The DEVICES window is where the input, hardware devices and outputs are linked to complete the design of the video wall; this is done by allocating inputs to devices and the outputs from the devices to specific outputs on the video wall.
The representation displayed in the window represents what is shown on each output of the device. If the Output Resolution has been set differently to the Fixture Resolution when following LED Sender flow, borders will be displayed in the devices tab but not in the input tab. This is because representation has not yet been processed by the LED Sender.
Auto-config
For ease of use the Auto-config functions will, when clicked, automatically add devices and configure all the links from the inputs to the outputs via the device in the most logical configuration. If your device is an Fx4 click on the Auto-config Fx4 button. If you are using an x4* click on the Auto-config x4*. However if you want to configure everything manually then follow the steps listed in Add Device.
Apply Settings
Once all the links from the inputs to the outputs have been made and the virtual devices have been associated with the physical devices, selecting Apply Settings will pass all the required data to the physical devices.
Add Device
Right click on the main window in the location where you want to place the device and from the context menu select the desired device type. Each device will have a number of inputs and outputs indicated by the small grey boxes. The small grey boxes on top of the device indicate an input and those on the bottom indicate outputs.
Devices, inputs and outputs can be moved on the screen by clicking and dragging. This does not affect the configuration of the devices in any way but can be useful to avoid crossing connections. You may check the Auto arrange layout checkbox if you wish to automatically move devices, inputs and outputs around as you make/remove connections.
Each virtual device can be associated with an actual physical device by highlighting the device, right clicking and selecting Associate Device from the menu. The Fx4 can be associated by inputting the IP address. To input the IP address, select Add Device.. from the Associate Device menu and an IP input dialogue is displayed.
Click on the device to display the Device Properties, the device will also be highlighted green. The Device Properties can be changed if required for example; the user may wish to allocate a different Friendly Name, this can be done by clicking in the edit box and typing a new name. Note that the changes will not take effect until they have been applied to the device.
If the device selected is the Fx4 the Selected Input field becomes available to edit. Use the dropdown list to select the required input; HDMI 1, HDMI 2 or DisplayPort. The Temperature field also becomes active and will report the current operating temperature of the Fx4.
If more than one input is being used then each input will have a different coloured border to help distinguish them from each other.
To allocate an input to a particular device simply click on the input and drag the link to the required device, the link will be made between the small grey nodes. If an error is made and the user wishes to remove the link then click the input and drag the link a short distance away from the input and the link is unplugged. This unplugging method can be used throughout the DEVICES window for inputs and outputs.
The outputs can be connected to specific outputs by clicking on a device output node and dragging the link to an output.
Once the configuration is complete, right click on the device and select Apply Device Settings or click the Apply Settings button on the left to apply settings to all devices.
If large video walls are required (over four outputs) to display a single input then a dL8* distribution amplifier is required. Each dL8* can output a single signal into a maximum of eight x4* device.
To create such configurations you may connect the outputs of the dL8* devices to the inputs of the x4* devices. It is possible to chain as many x4* and/or dL8* devices together to meet the requirements of your video wall.
When using the Fx4 the Out Loop connector is used to connect two or more devices enabling large video walls to be created.
Using a DisplayPort cable (not supplied) connect the Out Loop from the first Fx4 to the DisplayPort input on the second Fx4 and so on until all the required devices are connected. The input signal will be gen-locked through all the connected Fx4 in the chain.
DVI-D Boost
Use the slider to compensate for the loss of signal quality due to DVI input cable lengths over 5m. The equalization hardware can compensate for cables up to 20m in length. To boost the equalization hardware move the slider from left to right.
Output Scaling
If the input contains text, select Optimise for text for better readability.
No Signal
If you want the outputs to switch off when there is no input signal then select Disable outputs otherwise the outputs will stay on.
Physical Layout
The Physical Layout displays a representation of the wall design as it appears on the Outputs and Inputs tabs.
Advanced Timings
The Advanced Timings can be used to configure the timings of inputs and outputs by clicking on them. This feature is for advanced users who wish to customise the timings.
The Advanced Timings support standard timing formulae such as:
Selecting Current Input Mode from the dropdown list will show the timings of the input source currently plugged into the device. Changing the input timings, by using a standard timing formula or using custom values, will configure the device's EDID to advertise its preferred mode. This however does not guarantee that the input source will respect the preferred mode.
Once applied, and if using a PC as input it may be necessary to force the graphics device in the host machine to detect new modes; this can be done by selecting Detect on the Screen Resolutions dialogue box (Windows®7) or by disconnecting the input from the device and reconnecting.
If all the display screens turn red, this indicates that there is an issue with HDCP compliance. Check both the input source and the outputs are HDCP compliant. If neither are HDCP compliant it is possible to stop the Fx4 from automatically negotiating an HDCP link by disabling HDCP. To disable HDCP, click on the input and uncheck the HDCP enabled box in the Advanced Timings .
When using longer DisplayPort cables a Max Link Rate can be selected for the input using the Max Link Rate dropdown list. For more information on link rates and cable lengths see the Fx4 User Guide.
Selecting Output's preferred mode for the output timings will show the preferred timings of the output. These can be overridden with a standard timing formula or completely custom values if desired.
To minimise dot clocks and hence maximise DVI cable lengths (x4*), the CVT Reduced Blanking mode is recommended.
To select a preferred Genlock click on the output in the Devices Tab and use the Genlock dropdown list to select either Input or Sync.
Network Settings
The Network Settings become active once you have successfully connected an Fx4 via a network. The Fx4 allows you to switch between Dynamic (DHCP) and Static IP's. Out of the box, the Fx4 is configured to accept DHCP. When DHCP is selected the network will assign the Fx4 with an IP address, this IP address can change depending on how your network allocates IP addresses. To disable DHCP in favour of Static IP, uncheck the DHCP enabled checkbox. If the Fx4 is assigned a Static IP address it will keep that address until changed by the user.
The IP Address, Subnet Mask and Gateway fields are not available to edit if DHCP is enabled and the display settings are assigned via a DHCP server. In Static IP mode all three can be manually configured.
Password
Any Fx4 connected to a network can be given restricted access by securing it with a password (recommended). Enter your password in the password edit box. The password will be saved when the network settings are applied.
Upload Logo
If an input source is connected to the Fx4 but the actual signal fails, the Fx4 will try to connect to a valid signal by scanning the input connectors in the following order:
1. DisplayPort
2. HDMI 1
3. HDMI 2
If no signal is detected on either of the 3 connectors the Fx4 will display a pre-configured logo. To upload your preferred logo (max 4k), click on the Upload Logo button and browse to upload your logo. Note: It can take up to 10 minutes to complete the upload.
EDID
The input EDIDs of the Fx4-HDR, Fx4, Fx4-SDI and Hx4 will be programmed when applying settings.
A custom EDID can be created or imported by right-clicking on an input of an associated Fx4-HDR, Fx4, Fx4-SDI or Hx4 that supports EDIDs.
The EDID options are as follows:
* x4 and dL8 are only supported by Windows® operating systems.