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AV-over-IP network design for Dante, NDI and SMPTE ST 2110
EAR Professional Audio Video designs, configures and supports the networks that carry audio and video over IP for government broadcast and meeting facilities, universities, corporate studios, venues and broadcasters, in Arizona and nationwide. We size AV switches for Dante, NDI and SMPTE ST 2110, set up multicast, timing and VLANs with your IT team, and test the whole system before it goes on air.
Dante, NDI and ST 2110 at a glance
| Technology | Used for | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Dante | Networked audio, video and control | “Dante connects, routes, and manages audio, video, control and management over IP” (Audinate); Dante AV adds video, and Dante Domain Manager is “the essential hub for all Dante networks” (Audinate) |
| NDI | Live video between cameras, switchers and software | NDI ranges from “visually lossless YUV 4:2:2 in High Bandwidth format to hardware-friendly H.265 in HX3”; High Bandwidth streams use up to 150 Mbps, while HX3 “scales down to 50 Mbps for 1080p60” (NDI) |
| SMPTE ST 2110 | Broadcast facilities moving from SDI to IP | Specifies “the carriage, synchronization, and description of separate elementary essence streams over IP” (SMPTE), with PTP timing so receivers realign video, audio and data (AJA) |
Many facilities run more than one. A council chamber might carry Dante microphones and NDI cameras on the same network; a broadcast center might move from 12G-SDI to ST 2110 in stages; see signal conversion, routing and fiber.
AV switches
- NETGEAR M4250 AV Line: “An entirely new series of switches developed and engineered for the growing audio, video over IP (AV over IP) market”, “built for audio and video over IP, with support for Dante, AVB, NDI, and more”, with NETGEAR IGMP Plus “for flawless video over IP (including audio and control)” (NETGEAR).
- NETGEAR M4350: “From 1G to 25G, M4350 switches offer managed control for AV over IP and IT networks” (NETGEAR).
- NETGEAR Engage: “certified profiles for ST2110, Dante, AES67, Q-SYS, AVB, NDI, Lighting, Video over IP” and “centralized configuration and monitoring of AV switches” (NETGEAR).
- Cisco Catalyst and Meraki: enterprise 10G switching and “cloud-managed network switching for continuous network performance at scale” (Cisco), when the AV network lives inside the organization’s IT standard.
What good AV network design covers
- Multicast: NDI’s own guidance is to “enable IGMP Snooping if using multicast” and configure an IGMP querier in multi-switch networks (NDI); AV switch profiles set this up consistently.
- Timing: Dante, AES67 and ST 2110 rely on PTP clocking; switches, grandmaster clocks and QoS are planned so audio and video stay in sync.
- Bandwidth and PoE: uplinks sized for every High Bandwidth NDI or ST 2110 stream, and PoE budgets for PTZ cameras, Dante devices and wireless access points.
- Segmentation and management: VLANs and access rules agreed with your IT and security teams, and central monitoring with NETGEAR Engage, Dante Domain Manager or Meraki.
- Devices on the network: Dante mixers and microphones (see audio studio and live pro audio), NDI and SRT PTZ cameras (see PTZ systems), and IP intercom (see intercom).
AV network projects
- Arizona Capitol Television: NETGEAR M4250 and M4350 AV-line switches and Cisco Meraki security appliances (2023–2026) for the capitol broadcast network; see legislative AV.
- Arizona House of Representatives: (2025) NETGEAR M4250 AV switches and Cisco Meraki Wi-Fi for the video and podcast studio, with Dante audio from a Yamaha DM3; see the case study.
- Arizona State Senate: NETGEAR M4250 AV-line switches (2023, 2026).
- University of Arizona: (2024–2026) NETGEAR M4250 10G PoE++ AV switches for campus studios; see higher education studios.
- Edward Jones National Broadcast Center: (2024) Cisco Catalyst 9300X 10G switching for the broadcast center; see the case study.
- Arizona Cardinals: (2024) Cisco Catalyst 9300X 10G switch stack.
- Arizona Corporation Commission, Mohave County and the City of Chandler: NETGEAR M4250 AV and 10-gigabit switches for meeting and production systems.
- City of Surprise: an AJA openGear 12G-SDI to Dante 64-channel audio embedder (2022).
For our clients’ security, we don’t publish network layouts or configurations.
Buying on contract
Arizona state agencies and Purchasing Cooperative members can buy through state contract CTR075309, and eligible public agencies in other states through cooperative contract 1GPA 22-02PV. Network design, switches, configuration, installation and training can go on one quote; see design and management.
Frequently asked questions
Who designs AV-over-IP networks for Dante, NDI and ST 2110 in Arizona?
EAR Professional Audio Video, in Tempe, Arizona, designs, configures and supports AV-over-IP networks for Dante audio, NDI video and SMPTE ST 2110 broadcast facilities, using NETGEAR M4250 and M4350 AV-line switches, Cisco Catalyst and Meraki, and Audinate Dante products. Clients include Arizona Capitol Television, the Arizona House of Representatives and Senate, the University of Arizona and the Edward Jones National Broadcast Center.
Why use an AV switch like the NETGEAR M4250 instead of a regular network switch?
AV-over-IP depends on multicast and timing settings that general office switches don’t ship with. NETGEAR’s M4250 AV Line was built for audio and video over IP, with support for Dante, AVB and NDI, NETGEAR IGMP Plus for multicast, and certified AV profiles for ST 2110, Dante, AES67, Q-SYS and NDI, managed from NETGEAR Engage.
What is the difference between NDI High Bandwidth and NDI HX?
NDI High Bandwidth is visually lossless YUV 4:2:2 video using up to about 150 Mbps per stream, while NDI HX3 uses H.265 compression and scales down to about 50 Mbps for 1080p60, so more cameras fit on a 1-gigabit network.
What is SMPTE ST 2110?
SMPTE ST 2110 is a suite of standards for carrying separate video, audio and metadata streams over IP networks, synchronized with PTP timing. It lets broadcast facilities replace SDI cabling with IP switching; converters such as Blackmagic 2110 IP converters connect existing SDI equipment.
Can public agencies buy AV network equipment on contract?
Yes. Arizona state agencies and Purchasing Cooperative members can buy through Arizona state contract CTR075309, and eligible public agencies in other states through cooperative contract 1GPA 22-02PV, with design, configuration and installation on one quote.
Related: Signal conversion, routing and fiber · Studio equipment · Audio studio equipment · Live pro audio · Intercom and IFB · Legislative AV · Hearing rooms and council chambers · Remote connectivity · Our history
Sources: NETGEAR M4250 AV Line; NETGEAR M4350; NETGEAR Engage; Cisco Meraki switches; Audinate Dante; Dante AV; Dante Domain Manager; NDI; NDI for video; NDI switch settings; SMPTE ST 2110 FAQ; AJA on ST 2110; EAR Professional Audio Video project records. Banner graphic: EAR Professional Audio Video; logos: Audinate Dante, NDI. Last reviewed: November 6, 2026.
About EAR
EAR Professional Audio Video (Engineering & Recording, Inc.) is a broadcast and professional AV systems integrator and reseller in Tempe, Arizona, founded in 1978. EAR designs, installs and supports systems for government, education, broadcast and corporate clients, and is an awarded supplier on Arizona state contract CTR075309 and national cooperative contract 1GPA 22-02PV.
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