November/December 2000
Contents
1. Recommended Extron products The SW VGA Switchers and P 2 DA distribution amplifiers are additions that can multiply the projector s inputs or PC s outputs The SW VGA series are 2 4 or 6 input switchers with 15 pin HD connectors The switchers add to the MT series two 15 pin HD connectors allowing multiple PCs to be switched to one projector The P 2 DA 2 4 or 6 distribution amplifiers drive the PC signal as well as distribute one PC s signal to multiple M T50 series projectors Connecting all these components together are the Extron 15 pin HD cable assemblies These cables are offered in plenum and non plenum jackets and are gender selectable on the ends MT1055 Sony Wwww sony com Sony Electronics has recently announced the 4 000 ANSI lumens VPL FE110 Supersmart LCD Installation Projector The VPL FE110 offers native SXGA resolution and has a four lamp array Two of the four lamps can be turned off by the user This increases the life of the lamp unit from 2 000 hours to 4 000 hours The VPL FE110 has a built in Windows CE board and can be incorporated into a network via wire or wireless connection The projector has a Presentation Viewer for PowerPoint JPEG files and Web browsing The VPL FE110 can be checked for status of all functions as well as controlled via the Web Recommended Extron products The System 7SC switcher allows even more sources to be connected to the Sony VPL FE110 projector The System 7SC2. Issue 1L4 ExtroN CWS www extron com November December 2000 gt amp 2e UTI o FEATURE ARTICLES On the cover CrossPoint Plus Series Switchers 4 Accu RATE Frame Lock COLUMNS 5 The Extron Hotline Thanks for Another Milestone Technically Speaking Demystifying Cables and Connectors for Digital Formats Part 2 Unique Techniques M atrix Switching and Interfacing at NASA FutureFlight Central Rental amp Staging Corner A V in the Legal World Tech Corner Digital Sync Validation Processing DSVP ALSO IN THIS ISSUE 12 New Products 15 Special Videoconferencing Series 20 New News 24 Tweeker Use CrossPoint Plus Series Matrix Switchers Single Box Solutions for Ultra Wideband Routing Applications this scenario you re off site but you need to monitor the activities of your matrix switching system How would you do that If you ve installed an Extron CrossPoint Plus Matrix Switcher then you can take advantage of its innovative Digital Sync Validation Processing DSVP feature DSVP verifies active sources by scanning all RGBS and RGBHV inputs for active sync signals DSVP then transmits the horizontal and vertical scan rate information to you via any type of control system using RS 232 422 commands This is useful for remote monitoring and diagnostics of the CrossPoint Plus and its sources For additional discussion please visit Tech
3. N YJ TECHNICALLY SPEAKING by Steve Somers Vice President of Engineering 6 ExtroNews 1L4 Demystifying Cables and Connectors for Digital Formats Part 2 DVI Firewire and USB 2 0 Oi for DVI Firewire and USB 2 0 is paramount for each format in rder to provide you with the performance specified Recall that DVI Digital Visual Interface is penetrating the computer monitor interface market as flat panel LCD monitors become affordable Firewire or IEEE 1394 is that tiny square like connector tucked away on the side of your digital camcorder that allows you to upload DV format to your computer among other things And as we approach the real beginning of the millennium 2001 USB is receiving a major overhaul analogous to jacking up your radiator cap and driving in a new car underneath it Yes USB 2 0 promises to bring us hot swappable hosted peripherals now capable of talking at 480 M bps instead of just 12 M bps Getting From Here To There With DVI The DVI Digital Visual Interface connection between local monitors and computers presents an interesting interfacing environment It is a combination serial digital interface and a parallel interface format somewhat like combining the broadcast serial digital and parallel digital interfaces Transmission of the TMDS transition minimized differential signaling format combines four differential high speed serial connections in its base configur
4. switcher It allows four composite video and or S video inputs to be overlapped or windowed for picture in picture or multiple window viewing The SVS 100 is a four input one output switcher that switches without glitches between any of its four video and or S video sources Of the four available inputs on the MVP 104GX and SVS 100 switchers two are composite video only and two are S video or composite video Finally the VSC 150 converts computer images to composite video or S video for connection to the codec This allows PC applications such as PowerPoint Slides or spreadsheets to be sent to the codec and enhance the videoconference experience Tandberg 500 November December 2000 a nO INDUSTRY S Toshiba www toshiba com Toshiba introduces four new compact LCD projectors titled the X Series The TLP X21 11 2 lbs and TLP X20 13 0 Ibs feature 2 400 ANSI lumens and the TLP X11 11 2 lbs and TLP X10 13 0 lbs offer 2 000 ANSI lumens These projectors ship with a built in PC memory card slot that accepts PC Type Il memory cards to display presentations without having to connect a computer Also built in is the Visualizer a free arm digital color document camera The X Series projectors include composite S video component RGBHV and DVI Digital Visual Interface The USD list prices for these projectors are 10 995 TLP X21 9 395 TLP X20 9 995 TLP X11 and 8 495 TLP X10 Recommended
5. Corner on page 18 CrossPoint Plus Series Matrix Switchers For applications that require uncompromised video bandwidth Extron s CrossPoint Plus Series M atrix Switchers combine the most popular features of the original CrossPoint Series with these newly added features 450 MHz 3dB minimum ultra wideband video bandwidth DSVP front panel 1 0 label windows view I O mode I O grouping audio attenuation gain channel to channel isolation front panel security lock out and Triple Action Switching continued on page 2 Extron s CrossPoint Plus 128HVA Switcher 2 CrossPoint Plus Series Switchers cont Input Horz The cost effective high performance CrossPoint Plus Series Matrix Switchers are ideal for ultra wideband analog high resolution computer video applications routing RGsB RGBS or RGBHV video signals HDTV component video S video composite video and or stereo audio This series is available in the following fixed configurations 8 x 4 8 x 8 12 x 4 12 x8 16 x 8 and 16 x 16 Each I O size is available as two different models HV models for Switching signals up to RGBHV and HVA models for switching signals up to RGBHV and two channel stereo audio balanced or unbalanced Designed for resolutions from 1280 x 1024 and up the CrossPoint Plus Series maintains original signal integrity with its minimum 450 MHz 3dB video bandwidth fully loaded Each input and Output is
6. Excel spreadsheet to the far end participants the computer video signal will have to be squeezed down to meet the conventional video monitor s standards for video display That requires converting the computer video signal into a format the display device can use This is where scan converting comes in Optimizing the Image for Scan Conversion On the most basic level scan conversion involves removing or compressing portions of the original signal s video information As a result the output video signal often appears to have less detail and sharpness than the original one That said there are certain techniques you can use to optimize the scan converted quality of the image in a videoconferencing application To get the highest quality scan converted image possible try these tips PC Computer INPUT Display PowerPoint slides and Excel spreadsheets with the computer set at 640 x 480 or as low a resolution as possible NTSC signals run at approximately 720 x 480 By using a computer resolution that s close to NTSC to display the slides less information will have to be removed during scan conversion meaning the displayed image will more closely match the image on your computer screen e Use large fonts for any computer based text PowerPoint Excel Use sans serif fonts like Arial Use a black border or line between adjacent colors to minimize chroma crawl Setting Up the Scan Convert
7. Institute Today Extron requires three separate buildings to house all of our Anaheim operations One building is dedicated to sales marketing and training the second is dedicated to manufacturing and this new facility houses our product development engineering and tradeshow departments To us this move is a significant milestone for several reasons One it symbolizes healthy growth for both the industry as a whole and for us as a company It also means we will be able to dedicate even more resources to training engineering and product development and to meeting the increasing demand for constantly evolving product designs Most importantly the new building represents opportunities for Extron to expand our level of service support and solutions that we can offer to help your business succeed Extron owes our growth to the support and commitment of the dealers and consultants who work with our products and we would like to extend our most sincere thanks to you all for your contributions to Extron s success We intend to put our new facility to full use in order to ensure Extron continues to offer you the best solutions and support available in the industry As always please feel free to contact your Extron Customer Support Representative with any recommendations or insights you may have on how we can further improve Our commitment to your business And thanks again for another milestone a ExtroNews 1L4 5
8. RS 232 422 control are available The QuickSwitch Front Panel Controller QS FPC allows for touch of a button input and output selection With Extron s QuickSwitch technology there is no need to 19 15 16 12 13 9 10 6 7 3 4 0 1 3 2 6 a 5 9 VCR 8 12 12 15 Low Audio Output Level dBu VU 19 15 16 12 13 9 10 6 7 3 4 0 1 3 2 6 5 9 8 2 12 l 15 CD Jukebox High Audio Output Level conquer a steep learning curve when mastering the I O routing control of a matrix Switcher The intuitive QS FPC uses a tactile front panel button for each input and output For any routing changes just push a button to select or deselect its input source or output destination Extron s Simple Instruction Set is provided for RS 232 control via Extron s Windows based control virtualization software or a third party control system For RS 232 422 remote control from a PC Extron ships our Windows based control software with every matrix switcher This icon driven software uses a graphical drag and drop interface to make I O configuration and other customization functions simple and convenient It also offers an emulation mode for configuration of an off site matrix Switcher You can then save the O configuration for future downloading to the matrix switcher which also saves time and costs duri
9. added strength and durability All audio inputs and outputs use 3 5 mm stereo audio connectors These 90 15 pin HD Cables with Audio are available in 3 6 and 12 lengths 90 15 pin HD Cables with Audio Please call Extron for part number and price 12 cables available in various lengths and configurations URL www extron com 90degcable BNC Extraction Tool BNC Extraction Tool The Extron BNC Extraction Tool is a handy 12 inch 30 5 cm tool for extracting BNC connectors in tight spaces BNCs disconnect with a quick twist of the wrist so using the BNC Extraction Tool saves time and effort and fingertips When equipment is dismantled for any A V application such as a staging event or an installation upgrade speed is essential to minimize downtime for the technicians and A V equipment In situations with difficult to reach BNCs especially when cables are already connected to back panel BNCs on rack mounted hardware technicians no longer need to risk developing hand cramps or soreness while disconnecting numerous BNC connectors The BNC Extraction Tool is now an included accessory item for each of these matrix Switchers CrossPoint 168 and 1616 Series Switchers all models of CrossPoint Plus Series Switchers and Matrix 3200 and 6400 Wideband and Video Switchers This tool is also available separately as an optional accessory item BNC Extraction Tool Part Number List Price 100 096 01 6
10. end must be as symmetrical as possible Further the inter pair skew which governs how bits will line up in time at the receiving decoder may only be 0 6 x pixel time or 3 64 nanoseconds These parameters are largely responsible for the short transmission distances for DVI In addition to the above requirements a cable for DVI should be evaluated on its insertion loss for a given length The DVI transmitter output eye pattern is specified into a nominal cable impedance of 100 ohms A normal signal swings 780 mV to 780 mV The minimum positive signal swing is 200 mV and the minimum negative swing is 200 mV total swing of 400 mV When the signals are combined in the differential receiver the resulting signal level is two times the swing value But for the cable situation we must assume minimum performance on the transmitter side and best sensitivity on the receiver end The receiver must operate on signals as low as 75 mV to 75 mV ora total swing of 150 mV This means that under worst case conditions the cable attenuation can be no more than 8 5dB at 1 65 GHz 10 bits pixel times 165 MHz clock AS you can imagine maintaining this type of performance on twisted pair wires is relatively difficult DVI Connector All For One and Two For All Two versions of the connector emerged from its creator the DDWG Digital Display Working Group more details and full specs at www ddwg org The DDWG felt that the transitions fr
11. is a seven input dual output switcher with scaling capabilities The switcher can increase the number of inputs that can be connected to the projector Six of the seven inputs of the System 7SC accept composite video S video component 15 75 kHz or HDTV 480p and or RGBHYV and the seventh input accepts composite video S video or RGBHV The scaled output of the System 7SC can be configured to match the native SXGA resolution of the VPL FE110 The RGB signals are passed through The System 7SC can control the projector and audio is available on all of its inputs VPL FE110 NEW NEWS Tandberg www tandberg no com Tandberg has just launched the new Tandberg 500 set top videoconference unit for videoconferencing and distance learning environments This is a compact portable communications tool for use in small meeting rooms and professional offices It can be used with any standard TV monitor and offers streaming video as one of its many features It automatically selects the best audio and video settings and it operates on ISDN and IP networks at speeds up to 384 kbps The Tandberg 500 is an addition to the complete new product line that Tandberg has launched in 2000 The USD list prices for the Tandberg 500 units are 4 990 for 128 kbps and 7 490 for 384 kbps Recommended Extron products The MVP 104GX SVS 100 and VSC 150 add flexibility to videoconference applications The MVP 104GxX is a four input one output video
12. racks and other locations T he 90 angle allows the cable to lie flat protecting it from accidental damage such as getting snagged or caught on obstacles T he 90 LBCs with Audio enable unobtrusive up or down connection to an interface with a 9 pin D connector The 90 15 pin HD Cables with Audio may be used as VGA extension cables or with 15 pin H D interfaces and distribution amplifiers T hese cables provide the following advantages gt 90 15 pin HD Cable w Audio A low profile connection for small spaces and high traffic areas e Stress reducing molded strain reliefs for strength and durability 3 5 mm captive screw connectors for stereo audio connections W ith a variety of options including 90 up or down connections and available lengths of 3 6 or 12 feet Extron has the right 90 cable for any laptop connection Extron the A V Professional s C hoice for C able RGB 500 P 2 DA2 WM Extron Electronics 800 633 9876 www extron com Extron Electronics Europe Beeldschermweg 6C 3821 AH Amersfoort 31 33 453 4040 FAX 431 33 453 4050 The N etherlands Extron Electronics Information ExtronW EB www extron com ExtronFAX 714 491 0192 24 hour access worldwide Extron Electronics Asa 135 Joo Seng Rd 04 01 PM Industrial Bldg 65 383 4400 FAX 65 383 4664 Singapore 368363 Extron Electronics U SA 1230 South Lewis Street Anaham CA 92805 800 633 9876 714
13. simultaneous inputs to be viewed allowing for a picture in picture effect List price is 12 995 USD Recommended Extron products For DVI applications the DDTX DDRX DVI driver and the D 2 DA4 DVI distribution amplifier complement the X400 when the projector is connected to a computer s DVI graphics card Since the DVI signal is recommended for runs up to 15 feet 4 6 m the DDTX DDRX DVI driver allows the signal of the DVI card ATI Matrox and Margi are among the manufacturers of these cards to be driven up to 330 feet 100 5 m using Extron s SHR cables The D 2 DA4 DVI distribution amplifier splits the signal of the DVI graphics card to four outputs Both products are shipping in December November December 2000 NEC www nectech com NEC Technologies Inc ships the new generation of MT50 series which is comprised of three full featured portable projectors for use in conference rooms and classrooms The LCD based MultiSync MT1050 and MT1055 projectors offer XGA native resolution and 2 100 and 2 600 ANSI lumens of brightness respectively and the MT850 supplies SVGA resolution and 1 700 ANSI lumens of brightness All three projectors are HDTV compatible have monitor and audio out connectors and offer a built in Presentation Viewer which enables users to download presentations directly from their laptops USD list prices for the projectors are 7 395 for the MT850 9 995 for the MT1050 and 12 995 for the MT1055
14. site at www extron com Now you can learn all about new products without leaving the comfort of your favorite Internet browser These demos are excellent learning tools for sales personnel installers service professionals and end users Just point and click to control the demo for an instant presentation Currently the following E Demos are available Product Demo Posted e P 2 DAl June 19 2000 RGB 202 Rxi June 19 2000 e Introduction to Extron s Webcasts June 20 2000 Extron s Dealer Only Site July 11 2000 SGS 408 July 11 2000 e YCS Transcoder November 7 2000 e System 7SC November 29 2000 As another plus we ve improved the interface to enhance these E Demos During any section of the demo you can use the on screen video control panel to play stop rewind or fast forward the movie like an online VCR and you can even zoom in at any time Now you can quickly fast forward to the spot you want to see again or rewind if you want to review certain segments in detail We are always posting new E Demos to our site Check us out regularly Go online at www extron com and click on the E Demo logo November December 2000 ExtroNews 11 4 17 4 18 Tee CHC OIR NTE IR by Roger McCarten Product Development Manager Digital Sync Validation Processing DSVP Matrix Monitoring and Troubleshooting Made Easy Maybe this time there actually is a problem you think to yourself as you drive out t
15. 0 00 US Dollars URL www extron com bncextractiontool Prices valid for US sales only 12 ExtroNews 1L4 One Input Sx Output S video and Stereo Audio Distribution Amplifier The Extron SVDA 6 A MX is a one input six buffered output distribution amplifier It distributes S video S VHS and stereo audio signals The SVDA 6 A MX offers the convenience of a combination S video and stereo audio DA in one half rack width 1U high rack mountable enclosure For signal distribution in professional A V systems and home theaters the SVDA 6 A MX distributes the NTSC PAL or SECAM signal of any video source such as a camera VCR or DVD player The S video output of a video source can be split into six different independently buffered outputs The SVDA 6 A MX also accepts and outputs balanced or unbalanced stereo audio signals for maximum November December 2000 performance flexibility and ease of integration into the A V system The SVDA 6 A MX provides 4 pin mini DIN connectors for S video and 3 5 mm captive screw connectors for stereo audio It includes a 100 240VAC 50 60 Hz auto switchable internal power supply SVDA 6 A MX List Price 625 00 US Dollars Part Number 60 353 01 URL www extron com svda6amx Prices valid for US sales only O SW 6 SV A MX and SW 6 SV A MX AUTO Sx Input Two Output Svideo and Stereo Audio Switcher NEW The Extron SW 6 SV A MX is a six in
16. 1 23 INFOCOMM ASla cen Singapore ih nau Elst Apr 18 20 E Learning Conference amp Expo Washington DC Phone 6 363 4400 ADE 23 20 icici PO accede tae ae Las Vegas NV Fax 65 383 4664 Copyright 2000 Extron Electronics All rights reserved All trademarks mentioned ExtroNews 1L4 November December 2000 are the property of their respective owners
17. 491 1500 FAX 714 491 1517 ANNUAL SURVEY nweeker Use What s Your H 5 Opinion of ExtroNews David Reyes of A Visual Image AVI in Dallas TX used Extron Tweekers It s that time of year again time to reflect back on the past year and move forward to the new one Extron s 2000 Annual Survey about ExtroNews asks a series of galore to point the questions to find out your opinions about way on a world our newsletters content readability and map As you can appearance We want to know which see a Tweeker is sections are your favorite and what you great for marking would like to see added or changed in and hitting any future issues Your feedback is important to spot us and we look forward to your input A survey card has been included in the ect envelope with this newsletter Please aut complete the survey card and send it back to Extron postmarked no later than Send us your photograph of how you use the Tweeker If we publish it in a future issue of January 29 2001 All cards postmarked ExtroNews we ll give you a free VTG 150 Please send entries along with an explanation to January 29th or earlier will be entered into Extron Tweeker Contest 1230 S Lewis Street Anaheim CA 92805 a random drawing the grand prize is an Extron VTG 200 video test generator News ExtroNews is published by Extron Electronics RGB Systems Inc All rights yt ft Mie V i o N The Extron S T
18. 900 Part Number List Price 60 355 01 1 595 00 US Dollars URL www extron com cd900 Prices valid for US sales only ExtroNews 1L4 13 NRE WT PRODUCTS DDTX DDRX DVI Direct Digital DVI Transmitter Receiver Set DDTX DVI Transmitter DDRX DVI Receiver FROM EX O The Extron DDTX DDRX DVI is a Digital Visual Interface DVI transmitter receiver set designed for long distance transmission of DVI signals between a DVI source and DVI display The set consists of a digital transmitter DDTX DVI and digital receiver DDRX DVI both capable of handling bit rates up to 1 6 gigabits sec color The DDTX DDRX DVI accepts transmission minimized differential signaling TMDS DVI DFP signals which are normally limited to a maximum distance of 15 feet It will accept Digital Flat Panel DFP signals with the use of DFP to DVI adapters The DDTX DDRX DVI set uses proprietary digital technology to compensate for signal losses and ringing This system is entirely digital with no conversions to analog video at any point The DDTX DDRX DVI extends the range of DVI signals to up to 330 feet 100 m depending on the type and quality of cable used The maximum separation between the source and digital display is 330 feet 100 m using Extron s Super High Resolution Cable or 150 feet 45 7 m using Extron s Mini High Resolution Cable The DDTX DDRX DVI also implements bi directional Display Data Channel DDC
19. Extron products The DDTX DDRX DVI driver and the D 2 DA4 DVI distribution amplifier complement the X Series when the projector is connected to a computer s DVI graphics card Since the DVI Signal is recommended for runs up to 15 feet 4 6 m the DDTX DDRX DVI driver allows the signal of the DVI card ATI Matrox and Margi are among the manufacturers of these cards to be driven up to 330 feet 100 5 m using Extron s SHR cables The D 2 DA4 DVI distribution amplifier splits the signal of the DVI graphics card to four outputs Both products are shipping in December TLP X11 ExtroNews 11 4 21 22 Extron s Sales Support Staff has received two awards for service excellence from MCSi Inc The first award went to Extron s Sales Support Team for the west in recognition of their excellent support of MCSi s southwest region Extron is the first manufacturer to be honored with an award for regional service excellence from M CSi Extron received the award during an MCSi sales meeting in August Casey Hall Extron Regional Sales Manager West Team accepted the plaque on behalf of his team members Extron was honored with the second award during MCSi s Convergence Expo held November 6 7th in Atlanta Georgia The award designated Extron the Most Responsive manufacturer in the industry in terms of service Michael E Peppel MCSi s President and CEO presented the award to Extron s Vice Pres
20. air is 90 ohms The maximum cable length for USB is a function of signal downstream TP Eee Rie NGS SASL Eye Sar REAK NI Gee propagation delay The cable may have no more than 26 nS delay from connector A to connector B An additional allowance of 4 nS is split between the sending device connection and the connection response function making the entire one way delay 30 nS maximum In addition the cable may not have a velocity of propagation greater than 5 2 nS per meter The length and twist of the data pair must be matched well enough so that no more than 0 10 nS time skew exists between bit polarities The nominal differential signal level is 800 mV receiver The digital video and data world is exciting but aS you can see assembling high speed data cables is not going to be a trivial or casual task Why I ve just gotten the hang of crimping on BNC connectors What do you think about USB on BNC You need power Well with some external wires and a little Scotch tape we can A Figure 6 USB A and B connectors 100 Mbps 200Mbps 400 Mbps M ax Tr Tf 3 20 nS 2 20 nS 1 20 nS 10 17nS 5 09nS 2 54nS 0 40nS 0 25nS 0 20nS 0 80nS 0 50nS 0 25nS 0 80nS 0 65nS 0 60nS 1 08nS 0 75 nS 0 48 nS Table 1 Critical IEEE 1394 Timing Parameters November December 2000 ExtroNews 1L4 A N 9 NASA FutureFlight Central s tower cab displaying a panoramic view of San Francisco Intern
21. al resolutions and refresh rates November December 2000 The D 2 DA4 DVI is equipped with DVI digital connectors for a single link system It is rack mountable and includes a 100 240VAC 50 60 Hz auto switchable internal power supply D 2 DA4 DVI Part Number List Price 60 315 02 1 295 00 US Dollars URL www extron com d2da4dvi Prices valid for US sales only SPECIAL VIDEOCONFERENCING SERIES Part 1 Scan Conversion for Videoconferencing Say you re videoconferencing and you want to show the far end participants a PowerPoint presentation or an Excel spreadsheet You re going to need a scan converter Scan converters take high resolution computer video signals and convert them into a standard NTSC or PAL signal By doing this scan converters let regular TV monitors display a computer video signal Why a Scan Converter Conventional video that s displayed on a television monitor conforms to specific Standards Depending on where you live that standard is NTSC PAL or SECAM These standards define everything about the video signal sync levels video levels colors bandwidth etc Computer video signals are a different story There is a whole range of standards that applies to video signals generated by computers The only general rule of thumb that applies when comparing computer video signals to conventional video is computer signals generally require more bandwidth If you want to show your
22. ation transmitted in a parallel November December 2000 bundle When the DVI specification is extended to the dual mode operation greater data rates for higher display resolutions are possible but now there are seven parallel differential high speed pairs Cabling and connection become extremely important In this way DVI is similar to the original D1 parallel interface which requires eight or ten differentially driven serial lines capable of handling a full byte on each clock cycle If you have the opportunity take a look at available D1 cables and you will find them limited in usable lengths very much like DVI The nominal DVI cable length limit is 4 6 meters about 15 feet Electrical performance requirements are similar to serial digital Signal risetime 0 330 nanoseconds cable impedance 100 ohms far end crosstalk FEXT of no more than 5 and signal risetime degradation 160 picoseconds maximum are the key parameters highlighted in the DVI specification regarding the physical connection Cable for DVI is application specific because maintaining these specifications is no easy feat since the actual bit rate per channel is 1 65 Gbps And we re talking twisted pair cable here Those of you familiar with CAT 5 CAT 5e CAT 6 and CAT 7 I feel like someone with too many cats know the importance of cable and installation quality in order to meet performance For CAT 6 the industry is talking 1 Gbps over four t
23. ational Airport Source NASA Ames Research Center 10 ExtroNews 1L4 Beginning with the simulated air traffic control tower large display screens from Stewart Filmscreen provide a 360 view of the computer generated tarmac These screens are actually placed behind 1 4 inch tempered glass windows to make the facility seem more real CRT projectors from Electrohome now part of Christie Digital are used to display the simulated environment created by the SGI Onyx Reality M onster November December 2000 Controlled by a Crestron system the video system is comprised of two sub systems The first sub system is made of thirty six RGsB and two component video sources and forty one RGsB and three component video destinations The second sub system contains thirty seven composite video sources and thirty four composite video destinations The video sources are CATV cable television VCRs a DVD player a laserdisc player and observation cameras Most of the video is in composite NTSC color format The source materials include videotapes of the tower simulations videotapes for presentations and public relations and video of computer images for distribution on vid net the NASA internal base CATV system The composite video sources are routed through Extron s Matrix 6400 to various destinations such as recording VCRs monitors located around the facility and the projector in the Briefing Room To generate the computer simu
24. ch a severe case of video hiccups which must be cured before tomorrow s meeting Image Tearing When Frame Rate Conversion Goes Bad You have probably seen this situation before The video hiccupping is known as an image tear a transient ripple blip or freeze in a scaled video image It Is a common byproduct of scaling that is most noticeable in video that has motion elements particularly when a video camera pans across a scene or someone moves quickly across the camera s view Image tearing is an artifact of frame rate conversion Scalers convert video input of one format and resolution such as NTSC or PAL interlaced video or RGB at 560 x 384 at 59 94 Hz into output of another format and refresh rate perhaps progressively scanned ECP 1000 Event Control Panel SGS 408 November December 2000 Accu RATE Frame Lock RGB at 1024 x 768 at 60 Hz To convert frame rates a scaler must create or combine frames An image tear occurs if the input frame rate is slower or faster than the output frame rate and part of the old frame and part of the new frame are displayed at the same time during a refresh cycle The Solution Accu RATE Frame Lock patent pending If the output frame rate can be matched exactly to the frame rate of the input with the most motion content image tears can be eliminated completely The Extron Accu RATE Frame Lock AFL patent pending sets and locks the output rate to th
25. communications between the source and digital display via Extron s Plenum Comm Link Cable The DDTX DDRX DVI set is equipped with DVI digital connectors for a single link of DVI digital The transmitter and receiver use BNC connectors for signal connection between the two The DDTX DDRX DVI offers 3 5 mm captive screw connectors for DDC communications The DDTX transmitter is rack mountable The DDRX is housed in a small enclosure with a built in mounting bracket for easy mounting at the projector The DDTX has an internal power supply The DDRX accepts 9 12VDC and uses an external power supply included DDT X DDRX DVI Part Number List Price 60 316 02 2 995 00 US Dollars URL www extron com ddtxdvi Prices valid for US sales only 14 ExtroNews 1L4 D 2 DA4 DVI Direct Digital DVI Distribution Amplifier The Extron D 2 DA4 DVI is a one input four output Digital Visual Interface DVI distribution amplifier It accepts DVI signals from a computer and distributes up to four identical independently buffered outputs for cable runs of up to 15 feet It will also accept Digital Flat Panel DFP signals with the use of a DFP to DVI adapter The D 2 DA4 DVI is capable of handling transition minimized differential signaling TMDS signals at any bit rate up to 1 6 gigabits sec color The D 2 DA4 DVI is ideal for applications requiring identical displays on multiple DVI monitors or projectors with identic
26. d the instructions for setting up the scan converter and optimizing the image In the next issue of ExtroNews we will explore more aspects of videoconferencing In the meantime if you have any videoconferencing concerns call Extron at 800 633 9876 A ExtroNews 11 4 15 gE SS RENTAL amp STAGING CORNER A V in the Legal World This past summer at the US Federal Courthouse in Foley Square Manhattan New York a bench trial no jury was held between the US Government and three major credit card companies The temporary A V system used during this three month long antitrust court case was provided by Visual Word Systems of New York Sources The four sets of attorneys representing the four parties involved in the case utilized Extron interfaces to connect a total of six computers to the A V system Taking advantage of the Extron RGB 202xi two input universal computer video interface now replaced by the Extron RGB 202 Rxi the attorneys used its switching capability by connecting only one laptop to each interface and leaving the second input unused When they switched the RGB 202xi toggle switch to display the unused input the output to the courtroom displays was blanked since there were no images from a second source to display The attorneys were then able to preview images off line on their laptops before flipping the toggle switch back to A V installation by Visual World Systems at the US Federal Courthous
27. e any signal to one or more outputs Eckstein noted We picked this CrossPoint for its reliability and flexibility Reliability was 100 important for a court November December 2000 Extron RGB 202 Rxi trial that depended on a flawlessly running A V system Plus you can easily program it for any I O configuration Control The Extron MCP 1000 is compatible with any Extron matrix switcher Two MCP 1000 remote control panels were used to control the CrossPoint 128HV The plaintiff the US Government used one MCP 1000 and the defense attorneys shared a second MCP 1000 These MCP 1000s were hard wired and could override any displayed image if there was an objection by either side The MCP 1000s were preprogrammed and labeled for intuitive one touch selection so the current image could be selectively displayed to the judge clerk and or galley Extron MCP 1000 Witness Monitoring System Due to the layout of the courtroom some attorneys were not able to see the witnesses without the aid of a CCTV closed circuit television monitoring system A Panasonic video camera and an Extron CVDA 6 MX distribution amplifier were added to the A V cart that held the document camera and its Extron interface With one input and six outputs available the CVDA 6 MX distributed the camera s composite video signal to five Panasonic monitors located at the attorneys and the court clerk s tables Cables The courtroom A V
28. e in Foley Square Manhattan New York 16 ExtroNews 1L4 display their images The unused inputs also served as backup for connecting additional computers as needed throughout the trial A Samsung digital document camera and compact Extron RGB 440 computer video interface were located on a free standing cart XGA document images were transmitted by the document camera to the RGB 440 The RGBHV output was then routed to an Extron CrossPoint 128HV M atrix Switcher The RGB 440 is a universal architectural interface that is mountable through or under a desk or almost any other flat surface Ike Eckstein president of Visual World Systems explained his choice We picked the RGB 440 because of Its size its real estate value It takes up the least amount of room The Extron DVS 100 now succeeded by the DVS 150 video scaler upscaled the Sony VCR s composite video to RGBHV for integration into the RGB A V system Matrix Switching The CrossPoint 128HV routed RGBHV signals from the interfaces and scaler to three NEC RGBHV flat panel displays and two distribution amplifiers One Extron ADA 2 300 MX HV and one Extron ADA 4 300 MX HV distributed the RGBHV signals to the other flat panel displays and NEC CRT monitors for the attorneys judge clerk and witness as well as two NEC 37 inch CRT monitors for the gallery a total of ten monitors The CrossPoint 128HV is a twelve input eight output matrix switcher that is able to rout
29. e input rate In the SGS 408 the scaler outputs video from all inputs in the selected format but at a refresh rate identical to that of a designated input input 1 The result is a completely tear free output in a seamless switching system with a fixed video delay of only 1 4 frame For other inputs here s what happens still video is not affected because there is no visible change in frames If you want to use multiple motion video inputs such as several cameras each of those inputs Should be genlocked together for optimal performance The SGS 408 can be used in applications where completely tear free motion video must be output with glitch free switching in a system containing both still and motion sources The System 7SC can be set up with a different video type motion or still forms of composite video S video component video or RGB and a different refresh rate for each input without any need for genlocking motion video sources In the System 7SC Accu RATE Frame Lock locks the output frame rate to the rate of the active input which can be any one of the scaled non RGB inputs Accu RATE Frame Lock is unique to these Extron products this feature is not available anywhere else lt a ik dat ls E XUT R OFNT R OT EENE by Jeff Gibson Vice President of Sales Thanks for Another Milestone H the past ten years Extron has hosted a party during INFOCOM M The party locations have ranged from a plantation in Flor
30. echnical Institute builds on the foundation of A h y Extron s popular Extron School programs A comprehensive o f A offering of focused educational programs provides invaluable training eee et a ee Yy z 4 for sales professionals technical personnel system installers and permission from Extron Electronics Every the Extron S Technical Institute enables A V professionals to keep content however Extron assumes no tum up in an ever changing highly technical industry responsibility for errors and omissionsin the information provided herein ExtroNews is sent free of charge to communication industry professionals and end users Extron Institute Upcoming Schedule 2001 Printed in the United States of America Clap Waele cement ecerer racer rere reer ree The Netherlands We welcome your comments and WO CSUs ue an certainties ant eee an Anaheim CA contributions Please submit ideas to NOM 2 222 Of ctr tsravesavsncusestevsessauienscuogsnarstmesscitayeasesen eset Phoenix AZ Patron Bec mnie PE ene mae See ee eee eee a eee Anaheim CA outh Lewis Street Anaheim CA 92805 Fei EES E a E Nashville TN Phone 714 491 1500 or 800 633 9876 Febe T e a a amet The Netherlands Fax 714 491 1517 Extron Electronics Europe Beeldschermweg 6C 9821 AH Amersfoort The Netherlands Phone 31 33 453 4040 Upcoming Tradeshows 2001 Fax 31 33 453 4050 Extron Electronics Asi Mar 8 10 erne NSCA eenean Orlando FL 135 Joo R A Mar 2
31. elay eliminates glitches during switching Triple Action Switching mutes the output to the display when the matrix switcher switches to a new source Each CrossPoint Plus Series Matrix Switcher is housed in a rack mountable 19 wide enclosure and the 100 240 volt auto Switchable internal power supply provides worldwide power compatibility The CrossPoint Plus Series offers off the Shelf in stock single box solutions to routing applications requiring uncompromised video bandwidth When the best matrix for your particular application is required the CrossPoint Plus Series delivers the highest performance and most cost effective solution Please call Extron for part numbers and pricing information lt a ExtroNews 1L4 3 Image tearing caused by mismatched refresh rates i442 4444 Aia ee HtA F eS G E CELE ETET RCP 1000 Remote Control Panel 4 ExtroNews 1L4 Accu RATE Frame Lock Picture this in preparation for an annual investors meeting you ve just finished setting up several video sources a switcher scaler and displays Or projectors at the Widget World corporate headquarters Everything is going smoothly and the system design is nearly ideal You re testing the system when the Widget World CEO stops by to take a look You switch to the input from a video camera which your assistant pans across the boardroom To your embarrassment the CEO notices that the system has a glit
32. er Adjusting the scan converter as well can greatly improve the appearance of the scan converted image Most scan converters have multiple adjustments designed to optimize the output image for different image types and scan rates To get the best image follow these steps in order 1 Select the output standard NTSC or PAL that s compatible with your local system November December 2000 Preview Monitor GENLOCK VSC 200 AN CONVERTER OUTPUTS i RS 232 Control OUTPUT CONTROL Videoconferencing setup using Extron s VSC 200D 2 Size the image to fill the screen If the image is sized properly and fills the screen entirely the scan converter has more area to work with This means that more information can be displayed on the screen 3 Select the filtering levels Use the horizontal vertical and encoder filtering controls in that order to select the filtering levels that give the best picture sharpness and the least amount of flickering Adjusting horizontal filter levels can minimize detail loss vertical filtering can reduce flicker and encoder filtering can improve sharpness Make sure the scan converter you purchase lets you manually adjust these levels separately If you re in a videoconference and the far end participants can t read the fine detail in an Excel spreadsheet or PowerPoint slide this is probably a scan converter issue Check to make sure you ve followe
33. h information it is much easier to locate the cause of a lost signal If DSVP shows that the signal at the oi y i T F d E J 1 eN H rp E F aa O H O m a source has dropped out then the user knows the source side Is the problem If there is no signal at the projector and DSVP shows there Is an active source on the input then the user technician knows the problem lies after the input of the matrix Consider the value of knowing the last item on the above list knowing that a different source is on an input than was expected In big matrix systems signal changes are often made without all the users being notified Being able to find this information out via DSVP can save considerable time during troubleshooting System Monitoring and Troubleshooting With a Touch Panel DSVP can be used in conjunction with other information sources to allow a user to monitor and troubleshoot a complex matrix system with ease See Figure 3 Here we have an Extron RGB 202 Rx interface at each computer The RGB 202 Rxi features RS 232 control which can also be used to monitor the RGB 202 Rxi In this case the RS 232 feature on the RGB 202 Rxi is used to monitor the scan rate vertical and horizontal sync frequencies of the signal it is receiving from the computer At the matrix the DSVP feature is providing the same information Finally at the projector the same information can be obtai
34. ical Freq 60 Hz Vertical Freq 60 Hz z a La Horiz Freq 31 5 kHz 1P sd Input 05 A ois 4 cee A g ial Figure 2 The DSVP _ B information can be nputtoo moasa mons E viewed on a touch Mo a panel or on a PC using 1 Extron s Windows based control software Touch Panel Controller ExtroNews 1L4 November December 2000 Lat i F w oe DORs ECTE i video signals where sync is run separately from the video DSVP scans all sync inputs and it obtains the frequency of the horizontal and vertical sync signals This information is then transmitted to a computer touch panel or other display system via RS 232 see Figure 1 Horizontal Sync Frequency Information Vertical Sync Frequency Information Figure 1 DSVP Easy Monitoring and Fast Troubleshooting DSVP makes it easy to monitor even a complex A V system It also cuts down troubleshooting time considerably With DSVP a user or technician can quickly determine which inputs on the matrix are actually receiving signals and what type resolution of signal is on a particular input Figure 2 shows a basic setup using RS 232 and a computer using Extron s matrix control software With this setup the user can determine If an active signal is actually on an input e What the frequency resolution of a signal is on a particular input If a source has dropped out If a source has been changed With suc
35. ida to the Disneyland Hotel in California This year our tenth annual party was located someplace very special We opened the doors to our newest building in Anaheim and threw a big Backyard Bash Five thousand people filled our 110 000 sq ft facility to help celebrate another successful INFOCOMM International Music filled the building when the Battle of the Bands took center stage and the floors were covered with people dancing talking and having an all together good time Now that the Backyard Bash has ended the building is full of new activities Extron has successfully completed the first stage of expansion into our third Anaheim facility The sound and lighting equipment from the INFOCOMM party has been replaced by PCs and telephones and Extron s product development engineers have taken the place of the band members on center stage This new facility marks another milestone in Extron s development as an organization Back in 1995 when Extron first came to Anaheim CA from Santa Fe Springs we moved into a building that covered a modest 60 000 sq ft That building housed every Extron s new building in Anaheim California November December 2000 component of our organization sales product development engineering and manufacturing Many of us here at Extron can remember when our entire manufacturing facility occupied what is now a world class training center for A V professionals the S Technical
36. ident of Engineering Steve Somers at a post Exposition celebration ExtroNews 1L4 November December 2000 Start Your Search Engines WE RE SOUPING UP EXTRON S WEB SITE Extron com is being revamped to provide the most user friendly access to industry information Focus groups and individual customers provided us with lots of feedback about what types of online tools they wanted Then we took those suggestions and set out to give our existing Site a hearty overhaul The new p site which will be completed in coming months will offer valuable resources and functions to A V dealers and consultants from all segments of the L industry WwW eX rOn c Or Some of Extron s Web site improvements include boosted speed streamlined navigation and features that focus on audio visual applications environments The official launch will be announced soon so stay tuned for details 90 SUN LAPTOP BREAKOUT CABLE WITH AUDIO 61 71 amp 81 kHz 90 MAC LAPTOP BREAKOUT CABLE WITH AUDIO a eA Wa 90 VGA 15 PIN HD p ee Ta CABLE WITH AUDIO Male to Male amp Male to Female 90 VGA LAPTOP BREAKOUT CABLE WITH AUDIO ay E The Right Angle for Cable C onnections Extron s new 90 Laptop Breakout C ables LBC E with Audio and 90 15 pin H D Cables with l Audio are the right choice for clean looking cable connections to interfaces and D As mounted in walls tabletops A V
37. individually isolated and buffered These input s can be switched to any one or all outputs with virtually no crosstalk or signal noise between channels Convenience Each input and output can be labeled with names alphanumeric characters or even color bitmaps for easy and intuitive input and ExtroNews 1L4 MATRIX INPUT STATUS Input 01 Signal PRESENT Input 02 Signal PRESENT Input 03 Signal PRESENT Input 04 Signal PRESENT Input 05 Signal PRESENT Input 06 Signal PRESENT Input 07 Signal PRESENT Input 09 Signal PRESENT Input 10 Signal PRESENT Input 11 Signal PRESENT 3rd Party Control System Computer or Internet Using RS 232 communications the matrix switcher can send the DSVP information to either a third party control system s touch panel or a software program accessed through a PC or Web site Output selection It s easy to label the front panel I O buttons just use any Brother P Touch labeler or Extron s label software which ships with every Extron matrix Switcher For added convenience the view I O mode allows you to easily see which individual inputs and outputs are actively connected This mode is available from the front panel or through RS 232 422 To make installation and control even easier I O grouping allows the matrix to be virtually divided into smaller sub switchers This feature allows specific outputs such as tho
38. lated tarmac the SGI system takes data from Satellite images digitized photos and architectural plans This information enables FutureFlight Central to operate as a usability lab and conduct research on possible ways to improve airport operations There are six PCs to simulate images from airport DBRITE radar systems which are displayed on six hanging monitors in the tower cabin There Conceptual illustration of NASA FutureFlight Central s tower cab projection room Source NASA Ames Research Center are also many wall and floor plates to plug any computer into the system to generate images All the computer video and RGB signals are in RGSB format Component video is used for a limited number of runs between the Betacam deck preview monitor scan converter and line doubler Three 48 x 48 Matrix 6400 Basic Module Enclosures BMEs are used for the red green with sync and blue signals as well as component video Y R Y B Y The fourth Matrix 6400 BME routes composite video The three RGsB component video BMEs share one control panel and operate together The composite video BME has its own control panel Most switching is done directly via the Crestron control system Virtual rooms were set up for the twelve tower outputs and the two sets of six monitors Rooming is a feature that allows specific outputs such as those in one room to be grouped together so that they may select inputs independently of the rest
39. mber December 2000 z r 7 u convert the RGsB format signal to RGBHV format for the line doublers that do not accept RGsB Extron s VTG 200 video test generator was installed to provide a test signal for the RGsB component video system and the composite video system These test signals verified operation of the system and also were used for projector setup and matching FutureFlight Central was well received at its opening As for its A V system They love it the M atrix 6400 It accommodates all their current requirements allows for future expansion and we haven t had any trouble calls since we completed our contract noted Neuman For more information about FutureFlight Central please visit http ffc arc nasa gov ExtroNews 11 4 11 NEWT TPRODUCTS lt p 902 15 pin HD h Cables with Audio FROM an O The Extron 90 15 pin HD Cables with Audio directly connect video and audio from computers to 15 pin HD interfaces distribution amplifiers switchers or displays mounted in A V racks walls tabletops or other locations These cables can also be used as VGA extension cables The 90 15 pin HD Cables with Audio provide low profile clean looking cable connections for small spaces and high traffic areas The 90 angle allows the cable to lie flat protecting it from accidental damage such as getting snagged or caught on obstacles Stress reducing strain reliefs provide
40. mbly The DVI connector is allowed a maximum of 0 160 nanoseconds risetime degradation to the signal DV and Firewire Serial Digital for the Rest of Us The new DV or Digital Video recording standard now driving most consumer camcorder purchases is a serial digital format of 25 Mbps sometimes called DV25 The Firewire IEEE 1394 interface conveniently handles the data rate of DV and then some The DV format is the first application making tremendous use of the IEEE 1394 capability IEEE 1394 is much bigger than DV in terms of data handling This specification supports up to 400 Mbps currently and extensions to the standard are under consideration Its key strengths are its just in time data delivery and peer to peer relationship meaning that Firewire appliances can communicate without need for a host controller So when we talk DV we are really talking about using 1394 l m tired of typing IEEE and a portion of its capability The connection scheme and cabling for this interface are specific as well The 1394 system utilizes two shielded twisted pairs and two single wires The twisted pairs handle differential data and strobe assists in clock regeneration while the separate wires provide power and ground for remote devices needing power support Signal level is 265 mV differential into 110 ohms November December 2000 The 1394 specification limits cable length to 4 5 meters in order to satisfy the round trip
41. n a projector and a monitor CD 900 The Extron CD 900 is a professional The composite video or S video input can quality quad standard video decoder be selected via front panel buttons RS 232 Quad Standard Decoder control contact closure control or the auto Replacing the CD 800 the CD 900 includes all the features of the CD 800 and adds component video output The CD 900 decodes composite or S video to component video Y Ps PR or RGB video RGBHV RGBS or RGsB for enhanced images Designed for commercial A V or home theater environments the CD 900 decoder can be used in applications that use a video source for a component video or RGB presentation monitor or projector The CD 900 can also be used to integrate composite video and S video sources into component or RGB video switching and distribution systems The CD 900 accepts NTSC 3 58 NTSC 4 43 SECAM and PAL interlaced composite video or S video To provide a crisp clean image of higher quality than that of composite video or S video and to reduce chroma noise the CD 900 uses an enhanced decoder chip with a three line adaptive comb filter November December 2000 Switching feature Color tint contrast and horizontal shift picture controls are provided For each of the two inputs the settings for the picture controls are automatically saved in non volatile memory The appropriate picture settings are recalled automatically when an input is selected CD
42. ned through RS 232 The touch panel Figure 4 will display all this information in an easy to understand graphical format With an arrangement as shown in Figure 3 the status at any point in the system is easily determined The net effect is that the user at the touch screen can easily determine the status of the system isolate at what point a signal has dropped out and most likely identify source changes Switching errors and the like Keep in mind that it is possible to monitor such a system remotely over the Internet for instance Figure 4 shows an example of such a system This would allow for long distance troubleshooting centralized monitoring and so forth However the system is set up DSVP makes it much easier to solve any problems that occur in the matrix system lt a TECH CORNER p DVS 150 CrossPoint Plus Series Switcher B 202 Rxi ooo 9 98 o o o o o K E E S I AE D o a ial ie fie Wei Je Je ete Geet BEEBE EEE Bene EE Projector 2 Computer Projector 01 jector 02 Projector 03 Figure 3 A touch panel controller n is used to monitor and troubleshoot DVS 150 Signal PRESENT a matrix switching system The touch Smee panel displays the system status Horz Freq 31 5 kHz information in an easy to under stand graphical format INPUT 1 Signal PRESENT Vertical Freq 60 Hz Horz Freq 31 5 kHz Projector 1 Signal PRESENT Sync T
43. ng the install Additional remote control convenience may be provided by the MKP 1000 remote CrossPoint Plus Series Switcher No noticeable volume differences between sources keypad and or the MCP 1000 remote control panel Both remote control options are easy to use and provide tactile buttons for quick selection Use an MCP 1000 for one button switching to a particular output and selecting global presets or use an MKP 1000 to select a different input or preset Security The CrossPoint Plus Series provides excellent isolation between channels and extremely low electromagnetic emissions This security feature is perfect for minimizing signal leakage in high security or government environments If a CrossPoint Plus Series Matrix Switcher is installed in an unsecured environment you can take advantage of the executive mode security lock out option While in the executive mode a special button combination is required to Operate the front panel controller This feature restricts access to users who know the security passcode so unauthorized and or inexperienced users can t change any of the settings November December 2000 The CrossPoint Plus allows you to adjust the audio gain attenuation for each input so volume levels are consistent across all sources And more Extron s exclusive Triple Action Switching also Known as RGB d
44. o have a PC in the same room as the projector These XGA UXGA compressed projectors utilize 3 LCD technology The suggested USD list price is 15 999 for the PowerLite 8100i and the price is to yet be determined for the PowerLite 8150i Recommended Extron product For installations and portable applications the System 5cr Plus switcher enhances the Epson PowerLight projectors The System 5cr Plus is a five input one output A V integration Switcher with an IR that is easy to use and the option to separately set line out audio at a fixed level It provides a total of five inouts two for composite or S video two for RGBHV and one that is configurable for composite video S video or RGBHV The System 5cr Plus can turn these PowerLight projectors on or off as well as control additional functions of these projectors This is an inexpensive solution for projector and room control of smaller scale AN installations such as conference rooms or boardrooms PowerLite 8100i Mitsubishi www mitsubishi presentations com Mitsubishi s Presentation Products Division recently introduced their flagship XGA LCD projector the X400 It offers 3 000 ANSI lumens and weighs in at 14 pounds The X400 portable desktop LCD projector produces a native XGA resolution with a maximum SXGA resolution It is compatible with composite video S video component RGBHV and DVI Digital Visual Interface The X400 has a presentation feature that allows two
45. o the university The last two times they insisted the recently installed matrix Switcher was down you found the cause to be user error But this time the university A V tested the A V system for you and they tried several input sources from the university computer center but still no image on the projector Yet when you arrive you find the matrix is fine The projector wasn t getting a signal because the matrix switcher wasn t receiving a signal It seems the A V department forgot about that e mail which informed them that those sources had been taken off the network a week ago Of course when you have a 128 x 128 matrix switcher on a university campus you have to expect such problems With a complex A V system you have to expect to spend more time troubleshooting right Not necessarily It depends on the equipment you re using Products like the Extron Matrix 12800 Series Switchers and the Extron CrossPoint Plus Series Switchers can do much of the troubleshooting for you Features like Digital Sync Validation Processing DSVP allow problems to be tracked down much faster even from a remote location Saving you unnecessary site trips Digital Sync Validation Processing DSVP Extron s M atrix 12800 Series and the CrossPoint Plus Series have built in Digital Sync Validation Processing DSVP This feature works with RGBS or RGBHV Input 01 Signal PRESENT pape een a Vertical Freq 60 Hz Vert
46. of the matrix switcher This enabled us to set up presets for example to make simultaneous Switches of all outputs to the tower projectors for common configurations commented Eric Neuman Intellisys Group s now part of MCSi Director of Technical Services Mountain View Intellisys designed and installed the A V system at FutureFlight Central Neuman explained that the Matrix 6400 was chosen because it offered the size needed with the field expandability required by the contract in a single chassis in addition to the high video bandwidth that was required Two other important features were reliability and accessibility Neuman recounted All the boards are accessible from the front panel without disconnecting the signal cables Extron s RGB 109 Plus computer to video interfaces now replaced by the RGB 109xi were chosen because they were dedicated interfaces perfect for the dedicated computers the DBRITES and they output RGsB signals Neuman added Their LCD readouts are also useful for verifying valid input signals Extron s RGB 202xi universal interface now replaced by the RGB 202 Rxi was chosen for Its flexibility in adapting to any computer input source including PCs Macs SGI and Sun SPARC workstations Additional strong points were the LCD readout RGsB output and available image position adjustments Extron s SC 110 sync processors and stabilizers now replaced by the SC 210 Nove
47. om analog to November December 2000 digital monitor interfacing should be gradual with capability to support the analog VGA for some time Therefore there is a DVI D Figure 1 version for digital interfacing only and a DVI I version Figure 2 which contains both analog and digital interfaces Neither version is like the earlier DFP connector C3 C4 Figure 2 DVI I Receptacle Connector DVI D embodies 24 pins supporting the digital only version The combined digital and analog version DVI I adds four additional segregated Supporting analog RGB and horizontal connections sync plus a fifth connection for ground The combination connector is intended to transition product from analog to the fully digital connection over time Pin arrangement in the digital portion of the connector supports logical arrangement of the differential pairs to support the high data rate Although the DVI I connector has many pins it is not much larger than continued on next page ExtroNews 1L4 7 YJ TEES ComeN SiC AZET ESIP E ASKIN CTR Figure 3 IEEE 1394 4 pin Figure 4 IEEE 1394 6 pin Power supply 8 to 40 V maximum DC current 1 5 A Twisted pair signal lines two sets Cable shielding Signal line shield Figure 5 IEEE 1394 Cable 8 ExtroNews 1L4 the current 15 pin HD VGA connector Currently termination of the connector is challenging due to the tooling and limited space within the asse
48. put two Output switcher It distributes S video S VHS and stereo audio signals The SW 6 SV A MX offers the convenience of a combination S video and stereo audio switcher in one half rack width 1U high rack mountable enclosure The SW 6 SV A MX is also available in an auto switch version the SW 6 SV A MX AUTO For signal routing in professional A V systems and home theaters the SW 6 SV A MX switches up to six NTSC PAL or SECAM Signals from video sources such as cameras PER O D2USCeles FROM EXTRON The SW 6 SV A MX provides RS 232 front panel or contact closure control It includes genlock capability to provide seamless vertical interval switching for genlock compatible sources The SW 6 SV A MX provides 4 pin mini DIN connectors for S video and 3 5 mm captive screw connectors for stereo audio It includes a 100 240VAC 50 60 Hz auto switchable internal power supply SW 6 SV A MX and SW6 SV A MX AUTO SW 6 SV A MX SW 6SVAMX Part Number 60 358 01 VCRs or DVD players This capability allows List Price 995 00 US Dollars the user easy selection between S video and stereo audio sources The SVDA 6 A MX also SW 6 SV A MX AUTO accepts and outputs balanced or unbalanced E ie ae stereo audio signals for maximum performance flexibility and ease of integration URL into the A V system Two independently www extron com sw6svamx buffered outputs allow for simultaneous Prices valid for US sales only display o
49. se designated for a specific video format to be grouped together for convenient wiring and switching And to save time the CrossPoint Plus Series provides global presets which are individual 1 0 configurations These allow you to set up I O configurations and recall them from memory for future use Use either the front panel or RS 232 422 to save and recall your global presets Audio Sources with different output levels aren t a problem when using a CrossPoint Plus HVA model HVA models allow you to set the level of audio gain or attenuation November December 2000 15dB to 9dB via RS 232 422 or from the front panel Adjust the individual input audio levels accordingly to eliminate the noticeable volume differences between sources See diagram on page 3 The CrossPoint Plus HVA models also offer audio follow or breakaway switching from the front panel or RS 232 422 Audio follow is the capability to switch an audio signal with its corresponding video signal This feature allows any audio signal to be Switched with any video signal simultaneously to one or more outputs in any combination Audio breakaway is the capability to break away an audio signal from its corresponding video signal Audio breakaway is often used when the audio and video sources comprising a presentation are not generated by the same source Control Controlling any system is easy with the CrossPoint Plus Front panel buttons and
50. system used different types of Extron cable BNC 5 Mini HR Cable 15 pin HD Cable RS 232 Cable and Comm Link Cable The BNC 5 Mini HR Cable passed STAGING CORNER 8 the RGBHV signals The document camera s output was routed to the RGB 440 on 15 pin HD Cable RS 232 Cable carried the serial communications between the MCP 1000s and the CrossPoint 128HV Between the MCP 1000s control communications were transmitted over Comm Link Cable Extron Comm Link Cable Extron BNC 5 Mini HR Cable Eckstein commented on the reliability of this elaborate courtroom A V system We have not needed to swap out a single piece of equipment during the entire almost three month long trial Technically it s one of the smoothest setups we ve ever done For more information please contact j Extron 15 pin HD l EA i Staging Cable Visual Word Systems at 212 629 8383 or ike visualword com A Extron RS 232 Cable New Name Improved Interface E Demos are Online You told us how valuable the Extron Webcasts are how effectively the high quality sound graphics and computer animation work together to demonstrate each product You also told us that the name Webcast doesn t do justice to the usefulness and content these tools deliver We listened to your feedback and created a new name that better describes these multimedia presentations Extron E Demos E Demos can be easily accessed through the Extron Web
51. time maximum required by the arbitration protocol Some applications may run longer lengths when the data rate is lowered to the 100 Mbps level The typical cable has 28 gauge copper twisted pairs and 22 gauge wires for power and ground A Firewire connected appliance may or may not need power from its host but must be capable of providing limited power for downstream devices The 1394 specification supports two plug configurations a four pin version Figure 3 and a six pin version Figure 4 Six pin versions can carry all six connections and are capable of providing power to appliances that need it For independently powered appliances like camcorders the four pin version is used for its compactness Cable assemblies have the data signal pairs crossed over to avoid polarity issues All 1394 type appliances have receptacles which makes for easy upstream downstream connection with the male to male cable The 1394 specification electrical performance requirements provides which leave open the actual parameters of the cable design As with all differential signaling systems pair to pair data skew is critical lt 0 40 nanoseconds Crosstalk must be maintained below 26 dB from 1 to 500 MHz The only requirement on the size of wire used is that velocity of propagation must not exceed 5 05 nS meter Refer to Table 1 for other critical details of the physical interface system for 1394 Figure 5 shows the cable internal conduc
52. tor arrangement USB 2 0 Fire In Another Wire The USB universal serial bus simplifies connection of computer peripherals USB 1 1 Is limited to a communications rate of 12 Mbps which is plenty fast for most items audio devices keyboards scanners etc During 1999 the USB Implementers Forum began work to upgrade USB capability by more than 40 times The new USB 2 0 interface will support up to 480 Mbps communication It is anticipated that USB 2 0 can replace higher cost SCSI interfaces for some In depth available at www usb org like printers peripherals information iS The Implementers Forum says that fully compliant USB 1 1 cables will perform at USB 2 0 speeds USB cables utilize two specially designed 4 pin plugs and receptacles The upstream plug is called A and the downstream plug is called B see Figure 6 This format is intended to minimize end user termination thereby ensuring proper connectivity Use the A connector to problems connect with a host or downstream connection on a hub Use the B connector to connect to the peripheral appliance The USB cable consists of one twisted pair for data and two untwisted wires for powering appliances Specifically a full soeed cable contains a 28 gauge twisted pair an untwisted pair of 28 to 20 gauge power conductors an aluminized polyester shield a drain wire and an overall 65 minimum copper braid Nominal impedance for the data p
53. wisted pair wires over a distance of 100 meters Sound something like DVI in terms of pairs and speed And the trend is to push for faster communication speeds This makes these methods very similar in speed with DVI but that s where the similarity ends In high speed data communications systems there is significant overhead added to handle error correction And if some data is lost it can be re sent With digital video interfaces like DVI there is some error correction facility but the delivery is a one way street If you fail to receive all the data bits required to make the system work you lose picture information or lose the picture completely So the DVI cable and its termination is very important The physical parameters of the twisted pairs must be highly controlled Specifications for the cable and the receiver are given in fractions of bit transmission time Therefore the requirements depend on the clock rate or signal resolution being used Transferring the maximum rate 1600 x 1200 at 60 Hz for a single link system means that one bit time 10 bits per pixel is 0 1 1 165 MHz which is only 0 606 nanoseconds Ten bit times describe one pixel in this system The DVI receiver specification allows only 0 40 x bit time or about 0 242 nanoseconds intra pair skew within the twisted pair Remember this is differential TEs Ce NSIC y AI yrs PAB AWK eN Gree transmission The eye pattern seen at the receiver
54. ype H amp V Vertical Freq 60 Hz Horz Freq 31 5 kHz CrossPoint Plus Series Switcher System Status PO e Os CBs E E Ory ely Ae o o o o Oo o o o o o o LEETE EE BEES 8 MATRIX INPUT STATUS Ethernet IP LAN WAN Network Internet ical Freg 60 rz Freq 31 5 3rd Party Control System Figure 4 A third party control system is used for off site monitoring of an A V system using a CrossPoint Plus Series Switcher November December 2000 ExtroNews 1L4 19 ARO MISAH E TIZN IDU STR Y f NEW NEWS ExtroNews publishes information about new products that are relative to the Extron product line in the New News section Also listed are the recommended Extron products that will complement these new display devices in their targeted applications If you would like a new product to be reviewed for New News please send a press release literature contact name and a four color slide or photo to New News c o Ginger Dodier Extron Electronics 1230 South Lewis Street Anaheim CA 92805 phone 714 491 1500 ext 6270 or e mail to gdodier extron com 20 ExtroNews 1L4 Epson www epson com The new Epson PowerLite 81001 and PowerLite 8150i are two LCD projectors for portable use or permanent installations These projectors have 3 000 ANSI lumens and weigh less than 20 pounds The 8150i offers a new feature called EasyMPnet a PC card and network accessible system that eliminates the need t
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