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Author Topic: Control cp650 with rs232 Tony Bandiera Jr Film God Posts: 3067 From: Moreland Idaho Registered: Apr 2004 posted 05-04-2010 05:03 PM                     Sean, your question is answered yes and no. You can have the new touchscreen programmed with the as many of the same buttons as your existing TS that you want, and you can also add other functions to your new TS. Either option requires editing of the system program (not hard at all if you know what you're doing) to add the new TS as a device to the system. (And to add any new button functions channel ID's). A smart programmer will use matching button channels on the new TS to make life easier. Some AMX systems have the "source code" loaded with your actual operational program so it can be retrieved from your system master. If the source code is not loaded then you must get your operational program from the original programmer/vendor. What type of AMX system do you have? If it is the older AXcess platform the TS is connected with a 4-cond. cable. If it is the newer Netlink system it will be connected with a CAT5 cable. You can also ID it by looking at the master controller.  |  IP: Logged Sean McKinnon Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1712 From: Peabody Massachusetts Registered: Sep 2000 posted 05-04-2010 07:51 PM                        I beleive it's netlink with an autopatch system if that makes any sense. I will look closer tomorrow. So if the program is loaded on the system it would be possible to load the same program onto another touch screen? Sorry for my ignorance I just do not know too much about this system.  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 05-04-2010 08:30 PM                     I tend to agree about the AMX/Crestron thing. I have seen far more poorly implemented systems than good. And even the good ones take a little getting used to. Most of the good ones also evolved into what they are. Anyone that wants to see a good Crestron system can see the AFI/Silver pics in the "Pictures" section here on F-T...I took several pictures of them. Now, with a well implemented Crestron/AMX...the sky is the limit...most anything and everything can be controlled and controlled well. For "canned" control systems, Extron has their MLC controllers. They offer one the ability to drag-n-drop a system together and even issue their own serial strings. They are far less costly than AMX/Crestron but are also far more limited. However, the MLC system does have "monitors" that allow one to attain feedback from the controlled device, unlike a medialink type controller. I've set up, for instance, an MLC104 as a booth monitor controller connected to a Panastereo CX230mkII. This gives the operators a "grab-n-go" fader in three locations in the booth, the ability to select what channels they want to monitor (as well as Processor or Amplifier) and I even had one of the buttons act as a crude signal level meter. Since the buttons have tri-color display (amber, green, red, with fast, slow blink in addition to steady). I had green indicated signal presence, Amber denote things were at a good nominal level and red to denote things were loud. As such, if the projectionist sees the button turn RED...if it isn't an explosion or some other particularly loud scene, they could adjust the volume down...conversely if typical dialog scenes are not getting you into amber...it is probably too quiet. In any event, a product like the Extron MLC 104 or MLC226 may also suit some controllability. I believe I had Extron create a driver for the CP650. If one is trying to get multiple things to work on a single RS232 port...Kramer is the solution. It is called the VP14. It is an RS232 hub that allows 4 things to communicate together. I've used them extensively and they work like a charm. For instance, at the AFI/Silver, I have even stacked them to get even more RS232 connections to a device. In theatres #2 and #3 I have a CSP1200 Panastereo processor that talks with the Crestron, CSP4600 (accessory unit), EMK-1 automation, and Booth monitor system (this allows the CSP1200 remotes to also control the booth monitor volume). Even in theatre #1, I have one (and it is shown in the pictures in the picture discussing the Pennywise DF1) so the CP200 can talk with the Crestron, and TWO EMK-1s! Steve  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 05-08-2010 02:55 PM                     Serial Talk is NOW posted in the Manuals section (and, for the time being, on the "home" page). Steve  |  IP: Logged Tony Bandiera Jr Film God Posts: 3067 From: Moreland Idaho Registered: Apr 2004 posted 05-09-2010 11:37 PM                     Hi Sean, Sorry for the delay I was at my Ren Fest this weekend. (And will be for the next six weekends.) So you have Netlinx which is good. Adding another touchpanel is a shade easier than with Axlink. The touchpanel "program" sets up the buttons "channels" and designs the GUI. If you wist to EXACTLY duplicate the first touchpanel the file can be copied directly onto a new, identical touchpanel using AMX's "TP Design 4" program. (If you use a different size/model/style panel in most cases it can be simply saved as a new panel type and uploaded into the new panel.) The SYSTEM program would be edited to add the new panel. That takes AMX's "Netlink Studio" software. Again, if you're doing an EXACT panel duplication it is extremely easy to edit the program to accommodate the new panel. There are too many variables and details to try to go into in this thread but any competent AMX programmer can easily do what you need to do.  |  IP: Logged Sean McKinnon Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1712 From: Peabody Massachusetts Registered: Sep 2000 posted 05-10-2010 11:46 AM                        Thank you Tony and Steve! Your responses have been very thorough and extremely helpful. I appreciate you taking your time to help me out. I owe you guys a beer (Or coffee if you dont drink) if you're ever in New York!  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 05-10-2010 08:25 PM                     I drink neither coffee nor beer.  |  IP: Logged Tony Bandiera Jr Film God Posts: 3067 From: Moreland Idaho Registered: Apr 2004 posted 05-10-2010 09:20 PM                     LOL I'll take coffee and a fizzy mineral water with one of those cute umbrellas for my friend Steve.  |  IP: Logged Sean McKinnon Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1712 From: Peabody Massachusetts Registered: Sep 2000 posted 05-12-2010 06:22 PM                        Milk Shake?  |  IP: Logged

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