JBL Performance utilizes the Harman HControl communication protocol to send messages between devices and the software application. HControl is standard TCP/IP traffic and can use off-the-shelf network switches and Wi-Fi access points to communicate. HControl can co-exist with other standard network traffic such as HiQnet, Dante, AES 67, and internet traffic on a shared network. HControl is an Open Systems Interconnect (OSI) Layer 7 (application layer) protocol, registered with the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) as operating over Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and Uniform Datagram Protocol (UDP) on port 4197.

## HControl IDs

HControl IDs (HCIDs) are designed to provide users with an easy way to match real devices and virtual devices, regardless of network address or configuration. HControl IDs give each device a numeric identifier up to six digits long. Each hardware device comes with a preset HControl ID that is programmed as part of the manufacturing process. Users can modify the HControl ID either on the device LCD or in JBL Performance, using the integrated NetSetter Tool.

## HControl ID Use Case

JBL Performance software offers a visually intuitive layout of devices in software that mimics the real-world design of the system. Matching the actual hardware to the correct virtual device is the first step in getting the system online. If hardware HCIDs are known, a user can pre-program the ID in the corresponding virtual location in the software. When the network is up, simply click “Auto Match” in Connect Mode, and the software will automatically match the hardware to the virtual devices. When setting HCID addresses on the hardware, it is best to choose logical blocks of numbers that are easy to recognize.

#### Example of logical HControl ID Addressing