Operating instructions, X4 control application – Datapath x4 User Manual
Page 10

Operating Instructions
DVI Input
When the X4 is powered up successfully and the Power, Input and Status LED indicators are
illuminated; this indicates that a DVI input mode has been detected and is working normally.
If the Input LED indicator is not on, check to ensure a single or dual link DVI cable is correctly fitted to
the appropriate sockets.
At high resolution, DVI signals cannot normally be guaranteed beyond 5m cables due to the nature of
the signal losses inherent in the DVI cables and connectors. Datapath have added active equalization
hardware on the x4 which is able to compensate for these losses and support cable lengths of up to 20m
even at full dual-link resolutions (330Mhz pixel clocks). Lower resolutions will allow even longer cable
lengths.
This allows more flexible positioning of the x4 relative to the source and the displays.
Once the LED indicators are illuminated, the X4 will display the source across all four screens according
to the configuration that is stored in its non-volatile memory. The x4 is factory configured to display the
input image as a 2x2 split as shown in Fig.3.
Output
To connect to an analog output, a DVI-I-VGA cables are required. To connect to a DVI output, a DVI-D
cable is required.
Configuring the x4
The x4 has a USB port to allow a host PC to connect to the x4 box and for the user to program its
configuration. Once configured the x4 will run stand-alone without the need for the USB connection and
will auto detect input resolutions and adjust internal scaling to drive the output monitors
consistently.
Frame-lock
The Firmware running on the x4 will detect when input and/or output timings are set to identical frame
rates and will automatically frame-lock the syncs in these cases. In all frame-lock modes, the timings are
configured to share a common reference clock, so there will be no drift in synchronisation, and
therefore no requirement for continual adjustment that can sometimes upset LCD panels. The
frame-lock status is shown in the x4 Control Application.
16
x4 Control Application
Application Installation
Note: Do not plug the x4 into a USB port until the driver installation is complete.
Locate the Install folder on the Datapath CD supplied with the x4, run install.exe. and follow the
installation wizard. During installation a warning message is displayed stating that the driver does not
have Windows® Logo accreditation.
Select Continue Anyway to complete the installation.
The Datapath x4 can now be connected to a suitable USB 1.0 or 2.0 port using the cable supplied. At
this point the hardware will be detected by Windows® as a USB API, and a New Hardware wizard is
displayed. Allow the wizard to search, and click on the recommended option to enable the previously
installed driver to be associated with the new hardware.
Press Continue Anyway to accept the driver.
Running the x4 Control Application
To open the x4 Control application select Start/All Programs/Datapath x4.
The application will search for an x4 connected to your computer and display the status of the first x4
detected. Should there be more than one x4 in use, a list of all available x4’s can be found in the File
menu.
Once the application has detected an x4 the main status screen is displayed Fig.4.
17
Fig.4