Control rooms (security, traffic, utilities, broadcast, network operations) have many PCs and many operators. Each operator needs to see and control any PC from their own desk, and the important feeds also need to appear on a video wall. Running separate extenders for every combination quickly becomes unmanageable. KVM over IP solves it: every PC and every desk joins one Gigabit network, and any desk can take over any PC.
How a KVM over IP system is built
- Encoder at each PC: 4KIPJ200E takes the PC's HDMI 2.0 video (4K60 4:4:4) and its USB keyboard and mouse connection.
- Decoder at each screen or desk: 4KIPJ200D drives a monitor or a video wall panel and connects the operator's keyboard and mouse.
- Network switch: a Gigabit switch (managed or unmanaged) links everything. No IGMP configuration is required.
- Controller: HDIP-IPC finds the encoders and decoders automatically and gives you a Web UI, Telnet, an iPad app and two RS-232 ports for third-party control systems.
What it can do
| Capability | 4KIPJ200 system |
|---|---|
| Video | 3840×2160 at 50/60Hz, 4:4:4, HDCP 2.2/2.3 |
| Latency | Under 4ms, so mouse movement feels local |
| Scale | Up to 50 decoders per encoder and up to 254 endpoints per LAN |
| Video wall | Decoders tile into a video wall |
| Mouse roaming | Move the mouse off the edge of one screen onto the next to control a different PC |
| Power | PoE or a 12V adapter |
A typical layout
- Equipment room: the PCs (CCTV servers, SCADA, map and dashboard PCs), each with a 4KIPJ200E. The HDIP-IPC controller and a PoE Gigabit switch sit in the same rack.
- Operator desks: 2–4 monitors per desk, each with a 4KIPJ200D. With mouse roaming, one keyboard and mouse control every screen on the desk.
- Video wall: a 4KIPJ200D behind each panel. The supervisor can push any PC to the wall from the iPad app.
- Control: the supervisor switches sources and wall layouts from the HDIP-IPC Web UI or iPad app, or a room control system does it over RS-232.
Smaller systems
- If only one desk needs to reach a few PCs, a point-to-point KVM extender or 4KIP100-KVM (KVM over IP, up to 16 sets, 120m direct) costs less.
- If PCs are in another building, 4KIP500F-KVM reaches 550m over OM4 fibre.
- For a display-only wall with no keyboard or mouse control, the 4KIP200E AV over IP range is the lower-cost choice. See our video wall guide.
Network checklist
- Use a dedicated switch or VLAN for the AV system so office traffic can't affect it.
- Check the switch's PoE budget if you power the encoders and decoders over the network.
- Use Cat6 or better from the switch to each endpoint, at most 100m per run.
- Give the HDIP-IPC controller a fixed IP address and note it in the handover document.
Planning a control room? Send us the number of PCs, operator desks and wall panels and we'll prepare a bill of materials with a GST quote. Browse the KVM over IP range.