
AX-R4 Router
Full 2-way RS232 & Ethernet control. Unlocks 
the full potential of the KPC 2.8 Touchpanel.
FEATURES
• 4 x Dedicated RS232 DB9 ports, max 
throughput = 115 k baud
• 6 x KPC 2.8 Touchpanel RJ45 ports
• Ethernet RJ45 port: 10Mbs, DHCP or 
Fixed IP. DNS host name resolution 
supported. SNTP time/date 
synchronisation via internet. More 
internet services may be added in 
future.
• IR routing from specific keypad ports.
• 4 x IR emitter output / sensor input 
3.5mm jacks. These jacks work 
concurrently as an IR output and sensor 
input.
• IR emitter output level adjustment.
• Realtime internal clock.
• Microphone line level out, with output 
sensitivity adjustment.
• 2 x RJ25 Expansion ports. 
IN from the previous R4 & OUT to the 
next R4.
• 3 x Status LED’s.
◦ Power (green) 
◦ Heartbeat (orange) 
◦ Port Activity throughput (orange)
• Powered by AX-451/452AV multi-zone 
amplifiers or 12 – 18 VDC 1.6A power 
supply.
• Two way control Applets for:
◦ Integra Tuner, CD, DVD, Receiver 
incl Z2 and Z3.
◦ DLO docking Station 
◦ Sonance I-Pod Dock 
◦ Vantage lighting 
◦ Autonomic Controls Media Center 
◦ Vantage DMM 
◦ Clock with optional date and 
screensaver functionality.
◦ More to come...
Please check www.axium.co.nz for 
the latest applet updates.
• Approvals: C-Tick CISPR22, FCC
WIRING
The six keypad RJ45 ports can be used for 
connecting KPC 2.8 touchpanels using a 
maximum of 100 metres of CAT-5 cable. The 
port connections are freely interchangeable. 
These ports cannot be used with the AX-KPB 
and are not designed for connecting to an 
Ethernet network.
The four RS232 DB9 ports are used for 
connecting RS232 controlled equipment. The 
pin allocations follow the standard for male 
connectors, where pin 2 is R4 receive, pin 3 is 
R4 transmit and pin 5 is ground.
Standard single IR emitters are plugged into 
the IR ports and fixed to the IR window of the 
controlled equipment. The emitter current for 
each port can be increased by turning the 
potentiometers anti-clockwise.
The paging output is active when the 
microphone on a KPC 2.8 is used. This is 
connected to an input of an amplifier (typically 
source 8 on a 451/452AV or MZA-4.7). The 
potentiometer can be turned clockwise for 
increased gain.
The two RJ25 ports are used for daisy 
chaining multiple routers. This allows the 
creation of a matrix of more than six KPC 2.8s 
and/or more than four RS232/IR controlled 
devices. When two or more routers are 
chained, the RS232 and IR port numbering is 
modified so that the first router is numbered 
1-4, the second is 5-8, the third 9-12, etc. The 
“OUT” connector of the first router is 
connected to the “IN” connector of the second 
router. If a third router is used, the “OUT” 
connector of the second router is connected 
to the “IN” connector of the third router and 
so on for a total of up to six routers. The “IN” 
connector of the first router and the “OUT” 
connector of the last router is NOT used. The 
leads connected to the expansion ports shall 
not exceed one metre in length.
The green Axium port connector connects to 
an Axium 451/452AV or Integra MZA-4.7 
amplifier or amplifier stack. 12VDC is provided 
by the amplifier to power the R4. If multiple 
routers are used, only the first one can be 
connected to the Axium port and thus 
powered by the Axium port, other routers will 
need their own power supplies. Also if a stack 
of amplifiers is used, there can still be only 
one link between the amplifier stack and the 
routers using the Axium port on the first 
router.
When not using an Axium 451/452AV or 
Integra MZA-4.7 amplifier or if a higher supply 
voltage is required, a 12 – 18 VDC centre 
positive plug pack power supply is used to 
power the R4.
The Ethernet connector located between the 
RS232 and the expansion ports can be used 
for providing network and internet access to 
the R4 and connected KPC 2.8 touchpanels. 
The network must be DHCP capable unless a 
static IP address is configured. The R4 
automatically fetches the current time and 
date if the network has internet access. If 
multiple R4 routers are used, each R4 needs 
an Ethernet connection if network or internet 
features are used.
The USB connector is only used in 
combination with the R4 Manager program 
(see below).
CONFIGURATION
The default factory settings are to use DHCP 
and to synchronise the real time clock with 
time.nist.gov if an Ethernet connection is 
used. The R4 Manager program included in 
the Axium Software Suite available from 
http://www.axium.co.nz/ is required should 
other settings be required. The R4 Manager 
also offers diagnostic and firmware update 
functionality. Please see the documentation in 
the Axium Software Suite for more 
information.
TROUBLESHOOTING
No control of any equipment
• Check the power LED. Check power 
supply if not lit.
• Check heartbeat LED. If not flashing try 
powering the unit off and back on again.
• If using a single router ensure that the 
“IN” and “OUT” ports are not used.
• Ensure the correct setting is used in AKM 
under “Settings” - “Serial device” in the 
KPC 2.8 configuration. Use either “Auto 
detect” or “AX-R4 Router”.
• If using a chain of routers, ensure that 
the chain has a definitive beginning and 
end and that no loop exists.
No control of specific equipment (RS232 
and IR)
• Ensure that the RS232 and IR port 
connections correspond to the ports 
assigned in AKM when configuring the 
KPC 2.8.
• Ensure that the correct pins for receive 
and transmit on the RS232 connection 
are used.
• Some RS232 devices allow the baud rate 
and other parameters to be adjusted. 
Ensure that the settings required by the 
applet are used.
• If using a chain of routers ensure that 
the port assignment rules have been 
correctly understood and applied.
• Ensure that the equipment is working 
correctly and that all the connections 
and cables are sound.
No control of specific equipment 
(Ethernet)
• If using an IP address, ensure that the 
address of the equipment is statically 
assigned and corresponds to the address 
assigned in AKM when configuring the 

KPC 2.8.
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• If using a host name, ensure that the 
name can be resolved using DNS. 
NetBIOS computer names are not 
repaired or replaced at no charge. The 
warranty does not cover costs relating to 
installation or removal of the product or 
consequential damages.
INSTALLATION
supported.
• Ensure that the equipment is reachable 
by the R4, e.g. that there are no 
problems with routing, subnets, etc.
• If using a chain of routers ensure that 
each one needing network access has its 
own connection to the network.
• Ensure that the equipment is working 
correctly and that all the connections 
and cables are sound.
No network access
• Check the green LED on the Ethernet 
connector. It will be lit when there is an 
Ethernet link.
• Ensure the network is functioning 
correctly.
• If using DHCP (default setting), ensure 
that the network supports DHCP. If not, 
see “Configuration”.
• If using a static IP address, ensure that 
the correct subnet is used and that there 
are no address conflicts.
PRECAUTIONS
• Never expose the unit to moisture.
• Ensure the unit is powered by a DC 
supply within the recommended voltage 
range.
• Do not connect the RJ45 keypad ports to 
an Ethernet network.
• Do not connect the IN and OUT ports of 
a single router together. Also do not 
connect a chain of routers so that a loop 
is formed.
LIMITED WARRANTY
Audio Engineering Ltd warrants its products to 
be free of material and construction defects. 
The warranty is for One Year from the date of 
purchase by the original consumer. Any 
products returned to either Audio Engineering 
Ltd or the Axium Distributor and found to be 
defective within the warranty period will be 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The AX-R4 Router firmware is based in part on 
FreeRTOS.orgTM V5.0.2 and the uIP TCP/IP 
stack. For more information on 
FreeRTOS.orgTM please visit 
http://www.freertos.org. FreeRTOS.org 
source code can either be downloaded from 
the official website or alternatively can be 
provided by us, see http://www.axium.co.nz/ 
for contact details.
The following text concerning the uIP TCP/IP 
stack is required by its license:
Copyright (c) 2001-2003, Adam Dunkels. 
All rights reserved.
Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without 
modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions 
are met:
1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright 
notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above 
copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer 
in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the 
distribution.
3. The name of the author may not be used to endorse or promote 
products derived from this software without specific prior written 
permission.
THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR ``AS IS'' AND 
ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT 
LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY 
AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN 
NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, 
INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR 
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, 
PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF 
USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) 
HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER 
IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING 
NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE 
USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY 
OF SUCH DAMAGE.
TM