videogeniX uSwitch User manual

uSwitch and uSwitchPro Installation and Operating Manual Page 1
uSwitch™ and uSwitchPro™ Installation
and Operating Manual
and the A-Plug Adapter

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Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................................................3
uSwitch and uSwitchPro Features................................................................................................................................4
Installation Guidelines (Read before Installing) .............................................................................................................6
uSwitch and uSwitchPro Quick Start Guide..............................................................................................................6
About uSwitch ..........................................................................................................................................................8
Power Supply Connection...........................................................................................................................................9
Relay Connection.......................................................................................................................................................9
Network Connection....................................................................................................................................................9
Control Center – Home Page.....................................................................................................................................11
Menu Navigation.......................................................................................................................................................12
Control Center (Relay 1- Momentary Mode) ............................................................................................................12
Control Center (Relay1 Watchdog Mode, Startup Delay phase)...................................................................................13
Control Center (Relay1 Watchdog Mode, Ping Delay phase).......................................................................................15
................................................................................................................................................................................15
Control Center (Relay1 Watchdog Mode, pinging phase).............................................................................................16
Control Center (Relay1 Watchdog Mode, auto reboot countdown phase) .....................................................................17
Control Center (GPIO1 with counter enabled).............................................................................................................18
Network Configuration Page......................................................................................................................................19
Relay Configuration Page..........................................................................................................................................22
Force Watchdog Reboot ...........................................................................................................................................24
GPIO Configuration Page (uSwitchPro only)...............................................................................................................26
Watchdog Configuration Page................................................................................................................................27
Virtual Relay Configuration Page............................................................................................................................29
Authorization Configuration Page...............................................................................................................................31
Security Notes..........................................................................................................................................................31
uSwitch/uSwitchPro Board Schematic........................................................................................................................32
Access Control to Electronic Door Strike....................................................................................................................33
Driving multiple uSwitch Relays from a single uSwitch GPIO or Virtual Button.....................................................33
Connecting to High Power devices (such as Motors, etc).............................................................................................34

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Hard Wired Network Connection................................................................................................................................35
Wireless Network Connection....................................................................................................................................36
Troubleshooting:.......................................................................................................................................................37
Appendix A: Factory Default Settings........................................................................................................................38
Appendix B: Specifications.......................................................................................................................................39
Product Safety: FCC Statement.................................................................................................................................41
Warranty..................................................................................................................................................................41
Trademark and Copyright Information ........................................................................................................................42
Introduction
VideogeniX specializes in practical solutions for your network allowing you to Stay Connected and Take
Control. All our industrial rated solutions keep you connected to the internet of thngs (IOT).
uSwitch™allows you to control any device over the web including gates, doors, lights, sirens, doors, modems and
cameras whether you are next door or halfway across the world. uSwitchcan also restart any network device
automatically when it locks up or stops communicating, saving you costly sitevisits, dissatisfiedcustomers and time
consuming manual reboots. uSwitchis the perfect solution for industrial, security and personal applications.
Simple to use and with no programming required, uSwitchautomatically builds a control web page, provides multiple
levels of password protected and can operate stand alone or user directed via the Internet or a local intranet.
uSwitchcomes with removable terminal connectors for the simplest wiring to two electromechanical relays that can be
used as a dry contactsor power switches for remote control via the built in web server.
Once connected anywhere, users can monitor, control and reboot any device over the web or over a network whether
under a desk on top of a pole, at a remote constructionsite, summer homes or business. In addition to computers and
iPads, uSwitchis compatible with Android, iPhone, Blackberryand many other smart devices providing true remote
control anywhere and anytime.
uSwitchPro™adds several high end features to the standard uSwitch™including General Purpose Inputs (GPIOs), and
soft Virtual Relays.

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This manual covers both uSwitch™ and uSwitchPro™. All exclusive features to the uSwitchProwill be, as this text is, on a
light blue background, differentiating its advanced features.
Additionally, this manual covers the most popular adapters to the uSwitchincluding the A-plug™ a universal 110VAC
uSwitchadapter.
uSwitch and uSwitchPro Features
•Plug-and-Play
•Two dry contact relays (5A@120Vac, 3A@250VAC), (5A@120VDC, 3A@ 250VDC) for direct connection to load.
(Not designed for devices with large inrush current)
•No programming required
•Auto Discovery mode user configurable
•Connect from computers, smart phones, iPads and other web and network devices
•May be used as a standalone device
•Built-in web pages provide simple user interface for configuration and control.
•Customizable user interface (customizecontrols, colors, text and buttons).
•Removable terminal connectors (included) simplify wiring and service
•Custom applications can control uSwitchwith standard CGI interface.
•Multiple levels of password protection
•Supports fixed IP, DHCP, and Dynamic IP with port forwarding and virtual port addressing.
•SelectableTCP ports for proxy server and NAT applications
•10/100 Ethernet connectivity.
•Built-in automatic watchdog mode on each relay; with three independent user assignable ping-able URL options
•Watchdog Cloak™ mode for ultra-secure applications
•Watchdog mode timers and counters user configurable
•Latched, Momentary and Pulsetiming modes for relays
•Relay power up state user configurable (Closed, Open, Previous)
•Minimal footprint
•Low power consumption
•Manual relay control mode
•All inputs and outputs have user customizablestatecolors and state text
•All inputs and outputs have user customizabledisplayed names
•On board relays can be linked directly to onboard GPIOs
•GPIO(s) and virtual buttons can drive relays on other uSwitchdevices (Each Pro can drive up to 8 uSwitches and
16 relays which can be daisy chained to unlimited number of relays)
•Input Counters for tracking events
•Universal Voltage input 12-16VDC
•Great documentation, Great support
•Manufactured and all Software from USA

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•Single Source Documentation available upon request

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Installation Guidelines (Read before Installing)
Opening the uSwitchenclosure or tampering will void the warranty.
1. Not weatherproof (do not install outdoors without proper environmental enclosure).
2. Must be installed by qualified personnel.
3. Not designed to run in a radioactive environment
4. Must not be used for medical, lifesaving purposes, or for any purpose where its failure could cause serious injury,
loss of life, or create significant financial losses.
5. Must be correctly wired. Incorrect wiring could result in damage to uSwitchor the device to which it is partnered.
uSwitch and uSwitchPro Quick Start Guide
1. uSwitchcan be connected to a DC power source in the range of 12-16Vdc. Connect an appropriate DC power
supply to the + and - Terminals in Figure 1 (regulated power supply is recommended). The power supply should
be rated to meet the operating current of the uSwitch™(see specifications for power requirements in appendix
C). As shown in the photo, the positive terminal is the terminal closest to the outside unit edge; the negative
terminal is the terminal closest to relay connectors.
2. Connect an Ethernet cable between the uSwitchEthernet port and an Ethernet port on the network switch/router.
Connect a computer to the network switch/router. (See diagram below). Alternatively, you can connect the
uSwitchdirectly to the etherent port of your computer (computer must be on a 192.168.1.xxx subnet and both
should share the same gateway address and subnet mask).

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3. Set up a computer on the same network/subnet as the uSwitch. To do this,set the IP address of the computer to
192.168.1.x with subnet mask of 255.255.255.0 (x can be any unused address on that network 2-254) and
should not be in a range designated for DHCP addresses by the router.
4. Connect to the uSwitchby entering itsfactory default IP address (http://192.168.1.199) into the address bar on
your computer’s browser. If the uSwitchis on a LAN with a router that has reserved the DHCP address of
‘192.168.1.199’ a conflict can occur. In this case either change the default address of the uSwitchupon
connection or remove ‘199’ from the DHCP reserved address space of the router. (Make sure the uSwitch’s
address is not blocked by any firewall you may be using).
5. If this is the first time you are logging on to the uSwitchfrom your computer, a password dialog box willappear
(see examples below). Enter “admin”, for both the User name and Passwordfields (all lower case). Once logged
on passwords and user names can be changed from the Authorization Configuration Menu. For higher level
menus ‘admin’ is also the default password.
Windows Vista Windows 8
6. Press “OK” to accept the username and password.

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7. Connect the relay contacts and or GPIOs as desired (refer to the diagram below for relay connections).
About uSwitch
uSwitchcontains two electro-mechanical relays and a built in web server. The uSwitch’s web interface can be controlled
and/or monitored over any IP network including private networks, IP-based industrial control networks, and the Internet.
uSwitchcan be controlled from a web browser or via a customthird party application. Using standard CGI commands
uSwitchcan operate stand-alone or can be controlled from a remote or local web browser. It can be used to operate
access control devices, lights, pumps, valves, locks, motors, etc.
Another feature of the uSwitchis, it can be programmed to automatically detect device and network failure and restart
electronic devices that have frozen, or stopped functioning properly (even if communication to uSwitchor device has been
completely lost). This mechanism is available to remotely reboot servers, computers, cell and satellite modems, and other
devices one can imagine - either LAN or WAN. uSwitchrelays can be wired in series with the power source of the device
and switchthe power on and off manually. Another option is to connect uSwitchdirectly into a device’s reset circuit. In
this configuration, uSwitchdoes not power down the device and initiate a cold reboot, it simply forces a warm restart. All
reboot methods have different requirements in physical connection and setup. A fourth additional option is to wire a
uSwitchoutput to an external relay to control a physically isolatedcircuit or one with a power load that exceeds the max
specifications of those inside the uSwitch.
uSwitchhas a built-in Web Interface. You can access uSwitchby its IP address if you are connecting to it from the same
network or if you are on a remote WANby the URL of the LAN and or the uSwitch’s assignedport (via port
forwarding/NAT). It can be accessedon networks with both static and dynamic IP addresses (in the case of a dynamic IP
address a dynamic IP client is required or a router supporting DDNS). The factory default IP address for uSwitchis:
192.168.1.199, its default network port is 80 and the gateway is 192.168.1.1.
uSwitchProhas two General Purpose inputs (GPIOs). These GPIOs can be hooked up to sensors which can be linked to
the local relay and up to 16 remote relays, so that a change in sensor status can effectively drive multiple remote relays.
For instance, a premise detection alert could lock down 9 doors and set off 9 sirens across a campus.

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Virtual Relays.
The uSwitchProsupports Virtual uSwitchcontrol. Withthe creation of either virtual buttons, or by using local GPIOs up to
eight (8) additional uSwitches can be controlled either by a single local button or by the change in stateof one of a sensor
attached to a GPIO..
Power Supply Connection
Connect an appropriate DC power supply to the Vin+ and Gnd Terminals as shown below (regulated power supply
recommended). The power supply should be rated to meet the operating current of uSwitch(specified in Appendix B).
Relay Connection
When connecting to the relay contacts make sure any current or future load will not exceed the load ratings for the relays
(per spec. in Appendix B).
Network Connection
Connect the uSwitchEthernet port to a 10 Base-T or 100 Base-T switch, router or cell modem/gateway (per diagram
below). For configuration, uSwitchcan also connect directly to the Ethernet port on a computer using a crossover/null-
modem cable. Otherwise, for connection through standard communication equipment a straight cable should be used.

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Control Center – Home Page
This is the main control and interface of uSwitch, called the “uSwitchControl Center”. The Control Center appears when
the IP address or URL assigned to a uSwitchis entered into a browser from a device that has access to that network.
The “Control Center” provides manual relay control and status information based on the various operating modes and
inputs (see operating modes in uSwitchControl Center Operating Modes section). Navigating between the uSwitch
features is done by clickingon the blue menu buttons on the left side of any uSwitchpage.. The menu options for the
uSwitchare, uSwitch Control Center, Relay Configuration, Watchdog Configuration, GPIO Configuration, Virtual
Relay Configuration, Network Configuration, Authorization Configuration, Operations Manual. There are two
levels of user operation. The Control Center home screen is accessibleto anyone with the user name and password.
Configuration menus are only accessibleto privileged users with a senior level password (default is ‘admin’)..
Selectingthe red “Click to Turn ON” button on the “Control Center” page for a relay, energizes the selected relay forcing a
normally closed(NC) contact to open or a normally open (NO) contact to close. The button’s color will simultaneously
change from green to red (unless these colors have been modified on the Relay Configuration menu) and the button’s text
will change to “Click to Turn OFF” (unless “user assigned text” has been similarly modified).
“Relay1” and “Relay2” are factory default names assigned to the relays. These names can be changed by the user from
the Relay Configuration page (for example, “Front Door”, “Stair Lights”, etc.)
The Control Center also includes the states of the inputs (GPIO1 and GPIO2 in a round icon). GPIO1 and GPIO2 are
default names assigned to these inputs. Custom colors, names, and state text for the GPIOs can be assigned from the
GPIO Configuration Page.

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Menu Navigation
Navigating between the uSwitch menus is done by clicking on the blue menu buttons on the left side of every page (each
configuration page has the identical menu choices available). The menu options for the uSwitch are, uSwitch Control
Center, Relay Configuration, Watchdog Configuration, GPIO Configuration, Virtual Relay Configuration, Network
Configuration, Authorization Configuration and Operations Manual (the Operations Manual is only available if a web
connection is available)
uSwitchControlCenterOperatingModes
Control Center (Relay 1- Momentary Mode)
The image below shows the Control Center with relay one configured as a twenty (20)second momentary (or pulsed) relay
(a relay is configured into momentary mode from the Relay Configuration page). In this case each time relay1 button is
clicked, the relay changes its state, counts down to zero (currently 5) and then changes back to its starting state. To
change the relays initial state,temporarily disable momentary mode by setting the momentary time to zero (0) (from Relay
Configuration page), Then manually change the stateof the relay (on the Control Center page) to the desired iinitial state.
Finally put the relay back into momentary mode by putting in a non-zero momentary time (from the Relay Configuration
page). Note: Once a momentary countdown has started the push button relay controls are disabled until countdown
completes (during countdown mode the colors of the relay flash between its current stateand yellow).

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Control Center (Relay1 Watchdog Mode, Startup Delay phase)
The image below shows the Control Center with relay1 configured in Watchdog Mode (a relay is placed in watchdog
mode from the Relay Configuraton page)..A greyed out relay button indicates manual control is disabled when watchdog
mode has been turned on. Whenever a relay is in watchdog mode it cannot be manually controlled by a push button. The
screen below shows relay1 in Watchdog mode. On the screen below thewatchdog feature has started the initial startup
countdown specified by the startup delay entry before testing for connectivity, currently 261 seconds remain before
watchdog mode becomes fully active. A minimum recommended startup countdown time of five minutes (300 seconds) is
recommended.

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Control Center (Relay1 Watchdog Mode, Ping Delay phase)
The image below shows the Control Center with relay1 configured in Watchdog Mode, during the, “Ping Delay” phase.
This is the time interval between successive pings to the same URL. A recommended time of 90 seconds for the “ping
delay” setting is suggested. Note: During Watchdog Mode manual relay control is not allowed so the relay control button
is grayed out.

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Control Center (Relay1 Watchdog Mode, pinging phase)
The image below shows the Control Center with Relay1 configured in Watchdog Mode. In this instancethe uSwitchis
attempting to ping the URL “yahoo.com” assigned for relay1 to determine if relay1 needs to be cycled. Alsonote this is
the third consecutive attempt to communicate with the URL, indicating the previous two attempts failed.

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Control Center (Relay1 Watchdog Mode, auto reboot countdown phase)
The image below shows the Control Center with Relay1 configured in Watchdog Mode. The uSwitchautomatically is
cyclingthe relay after failing to get responses from the URLs specified in the WatchdogConfiguration page for Relay1.
The screen shot below shows the reboot countdown time remaining and will turn power back on to device when the count
reaches 0. The amount of time for the relay to be cycledis as specified in the Relay Cycle Time field on the Watchdog
Configuration page. After a reboot of the device the Watchdog will again initiate a startup delay countdown and hold off
watchdog tests until the device Startup period completes..

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Control Center (GPIO1 with counter enabled)
The image below shows the Control Center with relay1 configured in Watchdog Mode and GPIO1 configured with the
“Enable Counting” field checked (if counting is not enabled the running count field and counter reset are not present on
this screen). The value 119 in the “Running Count” field means, sincethe counter starting counting or was last reset by
the “Clear Counter” button (directly below), 119 full input statetransitions have occurred on GPIO1. Clickingthe Reset
button clears the counter.

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Network Configuration Page
Network settings and control options are modified from the Network Configuration page. If multiple uSwitchdevices are
used on the same network, connect only one at a time and configure the IP address of each unit before connecting the
next uSwitchto the network. This prevents having two network devices on the same network with identical network
addresses (creating an IP address conflict). It is a good idea to clear the Address Resolution Protocol Cache (ARP) each
time you swap uSwitchunits on the same network. This is because each uSwitchhas a factory default IP address
(192.168.1.199) and if the cache is not cleared an IP address conflict could occur if two IP addresses are associated with
two different hardware MAC addresses from two different uSwitchdevices. To clear the ARP cache on a Windows PC
type “arp –d inet addr” in a DOS/Windows command prompt window (“arp -d –a” as super user on Apple OSX). Once you
have changed network settings on the uSwitchyou must cyclepower on the new uSwitchbefore the network settings will
take effect.
You can use a proxy server to connect multiple uSwitchdevices to an outside network or the internet by using a single
static or dynamic IP resolved address. This can be done using most consumer or industrial grade routers. If a proxy
server environment is to be set up, each uSwitchwill not be accessiblefrom the internet until the proxy server (router) is
configured with the unique and specific port number and IP address assigned to each uSwitchon its local area network
(LAN). This is a form of Network Address Translation (NAT) also called port forwarding or virtual port addressing. To
determine how to set up the proxy server for port forwarding (also called NAT) review the manual for the device which will
act as the proxy server and as the gateway to the other network.
(Note: When multiple uSwitchdevices are installedon the same local area network, each must have its own unique ‘LAN’
IP address. Every uSwitchcomes with a factory default IP address of 192.168.1.199. If multiple uSwitchdevices are
used, assign a unique IP address to each, such as: 192.168.1.195, 192.168.1.196, 192.168.1.197, etc.). The following
Network Control Page shows the factory settings on the standard uSwitchand uSwitchproducts.

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Host Name
This configurable field represents a user chosen name for your uSwitch. It will be used when reporting information from
this device and in any status logs. It is a virtual name for the current uSwitchdevice.
Enable DHCP
This check box should be selectedwhen the user chooses to have a DHCP server automatically assign IPV4 addresses
to the uSwitch. DHCP is not recommended as DHCP assigned addresses are subject to change making it difficult to
permanently access a uSwitchwhose address could change at random points in time.
IP Address
This specifies the unique IPV4 address of the uSwitchon the LAN. (EachuSwitchis factory configured with the default
static IPV4address of 192.168.1.199). This static LANaddress should be modified to be consistent with the LAN’s
subnet on which it is to be installed.Whenusing multiple uSwitchdevices on the same LAN each uSwitchmust have a
unique IPV4address.
Gateway
This specifies the IP address of the gateway (typically router/cell modem) which is responsible for creating the LAN and
connecting to other networks and or the WEB. Ifunknown, the Gateway address can be obtained from the network
administrator. The Gateway is the LAN address of the device that routes the internal LAN to an outside network (WAN) or
other networks. The factory default gateway setting for the uSwitchis 192.168.1.1. This must be the assigned address of
the device that routes the network on which the uSwitchis connected for uSwitchfeatures to function correctly. For
instance, pinging devices that are outside the local are network when Auto Reboot mode is enabled will not work if the
correct Gateway address is not assigned..
Subnet Mask
The subnet mask identifies a specific LAN’s private addressing scheme on a TCP IPV4network. This can typically be
obtained from the network administrator. The uSwitchdefault subnet mask is set to 255.255.255.0. Each of these four,
three-digit fields represents an IPV4address field. Eachof these fields represents a byte worth of addressing (1-255).
Any bit positions in the address with a value of zero are accessibleon the local subnet. Any bit positions with a value of 1
are fixed (unchangeable) on the local subnet. In the subnet mask, 255.255.255.0, the first three IP byte address fields
are fixed and the last byte field may vary from 1 to 255 (a value of 255 is equivalent to 11111111 in binary).
HTTP Port
This specifies the HTTP port (for typical WEB access)used for outside communications to the uSwitch. By default, this
port is set to 80 (standard access port for HTTP devices). A unique port is required for each uSwitchor other such device
that is going to be accessedusing a port address from outside the local network. In this case, each uSwitchdevice on the
same local area network would be assigned a different port (for example 41, 42, 43, etc). Withunique ports assigned to a
uSwitch, a router can forward all outside communication for a given device directly to a specific uSwitchwithout the
outside network having any internal knowledge of the addressing scheme on the LAN beyond the address of the gateway
to the LAN and the virtual port number (private IPV4 addresses are not accessibleto the outside world/cloud). Each
uSwitchis then accessedfrom the cloud on its private network by entering the routable/resolvable IP address of the
gateway and the specific port assigned to the uSwitch™. Any port (besides port 80) assigned to a uSwitch™ requires all
outside communications to that uSwitchto reference it via its assigned port. For instance, www.videogenix.com:42 (for a
device on port 42) or www.MyHomeRouter:41.
TCP Port
This specifies the TCP port for any internal or external TCP commands to the uSwitchused for outside communications to
the uSwitch. By default, this port is set to 9760 (standard port for TCP). This port does not need to be changed unless
your remote device specifies a port other than 9760 to this device IP address or If multiple uSwitches on the same subnet
are to be accessedvia TCP from outside the network using only port numbers. Withunique ports assigned to a uSwitch,
a router can forward all outside communication for a given device directly to a specific uSwitchwithout the outside
network having any internal knowledge of the addressing scheme on the LAN beyond the address of the gateway to the
LAN and the virtual port number (private IPV4 addresses are not accessibleto the outside world/cloud). Each uSwitchis
then accessedfrom the cloud on its private network by entering the routable/resolvable IP address of the gateway and the
specific port assigned to the uSwitch™.
Primary DNS