In the rental and event industry, everything moves fast: build‑up, testing, show time, tear‑down — and then it all starts again the next day.
AV over IP plays a major role in enabling this flexibility, allowing faster workflows and scalable setups.
However, one practical issue kept coming up time and time again among rental companies and touring users:
switches mounted only by their front brackets, leaving the rear unsupported and gradually sagging over time.
At first glance it may seem like a minor detail, but inside a flightcase this quickly becomes a serious issue. As the rear of the switch sags, connected cabling is constantly subjected to mechanical stress, with all the associated risks. For quite some time, rental companies had been indicating that this could — and should — be improved.
So we listened — and developed a 4‑post mounting kit.
The Problem: Front‑Mounted Switches Work Fine… Until They’re Used in a Flightcase
Across many rental environments, I kept seeing the same makeshift solutions:
- An M4250 or M4350 mounted only by the front rack ears
- The rear resting on a wooden strip, a piece of foam, a roll of tape
- Sometimes supported by another device in the rack that is mounted on four points
- And occasionally the rear of the switch was not supported at all
This isn’t sloppy work — it is simply what happens when a switch designed for permanent installations is placed in a 50–60 cm deep flightcase. There is no rear support point, so over time the switch begins to sag. And that’s where the problems start.
The feedback I heard everywhere was remarkably consistent:
- the rear of the switch sags downward
- connected cables pull on the ports and are subjected to mechanical stress
- during transport, unnecessary force is applied to the front plate
- technicians are forced to come up with a “creative” fix every single time
Everyone recognised the issue, but until now there was no structural, repeatable solution.
How Field Feedback Started This Project
During trainings, events, demos and onsite conversations, I kept hearing the same comment:
“The switch performs great, but the mounting in touring racks really needs improvement.”
As a manufacturer, you have two options at that point: ignore it, or fix it.
We chose to fix it. That decision resulted in the NETGEAR 4‑post mounting kit, specifically designed for touring cases and rental racks.
The NETGEAR Adjustable Rackmount Kit (RBS1830‑10000S)
Part number: RBS1830‑10000S
Description: Adjustable rear support brackets for racks with a depth of 18” to 30”, suitable for switches deeper than 35 cm
This kit ensures that a NETGEAR AV switch is always fully supported — regardless of rack depth or flightcase configuration. It is designed for use with:
- NETGEAR M4250 (Phase 2)
- NETGEAR M4350 series
The mounting kit is built for real‑world use:
- Adjustable rear rails to support a wide range of rack depths
- Four‑point mounting to prevent the switch from sagging
- Designed to withstand transport, vibration and the mechanical stress typical in touring environments
Where a switch previously was effectively “hanging” from its front plate, it is now fully supported — even during transport.
My Own Experience: The NETGEAR Demo Rack for ISE Barcelona
Naturally, I wanted to test the solution myself. In Zoetermeer, I installed the kit in our demo flightcase used for events such as ISE in Barcelona.
What stood out immediately:
- The rails are easy to adjust, even in deeper‑than‑standard racks
- The switch finally sits perfectly level
- All cable strain on PoE bundles is gone
- Even when fully patched, everything remains stable
- Installation is straightforward, though a few practical tips do save time
That’s why the following section includes the same mounting information used in real deployments.
What’s Included in the Adjustable Rackmount Kit?
The kit contains everything needed for a professional, safe and touring‑ready installation.
Adjustable Support Brackets
Two versions are included to support different rack depths:
These brackets are mounted on the two rear rack posts, at the U‑position where the switch will be installed. To select the correct set, first measure the distance between the front and rear rack posts.
Before mounting the selected bracket set, adjust the depth using the two screws on the rear of each bracket. If your rack depth is, for example, 27 inches, loosen the screws, slide the adjustable section forward until the holes align with the 27‑inch marking, and then tighten the screws again. Repeat this step for both brackets and mount them in the rack.
Torsion Hinges
The torsion hinges are mounted to the rear of the switch using the supplied screws. The original rack ears provided with the switch remain in use at the front.
Available versions:
Rear‑Post Mounting Brackets
For use in FOH flightcases or compact racks where rear access is not available.
Installation Options
Installation with Front and Rear Access
Ideal for deep flightcases and fixed racks.
- Adjust the support brackets to the correct rack depth and mount them on the rear rack posts
- Attach the rack ears and torsion hinges to the switch
- Slide the switch into the rack from the front
- Secure the front rack ears to the front posts
- Check the installation
Front‑Only Installation
Perfect for FOH flightcases or racks without rear access.
- Mount the rear‑post mounting brackets together with the adjustable support brackets
- Slide the switch into position
- Secure all mounting points
In Closing: How NETGEAR Innovates — Together with the Field
This mounting kit was not designed in isolation behind a desk. It was created based on:
- conversations with technicians in the field
- feedback from rental companies
- input gathered during trainings and demos
- real‑world problems I encountered in racks myself
If you are running into similar practical challenges, or have ideas for improvements, let me know. That kind of feedback often becomes the starting point for the next solution.
Eric Lindeman, NETGEAR ProAV Staff Systems Engineer Benelux
For more information about NETGEAR AV Switching, please contact the NETGEAR Pro AV Design Team via email: ProAVdesign@netgear.com
If you’d like to delve deeper into AV over IP switching, I invite you to check out our Online Academy via the link: https://academy.netgear.com/
On our training portal, you can find both AV and IT-related training courses. These courses are free to attend after registration, and at the end of each course, you can take an exam to earn a certificate.
