Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: NC900 network PowerOn from Doremi?

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Posted by Carsten Kurz (Member # 5396) on 08-29-2014, 07:08 PM:

Hi there,

I am currently playing around with a Doremi/NEC NC900C Combo (classic, HD-SDI).

A number of Macros configured on the Doremi allow me to power on/off Lamp, activate Dowser, etc. - but not to switch on the NC900C over the network from standby mode.

The Macro Editor doesn't offer that option for the projector, only Channel Switch, Dowser, Lamp, and a generic 'Macro' option are offered. Am I missing something?

I know I could possibly do this over GPO from Doremi to GPI an the NEC, but...

The NC900 is configured as 'NEC Series-2' in device manager.

- Carsten

Posted by Marcel Birgelen (Member # 6801) on 08-29-2014, 08:26 PM:

I can be mistaken, but I've never seen a "Standby" action for any other projector, have you?

Maybe it can be hacked if you know the projector API and by editing a bunch of definition files on the server, but I'm pretty sure that won't survive a single software update. So I guess the only supported route would be GPO/GPI.

Posted by Dave Macaulay (Member # 813) on 08-30-2014, 12:10 AM:

The Barco S series projectors will enter and return from standby ("sleep") via network commands. If you can find the NC900 command set it should be doable.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 08-30-2014, 01:37 PM:

Can you not enter your own commands? I can confirm that 02h 00h will take it out of standby and 02h 01h will put it into standby. I've found with NEC is is best to issue commands twice though...they don't always take on the first try...particularly the Power On/Off. NEC responds to commands if/when it feels like it and the NC900 is no exception. They definitely don't like to multi-task!

Posted by Carsten Kurz (Member # 5396) on 08-30-2014, 03:01 PM:

I'll give it a try next time I'm near the machine. It's a second hand buy and a rushed install. Currently, staff has to step on a small ladder to power on the projector manually as it is sitting on an elevated platform in the booth. Just wondering why the device command set doesn't support this function directly. Probably because it is a generic series-II device command set and network PowerUp/Down is not a generic series-II function but projector specific.

I was just irritated because the control tab of the Doremi actually did have two buttons for PowerOn/Off configured, but the Macros behind the buttons were not populated. Maybe someone tried to implement it but didn't succeed.

- Carsten

Posted by Marcel Birgelen (Member # 6801) on 08-30-2014, 03:02 PM:

I've tested this on a NP-PA600X, I don't have a spare NEC DCI projector lying around that I can abuse. I suppose the instruction sets are the same for their DCI projectors?

TCP port number 7142.

Power On: 02H 00H 00H 00H 00H 02H
Power Off: 02H 01H 00H 00H 00H 03H

That's the whole string including the checksum at the end. They don't seem to use a "projector address", like Barco does, so no serial chaining of your projectors [Wink]

.

It should also work via serial, but I didn't have the time to test that.

If you would do it right, you should actually get an ACK back and wait for it. [Wink]

Posted by Carsten Kurz (Member # 5396) on 08-30-2014, 03:05 PM:

Thanx again, I'll check it.

- Carsten

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 08-30-2014, 03:11 PM:

Yes, it does require the whole checksum thing...I neglected to add that part in. The port is different though (and different between series 1 and series 2 projectors). The NC900C follows the series 2 (which it is) so it is TCP port 43728.

Note...the NC900C isn't as satisfying in standby mode as its larger kinfolk. In fact, you won't be able to tell the difference audibly...the fans stay running in standby (seemingly all of them). the ICP shuts off so you do get some stuff that turns off! Thus far, in all of our NC900C systems, we have the automation issue the Standby command...allow something like 2-minutes (whatever its cool down time is) and then kill power to the projector completely. Remember, it only draws something around 10amps at 120V or about half that in your country so one need not have a very sizable relay/control circuit to switch it. One can also UPS the entire projector with ease.

Posted by Carsten Kurz (Member # 5396) on 08-31-2014, 08:47 AM:

This will not be used for powering down between shows - this location is actually only playing a few days per week. It's will just be used to power-on the projector before the evening show, and power it down afterwards from the Doremi control screen, without having to climb up a ladder to reach the power-on button on the key pad area.

The hard-power switch will always be left on, power is controlled from a wall breaker.

- Carsten

Posted by Marcel Birgelen (Member # 6801) on 08-31-2014, 01:29 PM:

Maybe you could benefit more from a remote power switch then? Make sure it handles the amperage, but the professional ones from companies like APC should do.

Posted by Carsten Kurz (Member # 5396) on 08-31-2014, 03:51 PM:

Why? Even with a power switch, they would still need to climb up that ladder to power on the projector from standby, which is the mode the NEC enters after external power has been applied. NECs DCC allows to power on the projector from standby over the network, so it should be no big deal. Wondering why this is no default macro in the projector device config on the doremi, as it would be quite useful to have it as a generic option. Then if some machines don't support that power mode, who cares.

- Carsten

Posted by Marcel Birgelen (Member # 6801) on 08-31-2014, 03:55 PM:

Because of this:

quote:
C900C isn't as satisfying in standby mode as its larger kinfolk.

And with a Remote Power Switch, you can kill the entire power to the projector, without climbing up a ladder...

Posted by Carsten Kurz (Member # 5396) on 08-31-2014, 06:40 PM:

This machine is not meant to be powered down by hard killing before it has been shut down properly via keypad (or network). And it won't power-up again just by applying external power. There is a wall breaker already than can do the job to cut power.
It doesn't make climbing up the ladder before and after the show unnecessary as staff still has to press the keypad to power it up and down.

- Carsten

Posted by Marcel Birgelen (Member # 6801) on 09-01-2014, 06:13 AM:

No, besides some emergency situations, you should obviously never "hard break" the power to any digital projector, it needs those fans to cool down properly. You still need to put it into standby the proper way.

I thought about it as a solution to switch it off entirely during the days it will not be used. It's unnecessary to let it idle in semi-standby with all the fans turning, which will only shorten their lifespan, will collect more dust and will negatively affect your electricity bill. If you have a breaker that can be used for this, that's obviously equally fine.

Posted by Carsten Kurz (Member # 5396) on 09-01-2014, 06:17 AM:

Oh, it will of course be shut off during idle days through the wall breaker switch, just like all the other electronics there - but only after having been shutdown via the keypad or, hopefully, network.

- Carsten

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 09-02-2014, 06:07 PM:

This all sounds like you guys don't run your NC-900's on any sort of UPS... If you did cutting the power @ the breaker would cause the UPS to kick in. You don't need a very large UPS for the entire projector to be on it, especially if you run it on 220 volts. So with UPS you're gonna need to power on and off voa the server or via DCC on the network.

Mark

Posted by Carsten Kurz (Member # 5396) on 09-03-2014, 05:38 AM:

Once the installation is finished, it will be on a UPS, together with the server, because they used to have power problems there. It's a small screen, no 3D, and the unit is slightly over-bright running only one lamp, so, a UPS is no big deal.

- Carsten

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 09-04-2014, 03:05 PM:

You can even run both lamps on a 2kva 220 volt ups and still have some run time. I have about 30 installations doing that. They are all running SX-3000's though which only adds about 15 watts draw on top of the pojector. Only one site has separate servers (DSS-100) with the NC-900's and those pairs are running on a separate UPS because they draw so much power.

Mark

Posted by Carsten Kurz (Member # 5396) on 09-12-2014, 03:16 PM:

quote: Marcel Birgelen
TCP port number 7142.

Power On: 02H 00H 00H 00H 00H 02H
Power Off: 02H 01H 00H 00H 00H 03H

quote: Steve Guttag
The NC900C follows the series 2 (which it is) so it is TCP port 43728.

Thanks Marcel and Steve, this actually worked!

I created a new RAW device NC900_On_Off on the Doremi and configured it to use the NC900C's IP address and port number 43728.

I then created two macros NC900_On and NC900_Off containing binary (actually hex) messages '020000000002' for On and '020100000003' for Off, then created 'links' to these macros on the control-panel tab in addition to the existing lamp on/lamp off, douser close/douser open buttons.

Works exactly as it should. After main power has been applied to the NEC from the wall breaker and the Doremi has booted into Cinelister, staff will go to the control tab first and power up the NEC using this button.

I also can now power down the projector automatically after the show in the playlist.
When staff is finished with their work, the projector has already cooled down and can be switched off from standby mode with the wall breaker again.

We have removed the ladder from the booth now ;-)

- Carsten

Posted by Leslie Hartmier (Member # 7053) on 09-16-2014, 07:19 PM:

Alternately, a network cable could have been run to somewhere convenient but isolated from the public that had a small notebook/netbook/desktop computer with DCC for S2, and it could be easily controlled as well.