Black Box ServSwitch ACL8500A User manual

AUGIST 2000
ACL8500A
ACL8501A
ACL8502A
ACL8503A
FREE tech support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: Call 724-746-5500 or fax [phone].
Mailing address: Black Box Corporation, 1000 Park Dr., Lawrence, PA 15055-1018
World-Wide Web: www.blackbox.com • E-mail: [email protected]
© Copyright 2000. Black Box Corporation. All rights reserved.
Customer Support Information:

1
THE SERVSWITCH™ FAMILY
Welcome to the ServSwitch™ Family!
Thank you for purchasing BLACK BOX®ServSwitch™Brand video equipment!
We appreciate your business, and we think you’ll appreciate the many ways that
this product will save you money, time, and effort.
*
Our ServSwitch family is all about breaking away from the traditional, expensive
model of computer management and display. You know, the one-size-fits-all-even-
if-it-doesn’t model that says, “One computer gets one dedicated monitor or user
station, no more, no less.” Why not a single user station (monitor, keyboard, and
mouse) for multiple computers—even computers of different platforms? Why not
a pair of user stations, each of which can control multiple computers? Why not
many monitors or user stations for the same computer? Why not access or display
any of your computers, anywhere in the world, with any of your monitors or user
stations?
With our ServSwitch products, there’s no reason why not. We carry a broad line
of robust solutions for all these applications:
• Do you have just two PCs, and need an economical alternative to keeping two
monitors, keyboards, and mice on your desk? Or do you need to share dozens
of computers, including a mix of IBM®PC, RS/6000®, Apple®Macintosh®, Sun
Microsystems®, and SGI®compatibles among multiple users with different
access levels?
• Do you have to send video from one computer to two different local monitors?
Or do you need to send video from multiple computers to dozens of monitors
both near and far?
• Does your switch have to sit solidly on a worktable and use regular everyday
cables? Or does it have to be mounted in an equipment rack and use
convenient many-to-one cables?
No matter how large or small your setup is, no matter how simple or how
complex, we’re confident we have a ServSwitch system that’s just right for you.
The ServSwitch™family from Black Box—the one-stop answer for all your KVM-
switching needs! *
(continued on next page)

2
SERVSWITCH™ BRAND CAT5 BROADCAST VIDEO SYSTEM
This manual will tell you all about your new ServSwitch™ Brand CAT5
Broadcast Video System, including how to install, operate, and troubleshoot it.
For an introduction to the System, see Chapter 2. This manual ships with the
System Hub, whose product code is:
ACL8500A
The manual also covers the System’s Local and Remote Modules, which also
come with their own installation guides:
ACL8501A
ACL8502A
ACL8503A
TRADEMARKS USED IN THIS MANUAL
BLACK BOX and the logo are registered trademarks, and ServSwitch is a
trademark, of Black Box Corporation.
Apple, Mac, and Macintosh are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.
RCA is a registered trademark of GE.
IBM and RS/6000 are registered trademarks 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.

3
FCC/IC RFI STATEMENTS
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 his 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.

4
SERVSWITCH™ BRAND CAT5 BROADCAST VIDEO SYSTEM
EUROPEAN UNION DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
This equipment complies with the requirements of the European EMC directive
89/336/EEC.

5
NOM STATEMENT
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.

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SERVSWITCH™ BRAND CAT5 BROADCAST VIDEO SYSTEM
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.

7
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Contents
Chapter Page
1. Specifications ......................................................................... 8
2. Introduction ........................................................................ 12
2.1 Overview ...................................................................... 12
2.2 Features and Benefits ................................................. 13
2.3 Applications ................................................................ 15
2.4 The System Illustrated ................................................ 17
3. Installation ........................................................................... 20
3.1 The Complete Package .............................................. 20
3.2 What Else You Will Need ............................................ 20
3.3 Placement .................................................................... 21
3.4 Connecting Your Devices ........................................... 22
3.5 Powering the System and Making Adjustments ........ 25
4. Troubleshooting .................................................................. 26
4.1 Things to Check .......................................................... 26
4.2 Calling Black Box ........................................................ 28
4.3 Shipping and Packaging ............................................. 29
Appendix A: Rackmounting System Components ..................... 30
Appendix B: Available Video Adapters ....................................... 34
Appendix C: Pinout of Category 5 Cable ................................... 36

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SERVSWITCH™ BRAND CAT5 BROADCAST VIDEO SYSTEM
1. Specifications
Compliance — CE; FCC Part 15 Subpart J Class A, IC Class/
classe A
Standards — VGA, SVGA, XGA, or XGA-2 video
Interface — VGA
Supported Video
Types — RGBHV (VGA, SVGA, XGA, or XGA-2),
RGBS, RGsB (“sync on green”), TV (NTSC,
PAL, SECAM), and Y/C (S-Video)
Resolution and
Refresh Rate — Up to 1280 x 1024 noninterlaced at up to
85 Hz (depends on distance)
Maximum
Distance — Up to 1000 ft. (300 m) of Category 5 cable
between the Local Module and any
Remote Module
User Controls – On Remote Modules (ACL8502A and
ACL8503A): Right-side-mounted Focus dial
Indicators — (1) Power LED on each System component

9
CHAPTER 1: Specifications
Connectors — On Hub (ACL8500A):
(9) Front-mounted RJ-45 female:
(1) for video input from Local Module,
(8) for video output to Remote
Modules;
(1) Rear-mounted 6-pin DIN female for
power;
On Local Module (ACL8501A):
(1) Left-side-mounted HD15 male for
video input from source device;
(1) Right-side-mounted HD15 female for
pass-through video output to a local
monitor or other destination device;
(1) Right-side-mounted RJ-45 female for
video output to, and power input from,
Hub;
On regular Remote Module (ACL8502A):
(1) Left-side-mounted RJ-45 female for
video and power input from Hub;
(1) Right-side-mounted HD15 female for
video output to destination device;
On Dual Remote Module (ACL8503A):
(2) Left-side-mounted RJ-45 female:
(1) for video and power input from
Hub,
(1) for pass-through video and power
output to another Remote Module;
(1) Right-side-mounted HD15 female for
video output to destination device

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SERVSWITCH™ BRAND CAT5 BROADCAST VIDEO SYSTEM
Maximum
Altitude — 10,000 ft. (3048 m)
Temperature
Tolerance — Operating: 32 to 104˚F (0 to 40˚C);
Storage: –4 to +140˚F (–20 to +60˚C)
Humidity
Tolerance — Up to 80% noncondensing
Enclosure — Hub: Steel;
Local and Remote Modules: Aluminum
MTBF — 100,000 hours (calculated estimate)
Power — Hub: From utility-power (mains) outlet,
through included detachable input cord
and external universal power supply:
Input: 90 to 260 VAC at 47 to 63 Hz
(autosensing);
Output: +12 VDC at 4.2 A, –12 VDC at 4.2 A;
Consumption: 7.2 watts plus 140 mW for
any attached Local Module and 175 mW
for each attached Remote Module
Local Unit: From Hub, on Pins 7 and 8 of the
Category 5 cable between them:
Input: 24 VDC at 100 mA;
Consumption: 2.4 watts;
Remote Units: From Hub, on Pins 7 and 8 of
the Category 5 cable between them:
Input: 24 VDC at 125 mA;
Consumption: 3 watts

11
CHAPTER 1: Specifications
Size — Hub: 1.5"H x 6.75"W x 7.2"D
(3.8 x 17.2 x 18.3 cm);
Local Module: 1.2"H x 4.5"W x 2.75"D
(3 x 11.5 x 7 cm);
Remote Modules: 1.2"H x 5.5"W x 2.75"D
(3 x 14 x 7 cm)
Weight — Hub: 2 lb. (0.9 kg);
Local Module: 3.9 oz. (110 g);
Remote Modules: 4.6 oz. (130 g)

12
SERVSWITCH™ BRAND CAT5 BROADCAST VIDEO SYSTEM
2. Introduction
2.1 Overview
The ServSwitch™ Brand CAT5 Broadcast Video System
is a simple but powerful set of products that you can use
to distribute computers’ video output to as many as
128 displays using standard Category 5 structured
cabling. The System consists of several components:
• The Hub (our product code ACL8500A) is the
center of the system. It takes one video input from
a Local Module and splits it into eight video
outputs to Remote Modules; these inputs and
outputs are all on CAT5 cables. At the same time,
it passes DC power to the Local and Remote
Modules over the same CAT5 cables.
• The Local Module (ACL8501A) is designed to be
attached—with a short, non-included cable—to
the video connector(s) on a computer or other
video source. It adapts the source’s video output
for twisted-pair cable. You can attach a local
monitor to it, too. It gets all the power it needs
across the CAT5 cable from the Video System’s
Hub.

13
CHAPTER 2: Introduction
• VGA and multisync monitors can be plugged
directly into the regular Remote Module
(ACL8502A) and the Dual Remote Module
(ACL8503A). (Other types of monitors and video
devices can be attached with adapters or adapter
cable.) The Remote Modules adapt the video back
onto standard cable. The Dual Remote Module
has an extra pass-through port that you can use to
daisychain to an additional Remote Module. Like
the Transmitter, both types of Remote Modules
get all the power they need across the CAT5 cable
from the Hub.
2.2 Features and Benefits
• Send video to as many as 128 destinations from a
single source, using just a few devices and modular
Category 5 cable. This means you can display your
video everywhere at your site without spending a lot
of money getting it there. It also means that
expanding and rearranging the System is easy.
• The System is vastly flexible. It can carry virtually any
form of video: RGBHV (VGA, SVGA, XGA, XGA-2,
etc.), RGBS, RGsB (“sync on green”), TV (NTSC,
PAL, SECAM), Y/C, etc. And with its advanced sync-
handling technology, it can support almost any kind

14
SERVSWITCH™ BRAND CAT5 BROADCAST VIDEO SYSTEM
of display device—including LCD panels, video
projectors, and plasma displays—just as long as the
display device can accept the type of sync that the
source device outputs.
• The Local and Remote Modules don’t have to be
plugged into AC power—they get all their power
through the cable from the Hubs they’re attached
to—so you can place them anywhere.
• Cabling is extremely simple: All of the video signals
and power are carried on a single 568B-pinned
Category 5 cable. In most cases, you can even use
the CAT5 cable that’s already installed at your site,
because the System is compatible with both shielded
and unshielded twisted pair.
• The System can carry 120 MHz of video (1280 x
1024 at 90 Hz, for example) across as much as
1000 ft. (300 m) of standard CAT5 cable, so you can
cover a huge area from a single central location.
(Unlike other products of this type, you can use the
same Hubs, Local and Remote Modules, and cabling
whether your distances are very short or very long.)
•
All System units are rackmountable; see Appendix A.

15
CHAPTER 2: Introduction
2.3 Applications
The ServSwitch Brand CAT5 Broadcast Video System is
ideal for use in many different environments:
• At airports and other transportation terminals, you
can distribute arrival/departure information,
baggage-claim carousel information, and much
more.
• In today’s courtrooms, you can present computer-
based evidence on LCD panels at each juror’s
position, at the judge’s bench, and elsewhere in the
courtroom.
• In schools, you can show learning material to all of
the students in a classroom or even all of the
students in a building.
• At gas stations and convenience stores, you can
display videotaped advertisements at all of your gas
pumps and throughout your store.
• In electronics stores, you can run one video feed to
all of your display-model TVs or computers.

16
SERVSWITCH™ BRAND CAT5 BROADCAST VIDEO SYSTEM
• In television studios, everyone will be able to see
what’s going out to your viewers.
• At hotels and conference centers, you can post
displays of daily schedules and public messages at all
of your useful locations.
• In financial houses, you can easily distribute real-
time financial information around trading floors
and/or offices from a single control point.
• You can send corporate presentations to multiple
personal display stations in your boardroom or
throughout your headquarters.

17
CHAPTER 2: Introduction
2.4 The System Illustrated
Figures 2-1 through 2-7 show where all of the connectors
and controls are on the various components of the
ServSwitch Brand CAT5 Broadcast Video System.
Fig. 2-1. The front panel of the Hub (ACL8500A).
Fig. 2-2. The rear panel of the Hub.
Fig. 2-3. The left side of the Local Module (ACL8501A).
“IN” port is for video input
Numbered ports are for video output
Power supply’s output cord attaches here
Video input

18
SERVSWITCH™ BRAND CAT5 BROADCAST VIDEO SYSTEM
Fig. 2-4. The right side of the Local Module.
Fig. 2-5. The left side of the regular Remote Module (ACL8502A).
Fig. 2-6. The left side of the Dual Remote Module (ACL8503A).
Fig. 2-7. The right side of both types of Remote Module.
HD15 is for video output to
local monitor
HD15 is for video output to
remote monitor
RJ-45 is for video output to
Hub and power input from
Hub
Video and power input from Hub
Adjust Focus dial for better picture
Left RJ-45 is for pass-through video and power output
Right RJ-45 is for video and
power input from Hub

19
CHAPTER 2: Introduction
Figure 2-8 shows a ServSwitch Brand CAT5 Broadcast
Video System installation that uses all of the System
components.
Fig. 2-8. An installation involving all System components.
PC CPU with attached
keyboard and mouse
Local
Module
Dual Remote Module
Regular Remote
Module
Regular Remote
Modules
Regular Remote
Modules
Primary
Hub
Secondary
(Cascaded)
Hub
Local monitor
Remote
monitors