JLCooper Electronics eBOX GPI8 User manual

eBOX GPI8
Ethernet to GPI Interface
Users Manual

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eBOX, eBOX GPI8 and eBOX I/O are trademarks of JLCooper Electronics. All
other brand names are the property of their respective owners.
eBOX GPI8 User’s Manual, First Edition
Part Number 932135
©2014 JLCooper Electronics, 142 Arena Street, El Segundo, CA 90245 USA
![phone] ![phone] "www.jlcooper.com

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Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................... 6!
Setup............................................................................................... 7!
Unpacking................................................................................... 7!
Connections................................................................................. 7!
Operating Modes........................................................................... 8!
eBOX GPI8 Server Mode ....................................................... 8!
eBOX GPI8 Client Mode........................................................ 9!
GPI to Ethernet Conversion.................................................... 9!
Resetting eBOX GPI8 Settings .................................................. 10!
Initial Hardware Configuration ................................................ 11!
eBOX GPI8 Configuration Utility............................................. 12!
eBOX GPI8 to Configure.......................................................... 13!
eBOX GPI8 Password Change ................................................. 13!
eBOX GPI8 Settings.................................................................. 14!
Configuration with Web Page Interface ................................... 16!
Operational Settings.............................................................. 18!
eBOX GPI8 IP Address ........................................................ 20!
Port ............................................................................................... 21!
Unused Switches................................................................... 21!
GPI Outputs in GPI Conversion Modes ................................... 22!
GPI Outs ............................................................................... 22!
GPI Programmer Software........................................................ 23!

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eBOX GPI8 GPI Tester Utility .................................................. 26!
eBOX GPI8 Software for Apple Mac........................................ 29!
Installation ................................................................................ 29!
Operation .................................................................................. 29!
Preferences ............................................................................... 30!
Password................................................................................... 31!
Keysets ...................................................................................... 31!
Programming Mode.................................................................. 32!
Action Tabs ............................................................................... 33!
MIDI Tab .................................................................................. 34!
MIDI Machine Control (MMC)............................................ 34!
Custom MIDI Messages ....................................................... 35!
Special Tab................................................................................ 37!
Delay Tab.................................................................................. 37!
Keyboard Triggers.................................................................... 38!
GPI Input Pins .......................................................................... 39!
GPI Output Pins........................................................................ 39!
GPI Preset Buttons ................................................................... 41!
Live Mode.................................................................................. 42!
Using the eBOX GPI8 With a Router ....................................... 44!
Technical Reference.................................................................... 45!
Electrical Connections.............................................................. 45!
Ethernet................................................................................. 45!
GPI Port Pinouts ................................................................... 46!
GPI Port Circuitry Details..................................................... 49!
Power............................................................................................ 52!
Troubleshooting .......................................................................... 53!

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Care and Service....................................................................... 54!
JLCooper Electronics Limited Warranty ................................ 55!

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Introduction
The eBOX GPI8 is a general purpose interface box that converts 8
GPI (General Purpose Interface) inputs and outputs to 100/10baseT
Ethernet.
The eBOX GPI8 communicates over standard TCP/IP which
allows is be used with any host computer running any operating
system that uses TCP/IP protocol. The eBOX GPI8 can also be
connected to other eBOX GPI8es to allow longer runs than
traditional GPI cables. Since the eBOX GPI8 uses TCP/IP, traffic
can be routed over internal LANs, wireless LANs, MANs, WANs
and even over the public Internet.
Items such as IP address, remote IP address and TCP port are set
using the eBOX Configuration Utility. Settings are stored in
nonvolatile memory.
Typically, the eBOX GPI8 functions as a server, passively waiting
for client devices to connect to it. The device can be a computer or
another eBOX GPI8 configured as a client. When the eBOX GPI8
is configured as a client, it will actively attempt to connect to the
server eBOX GPI8. Once this is accomplished, the either eBOX
GPI8 will pass data received from the GPI ports to the remote
eBOX GPI8.

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Setup
Unpacking
The eBOX GPI8 package will contain the following items:
•eBOX GPI8
•Power Supply
•This Users Manual
•Four rubber feet
Connections
The eBOX GPI8 connections are straightforward:
1. Plug the power supply into the eBOX GPI8.
2. Plug a network cable into the Ethernet jack.
3. Connect GPI cables into GPI ports.

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Operating Modes
The eBOX GPI8 has five distinct modes of operation that are set
by the rear panel DIP switches. The DIP switches are read only at
power on so the eBOX GPI8 must be power cycled for the changes
to take effect.
SW8
SW7
SW5
On
X
Off
Not used
Off
Off
Off
eBOX GPI8 is server at address specified on
next page
Off
On
Off
eBOX GPI8 is client at address specified on
next page
Off
On
On
Not availaible
Off
Off
On
eBOX GPI8 performs GPI to Ethernet
conversion
X = Don’t Care
Mode Configuration
eBOX GPI8 Server Mode
When the eBOX GPI8 is in the server mode, it waits for a client to
connect to it. The client can be another eBOX GPI8 in client mode
or it can be a computer based application. The IP address and TCP
port of the eBOX GPI8 is set by DIP switches 1, 2 and 3.
Note: The eBOX GPI8 must be power cycled to switch to this mode.

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eBOX GPI8 Client Mode
When the eBOX GPI8 is set to client mode, it actively attempts to
connect to another eBOX GPI8 in server mode. The IP address
and TCP port of the eBOX GPI8 is set by DIP switches 1, 2 and 3.
Note: The eBOX GPI8 must be power cycled to switch to this mode.
GPI to Ethernet Conversion
When the eBOX GPI8 is in GPI to Ethernet Conversion Mode, it
converts GPI inputs into Ethernet messages specifically for Doremi
V1 and MCS video servers. The IP address of the eBOX GPI8 is
set by DIP switches 1, 2 and 3 plus one. The TCP port is fixed at
8000. The eBOX GPI8 GPI Programmer Software allows you to
edit and upload the commands that are sent when GPI inputs are
triggered.
When the eBOX GPI8 operates as a GPI to Ethernet Converter, it
will send to the Doremi server status requests on a periodic basis.
Replies from the server will be used to establish the state of some
of the GPI Output pins, acting as tally lines. Refer to the section
regarding GPI Outputs in GPI Conversion Modes.
Note: The eBOX GPI8 must be power cycled to switch to this mode.

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Resetting eBOX GPI8 Settings
The eBOX GPI8 settings can be forced to factory defaults by using
the reset button. The reset button is located behind the front panel.
It can be accessed via the small, unmarked hole to the right of the
Port 4 Send LED. The arrow in the picture below shows the
location of the hole for the reset button.
To reset the eBOX GPI8 to factory defaults, simply press the
button with a long, thin object such as a paper clip and turn the
power on. The reset button can be released after the 5 Send and 5
Receive LEDs stop flashing.
The eBOX GPI8 factory defaults are:
IP Address
192.168.254.102
Subnet Mask
255.255.255.0
Gateway Address
192.168.254.198
TCP Port
23
Destination IP Address
192.168.254.103
Destination TCP Port
5000
Password
password
eBOX GPI8 Settings After Reset
After the eBOX GPI8 settings are reset in this manner, you must
power cycle the eBOX GPI8 to load those settings.