16-01-2016, 07:46 PM
The problem is the XY control panel. Far too complicated for the Museum environment. It's got to be rows of push buttons, one per xpoint, or possibly rotary switches. Anything more complex will just be confusing.
I think I've got an XY control panel for the router I have here but ISTR it really wouldn't be right for the Museum. The right answer is a a control panel with push buttons and a PIC or Arduino or something to convert the button presses to the relevant commands on the RS232 (RS422?) interface to the router. A friend (not a GVR member) said he'd do this as he's got the relevant experience but he's so busy that he'll never find the time in practice.
Hence I'm taking a KISS approach and making a very simple and direct system that can be used and understood by anybody.
One minor thing I need to do is sort out the defaults when the head end rack is switched to standby. At present it routes the off-air tuners to the Auroras and modulators. This means that all the TVs at the Museum will get pictures on all channels at all times. Peter Sanders and John Wakely have said it would be nice to have testcard instead. So I'm planning a 2 way switch so that in standby either TC or off-air can be selected. I'm sure it can be done with a few diodes and perhaps a relay or 2. Again simple and direct methods. Just need to work it out.
I think I've got an XY control panel for the router I have here but ISTR it really wouldn't be right for the Museum. The right answer is a a control panel with push buttons and a PIC or Arduino or something to convert the button presses to the relevant commands on the RS232 (RS422?) interface to the router. A friend (not a GVR member) said he'd do this as he's got the relevant experience but he's so busy that he'll never find the time in practice.
Hence I'm taking a KISS approach and making a very simple and direct system that can be used and understood by anybody.
One minor thing I need to do is sort out the defaults when the head end rack is switched to standby. At present it routes the off-air tuners to the Auroras and modulators. This means that all the TVs at the Museum will get pictures on all channels at all times. Peter Sanders and John Wakely have said it would be nice to have testcard instead. So I'm planning a 2 way switch so that in standby either TC or off-air can be selected. I'm sure it can be done with a few diodes and perhaps a relay or 2. Again simple and direct methods. Just need to work it out.
www.borinsky.co.uk Jeffrey Borinsky www.becg.tv
