Hall Research URA-XT User Manual

User’s Manual

URA

URA-SKU

URA-XT

URA, URA-SKU & URA-XT

PC Video & Audio on Twisted-Pair Receivers

with Cable Length Compensation,

Skew Correction and Daisy-Chain Output

CUSTOMER
SUPPORT
INFORMATION

Order toll-free in the U.S. 800-959-6439

FREE technical support, Call 714-641-6607 or fax [phone]
Address: Hall Research, 1163 Warner Ave. Tustin, CA 92780

Web site: www.hallresearch.com E-mail: [e-mail]

UMA1168 Rev. D

PC (VGA) & HD (YPbPr) AV over Twisted-Pair Receivers

TRADEMARKS USED IN THIS MANUAL

Hall Research and its logo

Any other trademarks mentioned in this manual are acknowledged as
the property of the trademark owners.

are trademarks of Hall Research.

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE STATEMENT

This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency
energy. If not installed and used properly—that is, in strict
accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions—it may cause
interference to radio communication. It has been designed to comply
with the limits for a Class A computing device in accordance with the
specifications in Subpart B of Part 15 of FCC rules, which are
designed to provide reasonable protection against such interference
when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment.
Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause
interference, in which case the user will be required to take whatever
measures may be necessary to correct the interference at his/her
own expense.

Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party
responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate
the equipment.

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Model URA, URA-SKU, & URA-XT

Contents

1. Introduction.................................................................3

1.1 General ...................................................................... 3

1.2 Features..................................................................... 4

2. Installation...................................................................4

2.1 Package Contents...................................................... 4

2.2 Connection to Compatible Senders ........................... 5

2.3 Cable Requirements .................................................. 6

2.4 Daisy-Chain Limitations ............................................. 6

2.5. Setup ........................................................................ 6

2.6 Connection Block Diagram for URA & URA-SKU ...... 7

2.7 Connection Block Diagram for URA-XT ..................... 7

3. Configuration & Operation.........................................8

3.1 Why Cable Compensation? ....................................... 8

3.2 Compensation Adjustment Procedure ....................... 9

3.3 Advanced Adjustment .............................................. 10

3.4 Why Skew Adjustment? ........................................... 11

3.5 Skew Adjustment Procedure.................................... 12

3.6 Signal Adjustment for the Daisy Chain..................... 13

4. Troubleshooting........................................................14

4.1 Contacting Hall Research ........................................ 14

4.2 Shipping and Packaging .......................................... 14

4.3 Problem Solving FAQ .............................................. 15

5. Specifications ...........................................................16

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PC (VGA) & HD (YPbPr) AV over Twisted-Pair Receivers

1. Introduction

1.1 General

This User’s Manual applies to Hall Research Models URA, URA­SKU, and URA-XT.

These models are video and audio over Category 5/5e/6 receivers. In
a typical application, they are located at a distance from the video
source and are connected to a compatible sender unit that converts
the audio and video source signal for transmission on twisted pair
cable.

Below is a list of capabilities & features of each receiver model:

Equalization

URA

URA-SKU

URA-XT

to 1000 ft

RGB Skew

Correction

Low-Skew UTP Cable

Chain

Output

Any UTP or STP Cable

Cable Requirements

Any UTP or STP Cable

Table 1 – Model Number Differences

Low-skew UTP cables (such as Hall Research’s Zero-skew™ Cat5
cables) are recommended with the Model URA, particularly if cable
lengths are 200 feet or longer. The Models URA-SKU and URA-XT
do not have any special cable requirements since they are capable of
correcting the RGB color skew that is induced in typical Cat6 cables.

The Model URA-XT allows downstream receiver units to daisy chain
connections using UTP cables. This eliminates the need for running
separate cables from every receiver back to the sender (in star or
home-run fashion)—a very useful feature when several receivers are
located in a line going away from the sender.

Depending on the application, the URA-XT’s downstream RJ45 port
can be connected to another receiver (URA-XT, URA-SKU, or URA).
The constructed daisy chain may have:

 Up to 3750 feet maximum cable from source to last URA
 A maximum of 5 URA devices in any chain
 750 feet maximum distance between units in a chain

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Model URA, URA-SKU, & URA-XT

1.2 Features

 Receives audio and video on a single CATx cable
 Adjustable cable length compensation to 1000 ft
 RGB skew correction (URA-SKU and URA-XT)
 Digitally controlled adjustment eliminates tweaking pots
 Supports resolutions up to 1920x1200 at any refresh rate
 Compact & rugged metal enclosure with mounting holes
 Easily expandable by daisy-chaining receivers (URA-XT)
 No software required for setup and use

2. Installation

2.1 Package Contents

Your package should contain the URA receiver unit, a Universal
power supply (5 VDC @ 2A), an IEC320 Power Cord, and a User’s
Manual.

Figure 1 – Package Contents

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PC (VGA) & HD (YPbPr) AV over Twisted-Pair Receivers

2.2 Connection to Compatible Senders

The URA, URA-SKU and URA-XT units accept a UTP cable
connection from any of Hall Research’s compatible UVA Sender
product line. Some compatible senders are listed below:

PART NUMBER
UVA-WP

VGA+Audio sender on a single-gang wall plate.
Sends audio & VGA on standard RJ45 connector on UTP cable. Includes
a power supply. May be powered from the VGA input connector per
VESA power specifications. EDID/DDC compliant
UVA-2
VGA+Audio 2-channel video splitter UTP sender with local AV outputs.
EDID/DDC compliant

UVA-4

VGA+Audio 4-channel video splitter UTP sender with local AV outputs.
EDID/DDC compliant

UVA-8

VGA+Audio 8-channel video splitter UTP sender with local AV outputs.
EDID/DDC compliant

UVA-24

VGA+Audio 24-channel video splitter UTP sender with local AV outputs.
EDID/DDC compliant

UVA-16X

16 independent VGA or component video & Audio over UTP sender in a
single 2 RU enclosure.

Genesis 8x8 and 16x16 Matrix with -JA output option

Up to 16 RJ45 outputs with video and audio that can be switched to any
of up to 16 AV inputs. Housed a single 2 RU enclosure

Table 2 – Compatible Senders

(Please see the website for other models)

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Model URA, URA-SKU, & URA-XT

2.3 Cable Requirements

All units can be used with Cat5/5e/6 or Zero-Skew™ UTP or STP
(unshielded or shielded twisted pair) cables.

All units provide high-frequency compensation (to account for the
losses in the CATx cable). The URA-SKU and URA-XT units also
provide RGB skew correction.

Low-skew UTP cables (such as Hall Research’s Zero-skew™ Cat5
cables available in both PVC and Plenum) are recommended with the
Model URA particularly if cable lengths are 200 feet or longer. The
Models URA-SKU and URA-XT, do not have any special cable
requirements since they are capable of correcting the RGB color
skew induced in typical CATx cables.

2.4 Daisy-Chain Limitations

The Model URA-XT allows downstream receiver units to be daisy
chained using UTP cables. This eliminates the need for running
separate cables from every receiver back to the sender.

Depending on the application, the URA-XT’s downstream RJ45 port
is connected to a URA-XT, URA-SKU, or URA. The constructed daisy
chain may have:

• Up to 3750 feet maximum cable from source to last URA

• A maximum of 5 URA devices in any chain

• 750 feet maximum distance between units in a chain

2.5. Setup

 Connect the UTP cable from any of the compatible UVA

senders to the “UTP IN” connector.

 Connect the HD15 - “PC/HDTV OUT” connector to the

display device. For YPbPr video sources, use a 3-RCA to
HD15 cable (Hall Research P/N CHD15-RGB).

 Connect the 3.5mm - “AUDIO OUT” connector to the

speakers or other sound equipment.

 Connect the included power supply to the 2.1mm center

positive +5 VDC power input connector on the unit. Never
use any other supply as this may damage the device.

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PC (VGA) & HD (YPbPr) AV over Twisted-Pair Receivers

2.6 Connection Block Diagram for URA & URA-SKU

Figure 2 – URA & URA-SKU Application Diagram

2.7 Connection Block Diagram for URA-XT

Figure 3 – URA-XT Application Diagram

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Model URA, URA-SKU, & URA-XT

3. Configuration & Operation

3.1 Why Cable Compensation?

All cables attenuate (reduce) the high-frequency components of the
video signal that is being transmitted. The longer the cable, the more
signal loss. If not compensated for, this signal loss will result in blurry
and smeared images.

The image quality depends on the resolution and level of detail in the
image. The Hall Research URA series of receivers has one of the
most precise and complex equalization techniques in the industry and
allows full recovery of the original signal’s bandwidth.

It is best to make this adjustment using a test pattern that is designed
to depict and exaggerate this effect.

Some Hall Research senders may have a built-in test pattern
generator. If your sender unit is equipped with this feature, simply
activate it on the sender. Otherwise, you can connect a PC to the
source and display a test pattern. You can point your browser to

http://www.hallresearch.com/skew.htm

to adjust the compensation and to evaluate the amount of color skew
in your setup.

for an image that allows one

The table below lists the recommended maximum distances from
sender to the receiver depending on the resolution used.

Refresh Rate

60 Hz 75 Hz

800x600 1000 ft 1000 ft

Table 3 -

Recommended maximum
CATx cable length from
sender to the receiver

1024x768 1000 ft 850 ft

1280x1024 850 ft 750 ft

Resolution

1920x1200 750 ft 700 ft

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PC (VGA) & HD (YPbPr) AV over Twisted-Pair Receivers

3.2 Compensation Adjustment Procedure

 Press the SEL button once to enter the adjustment-mode

(without first hitting SEL button the ▲/▼ buttons are
inactive).

 In adjustment-mode, all 3 LED’s on the unit will be turned

on.

 The ▲/▼ buttons can now be used to adjust the high

frequency (HF) compensation up or down until the video
no longer looks smeared (see figure below).

 Pressing both the ▲/▼ buttons together resets the

current adjustment back to zero, so that the user may
start over.

 To exit the adjustment mode at any time, press the SEL

button (the unit also has a built-in timeout to exit this
mode).

Figure 4 - Typical test patterns used for adjusting compensation

Figure 5 - Effect of adjustment on the smearing

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Model URA, URA-SKU, & URA-XT

3.3 Advanced Adjustment

The URA series of devices can equalize the brightness of the
video by reducing smearing.

 Apply power to the receiver. Wait until all LED’s are

turned off

 Press the SEL button once to enter Adjustment-mode.
 In Adjustment-mode, all three (3) LEDs will be ON solid.

 Press and hold the SEL button for at least 3 seconds to

enable the Video Brightness Adjustment Mode

(previously called Wire Gauge Mode).

 In Video Brightness Adjustment Mode, the GREEN

and BLUE LED’s will be blinking.

 The ▲ button raises the video brightness level.
 The ▼ button lowers the video brightness level.
 Pressing BOTH the ▲/▼ buttons at the same time will

reset the Video Brightness to the default setting.

 While using the ▲/▼ buttons, if an upper or lower limit of

the adjustment is reached, the LED’s will blink for each
continued press of the ▲/▼ button.

 To exit the Video Brightness Adjustment mode at any

time, press the SEL button until all LED’s are ON solid.
Press the SEL button once more until all LED’s are OFF
(The unit also has a built-in 1 minute timeout).

Note

The Video Brightness adjustment may not be noticeable
when only using 1 device. When products are daisy-chained,
using the URA-XT the adjustment is easier to observe.

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PC (VGA) & HD (YPbPr) AV over Twisted-Pair Receivers

3.4 Why Skew Adjustment?

UTP cables have 4 twisted pairs inside. The Hall Research UVA/URA
video transmission on UTP uses 3 individual pairs for each color
(Red, Green, & Blue).

Figure 6 - Skew mechanism

As shown in the figure above, a characteristic of the Category 5/5e/6
cables is that the pairs of wires are twisted at different rates.
Therefore, for a given length of Cat6 cable the total length of any
particular pair could be longer than other pairs in the same cable.
Since the signals travel along the length of each pair at a fixed speed,
the arrival times of signals will be skewed in a long cable (those that
have to travel farther arrive later and the corresponding color shifts to
the right).

This is seen on the monitor as separation, or lack of convergence in
colors. For example, a vertical white line on the screen may seem to
have a red tinge on the left edge and blue tinge on the right edge.

This effect gets worse at high resolutions, high refresh rates, long
cables (in excess of 200 feet), and depends on the cable construction
itself.

If you are using special UTP cables that are specifically designed for
video transmission (such as Hall Research Zero-Skew™), then there
should be no shift in color alignment regardless of the cable length. In
many applications, standard Cat6 cables may be utilized, but this will
necessitate a receiver that can move each color component to the left
and right in order to realign them. Models URA-SKU and URA-XT
both are capable of doing this. Hall Research also offers a stand­alone skew corrector unit (Model SKU-RGB).

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Model URA, URA-SKU, & URA-XT

300 ft of CAT6 (1280x1024 source)

* actual zoomed photo of screen *

After skew adjustment

Figure 7 – Example of Skew manifested

3.5 Skew Adjustment Procedure

This procedure applies to URA-SKU and URA-XT models only.

 Press the SEL button once to enter the adjustment. Press

the SEL button again to light only one of the 3 RGB LED’s.
As you press SEL the Red, Green, and Blue LED’s will
light up one at a time.

 Press the ▲/▼ buttons to move the selected color

component to the left and right. Pressing both buttons at
the same time resets all skew adjustments.

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PC (VGA) & HD (YPbPr) AV over Twisted-Pair Receivers

3.6 Signal Adjustment for the Daisy Chain

There are no specific procedures for adjusting the URA-XT’s other
than the order the adjustment is made.

The URA-XT’s RJ45 (Cat5) output is the video signal AFTER IT HAS
BEEN ADJUSTED.

This means that the unit closest to the sender has to be adjusted first.
Set the high frequency compensation first and then adjust the skew.
Since the effects in the daisy chain are cumulative, we recommend
that you set the gauge of the CATx cable used as well (see section

3.3 above).

If the calibration is off on a URA-XT in the middle of a daisy chain and
you adjust the device settings you must then check the rest of the
downstream devices and, if necessary, make additional adjustments
on those devices as well.

Adjust

First

Adjust

Second

Figure 8 – Daisy-Chain adjustment sequence

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Model URA, URA-SKU, & URA-XT

4. Troubleshooting

There are no field serviceable parts or circuits in the device. Opening
the unit will void the warranty. If you think the device is malfunctioning
(or you have no picture output), please try to use the methods
described in Section 4.3 below to obtain a picture first.

4.1 Contacting Hall Research

If you determine that the URA, URA-SKU or URA-XT is
malfunctioning, do not attempt to repair the unit. Instead, contact Hall
Research Technical Support at 714-641-6607.

Before you do, make a record of the history of the problem. We
will be able to provide more efficient and accurate assistance if
you have a complete description.

4.2 Shipping and Packaging

If you need to transport or ship your unit:

 Package it carefully. We recommend that you use the original

container.

 Before you ship the units back to Hall Research for repair or

return, contact us to get a Return Authorization (RMA) number.

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PC (VGA) & HD (YPbPr) AV over Twisted-Pair Receivers

4.3 Problem Solving FAQ

1. Fuzzy, blurry, or ghosting image at remote location

If you have a stable image but it looks somewhat blurry
(edges are not sharp), make sure that you have adjusted the
receiver unit’s HF compensation correctly. In addition, check
the recommended table of max distance vs. resolution to see
that you have not exceeded the maximum recommended
cable lengths. If you still have a fuzzy image, try reducing the
refresh rate and/or resolution of the video source.

2. Image exhibits steady or rolling horizontal color “hum”
bars

This is usually an indication of improper grounding at the
sending end, the receiving end, or both. Verify that the AC
line is properly wired and that a protective ground (green)
wire is established with NO potential difference between both
the sender and receiver locations. The UTP splitter can
handle up to 5 volts peak-to-peak of ground noise between
the two locations, but ground potential differences more than
this can show up on video.

3. Shaking image or periodically blanking monitor

Balanced signal transmission over twisted pair inherently
offers good immunity to EMI coupled noise from other
external sources. However, a strong electromagnetic noise
field can cause instability in the signal. Usual sources are
high power AC lines or data/control cables that run adjacent
to and parallel with a substantial length of the CAT5 cable. To
reduce the effect, separate the CAT5 cables from the splitter
and the interfering source, or use shielded twisted pair (STP)
CAT5 cables.

4. Poor audio quality at the receiving end

Only use powered speakers with the splitter and receivers. It
is also good practice to set the audio level (volume) output of
the PC about 1/2 to 2/3 from the maximum and use the
volume knob of the speakers to adjust the volume to the
desired level. A low volume signal output from the PC
reduces the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio, whereas too high
output amplitude can cause saturation and clipping.

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Model URA, URA-SKU, & URA-XT

5. Specifications

Video

Gain Unity
Number/signal type 1 proprietary analog signal input. Standard VGA output

RGBHV, RGBS, RGsB, RsGsBs, component video (bi-/tri-level

sync)
Connectors 1 female RJ-45 input, 1 HD15 output
Nominal amplitude 1 V p-p for Y of component video

0.7 V p-p for RGB and for Pr and Pb of component video

4.0 V to 5.0 V p-p, for TTL Sync signals of RGBHV, RGBS
Impedance 75 ohms
Skew compensation 62 ns
Maximum resolution Up to 1920x1200 and 1080p at 750 ft; 1280x1024 at 850 ft
Polarity Positive or negative

Audio

Gain Unbalanced output: 0 dB
Frequency response 20 Hz to 20 kHz, ±1 dB
Connector (1) 3.5 mm connector
Type Monaural, Simulated Stereo
THD + Noise 0.2% @ 1 kHz, 0.3% @ 20 kHz at nominal level

General

Recommended cable CAT 5/5e/6 (shielded or unshielded) for URA-XT and URA-

SKU

Power Supply 100 VAC to 240 VAC, 50-60 Hz, external; 5 VDC, 2 A,

regulated; 2.1mm

Temperature/humidity Storage: -40 to +158 °F (-40 to +70 °C) / 10% to 90%, non-

condensing
Operating: +32 to +122 °F (0 to +50 °C) / 10% to 90%, non-

condensing
Cooling Convection, vents on each end
Mounting Brackets at each end with screw hole provided for Wall or

Rack mounting
Enclosure type Metal
Dimensions 1.18" H x 2.75" W x 3.85" D - Depth excludes connectors

(30 mm H x 70 mm W x 98 mm D)
Product weight 0.75 lb (0.35 kg)
Shipping weight 1.5 lbs (0.70 kg)
Vibration ISTA 1A in carton (International Safe Transit Association)
Safety CE
EMI/EMC CE, FCC Class A
MTBF 90,000 hours
Warranty 2 years parts and labor

Specifications are subject to change without notice

16

CUSTOMER
SUPPORT
INFORMATION

© Copyright 2013. Hall Research, Inc.

All rights reserved.

Order toll-free in the U.S. 800-959-6439

FREE technical support, Call 714-641-6607 or fax [phone]
Mail order: Hall Research, 1163 Warner Ave. Tustin, CA 92780

Web site: www.hallresearch.com E-mail: [e-mail]