As we know, AV-over-IP uses standard IT network equipment to transmit and receive audio, video and control signals over WAN, LAN or Internet networks. For years, AV sources have been sent across rooms, buildings and campuses over traditional and dedicated infrastructure. With the latter, however, it can become prohibitively expensive to extend signals over large lengths in very complex systems. Thus, by replacing the transmitter, matrix and receiver with an encoder, network switch and decoder, signals can be sent over Ethernet, allowing for much longer distance transmission and with the flexibility needed for possible future system expansion. In this transmission scheme, the network switch plays a key function. Although, in principle, all Ethernet Gb switches can work with Dante AV, there are certain features and functions that should be taken into account to improve the reliability of the network itself.

The first thing to consider when selecting a network switch for these applications is the bandwidth. The most common solutions require 1, 2.5 or 10 Gbits to transport AV over IP. For most applications, where almost zero latency and flawless 4K video quality are not critical, a 1 Gbps solution is usually sufficient. For more demanding applications, or where higher resolution such as 8K is expected, it usually makes sense to opt for a 10 Gbps solution, which will introduce less compression and latency. While 1 Gbps switches still offer the lowest cost per port, the price of 10 Gbps solutions is falling rapidly, making them more attractive. For channel counts of 32 or more, Gigabit Ethernet switches are still essential. In networks sharing data with services other than Dante, QoS (Quality of Service) is recommended. Recall that QoS is a feature of managed switches, those that provide detailed information on the operation of each parameter such as port speed, errors, bandwidth and can be configured accordingly. QoS ensures that certain types of network packets, e.g. clock synchronisation and audio, receive 'preferential treatment' and thus have priority over other types of traffic. Another important feature is the maximum power that each individual port can provide for PoE power, which can range from 30 W to 90 W in the Ultra90 PoE++ standard.

Finally, we must emphasise the fact that video multicast requires a special configuration to ensure that traffic reaches its destination without interruptions and without network overload. The protocol designed for this purpose is called IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol) and contains a number of functions, including snooping and queries, that allow a multicast video signal to reach the desired receiver. Most switches on the market require up to 14 individual commands for all IGP settings. NETGEAR's AV over IP switches contain IGMP Plus, which configures all IGMP settings with a single command, a clear benefit.