Specifications

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ACS253A-CT
Appendix F: Audio/Serial Upgrade
Appendix F: Audio/Serial Upgrade
The Audio/Serial Upgrade option consists of daughterboards that allow bidirectional stereo audio and a full-duplex serial data link
to be sent across the regular interconnection cable in addition to keyboard, mouse and VGA/DVI video.
To set up the extender’s audio and serial link, please follow all the instructions detailed in this appendix. If you have any questions,
contact Black Box Technical Support at 724-746-5500 or [e-mail].
Serial Interface—Setup and Operation
No setting up or user adjustments are required.
NOTE: The remote unit’s serial port is wired as DTE (that is, the same as that on a PC). To connect a serial printer (or other DTE
rather than DCE device) to the remote unit, you will need a null-modem (crossover) cable between the remote unit and the
printer.
A serial touchscreen may be plugged directly into the remote unit.
Serial Interface—Handling Multiple Serial Devices
The extender’s serial interface transmits/receives six signals (3 signals in each direction). Normally four of these signals are used for
hardware handshaking (in addition to TX and RX). However, because each handshaking line can support signals up to 19,200
baud, it is possible to configure the serial interface to handle up to three simple 2-wire (Tx/Rx only) serial links. Select X-ON/X-OFF
software flow control on the remote device and PC.
To do this, you will need to construct a custom breakout cable. Contact Technical Support at 724-746-5500 or info@blackbox.
com for further information.
Audio Interface—Setup and Operation
The audio interface is line level and is designed to take the output from a sound card (or other line-level source) and be connected
to a set of powered speakers at the other end of the link. Stereo audio may be transmitted either way across the link
(simultaneously). No set up is required unless a microphone is connected to the remote unit.
Connect the extender as follows:
Take the line-level output from your sound card (green connector) and connect to line in on the extender.
A set of powered speakers may be connected directly to line out at the opposite end of the link.
Audio Interface—Using a Microphone
A microphone may be plugged into the line In connector on the Remote Unit.
There are two ways of setting up a microphone:
• The local unit’s Line Out connection should normally be wired to the microphone input (Red) on your sound card. The sound
card should then be set up to provide additional amplification (+20 dB). This is the preferred connection method.
• Alternatively, the remote unit itself can provide microphone amplification. To set this, open up the remote unit and locate the
jumper labeled MIC on the daughterboard. Connect this jumper across the pins. The local unit’s Line Out connection should
then be wired to Line In (Blue) on your sound card.
If your microphone is already amplified, follow the second method but DO NOT install the amplification jumper in the remote
unit.