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» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Ground Level   » Boxoffice Magazine rant (Page 4)

 
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Author Topic: Boxoffice Magazine rant
Tim Reed
Better Projection Pays

Posts: 5246
From: Northampton, PA
Registered: Sep 1999

- posted 08-16-2008 09:21 AM      Profile for Tim Reed   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
quote: Frank Angel
what are the areas that can cause a lost show(s) with digital?
In my growing territory, I service more digital locations than film. Most of the problems I've seen are due to operator error and unfamiliarity with the software (e.g., not building a playlist properly, putting cues in the wrong place, etc.). Second in line are problems I suspect are from bad cable or card connections, or "computer-style glitches" that are cleared by simply rebooting. The least amount of down time in my experience with Digital Cinema thus far, has been due to actual component failure.

One of the worst things they have done in implementing this whole thing, in my opinion, is to have the whole show at the mercy of a little plug-in Cat. 5 cable/Ethernet connection. This is the Cinelink, which when the signal is lost, causes the picture to freeze. I've can't tell you how many times I've found this cable being pulled sideways out of the connector, or very nearly so, and not making a connection. And it's right there on the side in the open, on most projectors, where you can catch your sleeve on it or rip it out as you walk by.

As important as this data connection is, it doesn't need to be on these little Office Depot cables! I've never been able to figure out why this connection isn't hard-wired, with spade lugs and screw-type terminal strips, on heavier-gauge wire! Even in a perfect world with the cables left alone, the fine little pressure-pin connections on the RJ-45 plugs will eventually become oxidized and fail to make a connection.

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Robert Minichino
Master Film Handler

Posts: 350
From: Haskell, NJ, USA
Registered: Dec 2005

- posted 08-16-2008 10:17 AM      Profile for Robert Minichino   Author's Homepage   Email Robert Minichino   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
If it's actually a high data rate connection (like actual Ethernet), then spade terminals won't cut it because the massive impedance mismatch at the connection point will corrupt the signal.

All is not lost, however. Neutrik makes a ruggedized 8P8C (commonly known as RJ45) connector system called EtherCon.

I've wired a few rack panels with them for CobraNet and they're really stout, plus you can still plug regular patch cables into the jacks.

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Dustin Mitchell
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1865
From: Mondovi, WI, USA
Registered: Mar 2000

- posted 08-17-2008 12:15 AM      Profile for Dustin Mitchell   Email Dustin Mitchell   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
As a note, the AccessIT/Christie 'package' doesn't have this weak point Tim mentions. There are others I'm sure, but no exposed cabling at least.

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Tim Reed
Better Projection Pays

Posts: 5246
From: Northampton, PA
Registered: Sep 1999

- posted 08-17-2008 07:44 AM      Profile for Tim Reed   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
quote: Robert Minichino
spade terminals won't cut it because the massive impedance mismatch
How so? Are the RJ-45 plugs not just making a pin-to-pin connection?

It doesn't have to be spade lugs, there are other more-reliable connectors, so there has to be a better solution.

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Scott Norwood
Film God

Posts: 8146
From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas)
Registered: Jun 99

- posted 08-17-2008 09:56 AM      Profile for Scott Norwood   Author's Homepage   Email Scott Norwood   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
With cat. 5, the specification requires that the twist of the wires be maintained to within 1/2" of the termination point. This can't happen with spade lugs (in most cases), due to the size of the screws and spades.

A 110-block type of termination (with a strain relief where the cable exits the unit) would probably have been a better choice, however.

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Robert Minichino
Master Film Handler

Posts: 350
From: Haskell, NJ, USA
Registered: Dec 2005

- posted 08-17-2008 12:16 PM      Profile for Robert Minichino   Author's Homepage   Email Robert Minichino   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
RJ45 connectors are very reliable, with self-wiping contacts and very heavy gold plating on both jack and plug. RJ48X (same 8P8C connector as Ethernet) is used for DS1 electrical connections at the demarc by a telco that is guaranteeing 5-nines availability; if they were unreliable they'd spend the money on a better connector. They're not particularly durable, though. In contrast, a D-sub connector is physically more durable but electrically inferior.

A 110 block allows you to maintain twists very close to the point of termination and ones rated at higher speeds also have impedance controlled construction.

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Mike Blakesley
Film God

Posts: 12767
From: Forsyth, Montana
Registered: Jun 99

- posted 08-17-2008 12:48 PM      Profile for Mike Blakesley   Author's Homepage   Email Mike Blakesley   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
See there? We don't need BOXOFFICE to tell us the problems and pitfalls of digital...we have this thread! [Wink]

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Rick Raskin
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1100
From: Manassas Virginia
Registered: Jan 2003

- posted 08-17-2008 04:20 PM      Profile for Rick Raskin   Email Rick Raskin   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Please don't call them RJ45s.

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Tim Reed
Better Projection Pays

Posts: 5246
From: Northampton, PA
Registered: Sep 1999

- posted 08-17-2008 07:16 PM      Profile for Tim Reed   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Sorry about that, Rick.
quote: Robert Minichino
Neutrik makes a ruggedized 8P8C (commonly known as RJ45) connector system called EtherCon.
(Robert, I must have missed this line earlier.) Leave it to Neutrik!

Now, if we can just get the DC mfgrs. to take notice! I'll certainly be squawking about it.

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Tristan Lane
Master Film Handler

Posts: 444
From: Nampa, Idaho
Registered: Feb 2002

- posted 08-18-2008 01:24 AM      Profile for Tristan Lane   Email Tristan Lane   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
quote: Rick Raskin
Please don't call them RJ45s.
Why??

quote: Dustin Mitchell
As a note, the AccessIT/Christie 'package' doesn't have this weak point Tim mentions. There are others I'm sure, but no exposed cabling at least.
There's still the exposed connections at the network switch that is installed in the rack.

This is one of the reasons I prefer the Christie projector over the others. The connections are all on the bottom of the projector, which reduces tampering or unintentional disconnects. My only gripe is that one of the DVI connections should have been placed on the outside of the projector so that alternative content sources could be connected without having to contort your body inside the pedestal to access the connections.

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Monte L Fullmer
Film God

Posts: 8367
From: Nampa, Idaho, USA
Registered: Nov 2004

- posted 08-18-2008 02:34 AM      Profile for Monte L Fullmer   Email Monte L Fullmer   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
quote: Tristan Lane
one of the DVI connections should have been placed on the outside of the projector so that alternative content sources could be connected without having to contort your body inside the pedestal to access the connections.
Could one make a DVI extension cable of such so that it'd be more simpler to add on an external device to the system?

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Dustin Mitchell
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1865
From: Mondovi, WI, USA
Registered: Mar 2000

- posted 08-18-2008 03:57 AM      Profile for Dustin Mitchell   Email Dustin Mitchell   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
quote: Tristan Lane
There's still the exposed connections at the network switch that is installed in the rack.
Depends on your definition of 'exposed' I guess and on the type of rack installed. At the very least people shouldn't be accidently disconnecting the wires by brushing by them.

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Rick Raskin
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1100
From: Manassas Virginia
Registered: Jan 2003

- posted 08-18-2008 05:34 PM      Profile for Rick Raskin   Email Rick Raskin   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
quote: Tristan Lane was the last to post
Why??
RJ45 is a wiring implementation using an 8P8C connector.

I am a little anal on this because I was once working on the ATM-25 specification (which uses pins 1,2 7,8) and referred to the connector as RJ45. As you can well imagine the gurus wasted no time in vilifying me for my egregious error. All kidding aside, I know RJ45 is part of the vernacular but given the folks here, and their desire for technical correctness, calling the connector an RJ45 is like calling a projector a camera.

Back on topic (sort of): Has anyone thought of using coax with with ethernet baluns?

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Tim Reed
Better Projection Pays

Posts: 5246
From: Northampton, PA
Registered: Sep 1999

- posted 08-21-2008 06:46 PM      Profile for Tim Reed   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
RP-40/PA-35 has been the same...

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Mike Blakesley
Film God

Posts: 12767
From: Forsyth, Montana
Registered: Jun 99

- posted 08-26-2008 08:38 PM      Profile for Mike Blakesley   Author's Homepage   Email Mike Blakesley   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Back on topic:

In the current issue, Boxoffice announces they will launch an online archive of all their back issues. They currently have one issue (from April 1964) online as a preview.

Read it now!

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