1U AV Control System with 8 Serial, 8 Relay, 8 IR/Serial & 8 Digital I/O
KanexPro CR-HOST8R 1U rack-mount AV control processor with 8 serial, 8 IR/serial, 8 relay, 8 digital I/O, and Gigabit Ethernet for enterprise room…
When a single room runs a dozen devices — matrices, projectors, DSPs, motorized screens, lighting rigs, and stage equipment — integrators need a control processor with the I/O density to handle it all from one rack unit. The KanexPro CR-HOST8R delivers eight serial ports, eight configurable IR/serial outputs, eight relay channels, and eight digital inputs in a standard 1U chassis. The first four COM ports support RS-232, RS-485, and RS-422 with hardware flow control, and every IR output can be reconfigured as a unidirectional RS-232 port — giving integrators up to 16 serial connections from a single device without expansion modules. Purpose-built for auditoriums, large boardrooms, houses of worship, and campus-wide deployments, the CR-HOST8R runs on an Android 9.0 platform with a quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 processor. Gigabit Ethernet with TCP/UDP/HTTPS/WebSocket provides IP-based control and monitoring, while onboard IR learning captures remote codes from 20KHz to 60KHz. No proprietary programming tools or annual software licenses are required — configuration runs through open protocols and standard interfaces. Powered by AC 110–220V, the CR-HOST8R mounts in any standard 19-inch rack. Where the compact CR-HOST6S serves single rooms, the CR-HOST8R scales to venues where one controller needs to drive everything on stage and in the house.
- ARM Cortex-A53, Quad-core 1.8GHz, 2GB DDR4 RAM, 8GB eMMC, Android 9
- 8× bidirectional serial — COM 1–4: RS-232/RS-422/RS-485 + HW flow; COM 5–8: RS-232
- 8× IR outputs configurable as one-way RS-232 — up to 16 serial connections total
- 8× isolated relay outputs (30VDC 2A / 125VAC 1A)
- 8× digital I/O inputs for sensors
- Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000M) with TCP/UDP/HTTP/WebSocket
- AC 110–220V 50/60Hz power supply (220V/10A AC cord included)
- IR learning (20KHz–60KHz), web server, password protection
- Built-in sync clock, reset to KanexPro defaults
- Standard 1U rack mount: 440mm × 200mm × 44mm, 2.1kg
Specifications| Processor | ARM Cortex-A53, Quad-core, 1.8GHz |
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| OS | Android 9 |
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| Memory | 2GB DDR4 RAM, 8GB eMMC |
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| Serial (COM 1–4) | 4× RS-232/RS-422/RS-485 + HW flow (9-pin Phoenix) |
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| Serial (COM 5–8) | 4× RS-232 (3-pin Phoenix) |
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| IR/Serial Output | 8× IR or one-way RS-232 (2× 8-pin Phoenix) |
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| Relay | 8× isolated (30VDC 2A / 125VAC 1A) |
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| Digital I/O | 8× input (2× 5-pin Phoenix) |
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| Ethernet | 1× Gigabit (10/100/1000M) RJ45 |
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| Power | AC 110–220V 50/60Hz — 55W |
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| Other Ports | USB-A (reserved), USB-B (computer), H-NET (reserved), IR Learning, RESET |
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| Dimensions | 17.32" × 7.87" × 1.73" (440 × 200 × 44 mm) — 1U rack |
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| Weight | 4.63 lbs (2.1 kg) |
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| Housing | Metal enclosure + aluminum front, black |
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| Installation | Standard 19" rack or flat mount |
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| Operating Temp | 32°F – 104°F (0°C – 40°C) |
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| Humidity | 10%–90% RH (non-condensing) |
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| Package Contents | 1× Host, 4× 3-pin Phoenix, 1× 4-pin Phoenix, 2× 5-pin Phoenix, 4× 8-pin Phoenix, 4× 9-pin Phoenix, 2× Mounting Ears, 6× |
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Questions
- How many serial connections can the CR-HOST8R support?
- 8 dedicated RS232 ports plus 8 IR outputs individually reconfigurable as RS232 — up to 16 serial connections from one device.
- Which serial protocols are supported?
- COM 1-4: RS-232/RS-485/RS-422 with HW flow. COM 5-8: RS-232 only. All baud rates configurable.
- Can the IR outputs really be used as serial ports?
- Yes. Each IR output can be individually reconfigured as a unidirectional RS232 port, effectively doubling the serial capacity to 16 ports.
- Does it integrate with KanexPro panels and keypads?
- Yes. The CR-HOST8R works with CR-TOUCH4A panels, CR-KEY8U/E keypads, and CR-EXPAND1 port expanders over Gigabit Ethernet.
- What rack size is required?
- Standard 1U (1.75 inches) in a 19-inch rack. Mounting ears are included.
- What power does it require?
- 100-240V AC 50/60Hz via standard IEC inlet. No external power adapter needed.
- What if a serial device isn't responding?
- Check baud rate and protocol settings. Verify TXD/RXD wiring. Check the front panel TX/RX LEDs for activity on the relevant port.
- How do I reset to KanexPro defaults?
- Press the RESET button on the rear panel to restore all settings to KanexPro defaults.
- Is there an annual licensing fee?
- No. No recurring software fees, no per-room licensing, no required certifications.
- What makes it different from competing rack-mount controllers?
- Up to 16 serial connections from one device (8 COM + 8 configurable IR-to-serial), no proprietary programming, and open protocol support — at mid-market pricing.