Black Box ACX2MT-DPHS-SM Modular KVM Extender Transmitter

Overview

The Black Box ACX2MT-DPHS-SM is a modular KVM extender transmitter module designed to extend DisplayPort video, USB HID, and serial signals over single-mode fiber. It is the transmitter (local/source) half of a point-to-point KVM extension solution, pairing with a compatible Black Box receiver module to complete the link. This type of deployment is common in broadcast control rooms, secure government facilities, industrial control environments, and data centers where the operator console must be physically separated from the compute hardware — sometimes across significant distances.

The ACX2MT-DPHS-SM (also searched as ACX2MT DPHS SM) is part of Black Box's ACX modular extender platform, which allows transmitter and receiver modules to be configured per-deployment based on signal type, media type, and distance requirements. Single-mode fiber support means the fiber plant can reach considerably farther than multimode alternatives — a key consideration when console separation spans multiple floors, separate buildings, or campus distances.

Key Features

• DisplayPort 1.4 signal extension: Carries high-resolution DisplayPort video over fiber, eliminating the distance limitations of copper DP cables and supporting the high-bandwidth displays common in modern control room workstations.
• Single-mode fiber transport: Single-mode fiber supports longer cable runs than multimode, making this module appropriate for inter-building or campus-scale console separation — not just rack-to-rack.
• USB HID support: Extends keyboard and mouse (HID-class USB devices) to the remote console location, so operators interact with the source system as if seated directly in front of it.
• Serial channel: The integrated serial extension is useful for KVM-adjacent control tasks — managing serial-console devices (routers, switches, PDUs) from the same remote operator station.
• Modular ACX platform: The module slots into Black Box's ACX chassis, enabling mix-and-match configurations across signal types and fiber media without replacing the entire extender unit.

Integration and Compatibility

The ACX2MT-DPHS-SM requires a paired Black Box ACX receiver module and compatible ACX chassis to function — it is not a standalone device. Confirm chassis compatibility and the specific receiver SKU with Black Box or your pre-sales engineer before ordering. Single-mode fiber cabling with appropriate LC connectors is required at the installation site.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the ACX2MT-DPHS-SM — is it a complete KVM extender kit?

A: No. The ACX2MT-DPHS-SM is the transmitter module only. It must be paired with a compatible Black Box ACX receiver module and installed in a compatible ACX modular chassis to form a complete KVM extension link.

Q: What fiber type does the ACX2MT-DPHS-SM use?

A: The ACX2MT-DPHS-SM is designed for single-mode fiber (SM), which supports longer extension distances than multimode fiber. The exact maximum distance should be confirmed from the Black Box product datasheet for this SKU.

Q: What signals does the ACX2MT-DPHS-SM extend?

A: Based on the model designation, this module extends DisplayPort video, USB HID (keyboard/mouse), and serial signals. Confirm the full signal list against the Black Box datasheet before installation.

Q: Does the ACX2MT-DPHS-SM support 4K resolution?

A: The module is associated with DisplayPort 1.4, which has the bandwidth to carry 4K content, but the confirmed maximum resolution should be verified against the Black Box product datasheet for this specific SKU.

Q: What chassis does the ACX2MT-DPHS-SM require?

A: The ACX2MT-DPHS-SM is part of the Black Box ACX modular extender platform. Compatible chassis information should be confirmed directly from Black Box's compatibility documentation before purchase.

Eden Phillips

The ACX2MT-DPHS-SM is the transmitter half of Black Box's ACX modular KVM extension platform — it carries DisplayPort, USB HID, and serial over single-mode fiber to a paired receiver at the operator console. Single-mode fiber is the right call when the separation distance between the compute stack and the control station is measured in hundreds of meters rather than tens.

Technical Highlights:

• Single-mode fiber transport: SM fiber's lower attenuation characteristics support substantially longer runs than multimode — critical for cross-building or campus console separation deployments.
• DisplayPort signal carriage: Extending DP natively over fiber avoids the signal degradation and distance ceilings of copper DP runs, which top out well under 15 meters at high resolutions.
• Serial channel inclusion: Having serial alongside video and HID on the same fiber link means one cable plant handles both the operator's display/input needs and out-of-band device management at the remote rack.

Deployment Considerations:

• This is a module, not a self-contained extender — budget for the ACX chassis and paired receiver SKU; the ACX2MT-DPHS-SM alone does nothing without both.
• Verify single-mode fiber termination and connector type (LC is standard on Black Box ACX modules, but confirm before pulling cable) with the site's structured cabling team prior to installation.

Best suited for secure control room builds, broadcast facilities, and government or defense environments where long-haul console isolation over an existing single-mode fiber plant is the architectural requirement.