X2UH-CAST Overview and Use Cases

What Is the X2UH-CAST?

The ToVi X2UH-CAST is a 4K Network Video Streamer / AV over IP Encoder designed for professional AV streaming, distribution, monitoring, and broadcast applications.

It converts an HDMI source into network video streams using H.264 / H.265 compression and supports video input resolutions up to 4K@60Hz 4:4:4. It can stream over RTSP, RTP, TS, RTMP, and RTMPS, making it useful for local network playback, VLC monitoring, IPTV-style distribution, and live streaming to platforms such as YouTube or Facebook.

The X2UH-CAST supports three simultaneous streams: a main 4K stream, a second lower-resolution stream, and an audio-only stream. It also includes HDMI loop out, analog audio embedding and extraction, WebGUI control, stream start / pause / stop control, EDID configuration, image preview, unicast / multicast streaming, 802.1X network security, PoE, and rack mounting support.

The X2UH-CAST is useful for live streaming, control rooms, classrooms, conference rooms, houses of worship, corporate AV, broadcast setups, IPTV systems, digital signage, event production, remote monitoring, and AV-over-IP installations that require a dedicated 4K HDMI network streamer.

IMPORTANT — X2UH-CAST Is a Network Video Streamer

The X2UH-CAST is a standalone AV streamer.

This product is not a traditional HDMI extender, splitter, or matrix by itself. It is designed to encode and stream HDMI video over a network.

IMPORTANT — X2UH-CAST Works Independently

The X2UH-CAST does not require an X2 Series controller to operate.

The manual states that the X2UH-CAST works independently as a standalone network streamer. It is also compatible with the ToVi X2 Series and can be discovered and managed with limited control through the X2UH-CB Control Box.

IMPORTANT — Supports 4K@60Hz HDMI Input

The X2UH-CAST supports HDMI input up to 4K@60Hz 4:4:4.

To stream 4K@60Hz correctly, the HDMI source, HDMI cable, network switch, network bandwidth, and stream settings must all support the required signal.

IMPORTANT — HDR Is Not Supported

The X2UH-CAST manual lists HDR as not supported.

If a source is outputting HDR, Dolby Vision, or another HDR format, change the source output to SDR for best compatibility.

IMPORTANT — Triple Stream Output Is Supported

The X2UH-CAST supports multiple simultaneous streaming outputs.

The manual describes triple stream output as:

This allows the same HDMI source to be used for high-quality streaming, lower-resolution preview, monitoring, and audio-only distribution.

IMPORTANT — Main Stream and Second Stream Settings

The WebGUI Encoder page allows stream settings to be adjusted.

Use the Main Stream for highest quality output. Use the Second Stream for lower-bandwidth monitoring or preview.

IMPORTANT — Streaming Protocols Supported

The X2UH-CAST supports multiple streaming protocols.

This makes the X2UH-CAST flexible for local playback, network distribution, software players, streaming servers, and social media live streaming platforms.

IMPORTANT — RTSP / TS Playback Is Supported Through VLC

The X2UH-CAST supports RTSP / TS playback on a computer using software such as VLC Media Player.

Basic process:

1. Enable the RTSP or TS stream in the WebGUI.
2. Copy the stream URL from the WebGUI.
3. Open VLC Media Player.
4. Select Media > Open Network Stream.
5. Paste the stream URL.
6. Click Play.

The VLC codec information and bitrate statistics can be used to check stream format and current bitrate. The manual notes that bitrate may move up and down during operation, which is normal.

IMPORTANT — RTMP / RTMPS Push Streaming Is Supported

The X2UH-CAST supports RTMP and RTMPS push streaming to platforms such as YouTube.

Basic process:

1. Open the live streaming platform.
2. Create or open a live stream.
3. Copy the RTMP or RTMPS server URL and stream key.
4. Open the X2UH-CAST WebGUI.
5. Enter the RTMP / RTMPS push URL into the Main or Second Stream push field.
6. Enable the push stream.
7. Refresh the WebGUI and confirm the status dot turns green.

Use RTMPS when the platform requires secure streaming.

IMPORTANT — Audio-Only Stream Is Supported

The X2UH-CAST supports audio-only multicast streaming.

The manual describes using the WebGUI and a serial command tool to obtain the SDP configuration for the audio-only stream.

The audio-only stream can be useful for monitoring, public audio distribution, audio rooms, or systems where video is not required.

IMPORTANT — HDMI Loop Out Is Supported

The X2UH-CAST includes HDMI IN and HDMI OUT.

The HDMI OUT port allows a local display to show the original HDMI source while the unit streams the signal over the network.

This is useful for live production, classrooms, houses of worship, conference rooms, and AV racks where a local confidence monitor is needed.

IMPORTANT — Analog Audio Embedding and Extraction Are Supported

The X2UH-CAST includes 3.5mm analog audio input and output.

The manual notes that when AUDIO IN is used, the encoder and streaming output use the audio from the AUDIO IN port, while the HDMI loop out continues to output the original audio from the HDMI IN source.

IMPORTANT — PoE and DC Power Are Supported

The X2UH-CAST can be powered by PoE or by the included DC power adapter.

If the LAN / PoE port is connected to a compatible PoE switch, the power adapter is not required.

If the unit does not power on, check the PoE switch, LAN cable, power adapter, outlet, and DC 12V port.

IMPORTANT — WebGUI Control Is Supported

The X2UH-CAST includes a built-in WebGUI for setup and stream management.

The WebGUI can be used to configure:

• Input signal status
• Channel number
• Device name
• Stream status
• Main Stream settings
• Second Stream settings
• Audio-only stream settings
• Stream active / pause / stop control
• Image capture
• Encoding type
• Resolution
• Frame rate
• GOP
• Bitrate control
• Bitrate
• Audio source
• RTSP unicast
• RTSP multicast
• TS multicast
• RTMP / RTMPS push stream
• Audio-only multicast
• DHCP / Static IP
• DNS information
• HTTPS
• NTP server
• 802.1X authentication
• OSD text
• Fan speed
• MENU button lock
• Configuration import / export
• Splash screen upload
• EDID setting
• Firmware update
• Device list
• Admin / user password settings

IMPORTANT — Default WebGUI Login

The X2UH-CAST has two WebGUI login accounts.

The WebGUI supports language selection on the login page.

To access the WebGUI:

1. Connect the X2UH-CAST, PC, router, and network devices to the same 1G network.
2. Power on the X2UH-CAST.
3. Press the MENU button to view the IP address on the OLED display.
4. Set the PC IP address to the same network segment.
5. Enter the X2UH-CAST IP address into a browser.
6. Log in with the correct username and password.

The manual lists the default IP address as 169.254.1.11.

IMPORTANT — OLED Display Shows Device Name and IP Address

The front OLED screen shows the device name and IP address after power-on.

This helps installers quickly find the IP address without logging into the router or switch.

IMPORTANT — MENU Button Can Factory Reset the Unit

The MENU button is used for OLED navigation and reset.

Use factory reset if the WebGUI login cannot be accessed or network settings are incorrect.

Ports and Panel Layout

Front Panel

Rear Panel

Understanding LED Indicators

Use these indicators first when troubleshooting power, network connection, stream activity, input signal, or device identification.

Step-by-Step Setup

1. Place the X2UH-CAST near the HDMI source device.
2. Connect the HDMI source device to HDMI IN.

Examples include a camera output, laptop, media player, streaming device, Blu-ray player, AV receiver output, HDMI switch output, or HDMI matrix output.

1. Connect a local display to HDMI OUT if local monitoring is needed.
2. If using external analog audio, connect the audio source to AUDIO IN.
3. If using analog audio output, connect headphones, soundbar, amplifier, speakers, or an audio device to AUDIO OUT.
4. Connect the LAN / PoE port to a 1G network switch using CAT6 / CAT6A / CAT7 cable.
5. If using PoE, confirm the switch supports 802.3af PoE.
6. If PoE is not available, connect the included DC 12V/1A power adapter.
7. Power on the HDMI source, local display, network switch, and X2UH-CAST.
8. Press MENU to view the IP address on the OLED display.
9. Set the PC IP address to the same network segment as the X2UH-CAST.
10. Open the X2UH-CAST IP address in a browser.
11. Log in to the WebGUI using admin / admin or user / 123456.
12. Confirm the input signal status is green.
13. Configure the Main Stream, Second Stream, audio source, bitrate, frame rate, and streaming protocol.
14. Enable RTSP, TS, RTMP / RTMPS, or audio-only stream as needed.
15. Copy the stream URL from the WebGUI.
16. Open the stream in VLC, a streaming server, a TV app, or the target platform.
17. Test video, audio, stream stability, local HDMI loop out, and audio output.

CAT Cable / Network Requirement — Critical

Use high-quality network cable and a reliable 1G network.

Poor network cabling or switch configuration may cause:

• Device not appearing on the network
• Stream not playing
• Video freezing
• Pixelation
• Audio dropouts
• RTMP / RTMPS failure
• Multicast not working
• WebGUI not opening
• PoE power failure
• Unstable stream bitrate

Make sure multicast / unicast traffic is allowed by the network when using those stream modes.

HDMI Cable Requirement — Critical

Use high-quality HDMI cables, especially for 4K@60Hz input.

Poor HDMI cables may cause:

• No input signal
• Video signal not locked
• VIDEO LED flashing
• No stream output
• Black screen
• Flickering
• HDCP handshake issues
• Audio dropouts
• 4K@60Hz failure

For troubleshooting, test the HDMI source directly with a display before using the streamer.

Audio Requirement — Critical

The X2UH-CAST supports HDMI audio and analog audio.

If audio does not work:

• Confirm the WebGUI audio source is set correctly
• Confirm HDMI source is outputting LPCM 2CH audio
• Check the 3.5mm audio cable
• Check the AUDIO IN / AUDIO OUT direction
• Test with HDMI audio first
• Test with analog audio separately

Power Requirement — Critical

The X2UH-CAST can be powered through PoE or the included power adapter.

If the unit does not power on:

• Check the PoE switch
• Check the LAN cable
• Check the DC 12V power adapter
• Check the outlet
• Check the POWER LED

Surge protection is recommended.

Rack Mounting

The X2UH-CAST supports rack mounting.

For 6U V2 rack mounting, attach the included mounting ears and install the unit vertically in a compatible 6U V2 rack.

For 1U V2 rack mounting, up to two units can be installed horizontally using compatible 1U V2 rack panels and brackets.

Understanding the Application Example

The application diagram shows the X2UH-CAST connected to a 1G network switch with multiple devices.

The HDMI source connects to the AV Streamer, and HDMI loop out connects to a local TV. AUDIO IN can connect to a microphone, while AUDIO OUT can connect to an amplifier and speakers. The network side connects to a PC running VLC, a TV app device, a router, and social media servers for RTSP / RTMP / RTMPS streaming.

This shows the main use case: one HDMI source is encoded by the X2UH-CAST, monitored locally, streamed across the local network, and pushed to online platforms when needed.

Supported Technical Specifications

What Source Devices Is the X2UH-CAST Compatible With?

The X2UH-CAST can connect to HDMI source devices such as:

• Cameras with HDMI output
• Laptops
• Desktop computers
• Media players
• Streaming devices
• Blu-ray players
• DVD players
• Cable boxes
• TV boxes
• AV receivers with HDMI output
• HDMI switch outputs
• HDMI matrix outputs
• Production switchers
• Conference room sources
• Classroom sources

The HDMI source must output a supported resolution up to 4K@60Hz 4:4:4.

What Playback Devices and Software Are Compatible?

The X2UH-CAST can stream to compatible playback systems such as:

• VLC Media Player
• PC monitoring software
• TV apps that support network streams
• RTSP-compatible software
• TS-compatible software
• RTMP / RTMPS-compatible platforms
• YouTube Live
• Facebook Live
• Streaming servers
• Local network monitoring systems

Compatibility depends on the selected streaming protocol and the receiving software or platform.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the X2UH-CAST used for? 
A: It is used to encode an HDMI source into network streams for RTSP, RTP, TS, RTMP, RTMPS, local monitoring, live streaming, and AV-over-IP distribution.

Q: Is the X2UH-CAST a standalone streamer? 
A: Yes. It works independently as a standalone network streamer.

Q: Does it require the X2UH-CB Control Box? 
A: No. It does not require the X2UH-CB. However, it is compatible with the ToVi X2 Series and can be discovered and managed with limited control through the X2UH-CB.

Q: Does it support 4K@60Hz input? 
A: Yes. It supports HDMI input up to 4K@60Hz 4:4:4.

Q: What HDMI version does it support? 
A: It supports HDMI 2.0b.

Q: What video bandwidth does it support? 
A: It supports 18Gbps HDMI video bandwidth.

Q: Does it support HDR? 
A: No. HDR is not supported.

Q: What video compression does it use? 
A: It supports H.264 and H.265 compression.

Q: What streaming protocols are supported? 
A: It supports RTSP / UDP, RTSP / TCP, RTP / UDP, TS / UDP, RTMP, and RTMPS.

Q: Does it support YouTube live streaming? 
A: Yes. It supports RTMP / RTMPS push streaming, which can be used with YouTube.

Q: Does it support Facebook live streaming? 
A: The manual lists RTMP / RTMPS support, which is commonly used for platforms such as Facebook when the correct server URL and stream key are provided.

Q: Does it support multicast? 
A: Yes. RTSP multicast, TS multicast, and audio-only multicast are supported.

Q: Does it support unicast? 
A: Yes. RTSP unicast is supported.

Q: Does it support audio-only streaming? 
A: Yes. It supports audio-only multicast streaming.

Q: Does it support HDMI loop out? 
A: Yes. HDMI OUT can connect to a local monitor or display.

Q: What is HDMI loop out used for? 
A: It allows the HDMI source to be monitored locally while the same signal is streamed over the network.

Q: Does it support audio embedding? 
A: Yes. AUDIO IN can embed external analog audio into the stream.

Q: Does HDMI loop out use the embedded analog audio? 
A: No. The manual states that when AUDIO IN is used, the stream uses the AUDIO IN audio, while HDMI loop out continues to output the original HDMI IN audio.

Q: Does it support audio extraction? 
A: Yes. AUDIO OUT can connect to headphones, a soundbar, amplifier, or other audio device.

Q: What HDMI audio format is supported? 
A: LPCM 2CH at 48kHz is supported.

Q: Does it support Dolby or DTS audio? 
A: Dolby and DTS audio formats are not listed in the manual.

Q: What is the audio latency? 
A: The manual lists audio latency as less than 60ms.

Q: Does it support PoE? 
A: Yes. It supports 802.3af PoE through the LAN port.

Q: What power adapter does it use? 
A: It uses a DC 12V/1A power adapter.

Q: Do I need the power adapter if using PoE? 
A: No. If the LAN port is connected to a PoE switch, the power adapter is not required.

Q: What is the default IP address? 
A: The manual lists the default IP address as 169.254.1.11.

Q: How do I find the current IP address? 
A: Press the MENU button to view the IP address on the OLED display.

Q: What are the default WebGUI usernames? 
A: The available usernames are admin and user.

Q: What is the default admin password? 
A: The default admin password is admin.

Q: What is the default user password? 
A: The default user password is 123456.

Q: Does the WebGUI support HTTPS? 
A: Yes. HTTP is used by default, and HTTPS can be enabled in the WebGUI.

Q: Does it support 802.1X authentication? 
A: Yes. 802.1X authentication is supported.

Q: Can I change the device name? 
A: Yes. The device name can be changed in the WebGUI System page.

Q: Can I upload a splash screen? 
A: Yes. Splash screen upload is supported in the WebGUI.

Q: Can I upload custom EDID? 
A: Yes. Custom EDID can be uploaded as a 256-byte binary file.

Q: Can I control the stream from the WebGUI? 
A: Yes. Main Stream, Second Stream, and Audio Only Stream can be set to ACTIVE, PAUSE, or STOP.

Q: What does a green stream status mean? 
A: Green means the stream is active.

Q: What does an orange stream status mean? 
A: Orange means the stream is paused.

Q: What does a red stream status mean? 
A: Red means the stream is stopped, failed, inactive, or no audio depending on the indicator.

Q: What does the LINK LED mean? 
A: Solid green means a stable 1G network connection is detected. Flashing at 1Hz means the device is actively streaming. Off means the device is not connected to the network.

Q: What does the VIDEO LED mean? 
A: Solid green means video signal is locked and transmitting normally. Off means no video signal is being transmitted. Flashing at 2Hz means video is present but not locked.

Q: What does SHOW ME do? 
A: When SHOW ME is enabled, both the LINK and VIDEO LEDs flash at 5Hz to help identify the device.

Q: How do I factory reset the X2UH-CAST? 
A: Hold the MENU button for 10 seconds to restore factory default settings.

Q: What should I do if the device does not appear on the network? 
A: Check PoE or power adapter, confirm DHCP or static IP settings, verify subnet and gateway, and make sure multicast / unicast traffic is allowed.

Q: What should I do if there is no video on the stream? 
A: Confirm the HDMI source is active, verify the source is outputting a supported resolution, try changing EDID under System > EDID, check the streaming protocol settings, and test the lower-resolution preview stream.

Q: What should I do if RTMP does not connect to YouTube or Facebook? 
A: Confirm the server URL and stream key, enable RTMPS if required, make sure the firewall allows outbound RTMP traffic, and reduce bitrate if upload speed is limited.

Q: What should I do if I cannot log into the WebGUI? 
A: Make sure the PC IP address is in the same network segment as the streamer, try HTTPS, or hold the MENU button for 10 seconds to factory reset and try the default IP address.

Q: Can the X2UH-CAST be rack mounted? 
A: Yes. It supports 6U V2 rack mounting and 1U V2 rack mounting.

Q: How many units can fit in a 1U V2 rack? 
A: Up to two units can be installed horizontally in a compatible 1U V2 rack.