Application Notes: Dante in Corporate AV Installations
Boardrooms, conference rooms, campuses, lobbies — real-world deployment scenarios Corporate AV is among the most practical deployment target for…
This article covers the KanexPro Collaboration range. That means the COL-HUD-21, COL-HUD-21D and COL-HUD-42 huddle room switchers, and the EXT-USBCPD4K-70M USB-C extender. It also covers the SW-4X2PS-70M and SW-5X1PS-70M presentation switches, and the MMX-4X4VW, VW-HDUSBC1X4 and VW-SP1X44K video wall processors. Connectors, serial settings and cable limits vary from product to product. Check the entry for your model rather than assuming one value covers the whole range.
Display Compatibility
Every product in the range connects to the display over HDMI, but where the HDMI output sits depends on the product. On the EXT-USBCPD4K-70M it is on the receiver only. The SW-4X2PS-70M and SW-5X1PS-70M have HDMI outputs on the transmitter as well as on the included HDBaseT receiver, so a local display can connect straight to the transmitter. The SW-4X2PS-70M transmitter has two HDMI outputs, and its HDBaseT output mirrors HDMI OUT 2. The SW-5X1PS-70M transmitter has one HDMI output, mirrored with its HDBaseT output. The COL-HUD-21 and COL-HUD-21D have one HDMI output and the COL-HUD-42 has two. The output formats also differ.
- 4K60 4:4:4 output: the COL-HUD-21, COL-HUD-21D, COL-HUD-42, SW-4X2PS-70M, SW-5X1PS-70M and EXT-USBCPD4K-70M are HDMI 2.0b at 18Gbps. The display needs an HDMI input that accepts 4K60. For protected 4K content the display must also support HDCP 2.2, because a display limited to HDCP 1.x will not show it. The COL-HUD models, SW-4X2PS-70M and EXT-USBCPD4K-70M are HDCP 2.3, and the SW-5X1PS-70M is HDCP 2.2.
- HDR: the COL-HUD models and the EXT-USBCPD4K-70M pass HDR, HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision and HLG. The SW-5X1PS-70M accepts HDR on its inputs, but its output does not support HDR, so the display receives SDR.
- The video wall processors output less than 4K60: the MMX-4X4VW is HDMI 1.4b and HDCP 1.4. In matrix mode its outputs go up to 4K30; in video wall mode the screens in the wall run at a fixed 1080p. The VW-HDUSBC1X4 accepts 4K60 4:4:4, but it outputs only 720p60, 1080p60, 4K30 or 1024×768, and all four outputs share one resolution. The VW-SP1X44K outputs up to WUXGA@60 and 1080p60.
- Displays that need a fixed resolution: you do not have to rely on Auto. On the COL-HUD-21, "set output 1 video 3" forces a 1080p downscale. The SW-5X1PS-70M output list runs from 4096×2160p60 down to 1024×768p60, and includes 1920×1200p60RB, 1360×768p60 and 1280×800p60. In matrix mode, each MMX-4X4VW output can be scaled on its own to 4K30, 1920×1200, 1080p, 720p or one of several PC resolutions.
For video walls, use bezel compensation to line the image up across screens. The MMX-4X4VW and VW-HDUSBC1X4 both adjust horizontal and vertical bezel over a 0–10 range.
Cable Requirements
Maximum lengths differ by product and by signal format. Where a length shows a dash, test the full run with the cable you will install before relying on it.
| Product and link | Cable | Maximum length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| SW-4X2PS-70M and SW-5X1PS-70M: HDBaseT output to the included receiver | CAT6A F/FTP, T568B, straight-through | 4K60 4:4:4: 40 m. 1080p and 4K30: 70 m | Do not cross-connect. The transmitter can power the receiver over the same cable (PoE). |
| EXT-USBCPD4K-70M: transmitter to receiver | CAT6A/7, T-568B, straight-through | 4K60 4:4:4 8-bit: 40 m. 4K30 and USB 2.0: 70 m | Bidirectional 24V PoC, so only one end needs its power supply, with the PoC DIP switch on at both units (the default) |
| SW-4X2PS-70M: HDMI inputs and outputs, and USB-C sources | Premium High Speed HDMI; a USB-C cable that supports DP Alt Mode and USB 3.2 | 3 m each | |
| VW-HDUSBC1X4: HDMI | Premium High Speed HDMI | 4K60: 8 m. 4K24: 10 m. 1080p60: 15 m | |
| MMX-4X4VW: HDMI | HDMI | 4K30: 5 m. 1080p 4:4:4: 10 m | |
| VW-SP1X44K: HDMI | HDMI | 4K2K: 5 m. 8-bit 1080p: 10 m | Optional CAT5e/6 extenders for longer runs |
| Analog audio: COL-HUD models, SW-4X2PS-70M | 5-pin 3.5 mm Phoenix | – | COL-HUD balanced wiring: L+, L−, GND, R+, R−. Unbalanced: L+, GND, R+. Maximum input 2 Vrms balanced. |
| Analog audio: SW-5X1PS-70M | 5-pin Phoenix | – | Transmitter: one line in, 2 Vrms maximum, balanced or unbalanced, and one line out. Receiver: one line out. Line outputs: 2 Vrms maximum balanced or 1 Vrms unbalanced. |
| Dante: SW-4X2PS-70M | RJ45 to the Dante network | – | 2×2 Dante audio I/O. The Dante port runs at 100 Mbps: connect it to a switch with QoS enabled, and turn off Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) on the switch ports used for Dante. |
| Dante: SW-5X1PS-70M | RJ45 to the Dante network | – | 2×2 Dante audio I/O with a built-in 3×3 audio matrix. The Dante port runs at 100 Mbps: connect it to a switch with QoS enabled, and turn off Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) on the switch ports used for Dante. |
| LAN: COL-HUD models | Two 1G RJ45 ports | – | 802.1x and VLAN on both ports. By default, ETH1 carries control and ETH2 passes through the USB-C laptop’s Ethernet. |
Control System Compatibility
Which RS-232 connector and settings does each product use?
RS-232 is not uniform across the range. Most of these products use a 3-pin Phoenix connector. The VW-SP1X44K is the only one with a 9-pin D-sub. Every control port in the table defaults to 115200 baud.
| Product | RS-232 connector | Serial settings | IP control |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL-HUD-21, COL-HUD-21D, COL-HUD-42 | 3-pin 3.5 mm Phoenix (TX, GND, RX) | 115200-8N1 (default). Commands end in CR LF on the COL-HUD-21; confirm the terminator on the COL-HUD-21D and COL-HUD-42. | TCP port 8000; Telnet port 23 |
| SW-4X2PS-70M | 3-pin Phoenix. API commands go to the RS-232 CTL port; a second 3-pin RS-232 port is also fitted. | 115200-8N1; commands end in CR LF | TCP port 8000; Telnet port 23 |
| SW-5X1PS-70M | 3-pin Phoenix | 115200-8N1 | TCP port 8000 |
| EXT-USBCPD4K-70M | 3-pin Phoenix on transmitter and receiver, for RS-232 pass-through | API on the transmitter’s USB-C SERVICE port at 115200-8N1; commands end in CR LF | – |
| MMX-4X4VW | 3-pin 3.5 mm Phoenix (TX, GND, RX). Wire TX to the control system’s RX, RX to its TX, and GND to GND. | 115200-8N1; commands end in “!” | – (front panel and IR remote control are also available) |
| VW-HDUSBC1X4 | 3-pin 3.81 mm Phoenix (TX, GND, RX) | 115200-8N1; commands end in “!” | – |
| VW-SP1X44K | 9-pin D-sub | 115200-8N1, no flow control; commands end in CR | Telnet on the CONTROL RJ45 port. Required for cascaded or multi-unit walls, because RS-232 controls one unit only. |
Which control systems can drive these products?
Eight of the nine products take control commands on their RS-232 port: the COL-HUD models, SW-4X2PS-70M, SW-5X1PS-70M, MMX-4X4VW, VW-HDUSBC1X4 and VW-SP1X44K. On the SW-4X2PS-70M, send commands to the RS-232 CTL port. On the EXT-USBCPD4K-70M, send API commands to the transmitter’s USB-C SERVICE port. Its 3-pin RS-232 ports, one on the transmitter and one on the receiver, carry RS-232 pass-through between the transmitter and receiver.
Over IP, the COL-HUD models and the SW-4X2PS-70M take commands on TCP port 8000 and Telnet port 23, and the SW-5X1PS-70M on TCP port 8000. The VW-SP1X44K uses Telnet on its CONTROL port. The VW-HDUSBC1X4, SW-4X2PS-70M, SW-5X1PS-70M and MMX-4X4VW can be integrated with control systems such as Crestron, AMX and Extron. Plan to program the command strings in the control system, and ask support@kanexpro.com whether a driver or module is available for your platform.
To list the command set, send “help” to a COL-HUD-21 or COL-HUD-21D, “help!” to the VW-HDUSBC1X4, or “help” or “?” to the EXT-USBCPD4K-70M on its SERVICE port. The COL-HUD-42 uses the same TCP/IP API as the COL-HUD-21; confirm “help” on the unit. For a status report, the SW-4X2PS-70M takes “status” and the SW-5X1PS-70M takes “r status”. For the full command reference for any of these products, contact support@kanexpro.com.
How far can the HDBaseT output on the SW-4X2PS-70M and SW-5X1PS-70M run?
It runs 40 m at 4K60 4:4:4, or 70 m at 1080p and 4K30, over CAT6A F/FTP cable terminated T568B and wired straight through. The 70 m in the product names applies only at 1080p or 4K30. On a run longer than 40 m, set the output to 4K30 or 1080p. Avoid unshielded UTP cable and substandard patch panels, and confirm the link LED is lit on both the transmitter and the receiver. If the transmitter powers the receiver over the cable, confirm the cable supports PoE.
USB Peripheral Compatibility
- COL-HUD-21, COL-HUD-21D, COL-HUD-42: USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps), with 5V/1.5A power output on each of the three USB 3.2 device ports (two USB-A, one USB-C). Cameras, microphones and speakerphones that use the standard UVC and UAC classes switch with the active host and need no drivers. By default, USB follows the video source.
- SW-4X2PS-70M: USB 3.2 Gen 1 KVM that follows the active video source by default. For hotkey switching, connect the keyboard and mouse to the two front-panel USB 1.1 KVM ports, not the USB 3.2 device ports. USB extension to the HDBaseT receiver is USB 2.0.
- SW-5X1PS-70M: USB 2.0 KVM, not USB 3.2. Devices on the receiver reach a transmitter-side host at 350 Mbps.
- EXT-USBCPD4K-70M: four USB 2.0 device ports on the receiver (three USB-A, one USB-C) at 5V/1A per port. For the receiver’s USB ports to work, the USB-C source must carry USB 2.0 data. For video, it must support DP Alt Mode.
For USB-C video on any product with a USB-C input, the laptop port must support DisplayPort Alt Mode, because not every USB-C port carries video. Test any peripheral that needs its own driver before deployment.
