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FEATURES
• Share a peripheral between
multiple PCs.
• Great for printer-sharing applications.
• Also perfect for sharing a modem
between PCs. Save on expensive
line costs.
• No programming or complicated
software required.
• Reliable—tested to 25,000
switching cycles.
OVERVIEW
You can save money without compromising quality and
reliability. How? Share expensive equipment with one of our
rock-solid switches. You’ll save money on extra peripherals,
you don’t really need and get a lifetime guarantee to boot.
Say you have four PC users in your office, and they all have
to use a printer once in a while. How many printers do you
need? Just one—when you connect every user to an ABCDE
switch.
It’s just as easy to share a modem. With a flip of the switch,
any of the four users can dial out.
Or use two different printers with the same computer.
You could have a black-and-white printer for drafts and a
color printer for final copies.
Whatever your application, we have a switch for you!
ABC switches
switch two computers (A and B) to one
peripheral (C), or two peripherals to one computer.
ABCDE switches
switch up to four computers (A, B, D, E)
to one peripheral (C), or four peripherals to one computer.
X switches
switch two computers to two peripherals,
so, for example, two computers can share access to two
printers.
6 to 1 switches
enable six devices using DB25 connections
to share one common device.
Note that switches with 25 leads can be used in either
serial or parallel applications. For all your options, see
page 3
.
•
Monitor switches
have six LEDs: Transmit Data, Receive
Data, Request to Send, Clear to Send, Data Set Ready, and
Data Terminal Ready.
•
Key-operated lockable switches
prohibit unauthorized
users from switching. They come with a lock and key,
so if someone doesn’t have the key, he or she can’t
turn the switch. That means your data is protected.
Key-operated lockable switches are tested to 25,000-
use cycles to ensure reliability.
Best of all, we guarantee these switches—or their repair or
replacement is on us!
6/14/2007
#10140
724-746-5500
blackbox.com
Manual switches.
Black Box has nonpowered, low-cost manual switches
for applications that don’t require memory, buffering, or
spooling. How do you choose a switch that’s right for you?
Just ask yourself three easy questions:
Which connector style?
Before ordering a switch, find out what connectors
are on your existing cables and computer equipment.
This ensures that you can connect your new switch.
Female connectors are standard on the switches featured
in this document. On some models, male connectors are
available; in some cases, there’s an additional charge.
Also, a switch must be able to support the same pinning
as your equipment. For example, of the 25 electrical leads
in a DB25 connector, only 4 (or 12) of them might be
active. Consult the operating manual that came with your
computer equipment to determine how many (and which)
leads your new switch needs to support.
How many devices?
Figure out the number of devices you’re connecting
and how you want to connect them. That determines the
specific kind of switch you need. With ABC switches, two
users can share one peripheral, or a single user can choose
between two devices. ABCDE switches enable four users
to share one device or one user to choose from four
peripherals. With X switches, two users can share two
devices.
How much space do I have?
We feature two switch sizes in this document: Chassis
styles A and B. Both share the same width and depth
dimensions. If vertical height is a consideration where
you’re placing switches, see our specifications on
page 3
.
Technically Speaking
