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Author Topic: Video Projector for Pre-Show Questions Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 08-01-2003 10:38 AM                        Most video projectors have a "picture mute" function (sometimes with a different name) which functions like an electronic version of a changeover douser. This can sometimes be triggered with a contact closure if the projector has an external control interface (usually in the form of a DB-9 or DB-25 connector). Unfortunately, this a) uses up bulb life unnecessarily and b) still produces a faint grey picture (rather than completely blocking the light), and thus it isn't terribly useful for this purpose. Video isn't really my "thing," but I've seen the Extron boxes used in a number of high-end installations (usually with a Crestron controller) and they seem to work fine, though it sounds expensive for the "slide projector workalike" application. It sounds like the Christie box is probably the best solution. Are these available for other brands/models of DLP projectors?  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 08-01-2003 03:03 PM                     Mike, do you know if that is a custom box built by Christie for Regal, or some off-the-shelf item they now regularly stock? I wonder how versatile that box would be to speak to different makes and models of video projectors.  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 08-01-2003 06:25 PM                     Ya know, the Pana automation is already "speaking" to video projectors... The key to communicating with current video projectors is having a way to communicate with them serially or via ethernet. InLine used to make a box that would take a contact closure and turn it into a serial command string but Extron now controls InLine and has discontinued that product. Extron does have a new box that seems to have an I/O via contact closures and speaks serial and ethernet...perhaps that will do. As to the expense of the Crestron/AMX approach...they all depend on scale...you could have one Crestron controller handling your entire 24 plex...have a single video server (like you might have with music...just going through a DA). So if you are talking about a single or small plex then the Crestron/AMX approach would be pricey though VERY flexible. If you are talking about a reasonably sized plex then they become cost effective. Heck you could have a Crestron/AMX system control everything if you wanted...film projectors too so you wouldn't need all those automations everywhere. At that point, you'd have a far cheaper system that is more flexible. However...you are also starting to put an awful lot of eggs into one basket. Steve  |  IP: Logged Chase Taylor Expert Film Handler Posts: 175 From: Troy, Alabama, USA Registered: Mar 2001 posted 08-01-2003 07:56 PM                        We will be running the preshow from a DVD. I take it that the Axcent2 would have some sort of IR Blaster to make this work? The Axcent2 I have found on e-bay for a very cheap price but I don't know if I have to buy accessories to go with it to make this work or if I can still get them. The next problem is that most of the these projectors including the one I'm seriously looking at (SANYO PLC-XT15A) has a power off message when you turn it off and there is no way to turn off that part of the OSD. I'm going to get in contact with Sanyo and see if they have any ideas. Chase Taylor Continental Cinema 5  |  IP: Logged Adam Martin I'm not even gonna point out the irony. Posts: 3686 From: Dallas, TX Registered: Nov 2000 posted 08-01-2003 09:20 PM                     I already have a call into Sanyo for the "Power Off?" message on our PLC-XF41. I've been told via email to call and speak with a tech because of other issues with the projector. I'll let you know what he says.  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 08-01-2003 09:23 PM                     This regarding the Christie box Mike Olpin spoke of earlier... quote: CCM (Christie Connectivity Module). It is a Ethernet to RS232 translator with a circuit for contact closure triggering. It also has an embedded webserver with its own web page and is IP addressable. Regal is using them to put the projectors and plasmas on a IP network. It works with all Christie video projectors and can be customized for other devices (for a fee of course). Also, if you are going to run the preshow from DVD, buy this unit. Not only is it a damn good DVD player, it has component and even DVI output, plus it has a mechanical power switch, so you can plug it into an automation controlled AC outlet like a slide projector. When it sees power, it boots up and starts playing. Although it does not claim to be able to play RW DVD discs, it does just fine. All at a price of $199.  |  IP: Logged Daryl C. W. O'Shea Film God Posts: 3977 From: Midland Ontario Canada (where Panavision & IMAX lenses come from) Registered: Jun 2002 posted 08-01-2003 11:18 PM                        In case anyone is interested, the threaded plugs for ceiling mounting in Sanyo's PLC series (and possible others) projectors, are only molded into the plastic shell and not actually attached to the frame of the projector. After some time, the plastic may crack (one cause is by over tightening the mounting screws which is VERY easy to do) causing the threaded plugs to let go... allowing your projector to fall from the ceiling. I'll post some pictures with my review of one soon.  |  IP: Logged Adam Martin I'm not even gonna point out the irony. Posts: 3686 From: Dallas, TX Registered: Nov 2000 posted 08-02-2003 11:54 AM                     Brad's link to vinc.com produces a 500/ISE.  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 08-02-2003 03:38 PM                     The link worked yesterday. Give it a shot in a day or two. It's a great unit with pretty much every kind of output you would ever want.  |  IP: Logged Tom Kroening Expert Film Handler Posts: 214 From: Janesville, WI USA Registered: Oct 1999 posted 08-04-2003 02:49 AM                     I believe we have some cheapie custom made boxes that sense when the switched outlet on the projector loses power then sends the signal to the digital projector via the input port. I can look into it tomorrow when I get to work. For the time being it shouldn't be that inconveniant to turn the projector off by the remote when you press the start button Just make sure whichever model you get can be controled with an external device via an input port.  |  IP: Logged Kevin Fassbind Film Handler Posts: 8 From: St. Gallen, Switzerland Registered: Jul 2003 posted 08-04-2003 03:08 AM                       Hello everybody I'm new here. I work as a projectionist in a Multiplex in Switzerland. We have also digital video beamers for our pre-show. I'm not that good with this technical stuff, so I unfortunately can't tell you exactly how this works But I can tell you we have NEC Beamers and they turn on automatically and turn off automatically (with cooling). They're somehow connected over a RS232 connection to the EMK1 automation system from Kinoton...Or something like it.. For those who are interested here are some pics: http://www.protronic.ch/cinedome1.html Greetings Kevin  |  IP: Logged Larry Zuverink Film Handler Posts: 98 From: Caledonia, MI, USA Registered: Nov 2002 posted 08-04-2003 10:37 AM                     USA Advertising handles our digital ads. They have a custom box that puts the projector into standby mode. One thing to watch is that these boxes are so sensitive that they will not turn off if there is a little inducted power getting into the switched outlet. A quick fix for this is to put a small plugin light socket into the same outlet with a small (about 12 watt) light bulb. This will kill any inducted power. Make sure to replace the lamps if they burn out though.  |  IP: Logged Mike Williams Master Film Handler Posts: 255 From: Knoxville, TN Registered: Feb 2002 posted 08-04-2003 01:19 PM                     quote: The next problem is that most of the these projectors including the one I'm seriously looking at (SANYO PLC-XT15A) has a power off message when you turn it off and there is no way to turn off that part of the OSD. I'm going to get in contact with Sanyo and see if they have any ideas. If you cannot get rid of the OSD on power off and you still want to use that vid projector, why not work out a automatic douser and tie it in with the automation? You could place it in front of the lense so it will block the light before the OSD pops up for it to power off. I'm sure there may be at least one reason this could be considered impractical.... but then if you already have the projector it may be worth it.  |  IP: Logged Chase Taylor Expert Film Handler Posts: 175 From: Troy, Alabama, USA Registered: Mar 2001 posted 08-04-2003 02:03 PM                        Well I got the demo in today (Sanyo PLC-XT15A) and it is wonderful the picture is great. I'm doing this at a 57 foot throw and 15 foot tall image in 16x9. When blown up all the way the image does not look bad it does start to get pixilated at about 1 screen height. Sanyo said the the Power Off message does not come on when using the PJ-Net Organizer (which are free this month with this projector). Now I've got to figure out how to make it work with the PJ. Chase Taylor Continental Cinema 5  |  IP: Logged Chase Taylor Expert Film Handler Posts: 175 From: Troy, Alabama, USA Registered: Mar 2001 posted 08-05-2003 07:42 AM                        Well I talked to Sanyo (PLC-XT15A), AMX (Axcent 3), and Component Engineering (TA-10). It looks like I'm going to have to use the control port on the projector that uses RS-232C codes to turn it on and off. When the Axcent receives the RS-485 code from the automation the Axcent 3 will send a RS-232C code to the appropriate video projector to turn it off and the same to turn it back on. This is going to be a little pricey ($1,700) but it will do what I need it to do. This is the only thing that I could find to make these two things talk to each other. I was looking at the Axcent 2 but it does not have enough control ports on it to do all five, I think it only has 3 ports. Chase Taylor Continental Cinema 5  |  IP: Logged

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