Baker Box

The high quality RJ-45/CAT-5 alternative to dry-pair and line amps for remote broadcasting & pro-audio

The BBX "Baker Box" provides a convenient, high performance
way to transport your microphone signals from the field to your
audio console. Using widely available CAT-5 unshielded twisted
pair cables with RJ-45 connectors, each box accommodates
an analog, stereo pair mic source. These analog signals are
immediately converted to 24-bit digital AES, establishing your
noise floor at the mic source, and trans-ported down the CAT-5
cable. Up to 4 boxes can be combined, by either a daisy-chain
or star topology, to deliver signals up to 500 meters (1,640 ft.).

Power to the units may be pro-vided locally or upstream via the
CAT-5 cable. This eliminates the need for line amplifiers and the
9-volt batteries required to run them.

Each MIC level input provides phantom power for both 24V and 48V powered mics. There are also three gain options to adjust audio levels going to the mixer. Each box delivers the converted AES signal at a front-panel BNC. It also sends the signal down the CAT-5 to the RX unit, via up to three other BBX units, each of which adds another stereo mic pair AES signal to the CAT-5 trunk.

The RX unit features four RJ-45 in-puts for use in "star" configurations, one RJ-45 for use in daisy-chain configurations, and four AES outputs on BNC's. Two RX units are housed in a 1RU frame. The BBX system can be used by itself or as a compliment to our various fiber optic transport systems, such as Adder II multichannel AES/EBU fiber optic multiplexers.

Features

•   Pre-amplifies, digitizes & transports mic audio
•   Eliminates cable transmission noise
•   Distances up to 500 meters (1,640 ft.)
•   Add and insert up to 8 mics on one CAT-5
    • Daisy-chain up to 4 TX units or
    • Create a 4-way "Star" configuration
•   Stand-alone field "Baker Box" transmitter
    • Uses common RJ-45 Ethernet cables
    • Can be used as stand-alone A/D converter
    • Accepts two mic level, analog audio inputs
    • Power locally or via RJ-45/CAT-5 cable
    • Provides 24V and 48V phantom power
    • Adjustable microphone gain
• Compact rack-mount RX breaks out to BNCs
    • Two receiver units in a 1RU frame
    • Each RX delivers 4 AES signals to 4 BNCs
    • Provides power to TX units and mics
• Plug-and-play operation
• High reliability design