RS232 Extension using Control4 and the AVPro Edge HDBaseT Matrix

RS232 Extension using Control4 and the AVPro Edge HDBaseT Matrix

There are two ways of using the AVPro Edge HDBaseT and Control4 for RS232 Extension.

1. Simple RS232 Extension - I want to extend an RS232 Signal from a Control Processor

This is the most basic way of extending a duplex (two-way) RS232 signal from a Control4 Processor to another RS232 controlled device.

Simple Extension with the AC-MX44-AUHD-HDBT (AVDM), AC-MX88-AUHD-HDBT (PLUS/AVDM), and new AC-MX-44HDBT/AC-AXION-4

  1. Connect the RS232 Output of the Control4 Processor to the HDBaseT RS232 Passthrough Port 3 Pin Terminal Block. Control4 TX to Matrix RX; Control4 RX to Matrix TX. The HDBaseT RS232 Port correlates directly to the same numbered HDBaseT Output (i.e. HDBaseT1 extends to HDBaseT Output 1).
  2. Connect HDBaseT Receiver RS232 Output to RS232 Controlled Device
  3. In Control4 Composer, Under the Connections tab, route the Control Processor's RS232 Output direct to the desired RS232 Controlled Device. In this example we are using an EA3 and an RS232 Controlled Display. Notice, virtually within the Contol4 Composer Software there will be no RS232 connection coming to or from the AVPro Edge Matrix.  

     

Simple Extension with the AC-CX??-AUHD, AC-MX9XHDL-HDBT-GEN2 (Cloud 9), and AC-MX1616-AUHD-HDBT (AVDM)

By default the single HDBaseT RS232 Passthrough Port broadcasts to all HDBaseT Outputs. HDBaseT RS232 responses are returned through this singular RS232 Port. We recommend using the encapsulation method below in these solutions.
  1. Connect the RS232 Output of the Control4 Processor to the HDBaseT RS232 Passthrough Port 3 Pin Terminal Block. Control4 TX to Matrix RX; Control4 RX to Matrix TX.
  2. Connect HDBaseT Receiver RS232 Output to RS232 Controlled Device
  3. In Control4 Composer, Under the Connections tab, route the Control Processor's RS232 Output direct to the desired RS232 Controlled Device. In this example we are using an EA3 and an RS232 Controlled Display. Notice, virtually within the Contol4 Composer Software there will be no RS232 connection coming to or from the AVPro Edge Matrix. 

Why route this way?

Simple RS232 extension from a Control Processor to an RS232 Controlled Device. Requires a physical connection from the Control Processor to the Matrix Switcher per RS232 Controlled Device.

2. RS232 Encapsulation - I want the Matrix to generate and send commands

This advanced extension method is a simplex (One Way: Two Way in Future Update) RS232 signal sent by the HDBaseT Matrix to another RS232 Controlled Device. This is available on all AVPro Edge HDBaseT Matrices using minimum Driver Version 3.06. Control4 will use the RS232 Controlled Device's driver and tell the HDBaseT Matrix the correct command to send.

RS232 Encapsulation using all HDBaseT Matrices

  1. Connect the main control connection to the HDBaseT Matrix (RS232/IP)
  2. Connect HDBaseT Receiver RS232 Output to RS232 Controlled Device
  3. In Control4 Composer, under the Connections tab, go to the Matrix Driver. Under Control Outputs, Drag and Drop the RS232 Output to the desired RS232 Controlled Device. Control Output Number correlates to the same number HDBaseT Output.

Why route this way?

RS232 Encapsulation allows for the user to extend multiple RS232 signals by using the single main control connection from the Control Processor (RS232/IP). Meaning that no extra connection is required to extend multiple RS232 connections; unlike the Simple RS232 Extension method above.

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