Barcoservicebulletin Event Master series link-cable solutions for E2, S3 4K, and EX General Phenomenon Event Master (EM) products such as E2, S3 4K, and EX support a variety of linking configurations. Because the units tend to be adjacent to each other in racks, many use cases have been met by the supplied 1-m CXP copper cables that ship with these units. With the ability to extend signals over long distances with the EX, and the 5.1 software release that allows more than two E2 or S3-4K to be linked together in a system, new distance requirements for beyond the 1-meter, copper-only solutions can occur. This document provides information on Barco and third party solutions that can be used to address longer distances between units. Solution Copper, fiber, and ruggedized fiber optic cable solutions are available from Barco and several third-party manufacturers in lengths exceeding 1 meter. Scope This phenomenon and solution affects all linking between E2 series, S3-4K series, and EX processors in which the distance separating the processors is greater than 1 meter. Link-cable solutions Serial Number : 1380 Date : 11/05/2018 Product : E2, S3 4K, and EX Priority Code* : D A. Must modification, Barco will provide the necessary components to perform this modification at no charge. B. Improves the reliability of the product. C. Improves the general working conditions of the product. D. For information only. Copper solutions Barco provides 1-m copper CXP cables with the E2 Tri-Combo, E2, S3 Tri-Combo, and S3 4K processors only. (No cables are shipped with other E2, S3, or EX configurations.) Info-T1380:1/7
Image 1-1: CXP cable, 1 meter With the exception of the 1-m R9004750 CXP cable that ships with E2 Tri-Combo, E2, S3 Tri- Combo, and S3 4K processors, Barco stocks limited quantities of these items. Lead times from our suppliers vary from 9 to 16 weeks for these items. It is recommended that end users make their remote connection plans well in advance of their shows. Barco makes every effort to keep up with the demand of our customers. Barco does not, however, guarantee the immediate availability of any of these items. End users may want to procure them directly from other sources. Make sure to obtain the same specification and model numbers. Barco has tested only the items listed below for proper functionality, safety, and quality. Barco does not support any products that have not been tested by Barco. Image 1-2: Copper CXP cable, 5 meters Barco has qualified 3-m and 5-m copper cables that can be used for slightly longer distances. The table below shows the Barco kit number and the underlying qualified manufacturer part numbers for all three copper solutions. The end user is free to obtain these copper cables from other distribution channels if that is to the end user s advantage. Length Barco Kit p/n Underlying Manufacturer Number 1 m R9004750 Molex 111025-1201 3 m Not available Molex 111025-1203 5 m R9004762 Molex 111025-1205 All Barco cable kits contain one cable. Please be sure to order the correct number of kits for the desired linking application. Product to Product Expansion Number of cables required E2 to E2 4 E2 to S3 4K 2 S3 4K to S3 4K 2 E2 (or S3 4K) to EX 1 per EX chassis with I/O cards; 2x if VPUs are installed Please note that, due to the large minimum order quantity from Molex, Barco does not carry the 3-m cable. Beyond 5 meters Barco does not consider copper to be a viable solution for the EM links. Info-T1380:2/7
Fiber solutions Barco has qualified a 30-m and 100-m fiber-optic cable solutions using installation-grade cable coupled with industry standard CXP to MTP fiber transceiver modules. These solutions allow the greatest flexibility for end users who wish to build custom-length solutions. Although Barco has qualified 30-m and 100-m fiber solutions, we have tested the transceivers specified below with up to 260 meters of MTP24 cable and found that OM3/OM4 standards should apply to these solutions. Fiber cable and transceivers can differ in performance from one brand to another, and from one lot to another from the same brand. Users should conduct their own testing to verify signal integrity prior to deploying these solutions for their applications. Refer to the documentation provided by the fiber cable or transceiver manufacturer for exact specifications. MTP cables can have varying amounts of fiber. The EM links require a 24-fiber, MTP terminated, OM3 cable with type A polarity. Refer to the documentation provided by the fiber cable manufacturer to confirm proper polarity and connectivity. Please refer to the Molex drawing for PN: 106284-1030 on the Molex web site to confirm proper polarity and connectivity for any other vendors cables. See the drawing PDF on the web page for PN: 106284-1030 on the Molex web site https://www.molex.com/molex/home. Image 1-3: CXP transceiver and fiber cable To link two E2 units together with non-ruggedized fiber cables requires eight transceivers and four MTP terminated fiber cables of the desired length. Image 1-4: Sample non-ruggedized solution with 4-port panels 1. 2. E2 with CXP fiber transceiver modules installed Four MTP 24-fiber cables The fiber cables should have a female (pinless) connectors on each end. Barco Inc, Image Processing 3078 Prospect Park Drive, Rancho Cordova, CA, 95670, USA Info-T 1380: 3 / 7
Rugged fiber solutions Barco recognizes that the industry standard fiber options described above may not be rugged enough for rental and staging applications. To that end, there is a solution tailored to use Neutrik s opticalcon MTP24 ruggedized cabling. Barco offers adapter kits to work with the Neutrik OpticalCon MTP24 cables. Barco offers two varieties of adapter: a four-adapter, rack-mount panel and a single-adapter, throw-down box. Both kits come with the appropriate fiber-optic jumper cables to connect the Neutrik adapters to the transceivers. Image 1-5: Ruggedized fiber cable (Barco PN: R9871285) and MTP24 patch cable The front and rear views of the adapter panel are shown in Image 1-6. Image 1-6: Adapter panel front and rear views (Barco PN: R9871287) To link two E2s together with ruggedized Neutrik fiber requires: Eight transceivers Eight short 24-fiber MTP cables (provided with the adapter kits from Barco) Four opticalcon MTP 24F OM3 ruggedized cables in the length desired (Barco offers 50-m and 100-m lengths.) Two 1-ru rack-mount adapter panels or 8x single throw-down adapters Per Neutrik, MCC is the only certified partner for terminating their opticalcon MTP 24 fiber solution. As an example, Image 1-7 shows how to link two E2 units with this ruggedized solution: Info-T1380:4/7
Image 1-7: Sample ruggedized solution with 4-port panels 1. E2 with CXP fiber transceiver modules installed 2. Four MTP 24-fiber patch cables The patch cable should have a female (pinless) connector on the transceiver end. The patch cable should have a male (pinned) connector on the adapter end. 3. Barco CXP opticalcon MTP adapter 1RU 4-port panel 4. Four opticalcon MTP 24-fiber ruggedized cables Single throw-down In situations where you need only a single fiber, two throw-down adapters, two patch cables, and the required length of ruggedized fiber cable is all that is needed. Image 1-8: Single throw-down adapter (Barco PN: R9871289) For example, when connecting an E2 processor to an EX extension box, a single CXP connection over fiber is needed. A throw-down adapter should be placed at each end of the ruggedized fiber cable, and each throwdown adapter should be connected by a patch cable to the E2 and to the EX. See Image 1-9. Info-T1380: 5/7
Image 1-9: Sample ruggedized solution with single throw-down adapters 1. E2 with CXP fiber transceiver module installed 2. MTP 24-fiber patch cable The patch cable should have a female (pinless) connector on each end. 3. Barco single throw-down adapter 4. OpticalCON MTP 24-fiber ruggedized cable 5. EX with CXP fiber transceiver module installed Fiber-optic solution part numbers The table below shows the Barco numbers to order for transceivers, fiber cables, and adapters, as well as the underlying qualified manufacturer numbers. The end user is free to obtain these fiber transceivers and cables from other distribution channels, if that is to the end user s advantage. Barco PN Description Comment R9004752 Expansion link Fiber TX/RX Module (2 per kit) Finisar FTLD10CE1C or Broadcom Avago AFBR-83PDZ, 2 modules per kit R9004753 Expansion link Fiber cable, 30 meters (1 cable) R9004754 Expansion link Fiber cable, 100 meters (1 cable) R9004762 Expansion Link Cable, 5 meters (Copper) 1 cable per kit R9871283 R9871285 R9871287 R9871289 Rugged expansion link Fiber, 50 meters on Reel Rugged expansion link Fiber, 100 meters on Reel 4 Port Rack mount MTP24 to OpticicalCon MTP24 adapters Throw-down MTP24 to OpticalCon MTP24 adapter R9871290 MTP24 Fiber optic cleaning kit Molex 106284-1030, 1 cable per kit Molex 106284-1100, 1 cable per kit Requires fiber TX/RX Module kit R9004752 and MTP to OpticalCon MTP 24 converter Requires fiber TX/RX Module kit R9004752 and MTP to OpticalCon MTP24 converter Rack mountable converters for expansion link to MTP24. Incl. Jumpers Converts rugged expansion link to MTP 24. Incl Jumper Info-T1380:6/7
The Barco transceiver kit (R9004752) contains two transceivers. Note also that two manufacturers Finisar and Broadcom Avago Technologies have been qualified to supply this item. Either brand may be in the kit you purchase from Barco. The Molex 106284 OM3 cable can be ordered directly from Molex in any length desired up to 100 m, in 5-m increments, which might be advantageous for fixed installations. The minimum short-term bend radius for the Molex OM3 cable is 89 mm; the minimum long-term bend radius is 57 mm. The 30-m/100-m fiber kits contain just one fiber cable of the specified length. The diameter of the cable is 5.4 mm. The total length of fiber depends on the solution purchased. Barco offers solutions that have been tested and work together based on the specifications provided by the manufacturers of these products. It is recommended that any solutions not provided by Barco should be tested prior to use with your application. For custom sized lengths of Neutrik OpticalCon MTP24 fiber optic cables or other custom adapter solutions in North America, you may contact: Major Custom Cable Attn: Jake Seyer 281 Lotus Drive Jackson, MO 63755 USA www.majorcustomcable.com jseyer@majorcustomcable.com Per Neutrik, MCC is the only certified partner in North America for terminating their opticalcon MTP 24 fiber solution. Outside of North America, please contact Neutrik for a list of dealers or distributors for custom length solutions. Active optical solution An intermediate solution known as active optical may be appropriate for some end users. Barco has not tested or certified any active optical solution for use with EM products. This information is provided to offer a complete picture of available industry solutions that an end user may wish to pursue. An active optical connection comprises two fiber transceivers with the cable pre-attached. It may offer some cost savings especially at lengths less than 50 meters, because the manufacturer can bin and use optical components that were not sufficient for the full specifications of a standalone transceiver but that work fine at the shorter lengths. Several companies make active optical connections, and they can be found online. Be sure that you are ordering a CXP 12x bidirectional solution, and please be sure to test before arriving at a show site or installation with an active optical cable. Because Barco has not qualified any active optical solutions, Barco cannot offer any support on these options. Info-T1380:7/7