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Analog Snake

Radial Catapult Rack TX

The Radial Catapult Rack TX is the send-end partner to the Catapult Rack RX: a 1U rack-mount transmitter that takes 12 XLR inputs and sends them over three Cat 5/6 cables (four channels per cable). Drop one in your FOH, monitor, or playback rack and run Cat 5/6 to the stage end for a complete transformer-isolated 12-channel analog snake — dramatically lighter and cheaper than a traditional copper multicore. Passive, no power required.

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Photos

Manufacturer product photography — the drawn faceplate stays true to panel layout; these show the hardware itself.

Photo: Radial Engineering1 / 3
Signal channels
12Balanced analog paths end to end
Cable runs
34 channels per Cat cable
Rack space
1UBuilder checks available rail space
Power draw
0WVerified passive · no AC required
Catalog estimate
~$300Current listings stay in the price tracker

01 · What it does—and what that changes in your rig.

Product overview

Start with the payoff, then work through how it functions, where it fits, and the details that change a real build.

The payoff

12 channels. 3 cable runs. 1U.

The Catapult Rack TX is the send end of Radial's passive Cat 5/6 analog snake system — a 1U box that accepts 12 balanced XLR inputs and multiplexes them down to three Cat 5/6 runs, four channels per cable. It lives in your FOH, monitor, or playback rack and pairs with a Catapult Rack RX at the stage end to complete the link. The pitch is straightforward: instead of hauling a heavy copper multicore from the rack to stage, you're running lightweight Cat 5/6 — cable you can buy at any hardware store, terminate in the field, and stuff into a much thinner conduit.

Signal channels
12Balanced analog paths end to end
Cable runs
34 channels per Cat cable
Rack space
1UBuilder checks available rail space
Radial Catapult Rack TX — rear panel
Photo: Radial Engineering1U · 0W
Function

How it works in the path

Passive and drawing zero watts, the TX adds nothing to your power budget and introduces no latency — there's no conversion happening, just clever pin-pairing on the RJ45 connectors with transformer isolation built into the system. At 2.7 kg and 200 mm deep, it's a dense but manageable 1U. The three Cat 5/6 outputs give you flexibility: run all three to a single RX for the full 12 channels, or split them to different destinations if your rig calls for it. Because it's analog the whole way through, what you plug in is exactly what comes out — no driver installation, no dante config, no network switch required.

Best fit

Where it earns its place in the rack

This belongs in a rig where you need a clean, reliable analog snake without the weight and bulk of a traditional multicore, and where you're already committed to the Catapult ecosystem on both ends. It's a strong fit for touring IEM rigs and playback setups that travel frequently and need a fast, repeatable cable run to stage. It's not the right call if you need more than 12 channels, if you're working in an environment where Cat 5/6 runs might get confused with actual network cable, or if your stage end doesn't have a Catapult RX waiting for it — this unit does nothing without its receive-side partner.

Radial Catapult Rack TX — additional view 2
Radial Catapult Rack TX — additional view 2Photo: Radial Engineering
In the rack

Details worth deciding before load-in.

  • Label your Cat 5/6 cables at both ends before the first show — 'CAT 1 / CH 1-4,' 'CAT 2 / CH 5-8,' 'CAT 3 / CH 9-12' — because on a dark stage they are completely identical and a mis-patch is a silent, maddening fault.
  • Keep a tested spare Cat 5/6 run for each cable in your case; a single damaged cable costs you four channels, and Cat 5/6 is far easier to carry a spare of than a 12-channel copper snake.
  • Mount it at the back of the rack if your rack has rear-mount capability — the XLR inputs face the back of the truck, not the walkway, which protects the connectors during transit and keeps your front panel clean.
  • If you're splitting the three Cat 5/6 outputs to different destinations rather than a single RX, verify cable length and quality before show day — all three runs should be properly terminated Cat 5/6, not grabbed-from-the-networking-bag mystery cable.

02 · Know the whole path before you buy.

Signal path

Learn the route as a block diagram: source, product function, transport, and destination. Select any block to see what enters, what changes, and what leaves.

Interactive block diagramAuto-looping · hover, focus, or tap to hold a stage
Port-type signalProduct functionSystem boundary
Follow one signal from source to destination

Each block answers the same three questions: what arrives, what changes here, and what leaves.

01 · Source handoff · selected
01 · Source handoff

Console, split, or playback outputs

12 balanced analog channels enter as separate lines before any cable grouping happens.

Arrives as
12 analog channels
Connector
XLR female
Direction
Into this product

03 · What this product asks of the rest of the system.

Compatibility

Treat connector names as the start of the check—not the answer. These are the boundaries that determine a complete working path.

Best fit · Analog Snake

Use it when 1U and 82.55 mm of depth fit the case.

Plan the companion path

Complete both ends with a compatible sender, receiver, or breakout. Match connector, channel wiring, direction, and shielded-cable requirements.

Connector boundary

Documented connectors: XLR female, etherCON. Match connector, direction, and signal type—not shape alone.

04 · Every connector, grouped by job.

I/O ports

Switch the product view and the documented port inventory updates with it—hardware and data stay side by side.

Every connector, grouped by job.

Switch panels to keep the hardware view and the documented port list in sync.

Front panel
Rear panel
All documented ports for Radial Catapult Rack TX
PortPanelConnectorDirectionSignalChannels
IN A1frontXLR female inputanalog audio—
IN A2frontXLR female inputanalog audio—
IN A3frontXLR female inputanalog audio—
IN A4frontXLR female inputanalog audio—
IN B1frontXLR female inputanalog audio—
IN B2frontXLR female inputanalog audio—
IN B3frontXLR female inputanalog audio—
IN B4frontXLR female inputanalog audio—
IN C1frontXLR female inputanalog audio—
IN C2frontXLR female inputanalog audio—
IN C3frontXLR female inputanalog audio—
IN C4frontXLR female inputanalog audio—
A MAINrearetherCON outputanalog audio—
B MAINrearetherCON outputanalog audio—
C MAINrearetherCON outputanalog audio—
A THRUrearetherCON outputanalog audio—
B THRUrearetherCON outputanalog audio—
C THRUrearetherCON outputanalog audio—

Showing 18 of 18 documented physical ports. Scroll to review the remaining rows.

05 · Compare the decision, not just the price.

Alternatives

The rows are organized around fit, power, I/O, and system role so a cheaper unit cannot hide a more expensive workflow.

Compare
Radial Catapult Rack TX
Radial Catapult RX4M
Radial Catapult RX4L
Radial Catapult TX4L
Fit📐 1U📐 Outside rack📐 Outside rack📐 Outside rack
Power⚡ 0W⚡ Unverified⚡ Unverified⚡ Unverified
Weight⚖️ 3.1 lb⚖️ 4.0 lb⚖️ 4.0 lb⚖️ 4.0 lb
I/O🔌 18🔌 5🔌 5🔌 9
Estimate💵 ~$300💵 ~$375💵 ~$300💵 ~$300
Deep diveCurrent selectionFull comparison →Full comparison →Full comparison →

06 · Resolve the questions that can change the purchase or build plan.

Planning questions

Short, source-backed answers surface rack fit, power, cabling, and connection details before they become surprises.

How will the Radial Catapult Rack TX affect rack fit and case depth?

It occupies 1U. Its documented depth is 82.55 mm.

How much power does the Radial Catapult Rack TX draw?

It is verified passive and requires no AC power.

What connections does the Radial Catapult Rack TX have?

18 documented physical ports, including IN A1, IN A2, IN A3, IN A4, IN B1, IN B2.

07 · See this unit inside a real rack plan.

Builder preview

Placement is only the start. Builder checks space · depth · weight, power headroom, dependencies, and compatible signal paths around this exact catalog item.Open in Builder
Catapult Rack TX positioned in a rack planA simplified plan shows the unit taking 1 rack units, with its documented connection path continuing to a planned destination.RadialCatapult Rack TXCONNECTED GEARnext signal destination1U · 82.55 mm deep

08 · Related gear, in the order you may need it.

Planning guides for analog snake systems.