Issue Preliminary 1, April 2021 Model 5402 User Guide
Page 6 Studio Technologies, Inc.
connected to provide redundant operation.
The lightweight enclosure mounts in one
space (1U) of a 19-inch equipment rack.
Industry-standard connectors are used for
Ethernet, GNSS antenna, DC power, and AC
mains interconnections. Updating the Model
5402’s operating software can be easily per-
formed using a USB flash drive.
Applications
Applications for the Model 5402 include
broadcast and post-production facilities,
college and university audio networks,
arenas, stadiums, corporate installations,
and virtually any application where substan-
tial numbers of Dante-compatible devices
are utilized. The Model 5402 will serve as a
stable and consistent Leader clock for the
entire Dante “network.” And, as expected,
the Model 5402 is compatible with all Dante
devices, no matter what their function or
whom their manufacturer. Applications
that utilize devices compatible with AES67
will also benefit from the Model 5402’s
resources. With its ability to “lock” to a
satellite-based time standard, multiple Model
5402 units can be deployed literally “around
the world” and maintain synchronized PTP
performance.
Why a Dedicated Dante Leader
Clock?
With Dante ubiquitous in fixed and mobile
facilities of all sizes and types, the need
arose for a cost-effective, purpose-designed,
dedicated Leader clock. While an inherent
strength of Dante networking is its carefully
implemented use of the IEEE 1588 stan-
dard to ensure that all connected devices
maintain a common timing reference, the
actual performance can vary widely de-
pending on the specific Dante devices in
use and the overall number of devices on a
network. There are many Dante-compatible
devices that can provide adequate basic
performance as a Leader clock, but with the
Model 5402 networked audio systems get
the benefits of a high-performance Primary
Leader Clock, along with additional unique
capabilities. The unit’s feature set, along
with the associated internal hardware and
software, was designed to provide optimum
performance, flexibility, and system integrity.
Timing Sources
The Model 5402 can provide excellent
Leader clock performance using a timing
reference that is based on signals provided
by one or more GNSS (satellite) constella-
tions. This will ensure accuracy and stabil-
ity that exceeds the capability of standard
Dante devices by at least an order of mag-
nitude. A configuration choice is provided in
a Model 5402 webpage to allow a failover
source of timing to be selected should a
valid GNSS signal become unavailable.
The Model 5402 will also provide strong
Leader clock performance using its temper-
ature-stabilized internal oscillator. While its
standalone performance is excellent, it can
also be “locked” to a variety of external sig-
nals for integration into facilities that already
include a central or main timing reference.
Compatible signals include word clock,
video reference, and 10 MHz. Word clock
is a square wave signal that is often used
as a timing reference in audio-only facilities.
Video reference (“sync”) signals are found
in most broadcast and post-production facili-
ties. The Model 5402 supports the most-
common video format/rate combinations
including “black burst,” bi- and tri-level HD,
and several that are specifically intended for
4K applications. Industrial and commercial
facilities often utilize a source of 10 MHz
sine-wave as a timing reference.
