Serial Cables

Summary: Serial Cables

ProAV Cables and Low-Voltage Solutions for Commercial Integration

Windy City Wire manufactures SmartWire® low-voltage cable for professional audio, video, and control applications. Our ProAV offering is designed for integrators, contractors, and systems designers who need reliable signal performance, consistent supply, and practical features that simplify installation across corporate spaces, education, hospitality, houses of worship, stadiums, and broadcast environments.

Whether you are building new infrastructure or expanding an existing system, our pro av cable options support device control, audio transport, and video distribution paths commonly used in professional systems—including applications that incorporate Serial Digital workflows and serial control lines such as 8-pin Mini-DIN connections.

How SmartWire Helps You Deliver Reliable AV Systems

• Signal integrity you can count on: Consistent materials and construction help maintain stable impedance and low crosstalk to protect critical AV and control signals from source to endpoint.
• Flexible installation: Stranding and jacket designs support tight equipment racks, bends, and conduit pulls common in commercial AV spaces.
• Faster pulls with less effort: SmartWire Glide Technology® lubrication is applied to the cable jacket during manufacturing to reduce friction during cable pulling by up to 70%, improving safety and installation efficiency.
• Built for AV environments: Durable jackets and quality copper conductors stand up to daily use, service work, and moves/adds/changes without compromising performance.
• Bulk format for custom field terminations: All items in this category are supplied in 1000 FT lengths, enabling clean, custom-length field terminations and panel builds.

Use Cases We Support

• Control and automation: Serial control lines for switchers, DSPs, projectors, and control processors (including common 8-pin Mini-DIN serial control interfaces).
• Video distribution: Feeds for commercial video matrices and displays, including workflows that incorporate Serial Digital signal paths.
• Audio transport: Runs from mic locations, stage boxes, and equipment racks to processing and amplification.
• Rack interconnects: Build reliable patch cables from bulk SmartWire to standardize and color-code rack builds and service spares.

Why AV Contractors Choose Windy City Wire

• U.S.-manufactured SmartWire: SmartWire is the brand name of the low-voltage cable Windy City Wire manufactures in the United States. It is not a technology; it is a dependable cable line built for field performance.
• Low-voltage focus: Every product we offer in this category is engineered for low-voltage AV and control systems.
• Installation efficiency: SmartWire Glide lubrication is included at no additional cost on stock SmartWire cables to make pulls smoother and faster.
• Consistency and standardization: Options for custom jacket and stripe colors help organizations standardize installations and simplify long-term service and identification.
• Trusted partnership: We supply products and solutions that help integrators deliver projects on time with predictable performance.

Product Value Summary

With SmartWire, you get a purpose-built, low-voltage cabling platform that supports dependable AV performance, efficient installations, and uniform project outcomes. From serial control and device interconnect to distribution paths that include Serial Digital, our cables help you deliver clean, serviceable systems. Bulk 1000 FT lengths make it easy to produce custom assemblies and patch cable runs to the exact length your rack layout requires, minimizing waste and simplifying future service.

Project and Application Fit

• Commercial AV renovations and new construction needing consistent bulk cable for field termination.
• Control-system backbones where serial communication and device triggers must remain stable over time.
• Equipment rack builds that benefit from standardized color schemes and bulk cable to create durable patch cables and service spares.

Ready to Plan Your Next ProAV Project?

Choose SmartWire low-voltage cabling to streamline installation, support reliable signal performance, and standardize your field terminations. Contact Windy City Wire to discuss your application, jacket and stripe color options, and how our products and solutions can support your next project from design to handoff.

Solutions: Serial Cables

Serial Cables for Professional AV Control and Integration

In commercial and industrial AV environments, reliable serial connectivity is foundational for device control, automation, and system monitoring. Windy City Wire supports integrators, contractors, and facility teams with low-voltage serial solutions designed to tie together controllers, switchers, DSPs, projectors, displays, PTZ cameras, lighting processors, and building systems. Whether you are wiring a single conference room or a multi-building campus, the right pro av cable for serial control helps ensure consistent performance, simplified troubleshooting, and predictable results at scale.

Where Serial Cables Fit in Pro AV Systems

• Conference rooms and collaboration spaces: Connect control processors to displays, matrix switchers, DSPs, and PTZ cameras for reliable RS‑232/RS‑422 command and feedback. Serial links remain a go-to for preset recall, source switching, volume control, and power management.
• Lecture halls and training environments: Coordinate projectors, screen lifts, lecture capture devices, and confidence monitors. Serial cabling simplifies centralized control of presentation technology and supports consistent room behavior.
• Command and control centers: Tie operator consoles to KVMs, video wall processors, and routing gear. Deterministic serial connections help maintain stable, low-latency control in mission-critical spaces.
• Digital signage and retail networks: Enable remote display management, source switching, and scheduled on/off control from media players to endpoints across large footprints.
• Hospitality and entertainment venues: Integrate lighting, AV processors, video switchers, and environmental systems for coordinated show control and streamlined operations.
• Healthcare facilities: Support simulation labs, telemedicine carts, and procedure room AV by providing dependable links between cameras, codecs, and control interfaces.
• Industrial and manufacturing: Interface test equipment, PLCs, scoreboard controllers, and production displays; serial control is common where simplicity and reliability are priorities.
• Transportation hubs and public spaces: Manage wayfinding screens, PA matrices, and control room equipment across terminals and stations.
• Broadcast and live production: While video often rides on Serial Digital (SDI), many routers, tally controllers, PTZ systems, and intercom frames still expose serial ports for precise control and automation.

Common Devices and Interfaces Served by Serial Cabling

• Control processors and touchpanels
• Matrix switchers, scalers, and extenders
• DSPs, amplifiers, and conferencing codecs
• Projectors, professional displays, and LED processors
• PTZ cameras and camera controllers (including VISCA-style connections)
• Lighting and shade controllers, occupancy sensors, and environmental interfaces
• KVMs, telemetry modules, and specialty industrial controllers

Inside the Rack and Across the Facility

• In-rack interconnects: Short serial patch cables are ideal for connecting control processors to adjacent gear in equipment racks, credenzas, and lecterns. An 8‑pin mini‑DIN male‑to‑male serial connection, for example, is common on certain PTZ cameras and controller ports, making it a practical patch cable option for device-to-device links.
• Room-to-room and backbone runs: Use bulk low-voltage serial runs to tie remote devices back to a centralized headend. Consistent construction helps maintain signal integrity and simplifies commissioning across longer distances and varied pathways.
• Serviceability: Thoughtful serial cabling supports clear port mapping and fast swap-outs, helping reduce downtime during updates or equipment replacement.

Why Spec Windy City Wire for Serial in Pro AV

• Built for commercial environments: Designed to meet the daily demands of corporate campuses, higher education, hospitality, healthcare, industrial facilities, and public sector installations.
• Stable signaling for control: Consistent electrical performance supports reliable RS‑232/RS‑422/RS‑485 communication to minimize nuisance disconnects and callbacks.
• Installation efficiency: Flexible constructions that route cleanly in racks and conduits can help reduce labor during trim-out and future service.
• System-wide consistency: Standardized serial links across rooms and buildings simplify documentation, testing, and long-term maintenance.
• Support for mixed AV ecosystems: Works alongside networked AV, HDMI/DisplayPort, and Serial Digital video workflows by managing the control side of the system while other media ride over dedicated transport.

Planning Tips for Serial Control Cabling

1. Confirm protocol and pinout: Verify RS‑232 vs. RS‑422/485 and any vendor-specific pinouts (including 8‑pin mini‑DIN layouts) before termination. This prevents rework during commissioning.
2. Separate control from power: Maintain proper spacing from high-voltage lines and large transformers to reduce potential interference on control links.
3. Document endpoints: Map ports to devices and label terminations consistently at the rack and field device to speed up testing and service.
4. Plan for service loops: Allow manageable slack at devices and racks to accommodate future moves, adds, and changes without pull-backs.

Use Cases for 8‑Pin Mini‑DIN Serial Connections

• PTZ camera control: Direct connections between controllers, switchers, and cameras that rely on mini‑DIN serial ports.
• Matrix and router control: Certain legacy and specialty devices utilize mini‑DIN connectors for serial command sets.
• Service patches: Create convenient in-rack patch points for quick diagnostic swaps or temporary controller connections.

How This Helps Your Projects

• Reduced integration risk: Predictable serial performance contributes to clean bring-up and reliable day-2 operations.
• Faster commissioning: Clear, consistent control wiring shortens test cycles and streamlines troubleshooting.
• Lifecycle value: Robust control links support firmware updates, preset changes, and remote management without rolling trucks.

When to Use “Patch Cables” vs. Bulk Serial Runs

• Patch cable inside racks: Use short, purpose-built serial patch cables for tidy, high-density racks and carts where device proximity is close.
• Bulk runs for distance: Use structured low-voltage serial cabling for pathways between rooms, floors, and buildings where consistent routing and termination are required.

For assistance selecting the right pro av cable for serial control, or to align on pinouts and device requirements, contact Windy City Wire. Our team supports B2B partners across commercial and industrial markets with guidance that keeps projects on schedule and systems operating as intended.

Frequently Asked Questions: Serial Cables

• How is your SmartWire ProAV cable sold on spools or in boxes?

  It is packaged in our patented RackPack carton as part of our complete RackPack Field Systems Solution, designed to maximize labor savings and efficiency. Learn more about our RackPack: https://windycitywire.com/solutions/rackpack-overview

Additional Links:

• Learn more about our SmartWire Cable
• The RackPack - Our patented cable delivery solution
• Our Transporters - RackPack Transportation Devices
• 19 Stocking Locations Nationwide - Find a Branch near you