About CIO
https://village-island.com/en/cio/
https://support-next.cyanview.com/docs/products/ci0/
The CI0 (pronounced "C-I-zero"; the last character is the digit "0") is an IP-to-serial interface that connects serial cameras, lenses, and compatible accessories to an RCP or RIO over the local network. In this site's menus and URLs it is written as "CIO".
The CI0 does not run camera control software itself and has no Web UI (configuration page). It receives commands from the RCP or RIO and converts them into the serial signal the connected camera needs. For this reason, cameras connected to a CI0 are configured on the RCP.
When to Use a CI0
Use a CI0 when the camera-side interface can stay on the same local network as the RCP (or RIO). Typical uses:
- Control one serial camera from an RCP
- Provide power and control to mini cameras through the CI0 serial connector
- Control Blackmagic cameras over SDI using a CY-CI0BM or an RSBM interface (see Blackmagic Design)
CI0 or RIO?
The CI0 and the RIO both provide the same two serial ports, but they are designed for different workflows. The CI0 is a simple microcontroller-based converter meant to be controlled by an RCP or RIO. The RIO runs Linux and includes the same camera control software as the RCP, so it can control cameras by itself (it is like an "RCP + CI0" without the user panel).
| Use case / feature | CI0 | RIO |
|---|---|---|
| Local IP-to-serial interface | Yes | Yes |
| Runs camera protocols and configuration locally | No | Yes |
| Has its own web configuration interface | No | Yes |
| Camera control over USB | No | Yes |
| Control of B4 or Canon CineServo lenses | Not recommended | Yes |
| Control of Sony camcorders through the legacy 8-pin connector | Not recommended | Yes |
| Keeps controlling the camera if the RCP link drops | No | Yes |
| Built-in Wi-Fi or USB modem workflow | No | Yes |
| Routed network or control through a gateway | No (requires local broadcast discovery) | Yes |
| VPN or LAN tunnel with latency | Not recommended | Yes |
| REMI, cellular, or control over the internet | No | Yes |
| PoE power input | Yes | No |
| 12 V DC power input | Yes | Yes |
Rule of thumb: choose a CI0 for simple serial control on the same local network as the RCP. Choose a RIO when the camera position needs to work on its own, or for USB cameras, Wi-Fi or cellular connectivity, REMI, or operation across a gateway, VPN, or the internet.
:::caution RIO recommended for B4 lenses and Sony 8-pin camcorders
- B4 ENG lenses / Canon CineServo and Duvo lenses: the lens must stay in digital control mode. If communication is interrupted (the RCP is power-cycled, the Ethernet to the CI0 is unplugged, etc.), the lens can fall back to analog control and close the iris.
- Some Sony camcorders using the legacy 8-pin connector: some models have separate paint settings for standalone and remote operation. If the RCP connection is unstable, the camera may lose remote control or switch paint settings unexpectedly.
Because the RIO runs the camera protocol locally, it keeps these connections alive without constant communication with the RCP. :::
:::warning Do not use a CI0 over a layer-2 VPN or LAN tunnel A CI0 may be discovered if the tunnel carries the required broadcast messages, but that does not make it a good remote-control interface. Some serial camera protocols require acknowledgements with short timeouts, and with a CI0 those low-level exchanges cross the tunnel. With a RIO, the camera protocol runs locally between the RIO and the camera, and the RCP only sends higher-level control commands. :::
Getting Started
- Connect the CI0 to the same PoE switch / local network as the RCP (or RIO). On a PoE switch it is powered over the LAN cable (it can also be powered from 12 V DC; see Power Supply).
- You do not need to set an IP address on the CI0. The RCP discovers the CI0 automatically. The CI0's screen shows its status (see Status Display).
- Connect the camera to the CI0 with the cable for that camera (see the Cable Catalog and the camera-specific setup guides).
- Add the camera in the RCP's Web UI and select the CI0 and port as the interface (see "Configuring with a CI0" and "Example: configuring a serial camera" in Getting Started).
A CI0 can be used by only one RCP (or RIO/GWY) configuration at a time. To share camera control between multiple RCPs, use the RCP's REMI feature instead of connecting several RCPs directly to the same CI0.
CIO Manual
For port specifications, serial topology, network/WiFi, power supply, status indicators, updates, and troubleshooting, see the CIO Manual.
Camera-Specific Setup Guides
Connection and control methods for cameras are shared across RCP/RIO/CIO. See the camera-specific setup guides.