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Constructing a Network

You should have a basic understanding of networking when building a network for Fusion PartyBus™ devices.

These instructions guide you through the basics of building and configuring a network, and should apply to most situations. If you need to perform advanced networking tasks, such as assigning static IP addresses to devices on the network or configuring advanced settings on a connected router, you may need to consult a networking professional.

  1. Determine the installation location of the Fusion PartyBus devices you want to connect to the network.
    NOTE: Wired connections are more reliable than wireless connections. When planning your network, you should run network cables instead of using wireless connections when possible.
  2. Determine the installation location of any needed network routers or switches.
  3. Route network cable to the installation locations of the stereos, switches, and router.
    NOTE: If you are connecting this stereo only to other stereos or devices with a Garmin BlueNet™ network port, you can run Garmin BlueNet cables instead of Cat5e or Cat6 cable. If you are connecting to other stereos or devices with a standard RJ45 network port, you must use an RJ45 to Garmin BlueNet adapter cable (010-12531-02, not included) to connect a Cat5e or Cat6 cable to this stereo.
  4. Connect the network cables to the stereos, switches, and router.
    NOTICE

    Do not completely install the stereos yet. You should test the network before you install the stereos.

  5. Turn on all devices connected to the network, including wireless devices.
  6. Select an option:

    • If you are using a network router (wired or wireless), consult the documentation provided with your router to configure the router as the DHCP server, if necessary. When using a router as the DHCP server, all stereos on the network should use their default configuration (DHCP client).

    • If you are not using a wireless router, you should configure a stereo as a wireless access point, if necessary (Setting the Fusion PartyBus Device as a Wireless Access Point). Configuring a stereo as a wireless access point makes that stereo the DHCP server, and all of the other stereos on the network should use their default configuration (DHCP client).

    • If you are not using a network router, not using a stereo as a wireless access point, and there are no other DHCP servers on the network, you should configure one of the stereos as the DHCP server (Setting the Fusion PartyBus Device as the DHCP Server).

  7. Test the network by selecting Menu > GROUPS to view a list of devices connected to the on the network, and select an option:

    • If any Fusion PartyBus devices are not available to the network, troubleshoot the network (Network Troubleshooting).

    • If all Fusion PartyBus devices are available on the network, complete the installation for each stereo, if necessary.

GUID-93B550BE-32FB-4B88-B776-F28617ABA7D5 v4
August 2025
© 2025 Garmin Ltd.