Chapter

AC3000A-R2–AC3016A-R2
Series

HD View™ Quick Start Guide

Combines video, audio, and serial functions

for distributing real-time multimedia content
BLACK BOX
®

from a player to multiple screens up to 2000

feet (600 m) away.

This manual includes information for these product codes:

AC3000A-R2, AC3008A-R2, AC3016A-R2, AC3003A-R2,
and AC3004A-R2.

Customer Order toll-free in the U.S.: Call 877-877-BBOX (outside

Support U.S. call 724-746-5500) FREE technical support 24
Information
hours a day, 7 days a week: Call 724-746-5500 or fax
724-746-0746 Mailing address: Black Box Corporation,
1000 Park Drive, Lawrence, PA 15055-1018 Web site:
www.blackbox.com • E-mail: info@blackbox.com
Trademarks Used in this Manual

Trademarks Used in this Manual

Black Box and the Double Diamond logo are registered
trademarks, and HD View is a trademark, of BB Technologies,
Inc.
Any other trademarks mentioned in this manual are
acknowledged to be the property of the trademark owners.

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 Table of Contents
Chapter Page
1. System Overview............................................................. 4
1.1 Transmitter............................................................ 5
1.2 Receivers................................................................ 6
1.3 LEDs ................................................................... 8
1.4 Pre-Installation Guidelines.................................... 9
2. Connecting the Cables.................................................. 10
2.1 Transmitter Connections..................................... 10
2.2 Receiver/Receiver LR Connections...................... 10
3. Connecting CATx Cables............................................... 12
3.1 Connecting the Transmitter................................ 12
3.2 Connecting to the Power Supply........................ 12
3.3 Adjusting the Picture Quality.............................. 12
3.4 Note on Serial Extension..................................... 12
4. Updates on Revision 3................................................... 13
4.1 Changes that Apply to All the Items Listed
in Table 4-1.......................................................... 13
4.2 Changes that Apply to Individual Items
Listed in Table 4-1............................................... 14

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Chapter 1: System Overview
1. System Overview

Figure 1-1 provides an overview of the system, showing a

Transmitter and different Receiver types.

Serial ext. cable HD View

Transmitter

Player Audio cable CATx cables to

computer receivers
Video cable
CATx cable
to receiver Receiver

Screen

Audio Serial port/

device
Figure 1-1. HD View system overview.
NOTE: The transmitters have a local VGA output that can feed
another transmitter.

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 Chapter 1: System Overview

1.1 Transmitter
Three Transmitter models are available:
• 1-Port Transmitter (part number AC3000A-R2)
• 8-Port Transmitter (part number AC3008A-R2)
• 16-Port Transmitter (part number AC3016A-R2)

Figures 1-2 and 1-3 illustrate the 8-Port Transmitter. The ports
are the same for the Transmitter 1-port, 8-port, and 16-port
models, except for the number of system ports. The
AC3000A-R2 has one system port, the AC3008A-R2 has eight
System ports, and the AC3016A-R2 has sixteen system ports.
Table 1-1 describes the transmitter’s components.

Figure 1-2. Transmitter Unit—8-port, front view.

7 8

2 3 4 5 6
Figure 1-3. Transmitter Unit—8-port, back view.

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Chapter 1: System Overview

Table 1-1. Transmitter Unit—8-port components.

Number Component Description

1 Power LED Lights when power is on

2 Power connector Links to 12-VDC power

Connects to serial
3 RJ-11 connector
download cable

Links to stereo audio

4 Audio
input

5 HD15 connector Links to video in

6 RJ-45 connectors Link to system cables

7 DB9 connector Connects to serial cable

Connects to local video

8 HD15 connector
out

1.2 HD View Receivers

The HD View Receivers come in the following models:
• HD View Receiver (part number AC3003A-R2 or AC3003A-
NEC). It can be up to 330 ft. (100 m) from the Transmitter.
• HD View Receiver—LR (part number AC3004A-R2 or
AC3004A-NEC). It can be up to 1000 ft. (300 m) from the
Transmitter.
Figure 1-4 illustrates the Receiver ports. Table 1-2 describes their
components.

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 Chapter 1: System Overview

1 2 3 4 5 6
Figure 1-4. AC3003A-R2 back view.

Table 1-2. AC3003A-R2 receiver components.

Number Component Description

1 Power connector Links to 12-VDC power

2 RJ-11 connector Tuning

3 RJ-45 connector Links to system cable

Links to video cable

4 HD15 connector
output

Links to mono audio

5 Audio connector
output

6 DB9 connector Links to serial cable

NOTE: In Version 3, both products have the same ports. Refer to
the part number to be sure that a receiver is a Standard
Receiver (AC3003A-R2) or LR Receiver (AC3004A-R2).

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Chapter 1: System Overview
1.4 LEDs
Table 1-4 explains the functions of all the LEDs of the units in the
system.

Table 1-4. LED functions.

Unit LED Function

Lights green when power
is on
Transmitter Front panel—Green
Lights yellow when a link
is established

Unit LED Function

Lights green when power

is on.
Lights yellow when a link
is established. This LED will
blink yellow intermittently.
Receiver, RJ-45 system port—
Receiver LR Green/Yellow Blinks yellow constantly to
indicate bidirectional
RS-232 communication.
(This is only possible with
one Receiver/Receiver LR
at a time.)

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 Chapter 1: System Overview

1.5 Pre-Installation Guidelines

• Place cables away from fluorescent lights, air conditioners, and
machines that are likely to generate electrical noise.
• Do not bend the cable in a way that it can be damaged.
• While using tie wraps to hold the cables in place, make sure
not to pull them too tight, because this can damage the cable.
• For best performance, the specifications of the cable should be:
- Gage: 24 AWG (should be written on the cable)
- Wire: solid wire (should be written in the spec. of the cable)
- For cable runs over 330 feet (100 m), the SKEW delay of the
cable should be no more than 20 ns per 330 feet (100 m) (this
should be written in the spec of the cable).

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Chapter 2: Connecting CATx Cable

2. Connecting the Cables

The figures below illustrate the versatility of the HD View system.
Figure 2-1 shows a basic installation with a Receiver and
Receiver—LR. Receivers can be up to 328 feet (100 m) away
from the Transmitter. The Receiver—LR can be up to 1000 feet
(300 m) away from the Transmitter.
NEC display with expansion Receiver
(AC3003A-R2)
and AC3003A-NEC
330 ft. (100 m)

330 ft. (100 m)

PC
1000 ft. (304.8 m)
Transmitter Receiver—LR
CATx cable
(AC3008A-R2) (AC3004A-R2)

Figure 2-1. HD View basic installation.

2.1 Transmitter Connections
1. Connect the video cable to the transmitter’s Video In port and
the computer’s Video card.
2. Connect the serial extender cable to the transmitter’s Serial In
port and the computer’s Serial port.
3. Connect the stereo audio cable to the transmitter’s Audio In
port and the computer’s Line Out port.
4. To use the video service utility, connect the serial download
cable to the transmitter’s Control port and the computer’s
Serial port.
5. (Optional) Connect a monitor to the transmitter’s Video Out
port.
2.2 Receiver/Receiver LR Connections
1. Connect the screen to the Video port.

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 Chapter 2: Connecting CATx Cable
2. Connect the audio/speakers to the Audio port.
NOTE: If you are connecting the audio out of the receivers to
speakers, they must have an internal amplifier. The audio
out is a line out extension of the player.
3. Where relevant, attach the Serial connection to the Serial
port.

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Chapter 3: Connecting CATx Cables
3. Connecting CATx cables
3.1 Connecting the Transmitter
Connect CATx cables to the System ports of the Transmitter and
the System In ports of Receivers/Receivers—LR.
3.2 Connecting to the Power Supply
Connect the Transmitter and all Receivers and Receivers—LR
units to the power supply using the included AC/DC adapters.
Once the system is connected, the HD View system broadcasts
to all remote monitors/speakers.
3.3 Adjusting the Picture Quality
When the broadcasted picture needs adjusting:
The Receiver (version 3)/Receiver LR can be tuned via the Service
Utility.
Link to the HD View Service Utility:
http://www.blackbox.com
NOTE: Where there are cascaded Receivers/Receivers—LR, you
must tune them from the unit nearest the transmitter
onwards.
3.5 Note on Serial Extension
The serial connection requires two cables: from player to a
transmitter, use straight-through serial cable; from receiver to
screen use crossover cable.

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 Chapter 4: Updates on Revision 3

4. Updates on Revision 3
HD View has been upgraded to Revision 3. There are some
major changes in this new revision; however, it is fully backward
compatible, that is, new Rev3 elements can be installed in a
system that includes older revisions.
Table 4-1 lists the products that were upgraded to Rev3.

Table 4-1. Products upgraded to Rev3.

Unit LED

AC3004A-R2 LR Receiver

AC3008A-R2 8-Port Transmitter

AC3016A-R2 16-Port Transmitter

AC3000A-R2 1-Port Transmitter

AC3003A-R2 Standard Receiver

4.1 Changes that Apply to All the Items Listed in

Table 4-1
1. The new power supply is 12-VDC, standard polarity. The
power jack is different compared to older versions, so you
can’t connect a new power supply to old version of the
transmitter or receiver, and vice versa.
2. Units are highly immune to EMI/RFI.
3. Units are highly immune to spikes/peaks from the power
source.
4. Aluminum enclosure ensures heat dissipation and lighter
weight.

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Chapter 4: Updates on Revision 3

4.2 Changes that Apply to Individual Items

Listed in Table 4-2
Table 4-2. Changes per item.

Unit LED

New All connectors are on one

AC3004A-R2
enclosure panel.

One stereo audio

AC3004A-R2 Audio output
output.

AC3008A-R2, New
1U, 1⁄3 shelf size
AC3016A-R2 enclosure

AC3008A-R2, Omits local Does not have a local

AC3016A-R2 RS-232 port. RS-232 port.

AC3008A-R2, Omits local Does not have a local

AC3016A-R2 Audio port. Audio port.

New
AC3000A-R2 1U, 1⁄3 shelf size
enclosure

Omits local Does not have a local

AC3000A-R2
RS-232 port. RS-232 port.

Omits local Does not have a local

AC3000A-R2
Audio port. Audio port.

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 Chapter 4: Updates on Revision 3

Table 4-2 (Continued). Changes per item.

Unit LED

New All connectors are on

AC3003A-R2
enclosure one panel.

Has one stereo audio

AC3003A-R2 Audio output
output.

SKEW, Equalization, and

Supports full Luminance can be set
AC3003A-R2
tuning. either by utility or a
video tuning unit.

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Chapter
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AC3000A-R2 Quick Start Guide, version 3

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