X2H-KVM-ED Overview and Use Cases

What Is the X2H-KVM-ED?

The ToVi X2H-KVM-ED is a 1080p / 4K@30Hz AV over IP Transceiver with KVM support. It is part of the X2 Series and can be configured as either an Encoder or Decoder depending on the installation.

The X2H-KVM-ED supports HDMI 1.4, HDCP 1.4, H.264 / H.265 video compression, and video resolutions up to 4K@30Hz and 1080p@60Hz. It distributes HDMI video, audio, USB/KVM, RS-232, and control signals over a 1G network.

The unit supports both RJ45 network transmission and SFP fiber transmission. It can transmit audio/video signals up to 328ft / 100m over network cable.

The X2H-KVM-ED supports KVM seat management, multi-window display, video wall creation, matrix switching, multicast, HDMI loop out, audio embedding and de-embedding, scrolling text, character overlay, user rights management, PoE, mobile app control, and control through the X2UH-CB Control Box.

The X2H-KVM-ED is useful for control rooms, command centers, security monitoring, digital signage, video walls, classrooms, conference rooms, enterprise AV systems, and installations where 1080p / 4K@30Hz HDMI, KVM, and flexible display management are required over an IP network.

IMPORTANT — X2H-KVM-ED Is a Transceiver

The X2H-KVM-ED is not only an Encoder or only a Decoder. It is a dual-function Transceiver.

The same hardware can be configured as either a transmitter/encoder or receiver/decoder depending on the application.

This simplifies inventory management, installation, and system maintenance.

IMPORTANT — Supports 4K@30Hz and 1080p@60Hz

The X2H-KVM-ED supports video up to 4K@30Hz and 1080p@60Hz.

This model is designed for 1080p and 4K@30Hz AV over IP applications. It is not a 4K@60Hz or HDMI 2.0 model.

IMPORTANT — Supports KVM Seat Management

The X2H-KVM-ED supports KVM functionality for PC and workstation control.

KVM seat management allows operators to control one or multiple PCs using a keyboard and mouse from a user station.

The manual also describes “man-machine separation,” where PCs can be centrally managed in a computer room while operators control them remotely in real time.

IMPORTANT — USB Host and USB Device Ports Are Used Differently

The X2H-KVM-ED includes one USB Host port and two USB Device ports.

For normal KVM setup:

1. Use one unit in Encoder mode near the computer.
2. Connect the Encoder USB HOST port to the computer.
3. Use another unit in Decoder mode near the operator station.
4. Connect keyboard and mouse to the Decoder USB DEVICE ports.
5. Route the Decoder to the correct Encoder through the AV over IP system.

The USB DEVICE ports are listed as USB 1.1 device ports for keyboard and mouse use.

IMPORTANT — Each Decoder Can Handle up to 16 Signals

When used in Decoder mode, each screen can display up to 16 signals.

This is useful for control rooms, command centers, surveillance monitoring, and multi-source operator workstations.

IMPORTANT — Free Window Display Output Is Supported

The manual also describes advanced free-window display output.

This allows flexible screen layouts where multiple sources can be positioned, layered, and displayed across one or more screens.

IMPORTANT — Video Wall Is Supported

The X2H-KVM-ED supports video wall and splicing applications.

The system can be used for LCD video walls, small-pitch LED displays, control room walls, command centers, and other multi-screen systems.

IMPORTANT — AV over IP Uses a 1G Network

The X2H-KVM-ED distributes signals over a Gigabit network.

The system supports distribution, switching, extension, and matrix mode when used with suitable Gigabit network equipment.

IMPORTANT — Supports RJ45 and SFP Fiber Transmission

The X2H-KVM-ED includes both RJ45 LAN and SFP fiber options.

This allows flexible system design using either copper network cable or fiber network infrastructure.

IMPORTANT — PoE and DC Power Are Supported

The X2H-KVM-ED can be powered by PoE or by the included power adapter.

If both PoE and the local DC 12V power adapter are connected, the unit gives priority to the local DC 12V power supply.

IMPORTANT — HDMI Loop-Out Is Supported

The X2H-KVM-ED includes HDMI input and HDMI output ports.

HDMI loop out is useful for signal cascading or connecting to local signal monitoring equipment.

IMPORTANT — Audio Embedding and De-Embedding Are Supported

The X2H-KVM-ED supports HDMI audio and analog stereo audio.

This allows flexible audio integration and extraction for AV installations.

IMPORTANT — H.264 / H.265 IP Camera Integration Is Supported

The X2H-KVM-ED supports H.264 and H.265 protocols.

The manual describes direct connection and decoding of compatible IPC cameras on the network for display on the wall.

IMPORTANT — Scrolling Text and Character Overlay Are Supported

The X2H-KVM-ED supports visual overlay features.

These features are useful for alerts, labels, emergency messages, control room identification, and digital signage.

IMPORTANT — Seamless Switching Is Supported

The X2H-KVM-ED supports instant and seamless switching.

This helps provide a smoother visual experience during source switching.

IMPORTANT — User Rights Management Is Supported

The X2H-KVM-ED system supports multi-level user rights management.

User rights can be assigned systematically so different operators only access the inputs, outputs, PCs, or control functions they are allowed to use.

IMPORTANT — X2UH-CB Control Box Is Supported

The X2H-KVM-ED can be controlled with the X2UH-CB Control Box.

The X2UH-CB is recommended for larger systems, video walls, KVM seat management, and centralized control.

Ports and Panel Layout

Front Panel

Rear Panel

IMPORTANT — Mode Switching Requires Reboot

The rear MODE switch selects Encoder or Decoder operation.

Each time the mode is switched, the unit must be rebooted for the change to take effect.

IMPORTANT — Reset Button Has Two Functions

The RESET button has two long-press functions.

Use reset only when required for troubleshooting or system recovery.

Step-by-Step Setup

1. Decide whether the unit will be used in Encoder mode or Decoder mode.
2. Move the MODE switch to ENC for Encoder mode or DEC for Decoder mode.
3. Reboot the unit after switching modes.
4. For Encoder mode, connect the HDMI source device to the IN port.
5. For local monitoring or loop-out, connect a display to the OUT port.
6. Connect the LAN / PoE port to a suitable 1G PoE network switch using network cable.
7. If using fiber network infrastructure, connect the SFP port to the fiber port on the network switch.
8. For Decoder mode, connect the display to the OUT port.
9. For KVM control, connect the USB HOST port on the Encoder-mode unit to the PC or laptop being controlled.
10. Connect USB keyboard and mouse to the USB DEVICE ports on the Decoder-mode unit.
11. If using analog audio embedding, connect the analog audio source to AUDIO IN.
12. If using audio extraction, connect the audio output device to AUDIO OUT.
13. If using RS-232 control, connect the RS-232 Phoenix connector to the PC, laptop, or control system.
14. Power the unit through PoE or the included DC 12V/1A power adapter.
15. Confirm the ENC or DEC LED shows the selected operating mode.
16. Confirm the LINK LED flashes when the network connection is normal.
17. Confirm the 100M / 1000M LED shows the correct network speed.
18. Use the X2UH-CB Control Box, KVM interface, mobile app, iPad, or supported control system to configure routing, video wall, KVM seat management, user rights, and display layouts.
19. Test video, audio, KVM, RS-232, matrix switching, and video wall behavior.

VLC Pull Streaming Operation

The X2H-KVM-ED supports MainStream and SubStream playback on a computer using VLC Media Player when the unit is in Encoder mode.

Basic setup:

1. Connect the Transceiver in Encoder mode to a PC, HDMI source device, and power supply.
2. Use a Bonjour protocol checking tool, such as Zeroconf Service Browser, to find the IP address of the Encoder-mode unit.
3. Set the PC IP address to the same network segment as the Encoder.
4. Open VLC Media Player.
5. Click Media > Open Network Stream.
6. Enter the MainStream or SubStream URL.

In VLC, choose Tools > Codec Information or press Ctrl + J to check the stream codec and resolution.

Network Cable Requirement — Critical

Use high-quality network cabling for stable AV over IP performance.

Poor network cabling or weak switch performance may cause:

• No video
• Network dropouts
• Signal freezing
• Pixelation
• KVM control issues
• Audio dropouts
• Video wall synchronization issues
• Unstable matrix switching
• Device not appearing online
• PoE power failure
• READY LED staying off

Use properly terminated network cable and suitable switch infrastructure.

HDMI Cable Requirement — Critical

Use high-quality HDMI cables.

Poor HDMI cables may cause:

• No image
• Flickering
• Black screen
• 4K@30Hz failure
• HDCP handshake issues
• Audio dropouts
• Source not detected
• Display not detected
• HDMI loop-out issues

For troubleshooting, test the HDMI source directly with the display before using the AV over IP system.

USB / KVM Requirement — Critical

For KVM control, the USB connection must be set up correctly.

If KVM does not work:

• Confirm the Encoder-mode unit USB HOST port is connected to the correct computer
• Confirm the keyboard and mouse are connected to the Decoder-mode unit USB DEVICE ports
• Confirm the unit modes are set correctly
• Confirm Encoder and Decoder routing is correct
• Test with a basic wired keyboard and mouse
• Check network connection and device status

Power Requirement — Critical

The X2H-KVM-ED can be powered by PoE or DC power.

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

If both PoE and DC power are connected, the local DC 12V power supply is preferred.

Surge protection is recommended.

Understanding the Application Example

The application diagram shows multiple X2H-KVM-ED units being used as Encoders and Decoders.

On the input side, source devices such as a laptop, desktop computer, TV box, media player, Blu-ray player, and IPC camera connect to Transceivers in Encoder mode.

On the output side, Transceivers in Decoder mode connect to a video wall, multi-view display, TVs, and a KVM seat management station.

The diagram also shows a control server, router, mobile phone, iPad control, control system, HDMI cables, USB cable, and network cables.

This shows the main use case: a centralized AV over IP and KVM system where sources, displays, video walls, operators, and control devices are managed across the network.

Understanding LED Indicators

Use the LED indicators first when troubleshooting mode, network speed, power, and system status.

Supported Technical Specifications

Package Contents

What Source Devices Is the X2H-KVM-ED Compatible With?

When used in Encoder mode, the X2H-KVM-ED can connect to HDMI source devices such as:

• Desktop computers
• Laptops
• Workstations
• Servers
• TV boxes
• Media players
• Blu-ray players
• Streaming devices
• DVRs
• NVRs
• Game consoles such as PS4
• IP cameras through compatible H.264 / H.265 integration
• HDMI matrix outputs
• HDMI switch outputs
• AV receivers with HDMI output

The source must output a supported HDMI resolution up to 4K@30Hz or 1080p@60Hz.

What Displays Is the X2H-KVM-ED Compatible With?

When used in Decoder mode, the X2H-KVM-ED can connect to displays such as:

• 4K TVs
• 1080p TVs
• Monitors
• Projectors
• LCD video wall displays
• Small-pitch LED displays
• Commercial displays
• Digital signage displays
• Control room displays
• Command center displays
• Multi-view operator displays

The display must support the selected Decoder output resolution.

What Network Equipment Is Compatible?

The X2H-KVM-ED works with Gigabit network switching infrastructure.

Compatible network equipment includes:

• 1G Ethernet switches
• PoE switches
• Fiber switches with SFP ports
• Control servers
• Routers
• AV over IP network switches

Use suitable switch infrastructure based on the number of Encoders, Decoders, video streams, and PoE requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the X2H-KVM-ED used for? 
A: It is used for 1080p / 4K@30Hz AV over IP distribution with KVM, matrix switching, video wall control, multi-window display, audio routing, RS-232, and user rights management.

Q: Is the X2H-KVM-ED an Encoder or Decoder? 
A: It is a Transceiver. It can be configured as either an Encoder or a Decoder.

Q: How do I switch between Encoder and Decoder mode? 
A: Use the rear MODE switch. Move it to ENC for Encoder mode or DEC for Decoder mode, then reboot the unit for the change to take effect.

Q: Does it support 4K@30Hz? 
A: Yes. It supports up to 4K@30Hz.

Q: Does it support 1080p@60Hz? 
A: Yes. It supports 1080p@60Hz.

Q: Does it support 4K@60Hz? 
A: No. This model supports HDMI 1.4 and up to 4K@30Hz / 1080p@60Hz.

Q: What HDMI version does it support? 
A: It supports HDMI 1.4.

Q: What HDCP version does it support? 
A: It supports HDCP 1.4.

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

Q: What is the video bandwidth? 
A: It supports 4.95Gbps bandwidth.

Q: Does it support KVM? 
A: Yes. It supports KVM seat management for one-to-one and one-to-many PC control.

Q: How do I use KVM control? 
A: Connect the USB HOST port on the Encoder-mode unit to the computer, then connect keyboard and mouse to the USB DEVICE ports on the Decoder-mode unit.

Q: What USB version are the USB Device ports? 
A: The manual lists the USB DEVICE ports as USB 1.1 device ports for keyboard and mouse.

Q: Can one operator control multiple PCs? 
A: Yes. The system supports one person with multiple machines, allowing an operator to control multiple PCs with one keyboard and mouse.

Q: Can one PC output to multiple screens? 
A: Yes. A single PC can be spliced and displayed on multiple displays.

Q: Does it support video walls? 
A: Yes. It supports video wall and splicing applications.

Q: How many signals can one screen process? 
A: The manual states that a single screen can process up to 36 signals for free window display.

Q: Does it support 1, 4, 9, and 16 split screen display? 
A: Yes. Seat roaming supports 1 / 4 / 9 / 16 split screen display.

Q: Does it support scrolling text or subtitles? 
A: Yes. It supports scrolling subtitles, character overlays, LED bar screen display, banners, and logos.

Q: Does it support IP camera integration? 
A: Yes. It supports H.264 / H.265 IPC and camera integration, including compatible Hikvision, Dahua, and Yushi cameras.

Q: Does it support PTZ camera control? 
A: Yes. PTZ camera control is listed in the manual.

Q: Does it support HDMI loop out? 
A: Yes. HDMI loop-out is supported for local monitoring or signal cascading.

Q: Does it support audio embedding and de-embedding? 
A: Yes. It supports audio embedding and audio de-embedding through HDMI and analog audio connections.

Q: What audio format does it support? 
A: It supports LPCM 2.0CH, 16-bit, 48kHz HDMI audio and left/right stereo analog audio.

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

Q: Does it support RS-232? 
A: Yes. RS-232 relay command transmission from the Control Server is supported.

Q: Does it support PoE? 
A: Yes. It supports 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 happens if both PoE and the power adapter are connected? 
A: The local DC 12V power supply is preferred.

Q: What is the maximum network cable distance? 
A: Up to 328ft / 100m.

Q: Does it support fiber? 
A: Yes. It includes an SFP port for 1G fiber transmission.

Q: Does it support VLC pull streaming? 
A: Yes. MainStream and SubStream can be played on a computer using VLC Media Player.

Q: What is the MainStream URL listed in the manual? 
A: rtsp://169.254.10.1:554/chn0/main

Q: What is the SubStream URL listed in the manual? 
A: rtsp://169.254.10.1:554/chn0/sub

Q: What are the MainStream and SubStream resolutions? 
A: MainStream is listed as 1080p30, and SubStream is listed as 720p30.

Q: What does the ENC LED mean? 
A: It lights when the device is in Encoder mode.

Q: What does the DEC LED mean? 
A: It lights when the device is in Decoder mode.

Q: What does the LINK LED mean? 
A: It flashes when the network connection is normal.

Q: What does the 100M / 1000M LED mean? 
A: Yellow means 100M connection, and green means 1000M connection.

Q: What does the READY LED mean? 
A: It lights when the Encoder and Decoder are connected. It remains off when the unit is powered on but not connected to the matching endpoint.

Q: How do I reset the device? 
A: Hold RESET for 5 seconds and manually reboot the device to restore factory default settings. Hold RESET for 15 seconds to restore the software to the factory default version.

Q: What should I do if there is no video? 
A: Check the HDMI source, HDMI cables, network cable, PoE or power adapter, Encoder / Decoder mode, network switch, routing configuration, and display input.

Q: What should I do if KVM does not work? 
A: Check the USB HOST connection to the computer, USB DEVICE connection to the keyboard/mouse, KVM seat assignment, network status, and device mode.

Q: What should I do if the video wall does not display correctly? 
A: Check the Decoder assignments, video wall layout, network bandwidth, switch configuration, device mode, display settings, and control server configuration.

Q: Does the X2H-KVM-ED need external power? 
A: It can be powered through PoE or by the included DC 12V/1A power adapter.