corporate events or live concerts. It ensures that AV content can be efficiently distributed to multiple locations without overwhelming the IT infrastructure.

Efficient Traffic Management:

QoS

features prioritize audio and video streams, reducing latency and preventing jitter or lag to meet AV traffic control requirements. This maintains the quality and reliability of AV transmissions, particularly in environments where network bandwidth is shared among multiple applications.

Accurate Timing with PTP TC:

The support for

PTP

TC ensures accurate synchronization of audio and video data streams. This minimizes timing errors and enhances overall system performance, especially in scenarios like audio mixing or synchronized video playback during presentations.

High Reliability:

MLAG support provides dual-active links, ensuring uninterrupted service even during device failures or system upgrades. This guarantees the stability of AV signals, preventing interruptions in presentations, performances, or broadcasts.

Scalable Networking:

The S5850C series supports VXLAN, NVGRE, and GENEVE tunneling protocols, which facilitate scalable network architectures. This capability allows for easy expansion of AV networks, such as in large venues or multi-site setups, overcoming traditional Layer 2 limitations.

Whether it’s for corporate events, concerts, or video conferencing, these switches ensure that AV experiences are smooth, synchronized, and of the highest quality.

Designed for AV Mounting

With their half-width size and 1U form factor, FS S5850C switches are designed for various installation scenarios. They can be deployed as single units, paired together, or wall-mounted, allowing efficient use of rack space and simplifying integration with AV equipment like encoders and decoders.

Simplifying AV and IT Collaboration

The S5850C switches are equipped with user-friendly management options such as CLI, WEB, SNMP, and SSH, making them accessible for AV professionals and IT experts alike. Network administrators can monitor and manage AV and IT traffic through an intuitive interface, significantly simplifying coordination and ensuring seamless communication across the team.

Expert Support and Resources

FS provides each customer with a dedicated account manager, free expert technical support, and 24/5 live customer service to help your team master new AV over IP networks. From comprehensive techincal documentation to skilled customer service, FS ensures that assistance is only a phone call or click away. Additionally, the FS S5850C series switches come with a 5-year limited warranty against material or workmanship defects.

Professional Lab: Test each product with the latest and advanced networking equipment.

Free Technical Support: Provide free & tailored solutions and services for your businesses.

80% Same-day Shipping: With 7 Local warehouses globally, FS ensures same-day dispatch for 80% of orders. Plus, real-time inventory levels can be checked on our website.

Fast Response: Get direct and immediate assistance from an expert, because your business can't afford to wait.

Product Specifications

	S5850C-24S2C	S5850C-12XMS2C	S5850C-24XMG2C
Ports	24x 10G SFP+| 2x 100G QSFP28	12x 10Gb SFP+, 12x 100M/1G/2.5G/5G/10GBASE-T RJ45 | 2x 100Gb QSFP28	24x 100M/1G/2.5G/5G/10GBASE-T RJ45 | 2x 100Gb QSFP28
Switching Capacity	880 Gbps	880 Gbps	880 Gbps
Forwarding Rate	654.72 Mbps	654.72 Mbps	654.72 Mbps
Latency	2.5~7μs	2.5~7μs	2.5~7μs
Power Supply	1 Hot-swappable	1 Hot-swappable	1 Hot-swappable
Fan Number	2 Built-in	2 Built-in	2 Built-in
Airflow	Front-to-Back	Front-to-Back	Front-to-Back
Max. Power Consumption	64W	81W	101W
MLAG	Yes	Yes	Yes
PTP	Yes	Yes	Yes
VLAN, QoS, IGMP Snooping, Link Aggregation	Yes	Yes	Yes
Static Routing, RIP, OSPF, IPv6 support	Yes	Yes	Yes

Start a New Journey with FS for AV

The FS S5850C AV over IP Switch Series is designed to help businesses of all sizes create reliable, high-performance networks that effortlessly handle AV and IT workloads. These switches address key challenges and streamline the transition to IP-based AV systems, making them the ideal choice for organizations looking to modernize their AV infrastructure.

Ready to learn more? Discover the powerful features of the S5850C-24S2C, S5850C-12XMS2C, and S5850C-24XMG2C models to transform your AV over IP experience today!