Kramer VIA CONNECT PRO User manual

KRAMER ELECTRONICS LTD.
USER MANUAL
MODEL:
VIA Connect PRO
Collaboration Hub
P/N: 2900-300419 Rev 1

VIA Connect PRO – Contents
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Contents
1Introduction 1
1.1 Applications & Features 2
1.2 Controls and Connections 2
2Setting Up 4
2.1 Connecting VIA Connect PRO to a Display 5
2.2 Downloading and Running VIA Connect PRO Software 6
2.3 Logging In to VIA Connect PRO 7
3VIA Connect PRO Functions and What They Do 8
4Using VIA Connect PRO 11
4.1 VIA Connect PRO Main Menu 11
4.2 Enabling Control 12
4.3 Chatting with Participants 13
4.4 Sharing Files 14
4.5 Accessing Cloud Data 16
4.6 Whiteboard Collaboration 17
4.7 VIA Connect PRO Settings Menu 20
4.8 User Experience 29
5Technical Specifications 34
Figures
Figure 1: VIA Connect PRO Collaboration Hub 3
Figure 2: Connecting the VIA Connect PRO Collaboration Hub 5
Figure 3: VIA Connect PRO Admin Screen and Features 8
Figure 4: VIA Connect PRO Main User Screen and Features 9
Figure 5: The Participant List 11
Figure 6: Enable Control 13
Figure 7: Chat Window 14
Figure 8: Admin File Sharing 15
Figure 9: User File Sharing 15
Figure 10: Shared Files on the Cloud 16
Figure 11: Whiteboard Toolbar 18
Figure 12: Settings Screen 20
Figure 13: LAN Settings Screen 21
Figure 14: Room/Name Code Screen 22
Figure 15: Authentication Screen 24
Figure 16: Moderator Mode 25
Figure 17: Login Screen When Moderator Mode is Active 26
Figure 18: Wallpaper Screen 27
Figure 19: Web Browsing Management - Network Settings 28
Figure 20: Web Browsing Management - Wallpaper Settings 28
Figure 21: Web Browsing Management - Configuration Settings 28
Figure 22: Web Browsing Management - Authentication Settings 29
Figure 23: Samsung Galaxy 30
Figure 24: iPad 31
Figure 25: iPhone 32
Figure 26: PC 33

VIA Connect PRO - Introduction
1
1 Introduction
Welcome to VIA Connect PRO.
VIA Connect PRO is Kramer’s unique, powerful wireless presentation and
collaboration hub. It converts any display at any location into an interactive
meeting point, and it works with a wide range of presentation devices from desktop
and notebook computers to tablets and smartphones.
Each participant in a VIA Connect PRO session can quickly view, edit, annotate,
comment, and share content with other participants. Participants can share their
ideas through the primary screen, or break off with others into smaller groups
during a meeting.
The VIA Connect PRO integrates seamlessly with any organization’s current IT
infrastructure, converting any projector or screen into a networked device that
users can share and view on their current devices. Every local connection to VIA
Connect PRO is wireless, free of dongles, cables, and other compatibility
peripherals.
Key features of VIA Connect PRO:
Login using conventional Wi-Fi or LAN connections, no dongle needed
Provides true HD 1080p/60 video streaming
Supports Windows laptops and MAC®, as well as iOS and Android mobile
operating systems
Compatible with all common Web browsers
Up to 255 simultaneous users can be logged in
Up to 4 participant screens can be displayed simultaneously

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VIA Connect PRO - Introduction
1.1 Applications & Features
Present, share, chat, send and receive files, hold sidebar conversations, annotate,
edit, and save copies of all your work, just as you would with a whiteboard or flip
chart…except that you can do it all from your notebook computer, tablet, and
smartphone.
Here are just a few of the things you can do with VIA Connect PRO:
Up to four different participant screens can be shown at the same time. VIA
Connect PRO automatically sizes each screen to the maximum available
resolution. Finished sharing? Tap Step-out to disconnect.
Chat and Share a file: Need to ask a meeting participant a question? Click on their
screen name and send them a text message with complete privacy. Windows and
Mac PC users can also share files between themselves or the main presenter, all
at the click of a mouse.
Control a participant’s computer: Need to access files or play back a presentation
from a participant’s PC? Simply click Enable Control on the PC, and its cursor can
be controlled remotely to launch programs and play media.
Multimedia: Sometimes it’s just easier to explain your ideas with a video. Simply
click the Multimedia tab on your device’s screen and you can load and display
JPEG images (all operating systems) and play MP4 videos (Windows and Mac
PCs and iOS devices only). You can also display and share PDFs from any
logged-in device.
1.2 Controls and Connections
This section defines VIA Connect PRO.

VIA Connect PRO - Introduction
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Figure 1: VIA Connect PRO Collaboration Hub
#
Feature
Function
1
USB 3.0 Connectors
Connect to up to two USB devices
2
SPDIF 3.5mm Mini Jack
Connects to earphones or a speaker
3
Lock Opening
Connects to a security locking cable
4
Power Connector
Connects to the 19V DC power supply
5
HDMI Connector
Connects to an HDMI acceptor
6
Mini DisplayPort Connector
Connects to a mini DisplayPort acceptor
7
LAN RJ-45 Connector
Connects to a wireless router
8
USB 3.0 Connectors
Connect to up to two USB devices

4
VIA Connect PRO - Setting Up
2 Setting Up
Always switch off the power to each device before connecting it to your
VIA Connect PRO. After connecting VIA Connect PRO, connect its
power and then switch on the power to each device.
To connect the VIA Connect PRO as illustrated in the example in Figure 2 you
need:
A VIA Connect PRO Wireless Collaboration Hub
A display (projector, monitor, or screen). NOTE: A touchscreen display is
best for annotation
A Local Area Network (LAN) cable for connection to your network. For
wireless network connectivity, use a commercial wireless router
The following client devices are applicable with Kramer's VIA collaboration hub:
A Windows 7/8®(32-bit/64-bit) computer
A Macintosh®computer, using OSX 10.6.5 or newer (version 10.6.8
recommended)
An iPad/iPhone®tablet/smartphone with the VIA Connect PRO app installed
(iPad 2 or later, iOS 5 or later, iOS 6.0 recommended)
An Android®OS 3.2 tablet/smartphone with the VIA Connect PRO app
installed
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VIA Connect PRO - Setting Up
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Figure 2: Connecting the VIA Connect PRO Collaboration Hub
2.1 Connecting VIA Connect PRO to a Display
VIA Connect PRO is equipped with HDMI and mini DP display output connectors.
The HDMI connection can be used with any compatible projection or direct-
view display, such as an LCD monitor. This connection carries embedded
audio, and can also be routed and switched just like any other HDMI
connection
The mini DisplayPort connector connects to a DisplayPort display or to a
VGA display by means of a mini DP to VGA adapter cable included in the
packaging of VIA Connect Pro
VIA Connect PRO’s internal video card reads the Extended Display Identification
Data (EDID) for any connected display and sets the optimum display resolution
and image refresh rate automatically through the HDMI and Mini DisplayPort
jacks.

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VIA Connect PRO - Setting Up
For full functionality, VIA Connect PRO must be connected to a local area
network (LAN). You must assign an IP address to the VIA Connect PRO.
NOTE: Do not turn the device on before connecting the LAN port to the network.
NOTE: To allow participation in a collaborative session (send and receive content),
connect the VIA Connect PRO hub and all participant devices (PCs/ MACs/
smartphones/tablets) to the same network (LAN - wired/wireless).
The VIA Connect PRO hub receives user’s display/screen information and
multimedia files from their device (laptop/tablet/smartphone) and sends them to
the collaboration display (the display connected directly to VIA Connect PRO hub
unit).
2.2 Downloading and Running VIA Connect PRO Software
All participants in a meeting must download and run either the Kramer VIA
executable file (PC, Mac) or the appropriate Android/iOS app.
To access the PC and Mac executable files:
Open your Web browser and enter the IP address for your VIA Connect
PRO unit
Click on the file format (Win7/8, Mac OS) for your computer. You are
prompted to save this file to your computer. Select “OK” and download.
Once downloaded, locate the file on your computer (under “Downloads”) and
click to launch it. You then see the VIA Connect PRO login screen. (For
faster access, move the file to your desktop)
For tablets and smartphones, the Kramer VIA app is found in the App Store
(iOS) and Google Play (Android). Download the app to your tablet/phone

VIA Connect PRO - Setting Up
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and install. When you run the app, you see the following screen:
2.3 Logging In to VIA Connect PRO
Windows and Mac OS
Choose a username (nickname) for your device (it can be any mix of letters
and numbers) then enter it on the login screen
Next, enter the room code, seen on the lower right part of the screen. This
lets you access VIA Connect PRO
iOS and Android
First, enter the IP address for the VIA Connect PRO. This is found on the
main display screen in the lower left
Next, choose a username (nickname) for your device (it can be any mix of
letters and numbers) then enter it on the login screen of your device
Finally, enter the room code as seen on the lower right part of the screen.
This lets you access VIA Connect PRO. Now, you’re ready to go!

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VIA Connect PRO - VIA Connect PRO Functions and What They Do
3 VIA Connect PRO Functions and What They
Do
VIA Connect PRO presents two types of screens depending whether it is being
used by the Admin or by a User. The following screen shots illustrate both types.
Figure 3 shows the VIA Connect PRO main Admin screen and its functions:
Figure 3: VIA Connect PRO Admin Screen and Features
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

VIA Connect PRO - VIA Connect PRO Functions and What They Do
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Item
Icon
Action
1
Features
Allows user to see and access all available features of VIA
Connect PRO
2
Whiteboard
Opens a canvas to annotate, draw, and update document
collaboratively over a live stream
3
Participants
Provides a list of all participants in the session
4
Cloud
Drag and drop files to the cloud to share instantly with
everyone in the session
5
Shutdown
Shuts down VIA Connect PRO system
6
Reboot
Reboots VIA Connect PRO System
7
Settings
Performs settings on the LAN, configurations related to room
code, system controls, wallpaper and activation center
Figure 4 shows the VIA Connect PRO main User screen and its functions:
Figure 4: VIA Connect PRO Main User Screen and Features
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2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

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VIA Connect PRO - VIA Connect PRO Functions and What They Do
Item
Icon
Action
1
Features
Allows user to see and access all available features of VIA
Connect PRO
2
Step-In/
Step-Out
Allows the user to show his device's screen on main display, or
to step out
3
Participants
Provides a list of all participants in the session
4
Multimedia
Supports video formats: avi, vob, mp4, mov, mpx (ex. mpg).
Shares smooth full-motion video (up to 1080p/60), MP3 files
and photos
5
Cloud
Drag and drop files to the cloud to share instantly with
everyone in the session
6
Enable Control
Gives participants control over the presenters Mac or PC
laptop
7
File Transfer
Shares files between the available participants during the
session
8
Start
Collaboration
Click to collaborate through a common display using your own
device. Multiple users can interact and control the main display
at the same time
9
Chat
Allows sending chat messages among available participants
during that session

VIA Connect PRO - Using VIA Connect PRO
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4 Using VIA Connect PRO
VIA Connect PRO is a powerful and versatile collaboration hub that gives
participants a wide selection of presentation tools. In this section, we’ll look at
each of those tools and discuss briefly how it works.
4.1 VIA Connect PRO Main Menu
This section refers to the user's experience.
The VIA Connect PRO User main menu has three tabs across the top –Features,
Step-In/Out, and Participants.
Clicking on the Features icon on the main menu allows the user to see and
access all available functions of VIA Connect PRO
Clicking on the Step-In icon on the main menu displays your PC/device
screen on the main screen. Clicking Step-Out removes your device screen
from the main screen
Clicking on the Participants icon (Figure 5) reveals a list of all participants in
the session
Figure 5: The Participant List

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VIA Connect PRO - Using VIA Connect PRO
Under Participants, the following icons are used:
Item
Icon
Meaning
Display Status
Start a presentation at a display
The user is currently presenting
Chat Status
Start a chat session with any available participants
The participant is currently chatting with you. Click to
open the chat session
File Transfer
Start a file transfer with another participant
File transfer is already active with that participant
Enable
Control
Take control of any user while the user is displaying
Admin has the control of that user
4.2 Enabling Control
This function allows the admin to take control of a participant's PC (Windows or
Mac OS). (In our example, Figure 6, user Dave has stepped in and the Admin has
taken control of Dave):
The admin can work on Dave's system as he has taken control. (Admin can play
media or work on a document or presentation file collaboratively with Dave).
Any other participant who wants to take control or collaborate with Dave's system
can click on the Start Collaboration icon and drag his laptop mouse to the top and
off their local screen. That cursor now moves to the VIA Connect PRO unit and
appears on the main display of Dave. Buttons are shown in the picture below:

VIA Connect PRO - Using VIA Connect PRO
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Figure 6: Enable Control
4.3 Chatting with Participants
The admin or user can start a chat session to exchange text messages between
users.
To initiate a chat session:
Go to the participant list and click the chat icon for the desired
participant. The chat window opens (Figure 7) and you can chat with
selected participant:

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VIA Connect PRO - Using VIA Connect PRO
Figure 7: Chat Window
In the chat window, the participant’s name is at the left side of the window and
your chat messages are on the right side.
The user can check for active chat sessions by going to Features > Chat
4.4 Sharing Files
VIA Connect PRO can transfer files between PC/Mac logged in users.
To share a file:
Go to the participant list and click on the file share icon for the
desired participant with whom you wish to share a file.
In the cloud directory, select the desired file on your device. Then, click
Share