Acroname offers different options for controlling the host-switching features of the USBHub3c USB-C Host-Switching Hub
The Acroname USBHub3c USB-C Host Switching Hub can be controlled via USB or RS-232 serial commands. The standard control is through a USB connection. The optional USBHub3c Serial Control Feature uses standard ASCII control protocols found in the most popular AV control systems. The Serial Control option comes with a terminal connection adapter that provides RX, TX and Ground wire connections.
Switch peripherals between five (5) host computers
The Acroname USBHub3c Host Switching Hub has 6 total USB Type-C ports. The AnyPort™ feature of the USBHub3c means that any of the 6 USB Type-C ports located on the front of the Acroname USBHub3c can be configured as an active upstream “host port”. This gives you the flexibility to set up the switching hub in multiple BYOD (bring your own device) conference room configurations.
You can also send serial commands to the hub to turn a port off and on. This action simulates the process of “unplugging” and “replugging” the USB device cable. Sometimes connected USB devices behave poorly and need to be cycled in order to get them working properly. Being able to turn a port off and on remotely or from a control panel eliminates the need for a person to physically unplug and replug the USB connection.
Below is an example of connecting 3 host laptop computers (upstream) and 1 AV camera/mic system (downstream) to the USBHub3c. In this configuration, you can switch which of the 3 laptop computers will access the AV camera/mic using standard USB software control or the optional RS-232 serial control feature.
With great flexibility comes great power.
Since AnyPort™ of the USBHub3c can be set as the active host connection, this means the USBHub3c can be used as a 5:1 host switch or a 1:5 hub or anything in between.
Instead of having only a single presenter’s laptop computer physically connected with a single cable, all three presenters can be connected to the USBHub3c simultaneously, with one presenter actively accessing the three attached peripherals. No more unplugging and reconnecting cables, sharing cables, rebooting, etc.
Even better, if you are using the USBHub3c-Pro model, any laptop connected to a port on the USBHub3c-Pro can be charged with USB-C Power Delivery (PD) fast-charging at the same time.
Control as you see fit. Or not.
A room controller can send simple commands over RS-232 to the USBHub3c to switch the “active” host from one presenter laptop to another. For spaces without an AV room controller, the USBHub3c can be configured to use Port priority/Auto-switch mode.
Making RS-232 connection to the USBHub3c Host Switching Hub.
The USBHub3c Serial Interface option includes a screw-terminal adapter board for the RS-232 interface.
Connect the RS-232 terminal adapter to the USBHub3c, then wire your RS-232 port to the screw-terminals of the adapter on the USBHub3c.
USBHub3c uses a null connection, so the TX line on USBHub3c is transmitting, the RX line on USBHub3c is receiving. Your connection should be:
TX <--> RX
RX <--> TX
Set the baud rate of your RS-232 port to 9600 baud, and your serial port should be set for data bits, parity, and stop bit config as: 8N1 respectively.
Then you can send simple ASCII commands to the USBHub3c which will switch the host port to the port you need by using #!, where # is the port number that you would like to be the selected/active host connection.
The RS-232 interface has priority over other control mechanisms, so the host port assignment will not change unless software commands are specifically sent to do so via the USB control interface.
Example RS-232 serial commands to switch host ports:
To switch to port 0 send:
0!
the response will be
Chn 0\r\n
Generalized, to switch to port n, send “n!” where n is a number between 0 and 5. The system will respond with “Chn n\r\n” where n is the requested port. If the system responds “E01” the port number was invalid. Error “E10" means the command was invalid. For more details and commands, see the reference documentation.
Note that the baudrate is 9600, with 8 data bits, no parity, and 1 stop bit (8N1). This can be configured via HubTool or the API.
For more information Acroname USB Host Switching Hubs or the RS-232 Serial Control Feature please contact Acroname at sales@acroname.com
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