Kramer VIA Connect PRO User Manual
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Kramer VIA Connect PRO User Manual

Presentation & collaboration device
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USER MANUAL
MODEL:
VIA Connect PRO, VIA Connect PLUS
Presentation & Collaboration Device
(For Firmware Version 3.2)
P/N: 2900-301064 Rev 4
www.kramerAV.com

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Summary of Contents for Kramer VIA Connect PRO

  • Page 1 USER MANUAL MODEL: VIA Connect PRO, VIA Connect PLUS Presentation & Collaboration Device (For Firmware Version 3.2) P/N: 2900-301064 Rev 4 www.kramerAV.com...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    Accessing System Controls Enabling Audio for VIA Versa Video Conferencing For User: Running Kramer VIA App Running Kramer VIA App for PC and Mac Running Kramer VIA App for Tablets & Smartphones Running Kramer VIA App from a Web Browser...

  • Page 3: Introduction

    Kramer Electronics Ltd. Introduction Welcome to Kramer Electronics! Since 1981, Kramer Electronics has been providing a world of unique, creative, and affordable solutions to the vast range of problems that confront the video, audio, presentation, and broadcasting professional on a daily basis. In recent years, we...

  • Page 4: Overview

    European Advanced Recycling Network (EARN) and will cover any costs of treatment, recycling and recovery of waste Kramer Electronics branded equipment on arrival at the EARN facility. For details of Kramer’s recycling arrangements in your particular country go to our recycling pages at www.kramerav.com/il/quality/environment.
  • Page 5 Kramer Electronics Ltd. • iOS and Android Mirroring. • Optimized for Video Conferencing — VIA Versa feature allows users to wirelessly connect to the professional grade camera and AV in their meeting spaces easily and instantly. • Seamless Live Video Streaming — Stream live content from meeting rooms, classrooms and studios using RTMP/RTMPS to all the leading platforms, like YouTube™, Kaltura™,...

  • Page 6: Glossary

    Kramer Electronics Ltd. Glossary The following are definitions of some common terms found in this User Manual. Screenshots in this section are representative only and may not accurately reflect the features associated with your VIA device. ▪ VIA Meeting – A session where one or more users are logged into your VIA unit...
  • Page 7 Figure 2: Gateway Dashboard ▪ Taskbar Menu – A menu of features that appears in your computer taskbar when you are logged into a VIA meeting using the Kramer VIA app. Figure 3: Kramer VIA Taskbar Menu •...

  • Page 8: Supported Devices

    ▪ ® iPad/iPhone tablet/smartphone (iPad 2 or later, iOS 12 or later). When using the Airplay service, no Kramer VIA application is needed. However, we recommend using iOS12, Mojave OS X, or higher, for a better experience. ▪ ® Android OS 5.

  • Page 9: For Installer: Mounting Via Connect

    Kramer Electronics Ltd. For Installer: Mounting VIA Connect This section provides instructions for mounting Connect. Before installing, verify that the environment is within the recommended range: • Operation temperature – 0 to 40C (32 to 104F). • Storage temperature – -40 to +70C (-40 to +158F).

  • Page 10: For Installer: Connecting Via Connect

    Kramer Electronics Ltd. For Installer: Connecting VIA Connect Always switch off the power to each device before connecting it to your Connect. After connecting your Connect, connect its power and then switch on the power to each device. Connecting Main Display The main display is the screen connected directly to Connect.

  • Page 11: For Web Administrator: Configuring Settings - Gateway Management Pages

    Kramer Electronics Ltd. For Web Administrator: Configuring Settings – Gateway Management Pages VIA Connect enables users with Web Administrator access to configure settings for your Connect unit. VIA Connect enables you to do the following: ▪ Logging in to Gateway Management Pages on page 9.
  • Page 12 Kramer Electronics Ltd. 6. Click Login. The Gateway Management Pages appear with the Dashboard open. Click the tabs in the navigation pane on the left to display the VIA web pages. Click the arrow in the upper right corner to select a different language for the web pages.

  • Page 13: User Management

    Kramer Electronics Ltd. User Management This section describes how to add user accounts to the database of your VIA Connect device. A user account is required to access the Gateway Management Pages (see Logging in to Gateway Management Pages on page 9) and, when your...
  • Page 14 Kramer Electronics Ltd. Changing Device IP Address The default IP setting is DHCP that assigns an automatic IP address to your VIA Connect device. This enables easy plug and play setup when connecting your VIA Connect to the network. The following explains how to change a static IP address.

  • Page 15: Via Pad Configuration

    Kramer Electronics Ltd. 7. Click Apply. The secure wireless guest access point is set up. Connecting VIA Connect to Network Wirelessly VIA Connect enables you to wirelessly connect your VIA Connect device as a client device to your main network.
  • Page 16 Kramer Electronics Ltd. Configuring VIA Pad Settings VIA Connect enables you to configure VIA Pad settings that define how a VIA Pad device operates when paired with your VIA Connect unit. To configure VIA Pad settings: 1. Click Device Management > VIAPad Configuration on the navigation pane.

  • Page 17: Site Management

    Kramer Electronics Ltd. Site Management VSM (VIA Site Management) is an optional, web-based software application (purchased separately) that enables an administrator to monitor and make changes to all VIA gateways connected to a network. VIA Connect enables you to activate VSM management for a VIA gateway and define which gateway functions are managed by VSM.

  • Page 18: Via Screen Editor

    Kramer Electronics Ltd. VIA Screen Editor VIA Connect enables you to customize the look and feel of the main display home screen: ▪ Creating New Screen Layout on page 16. ▪ Formatting Screen Layout Widgets on page 17. ▪ Editing a Screen Layout on page 21.
  • Page 19 Kramer Electronics Ltd. 7. Click Save. The new layout is saved and will appear in the table of layouts on the Screen Editor page. 8. Click Publish. The new screen layout appears on the main display. Formatting Screen Layout Widgets...
  • Page 20 Kramer Electronics Ltd. If you enter a name in the Custom Room Name, it does not change the IP address, but adds a custom name that can make it easier to identify the meeting space. This name appears in the meeting space list along with the IP address. A participant can...
  • Page 21 Kramer Electronics Ltd. Formatting Code Popup Code Popup shows the Room Code only when a participant enters the Room Name on Kramer VIA app to join the meeting. This popup appears on top of any content being presented on the main display.
  • Page 22 Kramer Electronics Ltd. Format the following on the Properties tab: ▪ Select 24 hour or AM/PM time format. ▪ Select the font size and text alignment. ▪ Under Auto Resize, click ON to automatically resize the box to fit the size of the text.
  • Page 23 Kramer Electronics Ltd. ▪ Select a bar color for the following meeting statuses:  In Use.  Available.  Upcoming. Formatting Timer The Timer widget is a pop-up that displays a notification that counts down the last several minutes before the next meeting is scheduled to start in the room.

  • Page 24: Configuring Via Settings Template

    Kramer Electronics Ltd. 3. Click OK. The selected screen layout is deleted from the VIA device and removed from the list. Exporting and Importing a Screen Layout VIA Connect enables you to export a screen layout in the form of a .screen file to share and to use on other VIA devices.
  • Page 25 Kramer Electronics Ltd. 4. Open the different settings pages by clicking on the navigation pane on the left and change settings as needed. 5. As you change settings on each page, do one of the following: a. Click Update Template to update the template without resetting and applying this template.
  • Page 26 VIA Auto Broadcast Info – VIA Connect can broadcast a signal to all Kramer VIA client applications connected to the same network (same VLAN). When a user starts to join a meeting, all VIA gateways that are broadcasting, automatically appear on the user’s meeting room list (see...
  • Page 27 Kramer Electronics Ltd. ▪ Default Encoding for Presentation – PC & Mac clients connected to the VIA gateway default to the encoding method selected here. (default = Auto/H264) ▪ Auto DND – The DND (Do Not Disturb) feature prevents anyone but the active presenter from presenting.
  • Page 28 Kramer Electronics Ltd.  Do not Close Whiteboard – The current whiteboard page remains on the main display. File Sharing Select in the VIA settings template (see Configuring VIA Settings Template on page 22) one of the following options for defining the type of files that can be shared between participants: ▪...
  • Page 29 Kramer Electronics Ltd. If required, select one or more of the following checkboxes that define what special features are available to a moderator: ▪ Moderator can enable/disable Chat feature during a session – (see Chatting with Participants on page 69).
  • Page 30 Kramer Electronics Ltd. Configuring Active Directory Moderator Mode VIA Connect enables you to import users from an Active Directory without having to create them in the Gateway Management Pages. The Active Directory must be organized into two sets of users: one that has permission to become moderator and one that does not have moderator permission.
  • Page 31 Kramer Electronics Ltd. Security Configure the following settings in the VIA settings template (see Configuring VIA Settings Template on page 22) that affect login security for the Gateway Management Pages and for VIA meetings: ▪ Web Session Timeout –Select the amount of idle time before an administrator is automatically logged out of the Gateway Management Pages.
  • Page 32 Kramer Electronics Ltd. Do not upload the key file until the certificate file is finished uploading. 2. Copy and paste the key file. The key file is uploaded. VIA Connect enables you to add an NTP (Network Time Protocol) server to synchronize your VIA gateway time.
  • Page 33 Kramer Electronics Ltd. To configure features arrangement and availability: 1. Scroll down on the Configurations Template Creation navigation pane, and click Connect > Gateway /Client /Mobile Features. 2. Click and drag feature icons to a new position as needed. 3. Click the switch next to a feature icon.

  • Page 34: Integrating Third Party Calendar

    Kramer Electronics Ltd. To configure your VIA Connect as a display controller: 1. Connect the display to be controlled to the same network as your Connect. 2. Click VIA Management > Display Controller on the navigation pane. The Display Controller page appears.
  • Page 35 Kramer Electronics Ltd. 6. Enter the email address for the resource calendar. 7. Click Test Connection to test if the details entered are correct. 8. Click Save. Your Office 365 calendar is integrated with VIA Calendar. Integrating Microsoft Exchange ®...

  • Page 36: Configuring Digital Signage

    For VIA devices sold before June 1 , 2019, Digital Signage is an optional feature available through separate licensing and pricing. Contact your local Kramer office for more details. VIA Connect enables you to configure digital signage. The Digital Signage feature enables...
  • Page 37 Kramer Electronics Ltd. To create and upload digital signage media: 1. Click Digital Signage > Manage Content on the navigation pane. The Manage Content page appears. 2. Create and upload media, as required: ▪ Creating Scrolling Text on page 35.
  • Page 38 Kramer Electronics Ltd. The RSS tab appears. 3. Enter the RSS feed URL address. 4. Click Get tags and select the required tag from the Select a tag drop-down list. 5. In the RSS Name field, enter a name for the RSS feed that will appear in the Existing Media table.
  • Page 39 Kramer Electronics Ltd. 4. Select an image or video file and click Upload. The file is added and appears in the Existing Media table. Adding Fonts to Digital Signage To add new fonts to Digital Signage: 1. Click Digital Signage > DSS Management on the navigation pane.
  • Page 40 Kramer Electronics Ltd. 9. Click Save. The new template is added and appears in the Saved Templates table on the Custom Templates tab. Click the Preview icon for a template to see a preview. Click the Edit icon to open the template builder screen and edit the selected template.

  • Page 41: Maintaining Your Via Unit

    Kramer Electronics Ltd. Scheduling Digital Signage Campaign VIA Connect enables you to schedule when a digital signage campaign is displayed. To schedule a digital signage campaign: 1. Click Digital Signage > Schedule Campaign on the navigation pane. The Schedule Campaign page appears.
  • Page 42 Kramer Electronics Ltd. To view and search the system activity logs: 1. Click Reports > Webadmin Activity Log / Gateway Activity Log on the navigation pane. The Webadmin Activity Log / Gateway Activity Log page appears. 2. Select the Start Date and the End Date to define the date range of log entries to be displayed.
  • Page 43 Kramer Electronics Ltd. e. Click Upload. The new firmware is uploaded to the unit, the FW is updated and the unit reboots. To verify the update, view the current firmware version on the upper right corner of the dashboard Participants tab.
  • Page 44 Kramer Electronics Ltd. To run the setup wizard: 1. Click Utility > Maintenance on the navigation pane. The Maintenance page appears. 2. Select the Show setup wizard on next reboot checkbox. 3. Click Apply. The setup wizard runs on the next reboot.

  • Page 45: For Web Administrator: Configuring Settings - Gateway Dashboard

    Kramer Electronics Ltd. For Web Administrator: Configuring Settings – Gateway Dashboard VIA Connect enables users with Web Administrator access to configure LAN settings and access system controls from the gateway dashboard. Logging in to Gateway Dashboard Settings The gateway dashboard Settings can be accessed by connecting a mouse and keyboard...

  • Page 46: Accessing System Controls

    Viewing and Searching System Activity Logs on page 39). VIA Connect unit is pre-activated by Kramer. In case your license has been revoked, you can activate it here. To access system controls: 1. On the Gateway Dashboard Settings Screen, click System Controls.
  • Page 47 Kramer Electronics Ltd. 7. Click Apply. Audio is enabled for VIA Versa web-conferencing after resetting the session. VIA Connect – For Web Administrator: Configuring Settings – Gateway Dashboard...

  • Page 48: For User: Running Kramer Via App

    Click Yes and follow the Setup Wizard instructions. Kramer VIA app is saved to the KRAMER folder on your C:/ProgramFiles directory drive by default and a desktop shortcut is created for easy access. However, you can select a different target folder in the Setup Wizard.

  • Page 49: Running Kramer Via App From A Web Browser

    Running Kramer VIA App from a Web Browser on page join the meeting. If the Room Code is activated, a participant in the meeting room must tell the remote participant the code for logging in. VIA Connect – For User: Running Kramer VIA App...

  • Page 50: Running Kramer Via App Using An Installation File

    Running Kramer VIA App Using an Installation File For easy deployment and installation of Kramer VIA app on participant devices, IT managers can use the msi file (Windows) or dmg file (Apple) available at: www.kramerav.com/product/VIA Connect PLUS VIA Connect – For User: Running Kramer VIA App...

  • Page 51: For User: Participating In A Via Meeting

    Kramer Electronics Ltd. For User: Participating in a VIA Meeting This section explains how to participate in a collaborative meeting using VIA Connect your personal device. VIA Connect enables you to do the following: • Joining a VIA Meeting on page 49.
  • Page 52 Kramer Electronics Ltd. To add a meeting space to your favorites, click the star next to the space. One of the following statuses may appear next to a meeting space on the list: • Room Free for hh:mm minutes – No user is logged in and a meeting will start after the displayed amount of time.
  • Page 53 A capture screen appears on your device. 3. Scan the QR code that appears on the main display. You are automatically logged in to the VIA meeting and the Kramer VIA dashboard appears. VIA Connect – For User: Participating in a VIA Meeting...
  • Page 54 VIA meeting using a VIA NFC Tag with an Android device. Writing an NFC Tag To write an NFC tag: 1. Download the free VIA NFC Writer file from the Kramer Website (www. kramerav. com/support/download.

  • Page 55: Mirroring Your Device Screen

    65). Mirror your device screen on the main display using one of the following methods: ▪ Mirroring Windows Laptops and Android Mobile Devices Using Kramer VIA on page 53. ▪ Mirroring Apple Laptops and iPhones Using iOS/OS X Airplay Service on page 55.
  • Page 56 VIA Connect enables you to mirror your entire device screen on the main display. To mirror your Windows laptop or Android device screen using Kramer VIA: 1. Connect your laptop or Android device to the network to which your VIA Connect connected.
  • Page 57 Kramer Electronics Ltd. Mirroring Apple Laptops and iPhones Using iOS/OS X Airplay Service All participants in a meeting using an Apple device can mirror their screen on the main display using the Apple AirPlay service. No application is required to activate this mode. However, an...
  • Page 58 Kramer Electronics Ltd. Mirroring Using Miracast VIA Connect enables you to use the native Miracast feature on your Windows 10 laptop or Android device to mirror your screen on the main display. This feature requires installation of the optional VIAcast dongle (sold separately) and must be...
  • Page 59 To mirror with the Extended Desktop feature: ▪ On the Kramer VIA app dashboard, click the share screen icon with a 2. An extension of your device desktop appears on the VIA main display. Drag content to the left and beyond your primary screen to show it on the main display.

  • Page 60: Collaborating On Main Display

    Kramer Electronics Ltd. Collaborating on Main Display VIA Connect provides state-of-the-art collaboration functionality, enabling meeting participants to interact with content displayed on the main display, annotate shared content, take control of another participants computer and more. It enables up to 254 meeting participants to collaborate when using a compatible external wireless network.
  • Page 61 Kramer Electronics Ltd. Your cursor appears on the main display with your nickname next to it. Figure 6: Collaboration Cursor on the Main Display 4. Use your cursor as a pointer or operate any of the features from the main display dashboard and use your keyboard to type text on the main display, when necessary.
  • Page 62 Kramer Electronics Ltd. Using Whiteboard VIA Connect enables you to use a virtual whiteboard on the main display. Multiple participants can use the whiteboard concurrently to draw, present images, and annotate content. Initiating Whiteboard To initiate the Whiteboard feature: 1. On the dashboard, click Show Options >...
  • Page 63 Kramer Electronics Ltd. Icon Action Show Displays the main display with all running applications. The user can also annotate any desktop content on the main display and add it to a whiteboard page (see Show Desktop on page 62). Save Save your activity in either.
  • Page 64 Kramer Electronics Ltd. Show Desktop Show Desktop allows you to hide the whiteboard and to navigate freely on the VIA desktop. A toolbar is available for making annotations on the VIA desktop and capturing an object. For example, capture an area of the screen and add it as an object in the current Whiteboard page.
  • Page 65 1. Mirror your screen on the main display using the Kramer VIA app (see Mirroring Windows Laptops and Android Mobile Devices Using Kramer VIA on page 53). 2. On the dashboard, click Show Options > Features > Enable Control. Any participant that starts Collaboration (see...
  • Page 66 Kramer Electronics Ltd. The selected Display Status icon turns blue and the Display Control icon for that participant appears. The selected participant is put into Presentation mode and his device screen appears on the main display. 3. Click the Display Control icon.

  • Page 67: Streaming Video

    Streaming Video VIA Connect provides the following options for streaming video from your device to the main display: ▪ Streaming Through Kramer VIA App on page 65. ▪ RTSP Streaming Through VLC on page 67. ▪ RTP Streaming Through VLC on page 68.
  • Page 68 Kramer Electronics Ltd. A system file browser appears. 4. Select the relevant video file and click Open. The file appears in the My Media table. 5. Double-click the media file in the table or click the play button. The video plays on the main display.
  • Page 69 Kramer Electronics Ltd. RTSP Streaming Through VLC The Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) is a network control protocol designed for use in entertainment and communications systems to control streaming media servers. The protocol establishes and controls media sessions between end points. Clients of media servers issue commands like play and pause, to facilitate real-time control of playback of media files from the server.
  • Page 70 Kramer Electronics Ltd. 16. Select the RTSP stream in the Streaming table and click the play button. RTSP Streaming using VLC Media Player is configured and the media appears on the main display. RTP Streaming Through VLC The Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) is a network protocol for delivering audio and video over IP networks.

  • Page 71: Communicating With Participants

    Kramer Electronics Ltd. Communicating with Participants VIA Connect enables you to communicate with participants through chat, file sharing and becoming moderator of the meeting. Chatting with Participants VIA Connect enables you to exchange text messages with other meeting participants. To send a text message to another meeting participant: 1.
  • Page 72 Kramer Electronics Ltd. Sharing Files with All Participants To share files with all participants: 1. On the Dashboard, click Features > Files. A dialog box appears. 2. Click Share file with all participants. A file browser appears. 3. Select the file to share.
  • Page 73 To share files with other meeting participants, see Sharing Files on page 69. To Manage VIA files from Kramer VIA mobile app: 1. Open VIA app and, before logging in to a meeting, tap the Files icon on the bottom of the screen.

  • Page 74: Mirroring Main Display On Your Device

    Kramer Electronics Ltd. Disabling Chat VIA Connect enables the moderator of a meeting to disable the chat feature during a meeting. To enable the Chat checkbox, see (see Moderator Mode on page 26). To disable chat: 1. Become the moderator of the meeting (see Becoming Meeting Moderator on page 71).

  • Page 75: Advanced Meeting Functions

    Kramer Electronics Ltd. You must stop presenting and/or streaming video to start the View Main Display feature. View Main Display is designed for visual reinforcement and is displayed at a reduced frame rate in an effort to reduce bandwidth usage.
  • Page 76 Kramer Electronics Ltd. The VIA administrator collaborates directly through the VIA unit by connecting a mouse and keyboard to the VIA gateway unit (see For Installer: Connecting VIA Connect on page 8) or through a touchscreen interface. Using Gateway Dashboard...
  • Page 77 Kramer Electronics Ltd. Two encoding formats are available: • H. 264 – Default format if your operating system supports H. 264 encoding. This format reduces bandwidth requirements when presenting high-resolution content. • JPEG – If the operating system does not support H. 264 encoding, enable this format.
  • Page 78 Kramer Electronics Ltd. Feeding Receiver Information to VIA Connect The receiver information must be fed to VIA Connect before streaming can begin. To feed receiver information to VIA Connect: 1. In the Streaming tab in the VIA settings template (see...
  • Page 79 Kramer Electronics Ltd. To stream from one VIA unit to to a Windows/Mac computer: 1. Connect the VIA unit and the computer to the same network. 2. Use the receiver computer’s IP address to create a URL as described in...
  • Page 80 Kramer Electronics Ltd. 4. Click the VIA icon in this computer’s taskbar and select Start Streaming. The Multicast Stream starts. Receiving a Multicast Stream on Multiple VIA Units 1. Login through the VIA Client to the target VIA unit. 2. On the dashboard, click Features > Multimedia.
  • Page 81 Kramer Electronics Ltd. 5. In the audio settings of the video conferencing app select the audio device named Virtual Audio Device The video and audio for the video conference switches to the external video conferencing device and you are ready to start a video.
  • Page 82 Kramer Electronics Ltd. 5. Select a date from the Session drop-down to see the graph from another session. The graph of the session is played back as a video. Setting Default Meeting Spaces List for Mobile App When you start...

  • Page 83: Via App Android Permissions

    Kramer Electronics Ltd. VIA App Android Permissions Permission Category Description How Used Camera Take pictures and videos. Logging in through QRCode reader. Contacts Find accounts on the device. Logging in to cloud storage apps like Google Drive, OneDrive, and Dropbox.
  • Page 84 Electronics products, this product must be insured during shipment, with the insurance and shipping charges prepaid by you. If this product is returned uninsured, you assume all risks of loss or damage during shipment. Kramer Electronics will not be responsible for any costs related to the removal or re- installation of this product from or into any installation.
  • Page 85 SAFETY WARNING Disconnect the unit from the power supply before opening and servicing For the latest information on our products and a list of Kramer distributors, visit our Web site where updates to this user manual may be found. We welcome your questions, comments, and feedback.

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