MuxLab 500172 User manual

P/N: 94-000706-A SE-000706-A
Active VGA Managed Repeater Hub
500172
Installation Guide

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Copyright Notice:
Copyright © 2011 MuxLab Inc. All rights reserved.
Printed in Canada. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or
otherwise without prior written permission of the author.
Trademarks:
MuxLab and VideoEase are registered trademarks of MuxLab Inc.

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Table of Contents
1. System Overview............................................................4
1.1.Description..............................................................4
1.2.System Features ......................................................6
2. Technical Specifications ................................................7
3. Installation Procedure...................................................8
3.1.Parts List .................................................................8
3.2.Product Overview ...................................................9
3.3.Pre-Installation Checklist......................................11
3.4.Physical Installation..............................................12
3.5.Installation Procedure............................................13
3.6.Manual Image Control ..........................................15
3.7.Port Control Operations ........................................16
3.8.Driver Setup..........................................................18
4. Troubleshooting...........................................................21
5. Appendix.......................................................................23
6. Product Warranty Policy............................................28

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1.
System Overview
1.1. Description
MuxLab’s family of Active VGA Managed products
allows a single video source to be transmitted to various
remote locations in a point-to-multipoint configuration
for cost-efficient connectivity.
The Active VGA Managed family consists of three
products:
(1) Active VGA Managed Dispatcher
(2) Active VGA Managed Receiver
(2) Active VGA Managed Repeater Hub
A video source is connected to the Dispatcher, which in
turn distributes the source signal to Receivers placed in
locations as far as 1,000 feet (305 meters) away. Each
Receiver then transmits this signal to as many as two
display devices. Working alone, the Dispatcher (8 or 16
port) can distribute signals to as many as 8 or 16 remote
locations.
A Repeater Hub is used whenever a source signal must
be distributed to more than 8 or 16 remote locations, or
over a distance of more than 1,000 feet. The Repeater
Hub receives the source signal from the Dispatcher,
amplifies and equalizes it, and then distributes it to as
many as 8 Receivers located as far as 1,000 feet away.

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Because the Repeater Hub itself can be located as far as
1,000 feet away from the Dispatcher, the effective
distance from Dispatcher to Receiver is therefore
doubled to 2,000 feet (610 meters). Furthermore, since
the Dispatcher (8 or 16 port) can distribute signals to as
many as 8 or 16 Repeater Hubs, each of which in turn
can distribute signals to 8 Receivers, the number of
remote locations that receive source signals increases by
7 with each Repeater Hub used.
Figure 1: System Overview
The Repeater Hub supports up to 1920 x 1200 pixels
and 1080p resolution, and is DDC compliant with all
plug-and-play laptops, PCs, and displays.
Applications include commercial and residential AV
systems, classroom projector systems, digital signage,
boardroom systems, multi-room systems, classroom
training, retail systems, collaborative PC systems, and
medical information systems.

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1.2. System Features
Supports VGA, Audio & RS232
Support up to 1,000 ft (305 m)
Support up to 1920 x 1200, 1080p (depending on
cable length)
Software and manual adjustments for brightness,
sharpness & skew
Additional 1,000 ft (305 m) via Repeater Hub
Cascadability option from Receiver
Structured cabling approach: Repeater Hubs have
RJ45 for signal distribution
Dual head capability on Receiver

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2.
Technical Specifications
Active VGA Managed REPEATER HUB
Environment VGA, Analog Stereo Audio, RS232
Devices PC, laptops, projectors, plasma, switchers, distribution amps, touchscreen
Transmission Transparent to the user
Maximum resolution 1080p; 1920 x 1200
Connections FRONT PANEL Maintenance: One (1) Mini USB
Link Ports: Eight (8) RJ45S
BACK PANEL Local Out:
VGA: One (1) HD15F
Local In:
Link: One (1) RJ45S
Power: One (1) power jack
Maximum Distance:
Repeater Hub to Receiver Up to 1920 x 1200 @ 60Hz; 1080P (depending on cable length)
Up to 1,000 feet (305 meters)
NOTE: STP cables must be used in an electrically noisy environment. Also, cross-connectio
n
reduces the effective distance depending on the grade of twisted cable used.
RJ45 Pin Configuration
Reverse Polarity Sensitive
Use EIA/TIA 568A or 568B
straight-through wiring
Green: Pin 4 (R) Pin 5 (T)
Blue: Pin 1 (R) Pin 2 (T)
Red: Pin 7 (R) Pin 8 (T)
COM: Pin 3 (R) Pin 6 (T)
LED Indicators Sync: One (1) green LED
Power: One (1) green LED
Sharpness One (1) green LED
Gain One (1) green LED
R One (1) green LED
G One (1) green LED
B One (1) green LED
Cable Cat 5e/6 unshielded twisted pair (or better)
Power Supply 110-240V/12VDC/1.25A power jacks
Removable AC blades included for North America, Continental Europe & UK
Compatible Products 500170, 500171, 500174
Power Consumption 15 Watts
Temperature Operating: 0ºC to 40ºC
Storage: -20ºC to 85ºC
Humidity: Up to 95% non-condensing
Dimensions 1U Rack Mountable
Enclosure Dimensions: 17.15” x 4.69” x 1.72” (43.56 cm x 11.91 cm x 4.37 cm)
Weight 3.8 lb (1.7 kg)
Regulatory FCC, CE-EMC Directive 89/336/EE, RoHS, WEEE
Warranty Two (2) years
Order Information 500172: Active VGA Managed Repeater Hub (8 Port)

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3.
Installation Procedure
3.1. Parts List
The Active VGA Managed Repeater Hub (500172)
comes with the following parts:
Base Unit
One (1) 110-240V/12VDC, 1.25A Power Supply with
three interchangeable blades
Quick Reference Support Sheet
Four (4) rubber feet
Please verify that all parts are present before proceeding.

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3.2. Product Overview
The external connections and connection indicators of
the Active VGA Managed Repeater Hub are detailed in
Figures 2 and 3. Please familiarize yourself with them
before installing the unit.
Figure 2: Front Panel of Repeater Hub
Detail A
A
1
= Status LEDs
A
2
= Maintenance Port (Mini USB) Detail B
B
1
= Gain & Sharpness LEDs
B
2
= Red, Green, Blue Skew LEDs
B
3
= Select Switch
B
4
= Rocker Switch
Detail C
RJ45 Output Link Ports

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Figure 3: Back Panel of Repeater Hub
Detail A
VGA Local Out Detail B
B
1
= Local In Link Port
B
2
= Power Supply Plug

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3.3. Pre-Installation Checklist
Prior to installing the Active VGA Managed Repeater
Hub, please ensure that the maximum routing distance
from Dispatcher to Repeater Hub does not exceed 1,000
feet (305 meters). Likewise, please ensure that the
maximum routing distance from Repeater Hub to
Receiver does not exceed 1,000 feet.

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3.4. Physical Installation
MuxLab’s Active VGA Managed Repeater Hub comes
with mounting brackets for standard 19” rack mounting.
Select the final destination for the product and install the
unit using standard rack-mount screws.
For set-top installation, the L-brackets on the side of the
unit may be removed and the included rubber feet placed
on the bottom of the unit. When removing the L-
brackets, be careful to keep and reinstall the four screws
on each side of the unit.
Figure 4: Procedure for Set-Top Installation

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3.5. Installation Procedure
In order to install the product, please follow the steps
below:
1. Place the Active VGA Managed Repeater Hub in its
final location.
2. Connect the Dispatcher to the Repeater Hub by
using a UTP/STP Cat 5e/6 cable. This cable
connects from the Dispatcher’s front panel to the
LINK (Local In) port located on the Repeater Hub’s
back panel.
3. Optional: Connect a local display to the Repeater
Hub via the VGA (Local Out) port located on the
Repeater Hub’s back panel.
4. Connect the Repeater Hub to Receivers using
UTP/STP Cat 5e/6 cables. These cables connect
from the Link Ports located on the Repeater Hub’s
front panel to the LINK IN port located on the back
panel of each Receiver.
5. Power up the Dispatcher, Receivers, and local
displays.
6. Connect the external 12VDC power supply to the
Repeater Hub and plug the power supply into an AC
power outlet. If power is available, the power LED
will be ON.
7. Ensure that the source and appropriate displays are
on. Images should appear on the displays. Check the
image quality and refer to the troubleshooting table
in Section 4 if image quality is unsatisfactory.

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8. Figure 5 shows a typical configuration:
Figure 5: Typical Repeater Hub Configuration

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3.6. Manual Image Control
The image generated by MuxLab’s Active VGA
Managed Repeater Hub may be manually controlled via
the Select button and rocker switch (and their associated
LEDs) located on the Repeater Hub’s front panel
(Figure 6).
Figure 6: Manual Image Control Buttons and LEDs
To adjust the image, the user presses the Select button
until the LED corresponding to the image adjustment
category turns on. There are five categories possible:
(1)
Gain; (2) Sharpness; (3) Red Skew; (4) Green Skew; and
(5) Blue Skew.
Once the user has selected a category, it can be adjusted
by pressing the rocker switch up or down. When
completed, the user can move to the next category by
pressing the Select button again. The Select button
cycles through all five adjustment categories, and the
LED corresponding to the last adjustment made by the
user will remain on.
When making an adjustment, the selected LED will
flicker quickly, but will stop flicking once the minimum
or maximum setting is reached. The rocker switch can
be kept depressed for a faster adjustment.

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3.7. Port Control Operations
MuxLab’s Active VGA Managed Repeater Hub may be
controlled in any one of two different ways:
1. RS232 Control
2. USB Control
1. RS232 Control
The Active VGA Managed Repeater Hub features built-
in firmware that allows commands from the computer
unit running MuxLab’s Control Central software to be
sent directly to the Repeater Hub via an RS232
connection. If connecting with an RS232 cable, ensure
that the cable has the straight-through configuration
shown in Figure 7.
Figure 7: RS232 Cable Configuration
Port Control is performed with MuxLab’s Active VGA
Managed Software, described in the Active VGA
Managed Software Installation Guide.
Please note that USB to RS232 converter cables could
result in problems, depending on the quality of the
converters.
2
3
5
2
3
5
DB9
Male DB9 Female

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2. USB Control
The Active VGA Managed Repeater Hub features built-
in firmware that allows commands from an ASCII
terminal to be sent directly to the Repeater Hub via a
USB connection only for maintenance purposes.
Maintenance is performed with a terminal emulator,
such as the one available under Windows with the
ASCII Command Set described in the Appendix.

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3.8. Driver Setup
When interfacing a MuxLab device with Windows 2000
(or more recent) operating system, a driver setup file
will be required.
To install the MuxLab Control Center software, go to
www.muxlab.com and download the SC-000032-A
USB to Serial Driver. Plug the USB cable between the
device and the PC, and power up the device. The Found
New Hardware wizard will open (Figure 8). Select
Locate and install driver software.
Figure 8: Found New Hardware Wizard

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A new dialog box will open (Figure 9). Select Browse
my computer for driver software.
Figure 9: Found New Hardware Dialog Box
Another dialog box will open (Figure 10). Click Browse
and locate the SC-000032-A file that you downloaded.
Once found, click Next.
Figure 10: Browsing for Unknown Device

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A security window will now appear, indicating that the
driver software is unsigned (Figure 11). Select Install
this driver software anyway.
Figure 11: Windows Security
A window will appear instructing that the software for
the driver has been successfully installed (Figure 12).
Click Close. You are now ready to launch the MuxLab
Control Center software.
Figure 12: Successful Installation Dialog Box