HDMI and USB over IP Distribution Kit - 1080p

To create a video wall with ST12MHDLANU, do the following:

• Obtain the StarTech.com Video Switching & Wall Control app from the Google Play™ store or the App Store.
• Use multiple receivers (for example, ST12MHDLANUR) in conjunction with multiple transmitters to create the video wall.
• Use a wireless network infrastructure (for example, a wireless access point) in conjunction with a managed switch.
• Make sure that your mobile device is connected to the same network as the ST12MHDLANU.

Note: The video wall cannot be created with switches that are not managed. For more information about why a managed switch is required, visit http://www.startech.com/faq/video_extenders_st12mhdlan_video_wall_network_requirements. A layer two managed Gigabit Ethernet switch () is recommended for use in video wall setups.

The following example describes how to create a 2 x 2 video wall that uses two video inputs. The information contained in the example can be applied to setups with multiple switches, receivers, and transmitters.

Hardware

The following is a list of the hardware components used in the example setup:

• Two of the .
• Two of the .
• One of the .
• CAT 5e (or greater) Ethernet cables.
• HDMI^® cables.
• Four HDMI displays.
• Two HDMI sources (for example, computers).
• A computer that is connected by wired Ethernet.
• A mobile device that is running Android™ or iOS^®, and has the StarTech.com Video Switching & Wall Control app installed on it.

Configure the hardware

1. Use the Ethernet cables to connect the transmitters and receivers to the IES101002SPF.
2. Connect the IES101002SPF to the rest of the network.
3. Use the HDMI cables to connect the receivers to the displays.
4. Use the HDMI cables to connect the HDMI sources to the transmitters.
5. Set the thumbwheel to A on one transmitter.
6. Set the thumbwheel to A on all of the receivers.
7. Set the thumbwheel to B on the remaining transmitter.

When all of the units are powered on and the HDMI sources are transmitting video, there should be mirrored images from source A displayed on the monitors.

Configure the switch

Note: The following instructions are based on the default configuration for the IES101002SFP switch.

To access the configuration settings for the switch, complete the following:

1. Use an Ethernet cable to connect a computer to one of the ports.
2. Make sure that your computer's network adapter is on the same network as the network switch (by default, 192.168.2.XXX). For more information on how to change your IP address, refer to the following FAQ: https://www.startech.com/support/faqs/technical-support?topic=networking#ip-address-change-windows-mac-os.

To configure the IGMP on the switch, complete the following:

1. Use your web browser to navigate to 192.168.2.1. The default login is Username = admin, Password = [blank].
2. To access the IGMP Snooping Configuration screen, click Configuration > IPMC > IGMP Snooping > Basic Configuration.
3. In the Global Configuration settings, do the following:

• Select the Snooping Enabled check box.
• Select the Unregistered IPMCv4 Flooding Enabled check box.
• In the IGMP SSM Range field, type 232.0.0.0 /8.
• Select the Leave Proxy Enabled check box.
• Select the Proxy Enabled check box.

4. In the Port Related Configuration settings, do the following:

• Clear the Router Port check box.
• Select the Fast Leave check box.
• Set Throttling to Unlimited.

5. Click Save.
6. In IGMP Snooping, click VLAN Configuration.
7. Click Add New IGMP VLAN.
8. In the VLAN settings, do the following:

• Set the VLAN ID settings to 1.
• Select the Snooping Enabled check box.
• Select the IGMP Querier check box.
• Set the Compatibility to IGMP-Auto.
• Set the RV to 2.
• Set the QI (sec) to 125.
• Set the QRI (0.1 sec) to 100.
• Set the LLQI (0.1 sec) to 10.
• Set the URI (sec) to 1.

9. Click Save.

Connect your Android device to the network

To connect to the network for the ST12MHDLANU, you need to connect your mobile device to the 169.254.XXX.XXX network. Depending on the version of the Android operating system that you are running, you many need to manually create a wireless network with a static IP address or assign an IP address for an existing wireless connection.

To connect to the ST12MHDLANU network on a device running Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop) or Cyanogen 12.0, do the following:

1. Make sure that the StarTech.com Video Switching & Wall Control app is installed on your device.
2. Click Settings > WiFi.
3. If you are or were connected to the wireless access point that you want to connect to, select that network and click Forget.
4. Select the wireless network, and if required, enter your password. 
5. Click Advanced Options.
6. Change the IP Settings to Static, and enter the following information:

• In the IP Address field, enter 169.254.XXX.XXX where XXX is a number between 2-254.
• Set the Gateway to default.
• Set the Network prefix length to 16.
• Set the Other settings to default.

Connect your iOS device to the network

1. Click Settings > WiFi.
2. Select the wireless network, and if required, enter your password. 
3. Click the blue arrow or i next to the network.
4. Click the Static tab.
5. Change the IP Settings to Static, and enter the following information:

• In the IP Address field, enter 169.254.XXX.XXX where XXX is a number between 2-254.
• Set the Subnet Mask to 255.255.0.0.
• Set the Router to blank or your default gateway.
• ​Set the DNS to 8.8.8.8.

Configure the video wall

You should now be able to detect two transmitters and four receivers in the Android application. The inputs can be routed and divided between the receivers and the positioning can be changed to achieve the necessary video wall configuration.

You can disconnect the mobile device from the setup and the setup will retain the configuration as long as the video inputs remain turned on.

To get the highest quality signal from your source to your display when you use an HDMI extender, do the following:

• Make sure that the HDMI versions of the source, extender, and destination are compatible. For example, if you require 3D support, make sure that all of the devices can support 3D over HDMI.

• Use the least amount of adapters, splitters, or converters as possible. Each device that you use in your setup creates additional points of potential failure and creates more steps for an HDCP key to hop through, which may cause issues with older displays. For more information on HDCP, refer to the following FAQ: http://www.startech.com/faq/video_signal_converters_HDCP.

• Use an HDMI extender that exceeds the requirements of the setup. For example, if you need to extend the signal 200 feet, it is best to use an extender capable of more than 200 feet.

• Make sure that all of the CAT 5/6 runs are as straight as possible, with the least amount of coiling.

• Make sure that all of the patches, wall jacks, and cables use the highest possible CAT specification, (for example, CAT 6), and were tested to conform to the standard.

• Use patches, wall jacks, and cables with the same pin configuration. For more information on T568A versus T568B wiring, refer to the following FAQ: http://www.startech.com/faq/network_cables_a_vs_b_pinout.

• Keep the cabling away from sources of high noise.

• Make sure that you use adequate electrical grounding in your setup.

1. The power adapter may not be connected at the correct unit or may not be connected at all.  Please check your product manual to see where your power adapter has to be positioned.
2. An adapter to another video signal may be connected to the Transmitter or Receiver unit.  Please avoid any converters for the initial setup.
3. The Cat 5 or 6 cable coming from the transmitter or receiver unit may be connected to a network switch.  Some of our video extenders will work in this configuration, but others will not. Please check your product manual to see if your model can be used connected to an IP network. For the initial setup, avoid connecting the Cat 5 or 6 cables to any network switch, hub, or router.
4. The category of Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) cables may not meet StarTech.com’s requirements. Ensure at least Cat 5, 5e, or six cables are used, and they have eight wires. Some Cat 5 cables only have four wires. If using Cat 6 cables, be aware they have more twists per foot, so you may have to use shorter cable lengths if using Cat 6 cabling between your video extenders.
5. Bundling up the UTP cabling connected to the extenders can cause crosstalk, which will prevent the video signal from showing on the display.  Unwrapping the cable should resolve this issue.

1. Please check to see if your model has an adjustable Gain dial on the remote unit.
2. If it does, use it to adjust the color until it is acceptable.
3. Replace the VGA cable with a higher quality cable like StarTech.com’s MXT101MMHQ.

When you troubleshoot issues with a video extender, there are some quick tests that you can complete to rule out potential problems. You can test to make sure that the following components are working correctly and are not the source of the issue:

• Video and Ethernet cables

• Video extender

• Video source (such as a DVD player or computer)

• Video destination (such as a monitor or projector)

Note: When you are testing setup components, you should avoid using video adapters. For example, if you are converting a VGA source to HDMI for use with an HDMI extender, you should use an HDMI source when you test the components.

To test your setup components, try the following:

• Use the cable, video extender, video source, and video destination in another setup to see if the problem is with the components or the setup.

• Use a different cable, video extender, video source, and video destination in your setup to see if the problem persists. Ideally, you should test a component that you know works in another setup.

When you test your cables, it is recommended that you do the following:

• Test each cable individually.

• Use short cables when you are testing.

When you test the video source and video destination, it is recommended that you do the following:

• Remove the video extender from your setup and test to make sure that the video source and video destination work together without the video extender.

• Test to make sure that the video source and video destination work together at the resolution that you want to use.

Note: In order for your setup to work properly, the video source, extender, and destination all need to support the resolution that you are using.

The ST12MHDLAN app is available for iOS, Android, and Google Chrome.  To download and install the app navigate to the StarTech.com website.  You will find a download link for each platform on the ST12MHDLAN product page under the Overview tab. The device on which you install the application will be referred to as the control device.

The control device must be on the same network as your ST12MHDLAN transmitters and receivers. The transmitters and receivers have a default IP address in the range of 169.254.x.x with a subnet mask of 255.255.0.0. If you need to change the IP address to fit your network infrastructure, make sure you keep all devices on the same network.  For example, you can change your transmitter to 192.168.1.100 and your receiver to 192.168.1.101.  There are links in the description to assist you in changing your control device's IP address.

The app will automatically discover any transmitters and receivers that are on the same network as the control device.  These devices will be shown in the Devices tab.

You can manually force the control device to search for any transmitters and receivers by pressing the Refresh button in the Devices tab.

You can access the Menu from any tab within the app.

The menu includes a helpful guide to the app as well as the ability to search a specific IP address for a transmitter or receiver.  The Menu also allows you to turn on Demo Mode which populates the app with virtual devices, allowing you to test configurations as if actual devices were connected.

The Menu also includes Device Administration which you can use to reboot all of your connected devices or reset the connected devices to factory defaults.

On the Devices tab you can adjust the individual settings for each transmitter and receiver.  Simply tap on a device’s name to load that device’s settings.  On the Settings page you can change the name of the device, the IP address and subnet, view error history, and other advanced settings.

The second tab of the ST12MHDLAN app is the Switches tab.  This tab allows you to define which video source is being sent to each video receiver.  You can change the video source quickly and easily by selecting a different source in this tab.

The final tab in the ST12MHDLAN app is titled Walls and allows you to customize your video walls and digital signage.

To create a new video wall, complete the following:

1. Tap the + icon.
2. Under Wall Name enter a name.
3. Assign the video wall a number of rows and columns.
4. Tap Next.
5. Assign a receiver to each of the displays in your video wall.  You can tap on a display to change the receiver assigned to that display.
6. (Optional) Correct for the bezel compensation.

a)Tap Bezel Compensation.

b)Measure your display with and without the bezel, and enter the measurements as indicated in the diagram above.

7. Tap Save.

As you add more video walls to the Walls tab you can easily modify or delete them by tapping on each entry.

You can manage your video wall in one of two ways:

• On the Walls tab, tap a video source to select it for a video wall.
• On the Switches tab, tap a video source to select it for each display.

If at this point you have questions about the ST12MHDLAN review the other videos in this series.  If you would like to learn more about video extenders in general review our video series on that subject. 

To calculate the amount of bandwidth that this devices uses in Mbps at the maximum resolution of 1920x1080 @60Hz, add the number of transmitters to the number of receivers, and multiply the result by 45.

1. Tap the Settings app.
2. Tap Wi-Fi.
3. Touch and hold the network that you want to set the IP address for.
4. Tap Manage network settings.

Note: Depending on the type of smartphone you are using and the version of the Android OS you are running, the text you see in step 4 might differ from Manage network settings.

5. Select the Show advanced options check box.
6. Under IP settings, tap the drop-down box.
7. Tap Static.
8. Enter the new IP address.
9. If necessary, repeat step 8 for the gateway.
10. Tap Save.

To change your IP address so that you can access a specific device, complete steps 1 to 6, then tap DHCP to access the Internet again. 

1. Open Google Chrome.
2. Click the Menu button.  This button is indicated by three horizontal lines or three dots stacked on top of each other.
3. Click Settings.
4. Under Internet connection click twice on the network you want to set the IP address for.
5. Click the Network tab.
6. Uncheck the Configure automatically checkbox.
7. Under IP address: enter the new IP address.
8. If necessary, repeat step 7 for the Subnet mask and the Gateway.
9. Click Close.

1. Click the Settings icon.
2. Click Wi-Fi.
3. Next to the name of the Wi-Fi network that you want to set the IP address for, click the blue i.
4. Click the Static tab.
5. In the IP Address field, enter the new static IP address.
6. If necessary, repeat steps 4 and 5 for the Subnet Mask and Router fields.
7. To save the changes, click the Wi-Fi networks icon.

Note: If you are changing your IP address to access a specific device, repeat steps 1 to 3, and then click the DHCP tab to access the Internet again.

You should only use video converters and extenders if it is absolutely necessary to do so. In many cases, most video converters and extenders are not necessary if you purchase the correct cable.

The following table lists the maximum length of cable for common video standards.

Note: StarTech.com offers cables longer than what is listed above, including active cables, which typically include built-in active signal boosters that allow for longer cables. Active cables are specifically designed to exceed the suggested maximum lengths and are tested at the listed specifications (for example, the maximum listed resolution).

Video adapters

Video adapters passively adapt a cable from one connector type to another. Video adapters do not change the signal type, or change the video standard.

Examples of common applications for adapters include the following:

• DVI-I to VGA

• RCA to BNC

• Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort

• Couplers (female to female, or male to male)

Note: You can use a coupler to extend a cable for a short distance. However, each coupler that you use can introduce signal loss, which degrades the signal quality.

Video converters

Video converters actively process and change the signal type from one video standard and convert it to another standard. They are typically used to convert digital to analog and vice versa, but can be used to convert a digital signal to another digital video standard (for example, HDMI to DisplayPort).

Video converters work over short distances from the source to the destination: up to 15 feet or 3 meters.

Video extenders

Video extenders convert an input signal to a higher voltage for transmission over longer distances and then convert the input signal back to the original video standard. The input and the output signal will match on a video extender, as the same video standard is maintained end-to-end. If a cable is extended with adapters or converters, the signal quality degrades.

Note: For more information on using a video adapter or converter with a video extender, see the following FAQ: http://www.startech.com/faq/video_signal_converters_convert_then_extend.

If you need to use a video extender with a video adapter or converter, you should position the adapter or converter as close to the video source as possible. For example, if you need to take a VGA signal from a computer and send it 200 feet to an HDMI® projector, you should convert the signal from VGA to HDMI and use an HDMI extender.

Note: For more information on when to use cables or extenders, see the following FAQ: http://www.startech.com/faq/video_signal_converters_when_to_convert.

StarTech.com offers HDMI over IP video extenders that let you extend HDMI signals over your network to create a video wall.  They allow you to catch the attention of your audience with impressive digital signage. And with some of our video extenders, you can also extend USB.

This video extender works with a free mobile application that makes it easy to create and manage a video wall. The app is simple to set up with automatic hardware detection. It allows you to switch video sources for each remote display and manage your video distribution. The software is available on iOS, Android, and Google Chrome.

Video over IP devices extend video and audio differently than point-to-point video extenders.  Point-to-point video extenders transmit your video and audio wirelessly or using cables separate from your network.  Video over IP devices convert your video and audio to IP packets so that the data can be transferred over your existing network.  This allows you to take advantage of your network infrastructure, and allows for greater control and scalability. 

The maximum distance you can transmit is determined by your network infrastructure.  Transmitters and receivers can be up to 100m apart from a network switch or router.  The ST12MHDLAN allows for a maximum of 16 transmitters, depending on your network’s bandwidth.  The maximum number of receivers depends on your network’s bandwidth.

Video signals sent through the video extender consume bandwidth on your network.  To calculate the average bandwidth for a 1080p 60Hz video, use the following equation.  Add the number of transmitters to the number of receivers, then multiply the result by 45 Mbps.  For example, when you use one transmitter and four receivers, the average bandwidth is 225Mbps.  For best performance, make sure that your hardware supports more bandwidth than is required. StarTech.com recommends at least a Gigabit network for use with the ST12MHDLAN.

The ST12MHDLAN requires that the transmitters and receivers are connected to a switch or router that supports Internet Group Management Protocol or IGMP.  IGMP allows devices on the same network to communicate more efficiently.  IGMP support can be confirmed with your hardware manufacturer.

If at this point you have questions about the ST12MHDLAN review the other videos in this series which will include installation, use of the software, and general troubleshooting.  If you would like to learn more about video extenders in general review our video series on that subject.

By default, the video extender mirrors to multiple receivers, but can be configured into a video wall with multiple transmitters and many receivers. Multiple transmitters require a managed network switch with IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol). When you use a single transmitter with many receivers, you should use IGMP to prevent other network devices from being flooded with multicast frames.

Managed switches have an interface that can be used for advanced configuration. Managed switches are typically configured in a web interface using a static IP address on the switch. A switch that is not managed has no configuration options, is purely plug-and-play, and is usually less expensive than managed switches.

When you use IGMP with the video extender, IGMP makes sure that multicast frames are only being sent from the video extender transmitters to the receivers. A managed switch usually has IGMP and will learn how to configure the network with the video extender. When a managed switch is learning the network configuration, it communicates with other IGMP devices and negotiates the best routes for traffic to flow, and then automatically assigns IGMP group memberships. The learning process is automatic and may take up to a minute to complete, depending on the complexity of the setup.

Point-to-point is the most basic setup with the video extender. To connect point-to-point, use an Ethernet cable to connect a transmitter directly to a receiver and make sure that the units have the same thumbwheel setting. The thumbwheels on the video extender make sure that the units are on the same default network and facilitates communication between the units during setup.

You can use a switch that is not managed with a number of receivers, but you will only be able to mirror the HDMI input to the receivers. If you use a switch that is not managed, you will not be able to further configure the units, as the rest of the network infrastructure will be flooded and cause network timeouts when you use the mobile application.

Yes, this video extender works with set-top boxes, provided the set-top box meets the following requirements:

• The set-top box must be High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) compliant.
• The set-top box must support devices being connected between the video source and display. If the set-top box requires a direct cable connection between the video source and display, it won't work with this video extender.

You can use up to 16 transmitters with this device. There is no restriction on the number of receivers that you can use, but you should consider the amount of bandwidth that the device is using on the network, as this can impact the performance of other devices on your network.

Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) is a communications protocol used by hosts and routers. With IGMP, specific network devices are identified to receive network traffic, as opposed to network traffic being sent to every device connected to the network.

IGMP is required for this product because the total amount of network traffic across the network needs to be reduced to avoid impacting the other connected devices. Without IGMP, the video extender would send the video signal to each of the devices on your network.

No, you cannot use the ST12MHDLAN and ST12MHDLANU transmitters and receivers interchangeably. The transmitters and receivers are not compatible with each other.

Due to a wide variety of network factors, video latency cannot be accurately predicted.

This device outputs HDMI video signals. If you have a display or video destination that uses another type of video connection, there are ways that you can convert the video signal or connection. These options are outlined below and organized by the target connection.

HDCP

When you consider whether to convert an HDMI video signal to another connection type, it is important to know if the media that is being converted from the HDMI video connection is protected by High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP). If the media is protected by HDCP, you cannot convert to analog video connections because they do not support HDCP. You may experience this issue when you use devices like Blu-ray players, DVD players, and certain gaming consoles.

This device has an HDMI input port.  If you have a video source that uses another video connection, there are options available to convert the video signal or connection. These options will be outlined below for each video source connection.

DisplayPort Passive and Active Conversions

The converter that you require depends on the type of DisplayPort video source that you are using. For more information about converting DisplayPort video signals, refer to the following FAQ: https://www.startech.com/faq/DisplayPort_Converter_DP_Multi_Mode.