Barco 20c -

[Allan Barnes]

During testing, using the BARCO COMMUNICATOR from a laptop, I was switching directly between the SMPTE type focus tests that are stored inside the BARCO 20c. THE FOCUS MOVED / SHIFTED BETWEEN 2 DIFFERENT FOCUS TESTS.... it shifted alot. I didn't execute or touch the computer / touch screen or the projector buttons. This Barco is on a small network of 2 machines and the IP Addresses are correct.

And I swapped out laptops!!!

WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?

[Marco Giustini]

How did you exactly switch between test patterns in the Communicator?

[Allan Barnes]

Sometimes I would CLEAR the old TEST IMAGE then select a new TEST IMAGE.

Sometimes I would just JUMP DIRECTLY from TEST IMAGE to ANOTHER TEST IMAGE.

[Leo Enticknap]

The only possible explanation I can think of for this is that the test patterns are being activated via macros that have call different lens position files. Simply loading a test pattern from the ICP directly should not cause anything to happen to the lens motors.

That having been said, weird ass things can happen, and sometimes the explanation isn't obvious. I spent most of this afternoon banging my head against a wall with a DP4K-P that would change its color space whenever a macro was re-selected. The aim was to enable DCI P3-encoded input through one of the ICMP's HDMI inputs. The source was a Decklink card on a Mac Pro running Da Vinci Resolve, the SDI output from which went into a Blackmagic Teranex scaler/switcher/converter, and came out of that as HDMI into the ICMP.

I would change the selected PCF manually to DCDM_XYZ_auto, and the picture would look perfect (and so did the numbers on the color meter). But when I saved this configuration to a macro and executed the macro, the color space went to buggery (washed out, green faces, etc. etc.), even though Communicator was indicating that DCDM_XYZ_auto was the selected PCF. I would then select that PCF manually again, and the colors would instantly become OK.

After much wailing and gnashing of teeth, the problem turned out to be that the Teranex was doing something unhelpful with the EDIDs. We took a cable straight from the Decklink card's HDMI jack into the ICMP, not passing through the Teranex or anything else, and then re-executed that macro a dozen times, with perfect colors appearing on a test pattern generated in Resolve every time.

So something totally weird could be happening to cause lens motor actuations in this case, but the only possibility that makes any sense is that this projector has full scale macros set up to display test patterns (one for flat and one for scope, maybe?), and this is what Allan is triggering.

[Marco Giustini]

The only possible explanation I can think of for this is that the test patterns are being activated via macros that have call different lens position files. Simply loading a test pattern from the ICP directly should not cause anything to happen to the lens motors.

My thought exactly, hence my question which I invite Allan to read again and reply with more details.

I've seen engines which suffer of focus shift depending on the brightness of the content displayed or simply which would drift after the lamp was turned on. But I don't think this applies to a 20C with a small lamp ?

[Ryan Gallagher]

I'm not as familiar with Barco's... but do they also offer a VNC interface to the ICP like Christie's do? If you need this function remotely and the communicator macros are not doing it correctly (such as applying whole presets), that would be an approach perhaps?

[Marco Giustini]

Christie have VNC to the projector UI, not the ICP. Older Barco can be controlled with the "Communicator" app.

You don't need to go to the ICP to select test patterns, Barco has a "Test Pattern" section for that - but a Test Pattern can also be recalled via a "Channel" macro for convenience. If that is what Allan is using, chances are that the Macro ALSO contains a lens file selection. We need to understand better what's happening ?

[Stefan Scholz]

The recent Christie firmware has a web server, and this can handle multiple clients logged in. No need for VNC.
The older ones pre S3 did use VNC.

[Leo Enticknap]

Older Barco can be controlled with the "Communicator" app.

The newer hardware variant of CCB for older Series 2 Barcos adds what they call a "Communicator Lite" web UI server. It includes basic operation functions, status info, and maintenance functions that Barco intend the end user to take care of, rather than a trained tech (maintenance A, B, and lamp swapouts): It has most of the functions that you don't need to log in as a service technician on the app to do.

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Whenever I replace a dead CCB on an older Barco (not an uncommon service call mission!), I make a point of letting the customer know that it now has the extra feature. Several of them have been very happy with it, especially as it effectively adds the ability to drive the projector from a tablet or smartphone, which can't run the Communicator app.

[Benjamin Ruder]

That having been said, weird ass things can happen, and sometimes the explanation isn't obvious.

This about sums up a lot of things....

[Marin Zorica]

During testing, using the BARCO COMMUNICATOR from a laptop, I was switching directly between the SMPTE type focus tests that are stored inside the BARCO 20c. THE FOCUS MOVED / SHIFTED BETWEEN 2 DIFFERENT FOCUS TESTS.... it shifted alot. I didn't execute or touch the computer / touch screen or the projector buttons. This Barco is on a small network of 2 machines and the IP Addresses are correct.

And I swapped out laptops!!!

WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?

It could be that somebody made channel with those test pattern........ first, go to installation, advanced and lens parameters. And click home&return lens, maybe lens just went off and needs calibration. After that, use preset that works ok before and try it out. Also, if home&return don't say OK at end, it could be maybe that lens is not inserted correct, or some of motors are not ok.

[Allan Barnes]

YES... I must check the "HOME & RETURN" TEST FUNCTION. I have NOT setup any TEST PATTERN MARCOs and I am only using SCOPE.