Kramer VP-437N User manual

KRAMER ELECTRONICS LTD.
USER MANUAL
MODEL:
VP-437N
Presentation Switcher/Scaler
P/N: 2900-300156 Rev 2

VP-437N – Contents i
Contents
1Introduction 1
2Getting Started 2
2.1 Achieving the Best Performance 2
3Overview 3
3.1 About HDMI—General Description 4
3.2 About HDCP—General Description 5
3.3 Defining the VP-437N Presentation Switcher/Scaler 5
4Installing in a Rack 8
5Connecting the VP-437N 9
6Controlling the VP-437N 11
6.1 Controlling via the Front Panel Buttons 11
6.2 Using the OSD Menu 11
6.3 Connecting the VP-437N via the ETHERNET Port 14
6.4 Connecting to the VP-437N via RS-232 15
6.5 Controlling via the Infrared Remote Control Transmitter 16
7Technical Specifications 17
7.1 Input Resolutions 18
7.2 Default Communication Parameters 18
8RS-232 Communication Protocol 19
8.1 RS-232 Protocol Table 20
Figures
Figure 1: VP-437N Presentation Switcher/Scaler Front Panel 6
Figure 2: VP-437N Presentation Switcher/Scaler Rear Panel 7
Figure 3: Connecting the VP-437N Presentation Switcher / Scaler 10
Figure 4: Infrared Remote Control Transmitter 16

VP-437N – Introduction 1
1 Introduction
Welcome to Kramer Electronics! Since 1981, Kramer Electronics has been
providing a world of unique, creative, and affordable solutions to the vast range of
problems that confront video, audio, presentation, and broadcasting professionals
on a daily basis. In recent years, we have redesigned and upgraded most of our
line, making the best even better!
Our 1,000-plus different models now appear in 11 groups that are clearly defined by
function: GROUP 1: Distribution Amplifiers; GROUP 2: Switchers and Routers;
GROUP 3: Control Systems; GROUP 4: Format/Standards Converters; GROUP 5:
Range Extenders and Repeaters; GROUP 6: Specialty AV Products; GROUP 7:
Scan Converters and Scalers; GROUP 8: Cables and Connectors; GROUP 9:
Room Connectivity; GROUP 10: Accessories and Rack Adapters and GROUP 11:
Sierra Video Products.
Congratulations on purchasing your Kramer VP-437N Presentation Switcher/Scaler.
This product, which incorporates HDMI™ technology, is ideal for:
•Projection systems in conference rooms, boardrooms, hotels and churches
•Home theater up-scaling

2 VP-437N - Getting Started
2 Getting Started
We recommend that you:
•Unpack the equipment carefully and save the original box and packaging
materials for possible future shipment
•Review the contents of this user manual
•Use Kramer high performance high resolution cables
•Use only the power cord that is supplied with this machine
Go to http://www.kramerelectronics.com to check for up-to-date
user manuals, application programs, and to check if firmware
upgrades are available (where appropriate).
2.1 Achieving the Best Performance
To achieve the best performance:
•Use only good quality connection cables to avoid interference, deterioration
in signal quality due to poor matching, and elevated noise levels (often
associated with low quality cables)
•Do not secure the cables in tight bundles or roll the slack into tight coils
•Avoid interference from neighboring electrical appliances that may adversely
influence signal quality
•Position your Kramer VP-437N away from moisture, excessive sunlight and
dust
i

VP-437N – Overview 3
3 Overview
The Kramer VP-437N is a high quality presentation switcher and scaler. It accepts one
of seven inputs: a component video on RCA connectors, computer graphics on a
15-pin HD connector, composite video on an RCA connector, s-Video on a 4-pin
connector and two HDMI signals. It scales the video, embeds the audio, and outputs
the signal to the HDMI output as well as to a computer graphics output, an RGBHV
video output together with a digital audio output and an analog stereo audio output.
Component video is also known as Y, Pb, Pr, or Y, Cb, Cr or YUV; compatible with both SD
and HD component
The VP-437N is HDTV compatible and the resolution can be up- or down-scaled as
follows: Native, VGA, SVGA, XGA, SXGA, UXGA, 480i, 480p, 576i, 576p, 720p
(@50 and 60Hz), 1080i (@50 and 60Hz), 1080p (@50 and 60Hz), WXGA, WSXGA,
WUXGA, 1280x800, 1440x900, 1400x1050 and 1600x900.
The VP-437N Presentation Switcher / Scaler:
•Has an improved HDMI output drive – exceeding 60 feet at 1080p 60Hz
•Has analog audio inputs and digital (S/PDIF) and analog stereo audio outputs
with volume control
•Automatically detects and selects the audio source for the HDMI input.
Default selection is HDMI – if this is not present, then the machine uses the
audio from the analog input
•Comes with an On-Screen Display (OSD) for easy setup and adjustment,
accessible via the IR remote control and via the front-panel buttons
•Is HDCP Compliant - the HDCP (High Definition Content Protection) license
agreement allows copy-protected data on the HDMI input to pass only to the
HDMI output
•Has a non-volatile memory that retains the last settings used
•Supports firmware upgrade via RS-232

4 VP-437N - Overview
Control your VP-437N:
•Directly, via the front panel push buttons
•By RS-232 serial commands transmitted by a touch screen system, PC, or
other serial controller
•Remotely, from the infrared remote control transmitter
•Via the Ethernet
The VP-437N is housed in a 19” 1U rack mountable enclosure, with rack “ears”
included, and is fed from a 100-240 VAC universal switching power supply.
3.1 About HDMI—General Description
High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is an uncompressed all-digital audio/video
interface, widely supported in the entertainment and home cinema industry. HDMI
ensures an all-digital rendering of video without the losses associated with analog
interfaces and their unnecessary digital-to-analog conversions. It delivers the
maximum high-definition image and sound quality in use today. Note that Kramer
Electronics Limited is an HDMI Adopter and an HDCP Licensee.
HDMI, the HDMI logo and High-Definition Multimedia Interface are trademarks or registered
trademarks of HDMI licensing LLC.
In particular, HDMI:
•Provides a simple interface between any audio/video source, such as a set-
top box, DVD player, or A/V receiver and video monitor, such as a digital flat
LCD / plasma television (DTV), over a single lengthy cable
SIMPLICITY - With video and multi-channel audio combined into a single cable, the
cost, complexity, and confusion of multiple cables currently used in A/V systems is
reduced
LENGTHY CABLE - HDMI technology has been designed to use standard copper cable
construction at up to 15m
•Supports standard, enhanced, high-definition video, and multi-channel digital
audio on a single cable
MULTI-CHANNEL DIGITAL AUDIO - HDMI supports multiple audio formats, from
standard stereo to multi-channel surround-sound. HDMI has the capacity to support
Dolby 5.1 audio and high-resolution audio formats
•Transmits all ATSC HDTV standards and supports 8-channel digital audio,
with bandwidth to spare to accommodate future enhancements and
requirements

VP-437N – Overview 5
•Benefits consumers by providing superior, uncompressed digital video quality
via a single cable, and user-friendly connector
HDMI provides the quality and functionality of a digital interface while also supporting
uncompressed video formats in a simple, cost-effective manner
•Is backward-compatible with DVI (Digital Visual Interface)
•Supports two-way communication between the video source (such as a DVD
player) and the digital television, enabling new functionality such as automatic
configuration and one-button play
•Has the capacity to support existing high-definition video formats (720p,
1080i, and 1080p), standard definition formats such as NTSC or PAL, as well
as 480p and 576p
3.2 10BAbout HDCP—General Description
The High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) standard, developed by
Intel, protects digital video and audio signals transmitted over DVI or HDMI
connections between two HDCP-enabled devices to eliminate the reproduction of
copyrighted material. To protect copyright holders (such as movie studios) from
having their programs copied and shared, the HDCP standard provides for the
secure and encrypted transmission of digital signals.
3.3 11BDefining the VP-437N Presentation Switcher/Scaler
This section defines the VP-437N.

Figure 1: VP-437N Presentation Switcher/Scaler Front Panel
# Feature Function
1 POWER Switch Illuminated switch for turning the unit ON or OFF
2 IR Receiver Accepts IR remote commands
3 INPUT Selector
Buttons
CV Press to select the composite video input
4 YC Press to select the s-Video input
5 COMPONENT Press to select the component video input (from 1 to 2)
6 VGA Press to select the computer graphics input
7 HDMI Press to select the HDMI input (from 1 to 2)
8 BLANK Button Press to toggle between a blank screen (blue or black screen) and the display (can be programmed to follow MUTE)
9 MUTE Button Press to toggle between muting (blocking out the sound) and enabling the audio output
10 FREEZE Button Press to freeze/unfreeze the output video image (Can be programmed to follow MUTE)
11 MENU Button Displays the OSD menu (see Section 6.2
12
)
ENTER Button Press to accept changes, change the SETUP parameters (see Section 6.2) and to auto adjust the image (when not within the
OSD menu), see 6.1.1Section
13 - Button Press to decrease numerical values or select from several definitions.
For convenience and speed—when not within the OSD menu mode—press to reduce volume
14 Button Press to move up the menu list values (see Section 6.2
15
)
+ Button Press to increase numerical values or select from several definitions.
For convenience and speed— when not within the OSD menu mode—press to increase volume
16 Button Press to move down the menu list (see Section 6.2
17
)
PANEL LOCK Button Press and hold for about 2 seconds to lock/unlock the front panel buttons
18 RESET TO XGA/720P Button Press to reset the video resolution to XGA or 720p
Press and hold for about 2 seconds to toggle between reset to XGA and reset to 720p
6 VP-437N – Overview

VP-437N – Overview 7
Figure 2: VP-437N Presentation Switcher/Scaler Rear Panel
#
Feature
Function
19
VIDEO INPUTS
HDMI Connector Connect to the HDMI source (from 1 to 2)
20 VGA 15-pin HD Connector Connect to the computer graphics source
21 YC 4-pin Connector Connect to the s-Video source
22 CV RCA Connector Connect to the composite video source
23 PR/CR RCA Connector Connect to the component video source (from 1 to 2)
For component video, connect all three connectors: Y, PR/CR, PB/CB (also known as YUV)
24 PB/CB RCA Connector
25 Y RCA Connector
26
VIDEO OUTPUTS
R BNC Connector
27 G BNC Connector
28 B BNC Connector Connect to the RGBHV video acceptor
29 H BNC Connector
30 V BNC Connector
31 HDMI Connector Connect to the HDMI acceptor
32 VGA 15-pin HD Connector Connect to a VGA acceptor
33 IN Unbalanced Stereo Audio
Terminal Block Connectors
HDMI Connect to the analog audio HDMI source (from 1 to 2)
VGA Connect to the analog audio computer graphics source
COMP Connect to the analog audio component video source (from 1 to 2)
CV Connect to the analog audio composite video source
YC Connect to the analog audio s-Video source
34 OUT RCA Connectors LEFT Connect to the left stereo analog audio acceptor
35 RIGHT Connect to the right stereo analog audio acceptor
36 S/PDIF Connect to a digital audio acceptor
37 RS-232 9-pin D-sub Port Connect to the PC or the remote controller
38 ETHERNET Connector Connects to the PC or other Serial Controller through computer networking
39 Power Connector with Fuse AC connector, enabling power supply to the unit

8 VP-437N - Installing in a Rack
4 Installing in a Rack
This section provides instructions for rack mounting the unit.

VP-437N - Connecting the VP-437N 9
9
5 Connecting the VP-437N
Always switch off the power to each device before connecting it to
your VP-437N. After connecting your VP-437N, connect its power
and then switch on the power to each device.
You do not have to connect all the inputs and outputs, connect only
those that are required.
To connect your VP-437N, as illustrated in the example in Figure 3, do the
following:
1. Connect an HDMI source (for example, a DVD player) to the HDMI 1 VIDEO
INPUT connector.
Alternatively, you can connect the DVI connector on the DVD player to the HDMI
connector on the VP-437N via a DVI-HDMI adapter. When using this adapter, you can
connect the audio signal via the terminal block connector
2. Connect a computer graphics source to the VGA 15-pin HD VIDEO INPUT
connector.
3. Connect a composite video source (for example, a composite video player)
to the CV VIDEO INPUT RCA connector.
4. Connect an s-Video source (for example, an s-Video player) to the YC 4-pin
VIDEO INPUT connector.
5. Connect a component video source (for example, a component video player)
to the COMP 1 PR, PBand Y, VIDEO INPUT RCA connectors.
6. Connect the audio input signals to the AUDIO IN terminal block connectors,
as required (not shown in Figure 3).
7. Connect the RGBHV VIDEO OUTPUT BNC connectors to an RGBHV
acceptor (for example, an RGBHV display).
8. Connect the HDMI VIDEO OUTPUT connector to an HDMI acceptor (for
example, a plasma display).
!
i

10 VP-437N - Connecting the VP-437N
9. Connect the VGA VIDEO OUTPUT 15-pin HD connector to a VGA acceptor
(for example, a projector).
10. Connect the audio output signals to the OUT stereo analog audio acceptor
and/or the digital audio acceptor, as required (not shown in Figure 3).
11. Connect the power cord (not shown in Figure 3).
12. If required, connect:
The ETHERNET port, see
A PC via RS-232, see
Section 6.3
Section 6.4
Figure 3: Connecting the VP-437N Presentation Switcher / Scaler

VP-437N - Controlling the VP-437N 11
11
6 Controlling the VP-437N
The VP-437N can be controlled via:
•The front panel buttons (see Section 6.1
•The OSD menu (see
)
Section 6.2
•The Ethernet (see
)
Section 6.3
•RS-232 serial commands transmitted by a touch screen system, PC, or
other serial controller (see
)
Section 6.4
•The infrared remote control transmitter (see
)
Section 6.5
6.1 Controlling via the Front Panel Buttons
)
The VP-437N includes the following front panel buttons:
•Input selector buttons for selecting the required input: CV, YC,
COMPONENT (1 and 2), VGA or HDMI (1 and 2)
•BLANK, MUTE and FREEZE buttons
•MENU, ENTER, and up, down, left and right arrow buttons
•RESET TO XGA/720p and PANEL LOCK buttons
6.1.1 The Auto Adjust (Auto Tune) Feature
The auto adjust feature (which applies only to the VGA input) automatically centers
the image on the screen when pressing the ENTER front panel button or the OK
button on the remote control transmitter (when not within the OSD menu).
You can also implement this feature every time the input is switched to VGA or
when the input resolution changes, via the FINE TUNE menu (see Section 6.2.2
6.2 Using the OSD Menu
).
The control buttons let you control the VP-437N via the OSD menu. Press the:
•MENU button to enter the menu (the default timeout is set to 10 seconds)
•ENTER button to accept changes and to change the menu settings

12 VP-437N - Controlling the VP-437N
•Arrow buttons to move through the OSD menu, which is displayed on the
video output
On the OSD menu, select EXIT to exit the menu.
6.2.1 The MAIN MENU
The range and default values vary according to the input signal.
Mode
Function
CONTRAST Set the contrast
The range and default values vary according to the input signal
BRIGHTNESS Set the brightness
The range and default values vary according to the input signal
FINETUNE See
COLOR
Section 6.2.2
Set the red, green and blue shades (0 to 100, default 48, 48 and 52
respectively)
SIZE Select the size of the display: FULL, OVERSCAN, UNDER1, UNDER2,
LETTER BOX and PANSCAN (FULL is the default)
UNDER1 refers to an underscan of 6%
UNDER2 refers to an underscan of 9%
SOURCE Select the source: (VGA is the default)
Appears as: Source input Appears as: Source input
CVBS CV PC VGA
SVIDEO YC HDMI1 HDMI 1
YPBPR1 COMP 1 HDMI2 HDMI 2
YPBPR2 COMP 2
CVBS means Composite Video Baseband Signal
OUTPUT Select the output resolution from the menu (NATIVE is the default):
Appears as: Output resolution: Appears as: Output resolution:
1080I60 1080i @60Hz WXGA 1366x768
1080P60 1080p @60Hz NATIVE
576I 576i VGA 640x480
576P 576p SVGA 800x600
720P50 720p @50Hz XGA 1024x768
1080I50 1080i @50Hz SXGA 1280x1024
1080P50 1080p @50Hz UXGA 1600x1200
1280x800 1280x800 480I 480i
WSXGA 1680x1050 480P 480p
WUXGA 1920x1200 720P60 720p @60Hz
WSXGA+ 1440x900 1600x900 1600x900
SXGA+ 1400x1050
NATIVE - Select NATIVE to select the output resolution from the EDID of the
connected HDMI monitor
AUDIO See
i
Section 6.2.3

VP-437N - Controlling the VP-437N 13
13
Mode
Function
OSD Set the OSD parameters: H POSITION, V POSITION, TIMER,
BACKGROUND and DISPLAY (see Section 6.2.4
HDCP ON INPUT
)
Select the HDCP option for the HDMI input: either ON (the default) or
OFF.
Setting HDCP support to enabled (ON) on the HDMI input allows the
source to transmit a non-HDCP signal if required (for example, when
working with a Mac computer)
HDCP ON
OUTPUT
Select FOLLOW INPUT or FOLLOW OUTPUT to define whether the
HDCP will follow the input or the output (default FOLLOW OUTPUT).
When FOLLOW INPUT is selected, it changes its HDCP output setting
(for the HDMI output) according to the HDCP of the input. This option is
recommended when the HDMI output is connected to a splitter/switcher
(in this mode, switching may not be glitch-free).
When FOLLOW OUTPUT is selected, the scaler matches its HDCP
output to the HDCP setting of the HDMI acceptor to which it is connected
FACTORY RESET Resets to the default parameters (resolution is set to XGA or 720p)
If you cannot see the display after factory reset, use the front panel Res.
button to set the correct resolution: press continuously for 2 seconds to reset
to XGA, or continuously for 5 seconds to reset to 720p
INFORMATION Displays the source, the input resolution, the output resolution and the
software version
AUTO SYNC OFF Turn ON/OFF. When ON, a short period after not detecting a valid video
signal on the selected input, the unit will disable the H and V syncs on
the analog outputs until a valid input is again detected or any keypad
button is pressed
EXIT Select to exit the menu
6.2.2 The FINETUNE Menu
Input Signal
Parameter
Function
CV, YC,
COMPONENT
HUE Set the hue
SATURATION Set the saturation
SHARPNESS Set the sharpness
NOISE REDUCTION Select the noise reduction: OFF, HI, LOW and MID
(middle)
COLOR FILTER Set to ON to enable color filtering
VGA PHASE Set the phase
CLOCK Set the clock frequency
H-POSITION Set the horizontal position of the picture
V-POSITION Set the vertical position of the picture
AUTO TUNE When set to ON, auto adjusts the image(centers it
correctly on the screen) every time the input is switched
to VGA or when the input resolution changes
Alternatively, you can auto adjust the image by pressing
the ENTER button when not within the OSD menu
COLOR FILTER Set to ON to enable color filtering
HDMI COLOR FILTER Set to ON to enable color filtering
The COLOR FILTER feature may improve the output image for
certain graphic cards where color fringing is seen.
i

14 VP-437N - Controlling the VP-437N
6.2.3 The AUDIO Menu
Parameter
Function
OUTPUT
VOLUME
Set the output volume (from 0 to 100)
This feature is disabled when the embedded audio of an HDMI input is
selected
INPUT VOLUME Set the input volume (from 0 to 100)
This feature is disabled when the embedded audio of an HDMI input is
selected
DELAY Select the audio delay time: OFF, 40ms, 110ms and 150ms
SOUND Select the sound options: ON, MUTE
MUTE FOLLOWS Select the action that will be followed by mute:
INDEPENDENT: the audio muting is independent of the FREEZE and
BLANK functions
FREEZE
BLANK
FREEZE/BLANK: when freezing or blanking the video, the audio will be
muted (the MUTE function follows the FREEZE and the BLANK
functions)
HDMI AUDIO IN Select:
AUTOMATIC: the embedded audio on the HDMI input is selected for an
HDMI signal, or the analog audio input is selected if the input is not HDMI
(for example, for a DVI input signal)
EMBEDDED: the embedded audio in the HDMI signal is selected
ANALOG: the analog audio input is selected
HDMI AUDIO IN is enabled only when one of the HDMI inputs is selected
6.2.4 The OSD Menu
Parameter
Function
H POSITION Set the horizontal position of the OSD (from 0 to 100)
V POSITION Set the vertical position of the OSD (from 0 to 100)
TIMER Set the timeout period in seconds (from 5 to 100)
BACKGROUND Set the OSD background between 0 (solid black) and 8 (transparent)
DISPLAY Select the information shown on the screen during operation:
ON - the information is shown permanently
OFF - the information is not shown
INFO - the information is shown for a few seconds
6.3 Connecting the VP-437N via the ETHERNET Port
To connect and configure the Ethernet port of the VP-437N, refer to the
ETHERNET Configuration (Lantronix) GUIDE on our Web site:
http://www.kramerelectronics.com

VP-437N - Controlling the VP-437N 15
15
6.4 Connecting to the VP-437N via RS-232
You can connect to the VP-437N via an RS-232 connection using, for example, a
PC. Note that a null-modem adapter/connection is not required.
To connect to the VP-437N via RS-232:
•Connect the RS-232 9-pin D-sub rear panel port on the VP-437N unit via a
9-wire straight cable (only pin 2 to pin 2, pin 3 to pin 3, and pin 5 to pin 5
need to be connected) to the RS-232 9-pin D-sub port on your PC

16 VP-437N - Controlling the VP-437N
6.5 Controlling via the Infrared Remote Control Transmitter
You can control the VP-437N from the infrared remote control transmitter:
Figure 4: Infrared Remote Control
Transmitter
Keys Function
SIZE Set the size of the image
displayed
POWER Turn the VP-437N ON or OFF
(the outputs and the front-panel
are disabled)
FREEZE Freeze/unfreeze the output
video image
BLANK Toggle between a blank screen
(blue or black screen) and the
display
MUTE Toggle between muting
(blocking out the sound) and
enabling the audio output
AV Select the composite video
input
YC Select the s-Video input
COMP1 Select the component video 1
input
COMP2 Select the component video 2
input
PC Select the UXGA input
HDMI1 Select the HDMI1 input
HDMI2 Select the HDMI2 input
XGA Reset Reset the resolution to XGA
720p Reset Reset the resolution to 720p
INFO Displays the selected input, the
input and output resolutions and
the firmware versions on the
OSD
NATIVE Select the output resolution via
the EDID of the connected
HDMI monitor
Four navigation keys
OK Press to accept changes
Press also to auto adjust the
picture (see Section 6.1.1
)
MENU Enter the OSD menu
EXIT EXIT the menu