Comm Box ZTS0025 AVBox User Manual

COMM BOX PTY LTD | ABN: 431 583 817 05 | Telephone: [phone] | Fax: [phone]

PO Box 6667 Frenchs Forest NSW 2086 Australia | www.commbox.com.au AUSTRALIA, CHINA,

MALAYSIA, SINGAPORE, KOREA, SOUTH AFRICA

1

ZTS0025 “AVBox”

Overview.

The ZTS0025 AVBox is part of the S:Range (Simple, Smart, Stand Alone) family
of products.

It is a simple to use 4 input stereo audio and video switcher with audio gain
control, faders and EQ as well as a stereo, 17 watts RMS per channel amplifier.

It can be used completely stand-alone, receiving its instructions directly from a
Joey via its inbuilt IR receiver, in conjunction with control processors or directly
connected to any control panel in the CommBox range.

Like all products in the S:Range, it can also be addressed so as to allow up to 16
S:Range units to be used in the same system.

The unit operates from a 12 volt AC lighting transformer. It can also supply power
via the IRBus to operate, for example, a wall mount Joey touchscreen.

The Class D digital amplifiers are very efficient and draw virtually zero power
when not handling audio. This feature allows the AV Box to comply with Green
Power requirements without the need for an On-Off switch.

L-

Speakers

L+R-R+

1

2

3 4

Audio out

IRBus

AC 12v.Rear

2 4

3

Audio inputs

L L

R R

1

Video inputs Video out

GND

Data

+12

AVBox ZTS0025

commandsystems.com.au

FIG.1. Rear panel view

COMM BOX PTY LTD | ABN: 431 583 817 05 | Telephone: [phone] | Fax: [phone]

PO Box 6667 Frenchs Forest NSW 2086 Australia | www.commbox.com.au AUSTRALIA, CHINA,

MALAYSIA, SINGAPORE, KOREA, SOUTH AFRICA

2

The AVBox is very versatile.

 An AVBox can be used standalone, directly controlled by a Joey or other

control panels.

 An AVBox may be used to add audio-video capabilities to a CommBox

Micro or to add one or more independent output zones to the internal AV
switcher in a Classic range processor. In this case you can take advantage
of the fact that the IRBus input on the AVBox may be directly driven from
any serial port on any CommBox processor.

 Several AVBox units can be linked together to form a multi-room AV

system. Up to 15 can be driven from a single IRBus serial line, either from
a control panel or from a processor serial port.

Other than setting the box address, no programming is required. See the section
“Programming a Joey to control an AVBox”.

COMM BOX PTY LTD | ABN: 431 583 817 05 | Telephone: [phone] | Fax: [phone]

PO Box 6667 Frenchs Forest NSW 2086 Australia | www.commbox.com.au AUSTRALIA, CHINA,

MALAYSIA, SINGAPORE, KOREA, SOUTH AFRICA

3

Example 1 - a typical “standalone” installation.

L-

Speakers

L+R-R+

1

2

3 4

Audio out

IRBus

AC 12v.Rear

2 4

3

Audio inputs

L L

R R

1

Video inputs Video out

GND

Data

+12

AVBox ZTS0025

commandsystems.com.au

VHS

8888 88

Audio store

Wallmount

Joey

Plasma

monitor

Camera

PayTV Settop box

Speakers

DVD

Transformer

COMM BOX PTY LTD | ABN: 431 583 817 05 | Telephone: [phone] | Fax: [phone]

PO Box 6667 Frenchs Forest NSW 2086 Australia | www.commbox.com.au AUSTRALIA, CHINA,

MALAYSIA, SINGAPORE, KOREA, SOUTH AFRICA

4

Example 2 - controlling one or more AVBox from a CommBox
Micro or other processor

L-

Speakers

L+R-R+

1

2

3 4

Audio out

IRBus

AC 12v.Rear

2 4

3

Audio inputs

L L

R R

1

Video inputs Video out

GND

Data

+12

AVBox ZTS0025

commandsystems.com.au

L-

Speakers

L+R-R+

1

2

3 4

Audio out

IRBus

AC 12v.Rear

2 4

3

Audio inputs

L L

R R

1

Video inputs Video out

GND

Data

+12

AVBox ZTS0025

commandsystems.com.au

ComBox Micro

Serial ports

GND o

Data o

+12 o

By setting two or more AVBoxes to

different addresses it’s possible to

control them individually. This is
useful for multi-room systems that
are centrally controlled.

The IRBus input is compatible with
signals from control panels and
infra-red outputs from serial ports.

COMM BOX PTY LTD | ABN: 431 583 817 05 | Telephone: [phone] | Fax: [phone]

PO Box 6667 Frenchs Forest NSW 2086 Australia | www.commbox.com.au AUSTRALIA, CHINA,

MALAYSIA, SINGAPORE, KOREA, SOUTH AFRICA

5

L-

Speakers

L+R-R+

1

2

3 4

Audio out

IRBus

AC 12v.Rear

2 4

3

Audio inputs

L L

R R

1

Video inputs Video out

GND

Data

+12

AVBox ZTS0025

commandsystems.com.au

L-

Speakers

L+R-R+

1

2

3 4

Audio out

IRBus

AC 12v.Rear

2 4

3

Audio inputs

L L

R R

1

Video inputs Video out

GND

Data

+12

AVBox ZTS0025

commandsystems.com.au

Example 3 – A multi-zone system using direct control from
multiple control panels without a processor, with common
and local inputs.

Local audio inputs

Local video
inputs

Cable set-top box

Local audio inputs

Local video
inputs

Video
display

Video
display

MacroBox

Zone 1
control
panel /IR
Receiver.

* IRBus
+12 and
GND not
shown for
clarity

Zone 2
control
panel /IR
Receiver.

Master control
panel.

Zone 1

Zone 2

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PO Box 6667 Frenchs Forest NSW 2086 Australia | www.commbox.com.au AUSTRALIA, CHINA,

MALAYSIA, SINGAPORE, KOREA, SOUTH AFRICA

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Example 4 – Using with a projector with an HDMI input and a
Joey Micro or Lite control panel.

VGA

in

SK1

SK2SK4

SK3

PCB0241C

DC In

PIR

RS232 Port 2 RS232 Port 1

IR Output 1

IR Output 2

Progm Port

IRBus

+12V

GND

Data

RS232 Port
Pin 4 - TxD
Pin 5 - GND
Pin 6 - CTS

PIR Port

Pin 5 - GND

Pin 4 - Sense

Pin 6 - +12V

Command

Systems P/L

Joey Panel

SK9

SK8

SK7

SK6

SK5

L-

Speakers

L+R-R+

1

2

3 4

Audio out

IRBus

AC 12v.Rear

2 4

3

Audio inputs

L L

R R

1

Video inputs Video out

GND

Data

+12

AVBox ZTS0025

commandsystems.com.au

12v

transformer

Wallplate

HDMI
VGA
VGA Audio
DVD Video
DVD Audio

Stereo pairs

Speaker connections not shown

No plugpack

is required

for Joey –

power

comes from

the AVBox.

Optional IR

control of DVD

player

Optional PIR

room movement

sensor

Projector

audio out

HDMI

in

Video

in

RS232

HDMI must go through the projector, but the AVBox can accept the projector’s audio output.
We strongly recommended that you program the Joey so that the projector’s volume control

is set to maximum when the HDMI input is selected.

When programming the Joey, as well as adding the volume controls, you’ll need to have
the HDMI key send AV Box code “Select Input 1”.
The PC input key should send AV box “Select Input 2”.
The DVD key should send AV Box “Select Input 3”.

See page 9 for more information.

COMM BOX PTY LTD | ABN: 431 583 817 05 | Telephone: [phone] | Fax: [phone]

PO Box 6667 Frenchs Forest NSW 2086 Australia | www.commbox.com.au AUSTRALIA, CHINA,

MALAYSIA, SINGAPORE, KOREA, SOUTH AFRICA

7

Operation.

As with all S:Range products, the AVBox is controlled by
CommBox IR codes, which may be generated by
CommBox processors, CommBox touch panels or 3rd
party controllers.

Each module has its address assigned by DIP-switches.

A module will only respond to a command with a
matching address – e.g. module "12" only responds to
commands addressed to module "12". In larger systems
multiple modules with the same address may be used.

CommBox key codes from 0 to 15 are interpreted as address codes.
CommBox key codes from 16 to 31 are interpreted as command codes.

Command format: ADDRESS, OPERATION

Table 1. CommBox address and operation key codes

Key code Address Key code Operation

0

Address 0

16

Select input 1

1

Address 1

17

Select input 2

2

Address 2

18

Select input 3

3

Address 3

19

Select input 4

4

Address 4

20

Bass Up

5

Address 5

21

Bass Down

6

Address 6

22

Treble Up

7

Address 7

23

Treble Down

8

Address 8

24

Mute

9

Address 9

25

Volume Up

10

Address 10

26

Fade Front

11

Address 11

27

Volume Down

12

Address 12

28

Fade Rear

13

Address 13

29

Balance Left

14

Address 14

30

Balance Right

15

Address 15

31

(Not used)

Example: For an AVBox address set to address 5, to select input 4, send

codes 5, 19.

* If using the Joey editor, you don’t need to refer to this table as it is

available as a dropdown selection in the Code Sequencer.

You don’t need to be

concerned with
addresses if you are

using a single AVBox.
Just set its address to
zero (4 dipswitches off)
and forget about
addresses.

COMM BOX PTY LTD | ABN: 431 583 817 05 | Telephone: [phone] | Fax: [phone]

PO Box 6667 Frenchs Forest NSW 2086 Australia | www.commbox.com.au AUSTRALIA, CHINA,

MALAYSIA, SINGAPORE, KOREA, SOUTH AFRICA

8

Setting the Address DIP - switches

ADDRESS ADDRESS
ON ON

“0” “8”

“1” “9”

“2” “10”

“3” “11”

“4” “12”

“5” “13”

“6” “14”

“7” “15”

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

DIP switch DIP switch

- NOT USED for address

* Dipswitch 8 is used to enable or disable the internal IR receiver.

COMM BOX PTY LTD | ABN: 431 583 817 05 | Telephone: [phone] | Fax: [phone]

PO Box 6667 Frenchs Forest NSW 2086 Australia | www.commbox.com.au AUSTRALIA, CHINA,

MALAYSIA, SINGAPORE, KOREA, SOUTH AFRICA

9

Programming a Joey to control an AVBox

In this example, we’ll program the

Volume Up key for an AVBox in a
standalone environment. In other
words, we only have one AVBox.

We’ll assume you have already
created the Volume Up key
graphically.

1. Set the AVBox address to 0,

i.e. all switches off. This

way we don’t need to send

an address code.

2. Open the Joey Editor and

the file you wish to work
with.

3. Select Edit Behaviour.

4. Double-Click the Volume Up

key.

5. Click “Add”. The Code

Sequencer window will
open.

6. In the Codeset drop-down,

choose AVBox. (If this
choice is not available, see

“Upgrading your Joey
Editor” below.)

7. Choose Volume Up from the

Codes list. Click OK.

Repeat items 4, 5 and 7 for all the
keys that you wish to use to control the AVBox.

Upgrading your Joey editor

If the AVBox choice fails to appear in the Code Sequencer, you can either use the
CommBox code and refer to Table 1 for the code relationships or add it by adding

a file “AVBox.ini” in the “ROMcode” folder in your Joey directory. This file is

available for download at www.commandsystems.com.au.

COMM BOX PTY LTD | ABN: 431 583 817 05 | Telephone: [phone] | Fax: [phone]

PO Box 6667 Frenchs Forest NSW 2086 Australia | www.commbox.com.au AUSTRALIA, CHINA,

MALAYSIA, SINGAPORE, KOREA, SOUTH AFRICA

10

Programming a system to control multiple AVBoxes

(or multiple s:range products)

All s:range products share a common code protocol. They rely on a code from 0
to 15 being sent to them to match the address set on a dipswitch and so enable
the remaining codes to operate the device.

If you have just one box, you can set it to address 0 and forget about addressing
and the following section. However if you are using two or more s:range boxes
you will need to know about how to handle addressing.

Case 1 – you have a separate menu/screen for the controls for each box.

1. On the key that opens each menu, send the address code for the box

that’s associated with that menu. This will enable the box for commands.

2. Within the menu, just send the required command, without the preceding

address code.

3. If you want to disable “accidental” control of all items within a menu, send

a “0” from the Back or Close key. This will disable the control of all boxes,
except of course any box that’s set to address 0.

This method is preferred because it provides faster, smoother response,
particularly when you are performing volume adjustments.

Case 2 – you are controlling more than one box from the same menu.

1. For each key in the

menu, send the address
code followed by the
command code, as in
the example shown
here.

2. If you are sending a

command such as a
volume control, insert a

– begin loop – after the

address code. This will
cause the address code
to be sent when the key
is first pressed, followed
by the Volume Up. In
this way you get
smoother, more
responsive volume control operation.