Minicom VDS User manual

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5UM40092 V3.3 8/05
CAT5 Video Display
Quick Installation Guide

CAT5 VIDEO DISPLAY
1
1. What is the CAT5 Video Display system?
The CAT5 Video Display (VDS) system from Minicom broadcasts real-time high-
resolution video signals to hundreds of remote display monitors.
The VDS system consists of the following:
• Broadcaster + Control Unit
• Line Splitters to expand the system
• Remote units that connect to each remote monitor/computer
• Remote Dual Screen connects 2 monitors to the system
CAT5 UTP or FTP cables connect the VDS system. The Remote units can be up to
110m/360ft away from the Broadcaster.
This Quick Installation Guide illustrates the VDS system and explains how to
install and operate it.
2. The multi-functional VDS system
You can use the VDS system in the following ways:
(A) Without the Control Unit
The VDS system constantly broadcasts a computer screen to all remote
monitors.
(B) With the Control Unit
• Broadcast a computer screen to all remote monitors
• Darken all remote screens
• Release the remote screens to allow local monitor viewing (when remote
computers are connected).
The screen dark function is useful when carrying out maintenance, changing
the broadcast program or in a classroom environment to grab students’
attention.
With both applications broadcast the video up to resolutions of 1600 x 1200 @
75Hz depending on the cable length.

QUICK INSTALLATION GUIDE
2
3. The VDS units
The figures below illustrate the Broadcaster Unit, Line Splitter, Remote units and
Remote Dual Screen.
VIDEO IN
VIDEO OUT
SYSTEM
12VDC
CONTROL
Power connector
VDS Control Unit
System cables Monitor
Video
cable
Broadcaster Unit
www.minicom.com
SYSTEM IN
12VDC
SYSTEM OUT
System cables
Power
connector
System cable from Broadcaster or
previous Line Splitter
Line Splitter
PICTURE
SYSTEM
VIDEO IN
Side A Side B
System
cable
Monitor
Video
cable Picture adjuster
Remote unit

CAT5 VIDEO DISPLAY
3
VDS Remote
Dual Screen
System
cable
To
monitors
Remote Dual Screen
4. Expanding the VDS system
You can expand the VDS system to 512 Remote units by having 2 levels of Line
Splitters. Level 1 Line Splitters can have 8 Remote units or Line Splitters
connected. Level 2 Line Splitters can have 8 Remote units connected. (See page 4).
5. Pre-installation instructions
Note! In the VDS system the CAT5 UTP or FTP cables carry electrical power.
Therefore do NOT connect them to any other device. To avoid this we recommend
you attach the stickers provided to the ends of each cable.
Place cables away from fluorescent lights, air conditioners, and machines that are
likely to generate electrical noise.
6. The VDS cables
The Video cable is illustrated below. Connect the cable as explained.
Broadcaster & Remote Video cable
To
Computer’s
Video card
To
Broadcaster’s
or Remotes’
Video In port
The Remote Video cable
The Remote Video cable is only used with the Remote unit when the Dongle is
connected to a computer.
Connecting the CAT5 cables
Please note! Connect the CAT5 cables to the Broadcaster and Line Splitter units
when the units are powered off. We recommend that you connect the CAT5 cables
BEFORE connecting the power supply.
Power supply
Connect the Broadcaster and Line Splitters to the power supply with the 12 VDC,
2A from the AC/DC adapter provided. The Remote units and the Remote Dual
Screen receive 12 VDC, 160 mA via the CAT5 cables from the Broadcaster or Line
Splitter.

QUICK INSTALLATION GUIDE
4
7. The VDS configuration for a CBT application
The figure below illustrates the VDS configuration with the VDS Control Unit and
the optional remote computers. The Remote Dual Screen has no VGA input and is
therefore not suitable for CBT applications.
Video cable
Video cable
Remote
Broadcaster Unit
Broadcaster
computer
Remote
computer
Line
Splitter
VDS Control Unit
Video cable
Remote
Remote
computer
Video cable
CAT5 cables to
Remotes
Remote
Remote
computer
Line
Splitter
CAT5 cables to
Remotes or Line
Splitters
CAT5 cables to
Remotes or Line
Splitters
Level 1
Level 2
CAT5 cables to
Remotes

CAT5 VIDEO DISPLAY
5
8. VDS detailed connections
The figure below illustrates the detailed connections of the VDS units.
VDS Control Unit
Maste r
to all
Dark
all
MINICOM
www.m ini com.co m
Headset
Speaker
Sound Card
VIDEO I N
VIDEO O UT
SYSTEM
12VDC
CONTRO L
www.minicom.com
SYSTE M IN
12VDC
SYSTEM OUT
PICTUR E
Video cable
Video cable
Control Unit
CAT5 cables to
Remotes or Line
Splitters
CAT5 cables to
Remotes or Line
Splitters
Remote
Line
Splitter
Broadcaster
Unit
Broadcaster
computer
Remote
computer
www.minicom.com
SYSTE M IN
12VDC
SYSTEM OUT
CAT5 cables to
Remotes
Line
Splitter
CAT5 cables to
Remotes or Line
Splitters
CAT5 cables to
Remotes or Line
Splitters
CAT5 cables to
Remotes

QUICK INSTALLATION GUIDE
6
9. The VDS configuration without remote computers
The figure below illustrates the VDS configuration without optional computers
connected to the Remote units and the Remote Dual Screen. Connect the Broadcaster
and Line Splitters as in the figure on page 5. The figure on page 7 illustrates the
detailed connections of the Remote unit.
Video cable
CAT5 cables to
Remotes or Line
Splitters
Broadcaster Unit
Broadcaster
computer
Line
Splitter
Remote
CAT5 cables to
Remotes
Remote
Line
Splitter
CAT5 cables to
Remotes or Line
Splitters
VDS Control Unit
VDS Remote
Dual Screen
Remote Dual Screen
Instead of the Remote unit, use
the Remote Dual Screen to
connect 2 screens to the
Broadcaster or Line Splitter via
CAT5 cable. The 2 screens
display the images broadcast by
the Broadcaster computer.
VDS
Remote
Dual Screen
CAT5 cable to
Broadcaster or
Line Splitter

CAT5 VIDEO DISPLAY
7
PICTURE
Remote
CAT5 cable to
Broadcaster or
Line Splitter
10. Operating the VDS system
Once connected the VDS system broadcasts to all remote monitors.
The VDS Control Unit
The VDS Control Unit is illustrated below.
VDS Control Unit
Master
to all
Dark
all
MINICOM
To Broadcaster Unit’s
Control port
With the VDS Control Unit carry out the following functions:
Master to all
Press the Master to all button to send the broadcaster’s screen to all remote
monitors. The LED above the button lights up.
Press the button again to release the remote monitors.
Dark all
Press the Dark all button to darken all remote screens. The LED above the button
lights up.
Press the button again to release the remote screens.
11. Adjusting the picture quality
Use a small screwdriver to turn the Picture adjuster on the Remote unit to adjust the
picture quality.

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8
12. Technical specifications
SYSTEM
Resolution Up to 1600x1200 @ 75 Hz
System cable CAT5 UTP or FTP 2x4x24 AWG Solid Wire Conductor
cable
Max distance 110m/360ft
Input/Output Video Signals Analog signal red, green, blue 0.7v p-p 75 Ohm
Sync. TTL compatible
Horizontal/Vertical Sync.
Polarity
Positive/Negative
Operating temperature 0ºC to 40ºC/32ºF to 104ºF
Storage temperature -40ºC to 70ºC/-40ºC to 158ºF
Humidity 80% non condensing relative humidity
Warranty 3 Years
BROADCASTER LINE SPLITTER REMOTE
Cables &
Connectors
VGA In - HDD15M
VGA Out - HDD15F
System Out - 8 Ports RJ45
Control - MiniDin8F
System In - RJ45
System Out - RJ45
System In - RJ45
CPU VGA - HDD15M
Screen - HDD15F
Dimensions 175 x 96 x 42mm/
0.57 x 0.38 x 0.14ft
118 x 96 x 42mm/
0.39 x 0.38 x 0.14ft
78 x 62 x 23mm/
0.31 x 0.26 x 0.07ft
Power
supply
External Power Adapter
12VDC 2A
External Power
Adapter 12VDC 2A
From previous unit
through CAT5 cable
REMOTE DUAL SCREEN
Cables &
Connectors
System In - RJ45
Screen x 2 - HDD15F
Power
supply
From previous unit through
CAT5 cable