Black Box ACU8000A User manual

ACU8000A
UMA1178 Rev NC
ServSwitch Universal Extender
Extend dual-head VGA video, stereo audio, RS-232
and up to three independent USB ports up to 400
feet (125 m) away on CATx cable.

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TRADEMARKS USED IN THIS MANUAL
BLACK BOX and its Double Diamond logo are registered trademarks, and ServSwitch is a
trademark of BB Technologies, Inc.
Any other trademarks mentioned in this manual are acknowledged to be the property of the
trademark owners.
We‘re here to help!
If you have any questions about your application or our
products, contact Black Box Tech Support at 724-746-5500
or go to blackbox.com and click on “Talk to Black Box.”
You’ll be live with one of our technical experts in less
than 20 seconds.

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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION AND INDUSTRY CANADA
RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE STATEMENTS
This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio-frequency energy, and if not installed and used properly, that
is, in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, may cause interference to radio communication. It has
been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A computing device in accordance with the specifications
in Subpart J of Part 15 of FCC rules, which are designed to provide reasonable protection against such interference
when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is
likely to cause interference, in which case the user; at own expense; will be required to take whatever measures may
be necessary to correct the interference.
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s
authority to operate the equipment. This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class A limits for radio noise emission
from digital apparatus set out in the Radio Interference Regulation of Industry Canada
.
Le présent appareil numérique n’émet pas de bruits radioélectriques dépassant les limites applicables aux appareils
numériques de classe A prescrites dans le Règlement sur le brouillage radioélectrique publié par Industrie Canada.

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INSTRUCCIONES DE SEGURIDAD
Normas Oficiales Mexicanas (NOM) Electrical Safety Statement
1. Todas las instrucciones de seguridad y operación deberán ser leídas antes de que el aparato eléctrico
sea operado.
2. Las instrucciones de seguridad y operación deberán ser guardadas para referencia futura.
3. Todas las advertencias en el aparato eléctrico y en sus instrucciones de operación deben ser
respetadas.
4. Todas las instrucciones de operación y uso deben ser seguidas.
5. El aparato eléctrico no deberá ser usado cerca del agua—por ejemplo, cerca de la tina de baño, lavabo,
sótano mojado o cerca de una alberca, etc.
6. El aparato eléctrico debe ser usado únicamente con carritos o pedestales que sean recomendados por
el fabricante.
7. El aparato eléctrico debe ser montado a la pared o al techo sólo como sea recomendado por el
fabricante.
8. Servicio—El usuario no debe intentar dar servicio al equipo eléctrico más allá a lo descrito en las
instrucciones de operación. Todo otro servicio deberá ser referido a personal de servicio calificado.
9. El aparato eléctrico debe ser situado de tal manera que su posición no interfiera su uso. La colocación
del aparato eléctrico sobre una cama, sofá, alfombra o superficie similar puede bloquea la ventilación, no
se debe colocar en libreros o gabinetes que impidan el flujo de aire por los orificios de ventilación.
10. El equipo eléctrico deber ser situado fuera del alcance de fuentes de calor como radiadores, registros de
calor, estufas u otros aparatos (incluyendo amplificadores) que producen calor.
11. El aparato eléctrico deberá ser connectado a una fuente de poder sólo del tipo descrito en el instructivo
de operación, o como se indique en el aparato.
12. Precaución debe ser tomada de tal manera que la tierra fisica y la polarización del equipo no sea
eliminada.
13. Los cables de la fuente de poder deben ser guiados de tal manera que no sean pisados ni pellizcados
por objetos colocados sobre o contra ellos, poniendo particular atención a los contactos y receptáculos
donde salen del aparato.
14. El equipo eléctrico debe ser limpiado únicamente de acuerdo a las recomendaciones del fabricante.
15. En caso de existir, una antena externa deberá ser localizada lejos de las lineas de energia.
16. El cable de corriente deberá ser desconectado del cuando el equipo no sea usado por un largo periodo
de tiempo.
17. Cuidado debe ser tomado de tal manera que objectos liquidos no sean derramados sobre la cubierta u
orificios de ventilación.
18. Servicio por personal calificado deberá ser provisto cuando:
a. El cable de poder o el contacto ha sido dañado; u
b. Objectos han caído o líquido ha sido derramado dentro del aparato; o
c. El aparato ha sido expuesto a la lluvia; o
d. El aparato parece no operar normalmente o muestra un cambio en su desempeño; o
e. El aparato ha sido tirado o su cubierta ha sido dañada.

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Contents
1. SPECIFICATIONS ................................................................................................................5
2. OVERVIEW ...........................................................................................................................6
2.1 INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................6
2.2 FEATURES .................................................................................................................6
2.3 WHAT’S INCLUDED...................................................................................................... 6
2.4 HARDWARE DESCRIPTION........................................................................................... 7
3. INSTALLATION ..................................................................................................................13
3.1 CONNECTING THE SENDER UNIT TO THE PC ..............................................................13
3.2 CONNECTING THE SENDER UNIT TO LOCAL OUTPUTS................................................. 14
3.3 CONNECTING THE SENDER UNIT TO THE RECEIVER UNIT............................................14
3.4 CONNECTING THE RECEIVER UNIT OUTPUTS .............................................................15
4. CONFIGURATION & OPERATION....................................................................................16
4.1 SENDER UNIT FRONT-PANEL CONTROLS AND INDICATORS .........................................16
4.2 RECEIVER UNIT FRONT-PANEL CONTROLS AND INDICATORS ......................................17
4.3 VIDEO CALIBRATION .................................................................................................18
4.4 AUDIO ADJUSTMENT.................................................................................................20
4.5 RECEIVER COVER ....................................................................................................20
6. TROUBLESHOOTING........................................................................................................21
6.1 CALLING BLACK BOX ................................................................................................22
6.3 SHIPPING AND PACKAGING........................................................................................22
APPENDIX .............................................................................................................................22

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1. Specifications
Cable Required Up to 400 feet using CAT5e UTP cable;
Up to 450 feet using CAT6 UTP cable
Enclosure Steel
MTBF 90,000 hours (calculated estimate)
Resolutions PC resolutions up to 1920 x 1200 @ 60 Hz
USB Support High-Speed (12 Mbps) devices,
Low-Speed (1.5 Mbps) devices
Video Inputs PC outputs (VGA to UXGA)
Video Levels 0 to 0.7 v p-p
Temperature Tolerance Operating: +32 to +122 degF (0 to +50 degC);
Storage: -40 to +185 degF (-40 to + 85 degC)
Power 100-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz
Size
Sender: 1.5” H x 19” W x 5.1” D (3.8 x 48.2 x 12.9 cm);
Receiver 1.75” H x 14” W x 4.1” D (4.5 x 35.6 x 10.4 cm)
Weight
Sender 4 lb. (1.8 kg);
Receiver 4 lb. (1.8 kg)

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2. Overview
2.1 Introduction
The ServSwitch Universal Extender (ACU8000A) extends dual-head PC video, stereo audio
(amplified or line level), RS-232, and up to three USB ports up to 400 feet away on CAT5e or
CAT6 cables. The ACU8000A includes a rack mountable sender unit plus a wall mountable
receiver (and I/O hood cover), packaged together. The Receiver (Remote) Unit is a peripheral
extender with two direct USB ports (DR1 and DR2). The Sender (Local) Unit is a peripheral
extender with two direct USB ports (DR1 and DR2).
A block diagram of the system is shown in Appendix A
2.2 Features
•Eliminates the need for a utility box (The receiver includes an I/O hood cover that goes over all the connectors
with tie-down provisions for a strain relief.)
•Does not require external power supply. It has a built-in supply with a standard 110~240 VAC IEC320 jack.
•2 “Direct” USB ports (DR1 and DR2)
•Has a DB15 connector for audio input and loop output at the sender as well as a DB15 output at the receiver.
The units are perfect for PCs that have amplified audio output on a DB15 male connector (no special cables
are needed other than the included DB15 M/F cable)
•Receiver features a DB15 male output with amplified output to drive passive speakers directly, as well as a
line-level 3.5-mm jack for powered speakers
•Provides built-in video skew correction on both video channels. This corrects the lack of RGB convergence
when long Cat6 cables are used. Eliminates the need to use special low-skew UTP cables for long runs.
•Built-in Test pattern generator for long cable compensation (High Frequency Gain) and Skew correction.
•Features a built-in extended display ID (EDID), which enables the PC to detect LCD’s even if none is
connected at the sender or the receiver.
•Supports Local USB outputs at the sender to connect the local keyboard and mouse.
•Offers 4 general-purpose USB ports at the remote unit plus two direct USB ports
•Supports hot-unplug and hot-plug of USB Peripherals (General Purpose USB ports, as well as DR1 and DR2)
2.3 What’s included
Your ACU8000A package should contain the following items. If anything is missing or
damaged, contact Black Box Technical Support at 724-746-5500 or [email protected].
•(1) Rack Mountable Sender Unit
•(1) Wall Mountable Receiver Unit
•(1) I/O hood cover with mounting hardware
•(3) 6-ft. (1.8m) USB Type A male to Type B male cables
•(2) 6-ft. (1.8m) VGA cables
•(2) 6-ft. (1.8 m) power cable
•(1) DB15 to 3.5-mm connector male/male cable
•This user’s manual

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2.4 Hardware Description
2.4.1 Sender Unit
Figure 2.1 shows the sender unit’s front panel. Table 2-1 describes its components.
TABLE 2-1
Number Component Description
1 Host and Link LED’s
(STD, DR1, DR2)
Illuminated when communication is established
between sender and host or sender and receiver
2 Power LED Lights when sender is powered on
3 Video Adjust Switch Selects normal “RUN” mode or “CAL” mode for display
of the video test pattern
TABLE 2-2
Number Component Description
4 HD15 connector
VGA A IN: Along with VGA B IN, these are the PC’s
video input signals (VGA through UXGA) with local loop
outputs at the sender. They are extended to a remote
unit through RJ-45 Port A and Port B. High-frequency
compensation is incorporated at the receiver to provide
a brilliant image for these video signals.
5 HD15 connector
VGA B IN: Along with VGA A IN, these are the PC’s
video input signals (VGA through UXGA) with local loop
outputs at the sender. They are extended to a remote
unit through RJ-45 Port A and Port B. High-frequency
compensation is incorporated at the receiver to provide
a brilliant image for these video signals.
Figure 2.1 Sender unit’s front panel
1
2
Figure 2.2 Sender unit’s back panel
15
4 9
8
5
6
7
10 11
12 13 14 20
17 19
16 18
3

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TABLE 2-2
Number Component Description
6 DB15 connector
Audio input: Audio: DB15 connector (with 2 rows of
pins) for audio input and a loop output at the sender.
The audio is extended to a remote receiver that has
both line as well as powered outputs (for driving
passive speakers). The DB15 audio I/O not only allows
Interface with line-level 3.5-mm mini stereo audio
sources (using adapter cable available from Black Box),
it also provides a more reliable and secure means for
the audio connection with its gold-plated D-Sub
connector with jack screws. The audio input level
supports a wide range of standards; it can be amplified
(for driving passive speakers), +4dBu (Pro-Audio), or -
10dBv (consumer line-level).
7 DB9 connector RS-232 input
8 USB Type B connector
DR 1 input: Along with DR2, these are two “Direct”
extension USB ports. The corresponding USB port on
the PC is directly extended to a remote receiver with no
hubs or other functions in the path. The PC’s USB port
that is extended via DR1 or DR2 behaves exactly as if it
were connected directly to the target device at the
remote. These “Direct” USB port extensions are perfect
for high-data-rate devices, such as video cameras,
storage media, printers, and chart recorders. They do
not support low-speed “human interface” devices, such
as keyboards or mice. Having a dedicated path from
the target device to the PC ensures full channel
bandwidth availability in the interface (as opposed to
several devices sharing one port on the PC via a hub).
9 USB Type B connector
USB STD input: This is a general-purpose USB port,
which goes through a hub in the sender and provides
two USB local output ports. It is also extended to the
remote receiver, where another hub provides the user
with four USB ports. These general-purpose USB ports
are labeled as KBRD 1, MOUSE 2, AUX 3, and AUX 4.
They support any type of low-speed or high-speed USB
devices. AUX 3 and AUX 4 are typically used for touch
screen displays, but support all other USB devices as
well.
10 USB Type A connector USB Local 1 output
11 USB Type A connector USB Local 2 output
12 HD15 connector Local VGA A output
13 HD15 connector Local VGA B output

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TABLE 2-2
Number Component Description
14 DB15 connector Audio output
15 USB Type B
DR 2 input: This is a “Direct” extension USB port. The
corresponding USB port on the PC is directly extended
to a remote receiver with no hubs or other functions in
the path. The PC’s USB port that is extended via DR1
or DR2 behaves exactly as if it were connected directly
to the target device at the remote. These “Direct” USB
port extensions are perfect for high-data-rate devices,
such as video cameras, storage media, printers, and
chart recorders. They do not support low-speed “human
interface” devices, such as keyboards or mice. Having
a dedicated path from the target device to the PC
ensures full channel bandwidth availability in the
interface (as opposed to several devices sharing one
port on the PC via a hub).
16 RJ-45 connector Port D: DR2. Omit if DR2 not required
17 RJ-45 connector Port C: General purpose USB and DR1 USB. Required
in all applications
18 RJ-45 connector Port B: Video B, RS-232: May omit if Video B or RS-
232 extension is not needed.
19 RJ-45 connector Port A: Video A, Audio, Calibration Switch State:
Required in all applications
20 3-prong connector Power 100-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz