Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: URGENT: can I replace a Christie ICP with a Barco one?

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Posted by Antti Nayha (Member # 4980) on 06-11-2014, 07:51 AM:

The subject pretty much says it all… I'm at a remote location with a Christie CP2210, and the ICP fails at boot start-up test. Tried reseating. Getting a new Christie ICP in time seems impossible.

However, I might be able to ship in a Barco ICP – am I right that I can basically just drop it in physically, but there is some cloning/configuration work involved on the software side?

Posted by Marcel Birgelen (Member # 6801) on 06-11-2014, 11:49 AM:

Can you at least send the ICP back where it came from if it doesn't work? It's not like this is the cheapest of components to be stuck with.

The electrical interface is the same, the board itself at least looks the same and they run the same software issued by Texas Instruments...

It might just work(tm). Although there might be specific issues you're probably aware off yourself, but anyway:
- Those subtle differences in vendor specific implementations we don't know about...
- Warranty: Who pays for what if your bold plan fails miserably?
- Software: Your current projector firmware might not be compatible with the software on the ICP, but you can probably fix that by loading the correct software on the ICP?

Posted by Antti Nayha (Member # 4980) on 06-11-2014, 12:45 PM:

OK, we didn't have to resort to something like that in the end, the original ICP is working again. Still, would be interesting to know if anyone's done it.

Posted by Dave Macaulay (Member # 813) on 06-11-2014, 03:30 PM:

It's a TI card - same card regardless of projector (there are a few versions but current 4K ICP cards look identical regardless of projector brand) so the only difference should be software, firmware, screen files, and patterns as far as I know. The faceplate is different but that's no big deal to swap. I would avoid doing this unless in desperation... but installing it then re-installing the current software package should get it running normally. Patterns can be copied from another CP22xx if the difference causes problems.

Posted by Carsten Kurz (Member # 5396) on 06-11-2014, 04:40 PM:

Shouldn't the general projector firmware be coordinated with the ICP firmware in order to have working dependencies?

At least it would be a good idea to find out the firmware version of the 'old' ICP and have the same in the new ICP.

- Carsten

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 06-11-2014, 11:12 PM:

I have used the Barko formatting software on other manufacturer's ICP cards so I don't see why everything else wouldn't be the same.

Mark

Posted by Dave Macaulay (Member # 813) on 06-12-2014, 12:24 AM:

Christie software updates update everything... reinstalling the current version, which will still be in the system unless someone has gone to the (unlikely) trouble of deleting it, will get all the versions in sync. There is a real risk of skipping required ICP firmware upgrade steps though (some versions change major things that further upgrades depend on, and skipping them scrambles the ICP): you would best check the installed ICP firmware version and review the upgrade release notes before just bashing in the latest Solaria release.
Assuming you have the current release on the projector, if you find a really old ICP version you can use the TI software to install the necessary intermediate steps. You can also do the ICP recovery with its latest version (4.2?) and then do the Solaria install. That will then install the current ICP version. That will delete all patterns etc, no big deal if you have another system running to copy this stuff from. Screen files will have to be redone anyway with a "new" ICP.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 06-12-2014, 02:00 AM:

This is an issue of extreme interest to me. As series 2 projectors are coming out of warranty, being able to supply more cost effective TI parts is of concern. Why pay (substantially) more for getting the part from one OEM versus another.

I have personally loaded ICP versions between the brands (e.g. 3.2.340 that was a Barco issue onto BOTH Christie and NEC to get them through a rough time without incident...the projectors will recognize that it isn't their version but will update to their verison. I have also used Barco's ICP Recovery on other brands with success though it won't finish as cleanly one can do it in a pinch. Again, running the brand specific update will get it completely back on track.

One could save well over a thousand dollars by obtaining an ICP from one source versus another. And if it is the same board and the projector is out of warranty...what is the point?

Now the Enigma is another story. That has its own log-in list/security list (all three OEMs use different user/passwords so an update program CANNOT update the wrong Enigma (I've tried that because I had one brand when another brand bricked or wasn't shipped with a projector)...that didn't work.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 06-12-2014, 10:39 PM:

quote: Dave Macaulay
Christie software updates update everything...

If you swap out just the ICP then simply use the T.I. ICP control program just to do the ICP update instead of using the factory control software. The last ICP I had to replace did come with at least the base firmware installed so that didn't have to be done. But everything else had to be installed.

Mark

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 06-13-2014, 04:53 AM:

With Christie...there is really no advantage to just updating the ICP via the TI program. First, Christie does not provide their ICP firmware separate so you'll need to use either Barco or NEC's...Christie TPC will see the version mismatch and flag it...so you'll end up having to update it via the Christie software anyway. Since the TPC keeps the software update local unless you go out of your way to delete it, it is a simple matter of running the update via the TPC to have it get the replacement ICP current with the current system software It will only update the things it sees that are not the current version numbers (unless you tell it to do everything).

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 06-13-2014, 04:12 PM:

I hate those dam TPC's, everything that's wrong about their projectors is because of the TPC! That COULD have been a nice slide in module for the card cage like everyone else....

Posted by Mattias Mattsson (Member # 4308) on 06-13-2014, 05:04 PM:

As it happens, me and my colleague are attending the festival in Sodankylä. I might be able to help. Please send me a PM. Also if you have time it would be interesting to take a closer look at your setup. :-)

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 06-14-2014, 02:53 AM:

I have not had any real issues with the TPC. It could be argued that Barco's projectors would be improved by having a TPC come with each though it could also be argued that most booths don't have anyone to look/use them. Perhaps NEC got that one with the LCD screen that at least says WHY the tail light isn't green. The LCD screen is cheap and effective...though NEC's implementation is frustrating. Most people don't realize that there may be more to the message than what they are currently seeing...and you can stick that stupid Key Lock!

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 06-14-2014, 01:06 PM:

Agree on the key lock. They at least ought to let you turn it off (permanently) in DCC.... The display is one thing I feel that NEC did better than the others and they did it nicely and at a lower cost. If it ever fails it is also a very inexpensive module to replace <$300.00. How much is a TPC or a Barco Display? It's not that difficult to lean how to scroll through it. I walk people through doing it over the phone all the time. After doing it with them a few times they remember. They can zoom-focus-position the lens, change lamps, do lamp alignment and a myriad of other things without ever resorting to using DCC. There is also the Web Server in both the NEC and the GDC's that can also be used for day to day operations without ever going upstairs.

Mark