Audio
Clear-Com ProGrid troubleshooting
The Clear-Com ProGrid problems live-event techs bring to Ask Roadie most (also called PGM, ProGrid fiber). Pick your symptom, or describe your own in plain words, and get the likeliest fix first, with the manual page when there is one.
Common ProGrid errors & problems
What techs run into most, and what's usually behind it. The step-by-step fix for your exact unit is in Ask Roadie.
- Step-by-step fixGet the fix →
Assigning device ID or local ports has no effect / cannot set ID over the ring
Likely cause: Duplicate IDs will break the ring.
- Step-by-step fixGet the fix →
Fiber link intermittent, high errors, or will not lock over distance
Likely cause: Optocore links are budgeted to <6 dB loss; contamination or mismatched/unapproved transceivers push loss over budget and drop the ring.
- Step-by-step fixGet the fix →
How many devices/channels a single ProGrid-Optocore network supports (planning limits)
Likely cause: Optocore is a fixed-slot TDM ring: input count (not output count) sets bandwidth use, and the ID space caps device count.
- Step-by-step fixGet the fix →
Need to sync the ProGrid/Optocore network to an external clock or house/video sync
Likely cause: Optocore only accepts external sync via a coaxial WC IN on the master; digital-audio inputs cannot clock the ring.
- Step-by-step fixGet the fix →
No 4-wire audio or serial control passing through an intercom port to a matrix/panel
Likely cause: The ports duplicate with reversed pinout; picking the wrong one or routing audio only one way leaves serial/audio dead because control travels with the audio path.
- Step-by-step fixGet the fix →
One power supply shows fault but device keeps running / how PSU redundancy works
Likely cause: The device auto-switches to the surviving PSU with no audio interruption, so a single PSU fault is non-service-affecting but must be corrected to restore redundancy.
- Step-by-step fixGet the fix →
Serial firmware upgrade fails or COM port not seen during OPTOCORE UPGRADE
Likely cause: The upgrader talks to the boot loader over RS232 at a fixed 57,600 baud; hot-plugging or a flaky adapter breaks the transfer.
- Step-by-step fixGet the fix →
Two ProGrid devices will not communicate over fiber / OPTO LED not lit after linking
Likely cause: ProGrid/Optocore is a synchronous TDM ring; all nodes must share firmware and sample rate to negotiate time slots and word clock.
- Step-by-step fixGet the fix →
Which device becomes word clock master / unexpected clock master in a ProGrid network
Likely cause: Optocore auto-selects the master (lowest ID + WC input, or lowest ID among priority-flagged units); word clock is recovered automatically within one sample time if the master fails, so correct ID planning determines clock behavior.
Not on the list? Describe it your way, or paste the error code off the display. Ask Roadie works the problem with you until it's fixed or you have a clear next move.
How Ask Roadie helps with the ProGrid
- 1. Pick the Clear-Com ProGrid. It's already in the list.
- 2. Describe what you're seeing. In your own words, or the error code off the screen.
- 3. Get the likeliest fix first. Steps in order, the manual page when there is one, and a note when other techs have confirmed it.
- 4. Still broken? Tap 👎 and it keeps going from where you left off.