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Mailing Address: Hall Research, 1163 Warner Ave, Tustin, CA 92780
Web site: www.hallresearch.com • E-mail: info@ hallresearch.com
Compact CAT5 Video/RS232 Splitters and Receivers
TRADEMARKS USED IN THIS MANUAL
Hall Research, HR, and the
Research Inc. Any other trademarks mentioned in this manual are
acknowledged to be the property of the trademark owners.
logo are trademarks of Hall
FCC & CANADIAN DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS
RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE STATEMENTS
This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy
and if not installed and used properly, that is, in strict accordance with
the manufacturer’s instructions, may cause interference to radio
communication. It has been designed and found 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 intended
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 at their own expense will be required to take whatever
measures may be necessary to correct the interference.
This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class A limits for radio
noise emission from digital apparatus set out in the Radio Interference
Regulation of the Canadian Department of Communications.
Le présent appareil numérique n’émet pas de bruits radioélectriques
dépassant les limites applicables aux appareils numériques de la classe
A prescrites dans le Règlement sur le brouillage radioélectrique publié
par le ministère des Communications du Canada
EUROPEAN UNION DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
This product has been tested and shown to comply with the
requirements of the European EMC directive 89/336/EEC
This User’s Manual covers both the splitters (senders) and the Remote
Receivers. The splitters can be any of the following models: UV232-2,
UV232-4, UV232-8, or UV232-24. For these units, the number after
the dash represents the quantity of RJ45 outputs.
The basic receiver unit which works with any of the splitters is the
Model UR232. Another receiver is the Model UR232-X2, which has 2
sets of Video and RS232 outputs.
The splitters (senders) convert a PC's VGA and RS232 signals into a
format that can be transmitted using a single inexpensive and
commonly available Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) cable with RJ45
connectors. Both UTP and STP (shielded) cables can be used. In
addition you can use Cat5, 5e, 6, or higher. However, for runs of over
250 feet, Hall Research recommends using “Skew-free” or “Zeroskew” Cat5 cables for best performance. The senders also have local
buffered loop-thru outputs for the VGA and RS232 for connection to
local monitor or expansion.
At the receiving (remote) end, a receiver Model UR232 (sold
separately) is used to convert the UTP signal back to VGA and RS232.
NOTE
The UV232 supports bidirectional RS232 (Transmit / Receive) at sender
RS232 Loop Out, and unidirectional (Transmit only) to UR232 receivers.
Remote RS232 devices cannot transmit back to PC.
These products are housed in compact shielded enclosures and include
connectors for a local monitor and RS232 device as well as multiple
RJ45 connectors for connection to remote monitors.
Included with the devices are: a small power supply. The senders also
come with short video and mini-stereo to DB9 cables for connection to
the PC’s VGA and serial port outputs.
The RJ45 outputs on the Splitters can drive CAT5 LAN cables to 1000
feet (305 meters) with little to no degradation of video quality
depending on resolution of the VGA signal (see table 3.2). The
receiver can compensate for signal losses in long cable runs.
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Compact CAT5 Video/RS232 Splitters and Receivers
1.2 Features
• Support for local monitor and loop out RS232 at sending end
• Handles resolutions up to 1600x1280 at any refresh rate
• Rugged, Reliable, Compact size
• No software required
• Drive standard CAT5 cables to 1000 feet
• Transmit unidirectional RS232 and video signals on one cable
• Easily expand Splitters by daisy-chaining the local in/out ports
• Adjustable cable length compensation at each UR232 receiver
2. Installation
1. Connect the VGA IN and RS232 IN connectors of the UV232-x to
the computer's video and serial ports using the supplied cables (see
figures 2.1 and 2.2).
4
Local
Monitor and
RS232
device
VGA &
RS232
UV232-X
Figure 2.1
CAT5
CAT5
Remote Monitors & RS232
device
UR232
UR232
Compact CAT5 Video/RS232 Splitters and Receivers
Figure 2.2
2. Connect the local monitor and RS232 output to the device's VGA
OUT and RS232 LOOP OUT connectors respectively.
NOTE
To expand the number of outputs, use these ports to daisy
chain to another UV232-x’s VGA and RS232 inputs. Connect the
local monitor and RS232 output to the last unit in the chain.
3. Connect the included power supply to the power input connector
on the unit.
4. Using Category-5 or higher UTP cable connect one or more
UR232 receivers to the sender’s RJ45 outputs.
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Compact CAT5 Video/RS232 Splitters and Receivers
5. Connect the remote monitor and RS232 to the receiver unit and
attach the power supply to the receiver
Figure 2.3
CAUTION
Before plugging in the remote monitor, 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
splitter can tolerate up to 5 v peak-to-peak ground potential between the
two locations. Failure to ensure good grounding can result in erratic
operation and possible shock hazards or damage to your equipment.
NOTICE
Do not connect this unit to any LAN device such as network cards or hubs
as this may damage the UV232/UR232 and/or the LAN device. Use EIA/TIA
568B standard straight-through patch wiring as shown below. Do not use
crossover cables.
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Compact CAT5 Video/RS232 Splitters and Receivers
EIA/TIA 568B WIRING STANDARD
PIN Wire Color
1 White w/Orange Stripe
2 Orange
3 White w/Green Stripe
4 Blue
5 White w/Blue Stripe
6 Green
7 White w/Brown Stripe
8 Brown
3. Configuration & Operation
3.1 Sender
At the sending end the video signal from the PC is fully terminated and
buffered for the local video output connector. This means that
terminating or plugging a local monitor is not necessary and this
connector can be left open.
Extended display ID (EDID) information (used for plug-and-play
devices) is either passed through from the local monitor, or emulated
by the UV232.
The RS232 input is passed through to the RS232 loop output connector
and is bidirectional. The transmitted RS232 in the CAT5 cable to the
remote receiver is unidirectional (broadcast only, no receive).
3.2 Receiver
Two receiver types are available - UR232, and UR232-X2. Receivers
have a single COMPENSATION potentiometer (pot) adjustment to
recover high frequency signal loss for long runs of the cable.
The Model UR232-X2 has 2 identical VGA outputs and 2 RS232
outputs. It acts as if a standard UR232 was followed by a video and
RS232 splitter.
3.2.1 Adjusting the video quality for long cable runs
Please refer to Figure 2.4 for the location of the compensation pot.
Turning the pot CW increases the compensation. Use a small
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Compact CAT5 Video/RS232 Splitters and Receivers
screwdriver and starting from CCW slowly turn the pot CW until the
image is perfectly clear. Fully CCW corresponds to no compensation
(recommended for lengths of 100 ft or less), and fully CW corresponds
to 1000 feet. Be careful not to over-compensate the video image.
The video quality at the remote station depends on: (1) the length of the
CAT5 cable, (2) video resolution setting, and (3) refresh rate setting.
In general, at low and mid resolutions, excellent image reproduction is
provided at up to 1000 feet. At high resolution and refresh rates perfect
image reproduction can be achieved at shorter distances (see table 3.1
below). Using longer cables or higher resolution rates will still produce
an image, but the reproduction quality will be reduced.
Refresh Rate
Table 3.1
60 Hz 75 Hz 85 Hz
800x600 1000 ft 1000 ft 1000 ft
1024x768 1000 ft 800 ft 750 ft
1280x1024 750 ft 650 ft 600 ft
Resolution
1600x1200 650 ft 600 ft 500 ft
Maximum
Recommended
Cable Lengths
3.2.2 UTP Cable Recommendations
RED
GREEN
BLUE
Figure 3.1
UTP cables have 4 twisted pairs inside. The UV232/UR232 video
transmission on UTP uses 3 individual pairs for each color (Red,
Green, & Blue). As shown in figure 3.1 above, a characteristic of
Category-5/5e/6 cable is that the pairs of wires are twisted at different
rates. Therefore, for a given length of Cat-5 cable the total length of a
particular pair could be longer than others. Since the signals travel in
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RED
GREEN
BLUE
Compact CAT5 Video/RS232 Splitters and Receivers
the cable at a fixed speed, the arrival times of signals can 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 look 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. Hall Research highly recommends the use of UTP cables
specifically constructed for video transmission. In these cables the all
the twisted pairs are the same length. They are available from several
sources including Hall Research (part numbers shown below).
Zero-Skew CAT5 Cable for use with Hall Research CAT5 Products
PART NUMBER
CUTP-Z-1000-BLK 1000 ft.
Zero-Skew CAT5 cable. Bulk spool of 1000 ft
CUTP-ZP-1000-BLK 1000 ft.
Zero-Skew CAT5 cable. Bulk spool of 1000 ft Plenum Rated
If you are going to use commercial grade UTP cable, then we
recommend using Cat5 or Cat5e rather than Cat6, since the twist ratio
match is better in Cat5 cable.
3.2.3 The Model UR232-X2
This receiver is identical to the standard UR232 with the exception that
it has 2 VGA outputs and 2 RS232 outputs. Both outputs show an
identical image.
4. Troubleshooting
4.1 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
compensation pot correctly. Also check table 3.1 to see that you have
not exceeded the maximum recommended cable length. If you still
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Compact CAT5 Video/RS232 Splitters and Receivers
have a fuzzy image, try reducing the refresh rate and/or resolution of
the PC.
for an image that
allows you to adjust the compensation and also evaluate the amount of
color skew in your setup. If you determine that you have excessive
color skew, then you must either consider using Zero-Skew UTP cable,
or if that is not possible, use a secondary device whose job is to correct
the color skew (please contact Hall Research for details).
Your splitter has multiple RJ45 output connectors. When a long CAT5
cable is plugged in any of the outputs, the unit expects a receiver unit at
the far end for proper termination. Therefore unplug the un-terminated
CAT5 cables from the splitter unit.
2. Image exhibits steady or rolling horizontal color “hum” bars
This is usually an indication of improper grounding either 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 v peak-to-peak ground
noise between the two locations, but no more
3. Shaking image or periodically blanking monitor
Inherently, balanced signal transmission over twisted pair 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 and/or control cables
that run adjacent to and parallel with a substantial length of the CAT5
cable. To eliminate this, either place a distance between the CAT5
cables from the splitter and the interfering source, or use shielded
twisted pair (STP) CAT5 cables.
4. The PC does not recognize a PnP monitor (older units only)
If the PC’s Operating System is setup to detect a plug-and-play monitor
(usually in Display Properties Advanced Settings), it may have trouble
finding a monitor if no local monitor is hooked up to the splitter. Only
the ID information of the local monitor is passed to the PC. If the PC
does not produce an image due to this, either connect a monitor to the
local VGA output port, or disable the plug-and-play monitor detection
in the PC’s operating system.
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Compact CAT5 Video/RS232 Splitters and Receivers
4.2 Calling Hall Research
If you determine that your splitter is malfunctioning, do not attempt to
repair the unit. 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.
4.3 Shipping and Packaging
If you need to transport or ship your Splitter: Package it carefully (we
recommend that you use the original container), and before you ship
the unit back to Hall Research for repair or return, contact us to get a
Return Material Authorization (RMA) number.
5. Specifications
Supported
Video Types VGA through UXGA, RGBS, or RGB
Can also transmit Composite Video (CV), S-Video (Y/C), and
Component Video (Y, Pb, Pr) on pins 1, 2, and 3 of the HD15 VGA
connector (adaptor cable may be needed)
Resolution &
Refresh Rate Up to 1600 x 1280 non-interlaced at up to 85 Hz
Bandwidth Video: DC to 250 MHz
Video Level 0.7 volts peak-to-peak
RS232
Transmission Local output: Bidirectional, Remote: Unidirectional (Tx from
Sender)
Maximum
Distance Up to 1000 ft. (305 meters) – See table 3.1 for details
Connectors HD15 female for video input and output
3.5 mm Mini-Stereo for RS232 input and output
RJ45 for CAT5 outputs
Compliance CE; FCC Part 15 Subpart B Class A, IC Class
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Compact CAT5 Video/RS232 Splitters and Receivers
Maximum
Altitude 10,000 ft. (3048 m)
Temperature
Tolerance Operating: 32 to 122°F (0 to 50°C);
Storage: –40 to +185°F (–40 to +85°C)
Humidity Up to 95% non-condensing
Enclosure Steel
MTBF 100,000 hours (calculated estimate)
Power All units except UV232-24: from utility-power (mains) outlet,
through included external power adapters. Output Voltage: 6
DC Center-Positive.
Power supply current requirements: 300 ma minimum for
UV232-2 and UR232, 500 ma minimum for UV232-4 and
UV232-8.
UV232-24: Directly from 100~220 VAC
Size & Weight UV232-2: 1.22"H x 4.86"W x 2.60"D - 1.8 lbs
UV232-4: 1.22"H x 8.20"W x 3.00"D 2.4 lbs
UV232-8: 1.32"H x 7.58"W x 3.88"D – 3.0 lbs
(UV232-8 has 2 L-shaped mounting ears that protrude 0.88”
beyond the main box on each side). 4 mounting holes are
present on a rectangular pattern of 8.62" x 2.63"
UV232-24: 16.7” L x 9.58” W x 3.2” H (with 19” x 3.44” front
panel) – 6.5 lbs