Black Box AC138A User manual

Video to PC/HDTV Switching Scaler
With Audio
Component, S-Video, Composite, and PC Inputs
Scaled VGA or HDTV Component Output
Front Panel, IR Remote, & RS-232 Serial Control
AC138A
Order toll-free in the U.S. 24 hours, 7 A.M. Monday to midnight Friday: 877-877-BBOX
FREE technical support, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: Call 724-746-5500 or fax [phone]
Mail order: Black Box Corporation, 1000 Park Drive, Lawrence, PA 15055-1018
Web site: www.blackbox.com • E-mail: [email protected]
CUSTOMER
SUPPORT
INFORMATION
AC138A
UMA1142 Rev NC

Video to PC/HDTV Switching Scaler w/Audio
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TRADEMARKS USED IN THIS MANUAL
BLACK BOX and its logo are registered trademarks of Black Box
Corporation.
Apple and Macintosh are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.
IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines
Corporation.
SGI is a registered trademark of Silicon Graphics, Inc.
Sun and Sun Microsystems are registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems,
Inc. in the United States and other countries.
Any other trademarks mentioned in this manual are acknowledged to be the
property of the trademark owners.

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Video to PC/HDTV Switching Scaler w/Audio
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
AND CANADIAN DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS
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 B 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 there 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 the Canadian Department of Communications.
Le présent appareil numérique n’émet pas de bruits radioélectriques
dépassant les limites applicables aux appareils numériques de la classe
A prescrites dans le Règlement sur le brouillage radioélectrique publié
par le ministère des Communications du Canada.
EUROPEAN UNION DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
This product complies with the requirements of the European EMC
directive 89/336/EEC

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Normas Oficiales Mexicanas (NOM)
Electrical Safety Statement
INSTRUCCIONES DE SEGURIDAD
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.

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Video to PC/HDTV Switching Scaler w/Audio
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. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................... 6
1.1 GENERAL ...................................................................................... 6
1.2 FEATURES ..................................................................................... 7
2. INSTALLATION............................................................................. 8
2.1 CONNECTING THE VIDEO INPUTS .................................................. 8
2.2 CONNECTING THE AUDIO INPUTS.................................................. 9
2.3 CONNECTING THE SCALED OUTPUT .............................................. 9
2.4 OTHER CONNECTIONS................................................................... 9
3. CONFIGURATION & OPERATION......................................... 10
3.1 FRONT PANEL ............................................................................. 10
3.2 INFRA-RED REMOTE CONTROL (IR REMOTE) ............................ 13
4. SERIAL CONTROL ..................................................................... 14
4.2 CONTROL SOFTWARE INSTALLATION ........................................ 14
4.3 USING THE CONTROL SOFTWARE .............................................. 15
5. TROUBLESHOOTING ................................................................ 18
3.1 RESETTING THE AC138A TO FACTORY DEFAULTS ..................... 18
3.2 CALLING BLACK BOX................................................................. 18
3.3 SHIPPING AND PACKAGING ......................................................... 18
6. SPECIFICATIONS ....................................................................... 19

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Video to PC/HDTV Switching Scaler w/Audio
1. Introduction
1.1 General
The AC138A is a multiple format switching video scaler. It has 4
different types of video inputs and a scaled output that can be switched
to any of the inputs.
Inputs are: Composite Video (NTSC or PAL), S-video (NTSC or
PAL), Component Video (SD and HD from 480p to 1080i), and a PC
(from VGA (640x480) to UXGA (1600x1200)). Audio inputs are line
level 3.5mm stereo jacks, with adjustable volume control.
The output format and resolution can be specified by the user as either
PC (VGA (640x480) to SXGA (1280x1024)) or Component Video
(YPbPr from 480p to 1080i - a VGA to 3 RCA adaptor cable is
included). The user can set the output to the optimal sweet-spot of
your display and let the AC138A handle and convert various kinds of
video inputs for your LCD.
The Video Scaler can be controlled in many ways including: front
panel lighted pushbuttons (with On-Screen Display menus), using the
included IR remote control, or RS-232 Serial interface. The controls
include: input switching, setting the output resolution, picture
adjustment (tint, color, brightness, contrast, and sharpness), aspect ratio
(Standard, 16:9 or 4:3), digital noise reduction, 3D comb filter ON/Off,
volume control and many other advanced features.
The AC138A is ideal for use with in boardrooms, classrooms, digital
signage, and high end home-theatre applications. Its output can be set
for any LCD projector, PC LCD monitor, plasma, or HDTV displays.
The unit is shipped with all the required cables and adapters, IR
remote, and also Windows® PC based RS-232 control software.

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1.2 Features
•Professional Video Scaler and multi-format switcher
•4 different inputs: Composite, S-video, YPbPr, and a PC (RGBHV
– VGA (640x480) up to UXGA (1600x1200))
•Can provide RGBHV (PC) VGA, SVGA (800x600),
XGA(1024x768), SXGA(1280x1024) outputs
•Can also provide YPbPr HDTV outputs of 480p, 576p, 720p, 1080i
•RS-232 interface allows control from an external device
•OSD (On-Screen Display) with Blanking and Freeze functions
•Easy to use IR remote control
•State-of-the-art frame buffer (with time-base correction)
•Reverse 3:2/2:2 pull down provides clear and crisp de-interlacing of
video originating from 24 fps film, such as DVD movies.
•Digital noise reduction
•Brightness, Color, Contrast, Sharpness and Tint adjustment
•Dynamic format 4:3 or 16:9 output
•Adaptive 3-D comb filter for composite input ensures jitter-free
picture
•Compatible with NSTC, PAL, and SECAM video input
AC138A Accessories

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Video to PC/HDTV Switching Scaler w/Audio
2. Installation
2.1 Connecting the Video inputs
The video scaler can accept a both TV and PC inputs and scale them to
your desired high resolution format output. The TV inputs are
composite video (BNC connector), S-Video (Mini-Din connector), and
an YPbPr input (3 RCA connectors). Both standard definition TV (SD)
and High Definition (HDTV) are supported. The unit also provides a
PC input that is also scaled for the output (note that PC input can also
be directly bypassed to the output without scaling if desired). Refer to
Figure 2.1 for a block diagram.
Rear Panel
S-Video: Use an S-Video cable to connect the S-Video output of the
source video equipment to the connector labeled “S-Video” on the
back of the Video Scaler. The format can be NTSC, PAL, or SECAM.
Composite Video: Use a Composite video cable to connect the
composite video output of the source equipment to the connector
labeled “Video” on the back of the Video Scaler. The format can be
NTSC, PAL, or SECAM.
YPbPr input: Use a 3 RCA-to-3 BNC YPbPr cable to connect the
YPbPr output of the source video equipment to the device. The format
can be NTSC, PAL, or SECAM.
Computer RGB with H&V Sync: Connect the source computer's
VGA output signal to the HD 15 connector labeled “PC In” on the
Video Scaler.