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Overview

ARC - audio return channel - is an HDMI feature that lets a Streaming TV playing video content to pass audio back to a connected AVR or other audio speakers. Because the "display" is also the "source" in this situation, audio travels in the opposite direction along the HDMI cable than it usually does.

Typically, a Streaming TV passes audio back to the AVR or audio speaker in the same zone, but Just Add Power's MaxColor Series extends ARC's reach so that audio from a Streaming TV can play on ANY other MaxColor Decoder in the system.

 

ARC is disabled by default.

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Firmware & Hardware Support

Minimum Firmware:

• MAX v4.3.2

ARC is supported on these models:

• MC-RX1
• MC-RX2

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ARC Decoder Roles

A MaxColor Decoder can perform one of two Roles in a system:

1. Broadcaster - connected to the Streaming TV and receives audio from the streaming app. Sends an ARC signal to the system for any Subscriber to listen to.
2. Subscriber - connected to the AVR or speakers. Listens to an ARC signal from any Broadcaster on the network.

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Setup a Decoder for Broadcaster Role

1. Login to the webUI of the Decoder attached to the Streaming TV and go to the Audio tab
   
2. Locate the Audio Return Channel (ARC) Settings card and Enable ARC
3. Set ARC Role to Broadcaster
4. Set the Broadcast Channel (an integer from 1-9999). If there are multiple Broadcasters in a system, each must have a unique channel. In an AMP system, we recommend setting the Broadcast Channel to the same number as the Decoder (so Decoder 6 would be Broadcast Channel 6).
   
5. Click Apply
6. At the top-right Menu, select Save, then Reboot
   
7. Audio from the Streaming TV can now be sent to Decoders in the Subscriber Role

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Setup a Decoder for Subscriber Role

1. Login to the webUI of the Decoder attached to the AVR/speakers and go to the Audio tab
   
2. Locate the Audio Return Channel (ARC) Settings card and Enable ARC
3. Set ARC Role to Subscriber
4. Set the Default Audio Selection - the audio source that will play when the Decoder turns on - to Encoder or ARC
   • Encoder: plays the audio of the Just Add Power Encoder source that the Decoder is watching
   • ARC: plays the audio of the streaming TV connected to the Broadcaster at the selected channel
     • If ARC is selected, select a default Broadcast Channel
5. Click Apply
6. At the top-right Menu, select Save, then Reboot
7. This Decoder can now listen to any ARC source in the system

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Control API

Commands are sent to the Subscriber via telnet port 23.

Control API: Select Audio Source

Select the audio source that the Subscriber is listening to.

Command:
audio select {$Source} {$Channel}

• {$Source} = hdmi or arc
• {$Channel} = integer from 1 to 9999. Only used when {$Source} is arc

Examples:

 

Control API: Set ARC Role

Set Broadcaster, Subscriber, or clear all Roles. These commands perform the same function as the webUI.

Command:

arc_mode {$Role} {$Channel}

• {$Role} = off or broadcaster or subscriber or extender
• {$Channel} = integer from 1 to 9999. Combine with broadcaster or subscriber.
• Send with no options to see the current ARC role

Examples: