Control 4 C4-DSC-EN-BL, C4-DSC-EN-SN, C4-DSC-EN-VB Setup Manual

™

Specifications

Door Station - Exterior
Setup Guide

Supported Models

• C4-DSC-EN-BL Door Station - Exterior
AC, DC, POE & WiFi - Satin Black

• C4-DSC-EN-SN Door Station - Exterior
AC, DC, POE & WiFi - Satin Nickel

• C4-DSC-EN-VB Door Station - Exterior
AC, DC, POE & WiFi - Venetian Bronze

Dimensions (H x
W x D)

Weight 1.1 lbs. (.49 kg)

Shipping Weight 1.6 lbs. (.725 kg)

Network 10/100 BaseT Ethernet (preferred) or WiFi

Voltages AC - 100V - 240V

Contacts (2 sets) DC: 48V

Relays ( 1) AC: 36V, 2A

7.19” (183 mm) x 5.25” (133 mm) x 2.5”
(63 . 5 mm)

(802 .11 b/g/n)

DC - 12 - 24V, 15W

maximum operation (low voltage)

DC: 24V
maximum operation (low voltage)

Grounding Requirements

The following table indicates which power options
require an earth ground.

Power Type Earth Ground?

AC Yes, required for safety.

Power over Ethernet (PoE) No. Do not connect.

DC Recommended; not required.

Front Panel Description

Figure 1. Front Faceplate

Box Contents

Carefully unpack the Control4® Door Station from the
box and ensure that the following items are included
in the box. Contact your Control4 Dealer immediately
if any parts are missing or if any components are
damaged.

• Control4 Door Station - Exterior faceplate (model
C4-DSC-EN-xx)

• Two (2) mounting screws

• Security screw tool

• Warranty Card

Accessories

• Door Station Metal Back Box (C4-DSBB-M, sold
separately)

• Antenna Kit—WiFi/ZigBee 2.4 GHz, 26cm
(C4-AK-26cm, sold separately)

• Antenna Kit—WiFi/ZigBee 2.4 GHz, 3m
(C4-AK-3M, sold separately)

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1

4

5

2

3

4

1 Camera. 640 x 480 wide angle. Used for Video

Intercom.

2 Call button. Used to call the person inside the

structure.

3 Speaker. Used for Audio and Video Intercom.
4 Screw holes (2). Used to screw the faceplate into

the exterior wall.

5 Microphones (2). Used for Audio and Video

Intercom.

1

™

Door Station - Exterior
Setup Guide

Inside Panel Description

Figure 2. Door Station, Inside Panel

1

3

Pre-Installation

1 Find the best exterior location for the Door

Station. See “Mounting Tips” below.

2 Install the Door Station Back Box. See the Door

Station Back Box Installation Guide for details.

3 Determine which network and power options

to use (see “Network Options” and “Power
Options”).

4 (WiFi only). Before the Door Station is fully

installed, Control4 recommends to test the
WiFi signal strength in Composer Pro’s System
Manager; a strong, robust signal is required. See
the Composer Pro User Guide for details.

This device uses an Ethernet or WiFi network
connection and can be powered using Power
over Ethernet (PoE), AC, or DC. A wired network
connection is recommended for the best Video
Intercom experience. If it is not possible to use
Ethernet, then please follow these guidelines for
wireless.

5

2

444444444444

1 AC connection. Used to connect the wires for AC

power.

2 DC connection. Used to connect the wires for DC

power.

3 Contacts/Relays. Used to connect the wires for

Control4 and third-party devices.

NOTE: Use the contacts and relays for non-

secure devices only. For example, don’t attach
security gate wires to this terminal block.

4 Ethernet connection. Supports PoE.
5 Reset Button. Used to reset or factory restore the

Door Station.

NOTES: (1) Video Intercom usage. Although

this device supports b/g/n, 802.11 b is not
recommended or supported for Video
Intercom. (2) Wireless-N is recommended
for Video Intercom. See “Wireless Network
Limitations” below.

Wireless Network Limitations

Many WiFi Access Points handle Multicasts
(WiFi simultaneously sent to multiple devices,
for example, when the Door Station broadcasts
video to all stations) by slowing down
transmission speed to the 1 Mb basic rate. This
can cause overall WiFi congestion in the WiFi
network during the broadcast. Video Intercom
response times and images may degrade at
each device.

If a home requires a large number of WiFi
Video Intercom devices, ensure that you have
a robust WiFi network (possibly consisting of
multiple access points).

2

Mounting Tips

Follow these tips for the best results.
1 Install the Door Station in a place where it will be

protected from water (e.g., rain, sprinklers, etc.).

2 Do not expose the Door Station to direct

sunlight. If the sun hits the Door Station, Control4
recommends to purchase the Satin Nickel
model (C4-DCS-EN-SN) to reduce fading and
degradation of the Door Station.

3 Find the best exterior location for the Door

Station. See the Door Station Back Box
Installation Guide for back box installation.

a Mount the Door Station where the video

camera is aimed at an average person’s
height so the person inside the building gets
a good view of the person calling in.

b Mount the Door Station so that the caller

can comfortably speak into the microphone
(about two (2) feet away or 60 cm).

4 Control4 does not recommend using wireless

(WiFi) networking for an exterior installation.
If you must use WiFi, however, follow these
guidelines:

• The wireless access protocol (WAP) broadcast to
the exterior location must be strong.

• Use Composer Pro’s System Manager to test the
wireless signal after you’ve installed the Door
Station, and then verify that the signal works
correctly. See the Composer Pro User Guide for
details.

Network Options

The Door Station can be connected using one of
these network types:

• Standard Ethernet. For best results, this is the
preferred option. Connect the Door Station to
the RJ-45 LAN port on using the RJ-45 Ethernet
cable.

• WiFi. The WiFi antenna will communicate with
the LAN’s WAP. If the LAN has a WAP set up, no
additional wiring is needed except for power. See
“WiFi Antennas” for details.

IMPORTANT! (1) Control4 recommends to use

an Ethernet connection rather than WiFi for
the best communication with the Control4
system. (2) WiFi requires an antenna (sold
separately).

Please read the next sections, “Power Options”
> “Network and Power Installations” to choose an
installation option that works best with the system
before installing the Door Station.

Power Options

CAUTION! Do not attempt to use PoE, AC, and

DC power at the same time. Choose only one
power option.

ATTENTION! Ne pas tenter d’utiliser PoE,

AC et DC en même temps. Choisir une seule
option d’alimentation.

The Door Station can be powered using one of these
three (3) options:

• Power over Ethernet (PoE). The Ethernet
network connection for the Door Station is
provided through the PoE Injector. No additional
wiring is needed.

• AC or DC. Used to power the Door Station when
using an Ethernet (not PoE) or WiFi network
connection.

NOTE: Ethernet cable. Install the ferrite clamp

on the Ethernet cable inside the back box.

Backlit Button Indicator

The Door Station button’s light can be turned on or
o depending on what is required for the installation.

The backlit button may make it easier to see the
button when it is dark outside. Normally, the light on
the button remains on or o depending on how it is
configured in the system, however, it is also used to
convey device status during certain times.

When the device is first powered on, the button will
blink slowly until the device is ready to be used in
the system. If the button continues to blink slowly for
over 3 minutes, then the device may be experiencing
a problem and should be factory restored. During a
factory restore process the button will blink rapidly.

3

Power and Network Installations

Choose one of these six (6) options to connect the
Door Station’s wiring:

• Ethernet with PoE (preferred)

• Ethernet with AC

• Ethernet with DC

• WiFi with AC

• WiFi with DC

• WiFi with PoE

Option 1 (Preferred): Ethernet Connection with a
PoE Injector or a Third-Party Injector or Switch

This option sets up Ethernet with PoE.

PoE injects electrical current into the Ethernet cable
using a PoE Injector - model #AC-POE1-B, or a
third-party PoE solution to provide the Door Station
with power and a network connection.

To install the Door Station with a PoE and Ethernet
connection using a PoE Injector:
1 Plug the Ethernet cable into the Door Station

(see Figure 3).

2 See the section “Grounding Requirements” for

details about earth grounding.

To install the Door Station with Ethernet and AC
power:
1 Plug the Ethernet cable into the Door Station

(see Figure 4).

2 Connect a ground wire from the Door Station to

one of the back box lugs (see Figure 12).

3 Connect a second earth-ground or house-ground

wire from the second back box lug to the home.
See “Grounding Requirements” for details about
earth grounding.

4 Connect the neutral (N) (-) and hot (L) (+) wires

to the AC power source for the Door Station
according to the national and local electrical
codes.

TIP: The hot or ‘L’ (+) wire’s connector is

closest to the bottom of the Door Station’s
plate.

5 Your installation may require alternative wires and

the use of a terminal block. Strip the power wires
to 1/4” on the end if necessary.

Figure 4. Ethernet with AC Power

AC Connections
(Hot and Load)

Ethernet Cable

Figure 3. Ethernet with PoE Injector

Ethernet Connection

Ground Wire

Option 2: Ethernet Connection with AC Power

This option sets up Ethernet and AC power.

Ground Wire

Option 3: Ethernet Connection with DC Power

This option sets up Ethernet and DC power.

To install the Door Station with Ethernet and DC
power:

4

1 Plug the Ethernet cable into the Door Station

(see Figure 5).

2 Connect a ground wire from the Door Station to

one of the back box lugs (see Figure 12).

3 Connect a second earth-ground or house-

ground wire from the second back box lug to the
home. See “Grounding Requirements” for details
about earth grounding.

4 Connect the negative (-) and positive (+) wires

to the DC power source for the Door Station
according to the national and local electrical
codes.

TIP: The positive (+) wire’s connector is

located on the bottom left side of the Door
Station’s plate.

5 Your installation may require alternative wires

and the use of a terminal block (see Figure

5). Strip the power wires to 1/4” on the end if
necessary.

Figure 5. Ethernet with DC Power

Contacts and Relays

Ethernet Cable

To install the Door Station with WiFi and AC power:
1 Connect a ground wire from the Door Station to

one of the back box lugs (see Figure 6).

2 Connect a second earth-ground or house-ground

wire from the second back box lug to the home.
See “Grounding Requirements” for details about
earth grounding.

3 Connect the neutral (N) (-) and hot (L) (+) wires

to the AC power source for the Door Station
according to the national and local electrical
codes.

TIP: The hot or ‘L’ (+) wire’s connector is

closest to the bottom of the Door Station’s
plate.

4 Your installation may require alternative wires and

the use of a terminal block. Strip the power wires
to 1/4” on the end if necessary.

5 Attach the antenna (3m or 26cm) to the Door

Station. See “WiFi Antenna Kit Installation” for
details.

6 Run the antenna wire through the back box hole

(see Figure 6). Ensure that the wire doesn’t touch
the back box.

7 Align the antenna vertically to the wall outside

the back box (26cm antenna) or run the antenna
through the wall (3m antenna). See “WiFi
Antennnas” for details.

DC Connections
(Hot and Load)

Ground Wire

Option 4: WiFi Connection with AC Power

This option sets up WiFi and AC power.

Ensure that you have WiFi in the home.

NOTE: WiFi requires an antenna (sold

separately).

Figure 6. WiFi with AC Power

AC Connections
(Hot and Load)Back Box

Ground Wire

Antenna

Ethernet Connection

5

Option 5: WiFi Connection with DC Power

This option sets up WiFi and DC power.

Ensure that you have WiFi in the home.

NOTE: WiFi requires an antenna (sold

separately).

To install the Door Station with WiFi and DC power:
1 Connect a ground wire from the Door Station to

one of the back box lugs (see Figure 12).

2 Connect a second earth-ground or house-ground

wire from the second back box lug to the home.
See “Grounding Requirements” for details about
earth grounding.

3 Connect the negative (-) and positive (+) wires

to the DC power source for the Door Station
according to the national and local electrical
codes.

NOTE: The positive (+) wire’s connector is

located on the bottom left side of the Door
Station’s plate.

Figure 7. WiFi with DC Power

Contacts and Relays

Antenna

DC Connections
(Hot and Load)

Ethernet Connection

Option 6: WiFi Connection with PoE

This option sets up WiFi and PoE.

Ground Wire

4 Your installation may require alternative wires and

the use of a terminal block. Strip the power wires
to 1/4” on the end if necessary.

5 Attach the antenna (3m or 26cm) to the Door

Station. See “WiFi Antenna Kit Installation” for
details.

6 Run the antenna wire through the back box hole

(see Figure 12). Ensure that the wire doesn’t
touch the back box.

7 Align the antenna vertically to the wall outside

the back box (26cm antenna) or run the antenna
through the wall (3m antenna).

Ensure that you have WiFi in the home.

NOTE: WiFi requires an antenna (sold

separately).

To install the Door Station with WiFi and PoE:
1 Plug the Ethernet cable into the Door Station

(see Figure 8).

2 Connect a ground wire from the Door Station to

one of the back box lugs (see Figure 12).

3 Connect a second earth-ground or house-ground

wire from the second back box lug to the home.
See “Grounding Requirements” for details about
earth grounding.

4 Attach the antenna (3m or 26cm) to the Door

Station. See “WiFi Antenna Kit Installation” for
details.

5 Run the antenna wire through the back box hole

(see Figure 12). Ensure that the wire doesn’t
touch the back box.

6 Align the antenna vertically to the wall outside

the back box (26cm antenna) or run the antenna
through the wall (3m antenna).

6

Figure 8. WiFi with PoE

WiFi Antenna

Ethernet and PoE Connection

Attach the Door Station

After the back box, all wiring, cables, and antennas
are installed, carefully insert the Door Station into the
back box and the wall:
1 Align the Door Station’s top and bottom screw

holes on the faceplate with the screw holes on
the back box.

2 Use the screws provided to attach the Door

Station to the back box.

3 To prevent future moisture and dust from getting

inside the Door Station, make sure the rubber
gasket on the inside panel of the Door Station
completely covers and seals the Door Station’s
faceplate against the back box.

Configure the Door Station

To configure the Door Station in Composer Pro:

1 Open Composer Pro.
2 Double-click the Door Station driver to add it to

a room in the project.

3 Identify the device to the project.

Reset/Factory Restore the Door Station

To reset or factory restore the Door Station:
1 Unscrew the faceplate (top and bottom) and

pull the Door Station out from the back box just
enough to expose the Reset button (see Figure

2).

2 While powered press the Reset button on the

bottom of the Door Station to reset or restore
the Door Station.

• Quick press. Press to reset the Door Station.

• Long press. Press until the button on the

faceplate begins to blink rapidly. At that time, the
factory restore starts. This action restores the
Door Station to its factory default settings.

3 When you are finished, insert the Door Station

back into the back box and screw the faceplate
back on.

WiFi Antennas (Optional)

NOTE: Control4 does not recommend to install

the Door Station using WiFi. The best option is
to use Ethernet.

Two (2) types of WiFi antenna kits are available for
purchase: 26cm (dipole, best performance) or 3m
(when you need to install the wire further away from
the Door Station for a better WiFi signal).

• Antenna Kit—WiFi/ZigBee 2.4GHz, 26cm (C4-
AK-26cm, sold separately). Recommended for
walls that do not have thick concrete or metal.
See Figure 9 and “WiFi Antenna Kit Installation”
for details.

• Antenna Kit—WiFi/ZigBee 2.4GHz, 3m (C4-AK-
3M, sold separately). Extend the range when
walls have thick concrete or metal. See Figure 10
and “WiFi Antenna Kit Installation” for details.

Figure 9. 26cm Antenna Kit

(WiFi only) For your convenience, the Door Station
driver includes a meter to check WiFi signal strength.
Use System Manager in Composer Pro to configure
the WiFi parameters. See the Composer Pro User
Guide for details.

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Figure 10. 3m Antenna Kit

WiFi Antenna Kit Installation (Optional)

Before you install the antenna:

1 Make sure the Door Station is assembled.
2 Make sure the Door Station back box is installed

in the wall. See the Door Station Back Box
Installation Guide for details.

3 Thread the other end of the antenna through the

back wall of the back box (see Figure 12).

Figure 12. Thread Antenna Through Back Box

4 Leave the other end of the antenna hanging

outside the back box. Adjust it vertically for the
best signal.

5 Carefully insert the Door Station into the back box

(see “Attach the Door Station”).

Antenna Kit—WiFi/ZigBee 2.4GHz, 26cm
(C4-AK-26cm)

1 Remove the antenna from its packaging.
2 Attach the antenna’s plug to the RSMA connector

on the Door Station (see Figure 11).

Figure 11. Antenna to RSMA Connector

Antenna

Antenna Kit— WiFi/ZigBee 2.4GHz, 3m (C4-AK-3M)

1 Attach the antenna’s plug to the RSMA connector

on the Door Station (see Figure 11).

2 Thread the other end of the antenna through the

back wall of the back box and through the wall as
needed (see Figure 12).

3 Carefully insert the Door Station into the back box

(see “Attach the Door Station”).

Contact and Relay Connections

You can connect devices to the contact ports or the
relay ports (see Figure 13).

CAUTION! Control4 does not support using

earth ground for Contacts as this could
damage the Door Station.

RSMA Connector

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Figure 13. Contacts and Relays

Contacts Relays

Connect to a Port

The Door Station provides six (6) ports for use as two
(2) contact sets and one (1) relay (see Figure 14).

• Contact (2 sets). Terminal connector for one
(1) dry contact closure, logic input connection,
for gate control, etc. Provides power for small
devices (12 V), signal input (SIG), return path
(GND). The current, 100 mA, is shared across
both sets of contacts.

NOTE: Do not use contacts that are grounded.

The Door Station only supports non-grounded
contacts.

3 Insert the wire. Ensure that the wire inserts all the

way into the hole.

4 Release the screwdriver.

Example Wiring

Figure 15. Relay Port: Normally Open (e.g., Doorbell)

Troubleshooting

Boot Up

When the Door Station is booting up, if the button
blinks and does not stop after (3) minutes or longer,
there is a problem with the device and it will have to
be restored. See “Reset/Restore the Door Station”
later in this document.

• Relay (1). Terminal connector for one (1)
normally closed or normally opened switchable
connection for doorbell control (see Figure 15) or
gate control. The set contains a connection for
Normally Opened (NO), Normally Closed (NC),
and Common (COM).

Figure 14. Contact/Relay Locations

1 To attach the wires to the contacts or relay, select

one of the large bottom-row holes (see Figure 13;
notice that the top row holes are smaller than the
bottom-row holes).

2 Using a small flat screwdriver, insert the

screwdriver into the slot on the small block that
sits between the two rows of holes adjacent to
the port and push down firmly. The block will
depress.

Factory Restore

To restore the device to its default factory settings,
see “Reset/Restore the Door Station” later in this
document.

Security Best Practices

The Control4 Door Station – Exterior is the first
smart Control4 device designed to be installed on
the outside of a dwelling. The Door Station has
connections for relays (to open doors, gates, etc.)
and contacts. If installed without the proper security
precautions, unauthorized access to the Door Station
could provide access to Ethernet signals, Control4
signaling, and gate or door relays. Control4 advises
Control4 Dealers to be aware of these risks and take
all necessary precautions depending on each specific
installation you will be doing.

It is each Dealer’s sole responsibility to advise their
customer at each installation of any security risks
specific to such installation. Control4 makes no
claims, representations or warranties regarding the

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security of this product and accepts no liability for
any security risk attendant to a specific installation.

1 The Door Station - Exterior ships standard with

security screws. Dealers are encouraged to
use these screws, or even substitute alternate
security screws per the Dealer’s or customer’s
preference. Screw size is metric M3.5x.6-30L.

2 Security gates or automatic doors should not

be connected to the relay in the Door Station
if mounted in an unsecured area; such relays
could be accessed in the event of a breach of
the device. Secure relay-driven devices should
be connected to a more secure relay controller
mounted behind a secure wall.

3 Security devices, for example numeric keypads,

should not be connected to the contact sensors
in the Door Station if mounted in an unsecured
area; such devices could be accessed in the event
of a breach of the device. Security-sensitive
devices should be connected to more secure
contacts mounted behind a secure wall.

4 Although the best video performance will be

enabled by Ethernet connectivity, unauthorized
access to the Door Station could provide
access to the dwelling’s Ethernet network and
corresponding personal data.

There are alternatives to mitigate this risk. The
Dealer should consider the following options:

Dealers should take time to assure they are not
creating an unforeseen security risk for the customer,
and any such risks should be discussed with the
customer prior to the installation.

Carefully consider with your customer any contacts
or relays before connecting them to the Door Station,
and what implications could arise if someone gained
access to the rear of the Door Station.

Also, think about what could happen if someone
gained access to the Ethernet cable, and take
necessary precautions to protect private customer
information unless your customer is willing to assume
these risks. Making available the proper security
protections to a customer for their residence is the
responsibility of the Control4 Installer.

Warnings

WARNING! To avoid bodily harm, understand

and follow these safety precautions before
operating this Door Station:

- Using worn-out or damaged power cords
may result in electric shock or fire.

- Always contact an authorized Control4
service provider for assistance if any repair or
adjustment is required.

• Running Control4 on an isolated LAN from PCs
on the network would limit exposure to personal
data.

• Running MAC address filtering on the router
or switch to force a hacker to spoof the Door
Station’s MAC address to gain access to the LAN.

• Configuring the Door Station as WiFi instead of
Ethernet would allow the Dealer to use robust
WiFi security protocols, for example, WPA.

NOTE: WiFi signals must be very strong and

stable to support Video Intercom.

• Routing the Ethernet cable to the Door Station
through a secure, managed switch to limit data
access from the Door Station.

Avertissement! Pour éviter des dommages

physiques, comprenez et suivez ces mesures
de sécurité avant d’actionner station de porte
Control4® sans fil:

- Utilisant usé ou endommagé les cordons de
secteur peuvent avoir comme conséquence
la décharge électrique ou le feu.

- Entrez en contact avec toujours un
fournisseur des services Control4® autorisé
pour l’aide si n’importe quelle réparation ou
ajustement est exigée.

IMPORTANT! Improper use or installation can

cause LOSS/DAMAGE OF PROPERTY.

Important! L’utilisation ou l’installation inexacte

peut causer LOSS/DAMAGE DE PROPRIÉTÉ.

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IMPORTANT! Using this product in a manner

other than outlined in this document voids
your warranty. Further, Control4 is NOT liable
for any damage incurred with the misuse of
this product. See “Warranty.”

Important! Utilisant ce produit en quelque

sorte autre que décrit dans ce document vide
votre garantie. De plus, Control4 n’est pas
responsable d’aucun dommage encouru avec
l’abus de ce produit. Voyez que «Warranty.»

WARNING! Before you install the Door Station

switch o the circuit breaker or remove the
fuse from the fuse box.

AVERTISSEMENT! Pour l’endroit où vous

installez station de porte, coupez le disjoncteur
ou enlevez le fusible de la boîte de fusible.

IMPORTANT! Before you can complete these

instructions below, you must have a Door
Station back box installed according to the
documentation provided in the back box kit.
See “Accessories” for details.

Important! En coupant l’ouverture pour la

boîte de mur, ne coupez pas l’ouverture trop
grande. Soyez conservateur et agrandissez­avec précaution la comme nécessaire. Voyez
que <<Accessories>>.

Regulatory/Safety Information

To review regulatory information for your particular
Control4 products, see the information located on
the Control4 website at: http://www.control4.com/
regulatory/.

Warranty

Limited 2-year Warranty. Go to http://www.control4.
com/warranty for details.

About This Document

Part number: 200-00243, Rev. E 08/21/2012

©2012 Control4. All rights reserved. Control4, the Control4 logo, the Control4 iQ logo and the Control4 certified logo are registered trademarks or trademarks

of Control4 Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other names and brands may be claimed as the property of their respective owners.

™

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