Your hospital’s network operates much like a post office.

1. Modem: A modem is like a large county post office branch. It takes data from the internet and allows it come into your clinic. A modem only provides internet access. Modems are often provided by our Internet Service Provider, such as AT&T, Cox, Comcast, etc.

2. Router: A Router takes the information from the modem and distributes it to the computers in your hospital. This is your ‘hospital network.’ The Router allows your computers to talk to each other and access the internet. Routers come in many forms with the most common being a wireless router with 4 ports on the back that allows you to plug a cat-5 network cable into. Your Sound digital system will require at least 2 ports on network.

The Router assigns every computer in your clinic an address. Think of the Router like a hotel. A computer check’s into the hotel and is assigned a room. Mail can be delivered through the hotel’s front desk to that guest and the hotel will deliver it the guest’s room.

3. Switch: A switch provides more ports or access for more computers to be hard wired on the network. If you run out of ports on the back of your router, you may need a switch. They often come in 8, 16, 32, and 64 port options. This is like adding more rooms to your hotel to allow for more guests.

There are 2 types of Static IP address, a local and ISP provided one. Sound requires your SmartPACS Server to have a local static IP only.

Local Static IP: This is assigned by your router. Using the hotel analogy, assigning a local static IP address would be the equivalent of a returning guest always getting the same room. Any mail sent to this guest can be sent to him by name or room number. Similarly, other computers on network can send to the static ip address that you have given it or by name.

ISP Static Addresses: Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) will provide a changing ip address for your modem. This will not matter as your router will make everything simple for you. Static IP addresses through your ISP are costly and not necessary in many situations.

When setting up a network or making changes to your existing network, we advice that you contact a local IT professional in order to assist. Depending on your order, you will have at least 2 new computers in your office that will need to be hard wired. These new computers will connect to your existing  internal network.

Acquisition Computer

• Location: X-ray room
• Connection Type: Cat-5e or Cat-6
• Connects to existing network setup

SmartPACS Computer

• Location: Server Room, office, etc
• Connection Type: Cat-5e or Cat-6
• Connects to existing network setup

Q: How do you know when you need an IT professional?

A: If you have to run network lines, add more switches, build a network, etc, or just feel overwhelmed.

Q: How can you find a local IT professional? 

A: There are several ways that you can locate one near you. Some of the most common are listed below

• Yelp! is a great tool, try seaching for IT Services in your area. Yelp! is a great tool as you can see comments from others who have used their services.
• Google – search for IT, Small Business IT, or IT Consultants in your area.
• Word of Mouth is one of the best ways of ensuring you will have a quality engineer onsite
• Black Box is a nationwide IT service company that can provide networking insfastructure services (i.e. running cables, etc.)
• CDW can work with you to provide data and network security along with other IT solutions for your hostpial

We will be happy to work with your local IT resource and answer their questions on set up – please give them our Tech Support number (800) 819-5538 or contact us at installations@soundvet.com