Extron Electronics System 4xi Series User Manual

Page 39

Extron • System 4

Switcher Series • User’s Manual

Chapter 4 • Connecting Multiple Switchers

Controlling Master/Slave Switchers

When a host system is controlling a System 4

with a switcher as a slave, a

special 9-pin T-Connector cable, called a “System 4

Slave Adapter” is

necessary. Pictured below, in Figure 4-1, the connector marked “Slave” is a 9-
pin male connector designed to work with the switchers described in this section.

Communications between the System 4

(master) and the slave is done through

a second port on the same connector. The adapter puts this second set of
signals on the “normal” transmit/receive lines (pins 2 and 3) on the slave
connector. Because Host devices tend to use pins 4 and 8 for CTS and DTR
signaling, those pins must be disabled.

_________ Referred to as Rx2 and Tx2, on pins 4 and 8, these pins* must not be used for

other signals in the Host System. It may be necessary to disconnect pins 4 and 8
at the Host side.

The J1 connector connects to the J2 connector which connects to the J3
connector.

J1 Pins (System 4

)

J2 Pins (Host)

J3 Pins (Slave Switcher)

1 - n/c

2 - Tx

2 - Rx

2 - Tx2 (slave to host)

3 - Rx

3 - Tx

3 - Rx2 (host to slave)

4 - Tx2

4 - *Tx2

4 - n/c

5 - Gnd

6 - n/c

7 - n/c

8 - Rx2

8 - *Rx2

8 - n/c

9 - n/c

Extron makes this cable (Extron part # 26-386-01), however, if you choose to
make your own, the pin requirements are specified in the above table.

The System 4

Slave Adapter is shown in the appropriate application diagrams

that follow.

Figure 4-1. System 4

Slave Adapter

Slave Switcher

4-2