Burst Electronics MCG-2 User manual

Micro Character Generator
BURST ELECTRONICS INC
ALBUQUERQUE, NM 87109 USA
[phone]
[phone] FAX
burstelectronics.com
Made in USA
Manual Version 2.01
The MCG-2
Hardware, software and manual copyright by Burst Electronics.All rights reserved.No part of this publication
may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means without the written permission of Burst
Electronics.

1 MCG-2 Micro Character Generator
Part One: Introduction
About The Manual
Tutorial
Main menu
Screen control menu
Utility menu
Adjusting Display Brightness
Part Two: Remote Control Tutorial
Waking up the MCG-2
Networking
Notes on Cables
Command Reference
Part Three: Technical
Lithium Battery - 3V
Notes on “Master Reset”
Troubleshooting and Flashing Lights
Specifications
Jumper Settings
Error Messages
ASCII to MCG-2 Display Convert Table
RS232 Adapters
MCG-2 Micro Character Generator
Table of Contents

2 MCG-2 Micro Character Generator
PART ONE
Introduction:
The MCG-2 is a low cost B/W character generator for adding titles or
captioning to NTSC or PAL Color or Monochrome video. The MCG-2
will automatically Genlock to either NTSC or PAL inputs with no
adjustments or switch settings required. The MCG-2 outputs black or
white characters (user adjustable), appropriate for logging and
documenting experiments, video source I.D., camera and location
display for security applications, time and date stamp from a PC (or the
MCG-2 with the real time clock option), Patient monitoring,
Information displays, and basic CG applications. The MCG-2 requires
a video input to operate.
The unit displays a maximum of 180 characters (9 lines by 20 letters).
Characters may be set to 4 widths and 4 heights for a total of 16
character sizes.
The character set includes upper case letters A–Z, numerals 0–9, and
various punctuation marks and symbols as shown in the ASCII to
MCG-2 Display Convert table. Characters may be set to have
background or to flash or both. Characters and background brightness
may be individually set with "screwdriver" adjusters on the rear panel.
The display memory holds 10 pages of text and is protected from
power losses by a lithium cell that should last 10 years (3 years if RTC
is installed). Stored on a page by page basis for each page is: the
character size, display position, background on/off status, and the
position of the Real Time Clock Display.
The MCG-2 may be controlled by either front panel controls or
remotely by an RS232 link to a PC.
Multiple units may be chained together with standard 4-conductor
RJ11 modular telephone cable and individually accessed from a PC.
Easy to use two letter commands are sent to the MCG-2 from a PC

3 MCG-2 Micro Character Generator
running a communication program (such as Procomm or Windows
HyperTerminal) or from user written software.
The MCG-2 has 3 LEDs: Power, RS232 Activity (Remote), and On-
Line status.
About This Manual:
This manual is divided into three sections. Section One is a tutorial and
describes initial setup and MCG-2 front panel operation. Section Two
describes how to remotely control one MCG-2 or a network of
MCG-2’s from a Personal Computer. Also included in Section Two is a
reference section describing how to use each of the two letter remote
control commands. Section Three has information on specifications,
troubleshooting, etc.
When reading the next section, the Tutorial, it is best to have the
MCG-2 in front of you to get a full understanding of the operation of
the MCG-2.
Material Supplied:
In the shipping carton you should find:
1 MCG-2 Micro Character Generator
1 AC adapter 12 Vdc/500mA
1 Operations manual
1 Three foot modular telephone cable (RJ11 Type)
1 DB9 (RS232) to RJ11 (Telephone cord) adapter
1 Floppy Disk (Containing example software for remote control)
Operation:
Power up the MCG-2 using the AC adapter or an external source of 12
Vdc. The MCG-2 has an auto polarity feature for the DC input

4 MCG-2 Micro Character Generator
(polarity is unimportant). Connect a video source (black burst, VCR,
live video, etc.) to the VIDEO-IN BNC connector. Connect the
VIDEO-OUT BNC connector to a composite monitor. The REMOTE
IN and OUT RJ11 connectors will be discussed in Section Two.
WARNING!!! - DO NOT CONNECT YOUR MCG-2 UNIT TO A
TELEPHONE SYSTEM. DAMAGE MAY RESULT AND YOUR
WARRANTY MAY BE VOIDED.
The RJ11 connectors are for remote control of the MCG-2 from a PC
computer RS232 port, and not for direct connection to a telephone
system. The MCG-2 may be controlled over phone lines with the use of
a modem.
Switch the unit on. When the unit is powered up it goes to On Line
status and displays the page it was set for the last time it was powered
up. The Green POWER LED and the red ON LINE LED should glow.
The page will appear blank if there is no text present. (If no text is
displayed and the page is not blank or if the green Power LED is
flashing, see the section on troubleshooting.)
The MCG-2 may be controlled either by front panel controls or via an
RS232 link to a PC. This section will discuss front panel control.
(Remote control via a PC is discussed in Section Two.)
Front panel controls use menus on the screen to guide the user in
editing text or setting options. There are 3 menus:
MM
MM
MCGCG
CGCG
CG-2 M-2 M
-2 M-2 M
-2 MAA
AA
AII
II
IN MN M
N MN M
N MEE
EE
ENN
NN
NUU
UU
U
SS
SS
SCC
CC
CRR
RR
REE
EE
EEE
EE
EN CN C
N CN C
N COO
OO
ONN
NN
NTT
TT
TRORO
RORO
ROL ML M
L ML M
L MEE
EE
ENN
NN
NUU
UU
U
UU
UU
UTT
TT
TII
II
ILILI
LILI
LITT
TT
TY MY M
Y MY M
Y MEE
EE
ENN
NN
NUU
UU
U
As each new menu is brought up, move the arrow to the item of interest
and read the manual description.
Press the MENU button now to go to the MM
MM
MAA
AA
AII
II
IN MN M
N MN M
N MEE
EE
ENN
NN
NUU
UU
U. The UP and
DOWN arrow buttons will move the arrow to select the different menu
items. The following details each menu item.

5 MCG-2 Micro Character Generator
Main Menu:
EE
EE
EDD
DD
DII
II
IT PT P
T PT P
T PAGAG
AGAG
AGEE
EE
E
Move the arrow to EE
EE
EDD
DD
DII
II
IT PT P
T PT P
T PAGAG
AGAG
AGEE
EE
E. Press the MENU key. A flashing
cursor will appear. The cursor may be moved left or right with the
arrow buttons, and up or down by holding SHIFT and pressing the
arrow buttons. Holding the arrow keys for more than about a second
will cause the key to repeat, moving the cursor across the screen.
Characters may be selected by pressing the PLUS or MINUS keys.
Holding down the PLUS or MINUS keys will cause the characters to
cycle up or down. The cycling will stop briefly at the beginning and
end of: the alphabet, the numbers, the punctuation marks, and the
symbols.
Characters may be set to flash by holding the SHIFT key and pressing
the PLUS key. Flash mode is indicated by the cursor changing from a
block to a special underline character. Now all subsequent characters
set will flash. To exit flash mode, hold down the SHIFT key and press
the MINUS key. The cursor now returns to the normal block character.
Individual characters that are already set on the screen may be set to
flash by moving the cursor over the character, holding the SHIFT key
and pressing the PLUS key. Press MENU to exit from EE
EE
EDD
DD
DII
II
IT PT P
T PT P
T PAGAG
AGAG
AGEE
EE
E.
This also saves your text.
Try setting some titles to get a feel for using EE
EE
EDD
DD
DII
II
IT PT P
T PT P
T PAGAG
AGAG
AGEE
EE
E. To exit from
EE
EE
EDD
DD
DII
II
IT PT P
T PT P
T PAGAG
AGAG
AGEE
EE
Epress the MENU key.
DD
DD
DII
II
ISS
SS
SPP
PP
PLALA
LALA
LAY PY P
Y PY P
Y PAGAG
AGAG
AGEE
EE
E
Pressing the MENU key displays the currently selected page. Pressing
the DISP key will cause the unit to toggle between on line and off line.
Pressing the PLUS or MINUS keys will switch the unit to the next
higher or lower page. There are ten pages that may be selected.
Once you have set text on all your pages, this is the menu item you will
use to recall them. Press the MENU key to exit.

6 MCG-2 Micro Character Generator
CC
CC
CHH
HH
HAA
AA
ANN
NN
NGG
GG
GE PE P
E PE P
E PAGAG
AGAG
AGEE
EE
E
This is another way to change pages. Pressing the PLUS or MINUS
keys will change the current page and show the page number.
SS
SS
SET BET B
ET BET B
ET BACAC
ACAC
ACKGKG
KGKG
KGRORO
RORO
ROUU
UU
UNN
NN
NDD
DD
D
Pressing the PLUS key will change the background for the current
page, and pressing the MINUS key will turn it off.
Turn the background on or off and then go to DD
DD
DII
II
ISS
SS
SPP
PP
PLALA
LALA
LAY PY P
Y PY P
Y PAGAG
AGAG
AGEE
EE
Eto see
what the page looks like.
SS
SS
SET VET V
ET VET V
ET VEE
EE
ERR
RR
RT (VT (V
T (VT (V
T (Vertical) Sertical) S
ertical) Sertical) S
ertical) SII
II
IZZ
ZZ
ZEE
EE
E
SS
SS
SET HET H
ET HET H
ET HOO
OO
ORR
RR
RZ (Horizontal) SZ (Horizontal) S
Z (Horizontal) SZ (Horizontal) S
Z (Horizontal) SII
II
IZZ
ZZ
ZEE
EE
E
This menu item sets the size of the characters displayed with DD
DD
DII
II
ISS
SS
SPP
PP
PLALA
LALA
LAYY
YY
Y
PP
PP
PAGAG
AGAG
AGEE
EE
E. Move the arrow to SS
SS
SET HET H
ET HET H
ET HOO
OO
ORR
RR
RZ SZ S
Z SZ S
Z SII
II
IZZ
ZZ
ZEE
EE
Eor SS
SS
SET VET V
ET VET V
ET VEE
EE
ERR
RR
RT ST S
T ST S
T SII
II
IZZ
ZZ
ZEE
EE
E.
Pressing the PLUS or MINUS keys will change the character size for
the current page.
After setting a character size, go to DD
DD
DII
II
ISS
SS
SPP
PP
PLALA
LALA
LAY PY P
Y PY P
Y PAGAG
AGAG
AGEE
EE
Eto see what the
characters look like.
Character size is stored on a page by page basis such that each page
may have a different character size. On a given page, all characters are
of the same size.
Screen Control Menu:
SS
SS
SET HET H
ET HET H
ET HOO
OO
ORR
RR
RZ (Horizontal) PZ (Horizontal) P
Z (Horizontal) PZ (Horizontal) P
Z (Horizontal) POO
OO
OS (PS (P
S (PS (P
S (Position)osition)
osition)osition)
osition)
SS
SS
SET VET V
ET VET V
ET VEE
EE
ERR
RR
RT (VT (V
T (VT (V
T (Vertical) Pertical) P
ertical) Pertical) P
ertical) POO
OO
OS (PS (P
S (PS (P
S (Position)osition)
osition)osition)
osition)
This menu item sets the display position of the characters on the
monitor. The display position may be set by either pressing the PLUS
or MINUS keys, or by pressing the MENU key.

7 MCG-2 Micro Character Generator
If you pressed the MENU key, the current page is displayed. You can
move the page left and right by pressing the arrow keys, or up and
down by pressing SHIFT and the arrow keys.
Display position is stored on a page by page basis such that each page
may have a different display position.
Press MENU to exit.
CC
CC
CLEALEA
LEALEA
LEAR PR P
R PR P
R PAGAG
AGAG
AGEE
EE
E
Pressing the MENU key clears only the currently selected page.
CC
CC
CLEALEA
LEALEA
LEAR AR A
R AR A
R ALL PLL P
LL PLL P
LL PAGAG
AGAG
AGEE
EE
ESS
SS
S
Pressing the MENU key clears all 10 pages. (Use this one with
caution!)
DD
DD
DII
II
ISS
SS
SPP
PP
PLALA
LALA
LAY IY I
Y IY I
Y ID OD O
D OD O
D ON SN S
N SN S
N SCC
CC
CRR
RR
REE
EE
EEE
EE
ENN
NN
N
Pressing the MENU key will display, on the video in large print, the ID
code used to access the MCG-2 in a network of linked MCG-2’s. This
is useful in setting up a network of MCG-2’s.
Press MENU to exit.
CC
CC
CLL
LL
LOO
OO
OCC
CC
CK DK D
K DK D
K DII
II
ISS
SS
SPP
PP
PLALA
LALA
LAYY
YY
Y
This menu item is used to set a display position for the Real Time
Clock option. If this option is not installed, this item will default to
OO
OO
OFF
FF
FFF
FF
F. For more information, see the RR
RR
REAEA
EAEA
EAL TL T
L TL T
L TII
II
IMM
MM
ME CE C
E CE C
E CLL
LL
LOO
OO
OCC
CC
CKK
KK
Kaddendum
that comes with the RTC option.

8 MCG-2 Micro Character Generator
Utility Menu:
NN
NN
NO CO C
O CO C
O CLL
LL
LOO
OO
OCC
CC
CK IK I
K IK I
K INN
NN
NSTST
STST
STAA
AA
ALLELLE
LLELLE
LLEDD
DD
D
This menu item will change to SS
SS
SET CET C
ET CET C
ET CLL
LL
LOO
OO
OCC
CC
CKK
KK
Kwhen the real time clock
option is installed. For more information, see the REAL TIME CLOCK
addendum that comes with the RTC option.
DD
DD
DII
II
IAGAG
AGAG
AGNN
NN
NOO
OO
OSTST
STST
STII
II
ICC
CC
CSS
SS
S
This item tests RAM, ROM, RS232 (Remote control) port, and checks
if the real time clock is running, if installed. Note that the RS232 test
requires a loop back plug. See Section Three for more information on
building a loop back plug. Results of the tests will be either PP
PP
PAA
AA
ASS
SS
SSS
SS
SEE
EE
ED!D!
D!D!
D!
or FF
FF
FAA
AA
AII
II
ILELE
LELE
LEDD
DD
D.
Pressing the MENU key runs the tests. To exit, press the MENU key
after the test.
SS
SS
SET BET B
ET BET B
ET BAA
AA
AUU
UU
UD RAD RA
D RAD RA
D RATT
TT
TEE
EE
E
Pressing the PLUS or MINUS keys will set the baud rate (1200, 1800,
2400, 4800 & 9600) for the RS232 link. The baud rate is stored in
battery backed memory. Default is 9600.
SS
SS
SET DET D
ET DET D
ET DEVEV
EVEV
EVII
II
ICC
CC
CE IE I
E IE I
E IDD
DD
D
Pressing the PLUS or MINUS keys will set the ID code used to access
the MCG-2 in a network of linked MCG-2’s (The ID is stored in
battery backed memory.) Values are 01-FF (1-255).
MM
MM
MAA
AA
ASTST
STST
STEE
EE
ER RR R
R RR R
R REE
EE
ESS
SS
SETET
ETET
ET
Resets MCG-2 to factory defaults as follows:
Character size is set to smallest size for all pages.

9 MCG-2 Micro Character Generator
Display position is centered for all pages.
Background is set to ON for all pages.
Baud rate is set to 9600 baud.
Device ID code is set to 01.
Clock display is set to OFF.
This menu item is useful if you want to “start over from scratch.”
This menu item should also be used after replacing the lithium battery,
or to recover from a “Flashing Power LED” condition. (See Section
Three for more information.)
Note that text pages are not erased by this menu item. If you want to erase
all the pages, use CC
CC
CLEALEA
LEALEA
LEAR AR A
R AR A
R ALL PLL P
LL PLL P
LL PAGAG
AGAG
AGEE
EE
ESS
SS
Son the Screen Control Menu.
VV
VV
VEE
EE
ERR
RR
RSS
SS
SII
II
IOO
OO
ON NN N
N NN N
N NUU
UU
UMM
MM
MBB
BB
BEE
EE
ERR
RR
R
Pressing the MENU key will show the version number of the ROM
firmware and a copyright statement. You may need this information if
you need to call the factory for technical support.
Adjusting Display Brightness:
On the back panel of the unit there are two adjustment controls for
characters and background brightness; they are adjustable from 7.5 IRE
(setup) to 100 IRE.
These adjustments are set at the factory for white (80 IRE) characters
on a medium gray (30 IRE) background.

10 MCG-2 Micro Character Generator
PART TWO
Remote Control Tutorial
WARNING!!! - DO NOT CONNECT YOUR MCG-2 UNIT TO A
TELEPHONE SYSTEM. DAMAGE MAY RESULT AND YOUR
WARRANTY MAY BE VOIDED.
The RJ11 connectors are for remote control of the MCG-2 from a PC
computer RS232 port, and not for direct connection to a telephone
system. The MCG-2 may be controlled over phone lines with the use of
a modem.
Your MCG-2 may be controlled from a PC computer via the
computer’s RS232 (serial) port by sending the MCG-2 simple two
letter commands (See the command reference for more information on
commands).
We provide:
1 RJ11 cable
1 DB9 to RJ11 adapter
You will need the following:
1 PC computer with a RS232 Serial Port
1 terminal emulation program such as Procomm (ANSI.SYS
compatible) or Windows HyperTerminal.
You will need to determine if you have one or two RS232 ports, and
the name of the one you plan to use. The names will be CC
CC
COO
OO
OM1:M1:
M1:M1:
M1: or
CC
CC
COO
OO
OM2:M2:
M2:M2:
M2:. If you have only one RS232 port then the correct name is
CC
CC
COO
OO
OM1:M1:
M1:M1:
M1:.
We’ll start by connecting the DB9-to-RJ11 adapter to the RS232 port
you have chosen. Next, connect one end of the RJ11 (Telephone Type)
cable to the DB9 to RJ11 adapter, and connect the other end to the
RJ11 connector on the MCG-2 marked HOST. (It is assumed that the

11 MCG-2 Micro Character Generator
MCG-2 is connected to a video source and a monitor, and that the
MCG-2 is turned on.)
Next, run your communications program. You will need to set up the
program for the following:
Set the COM port to either CC
CC
COO
OO
OM1:M1:
M1:M1:
M1: or CC
CC
COO
OO
OM2:M2:
M2:M2:
M2:
(Depending on what you chose earlier.)
Baud rate: 9600 baud
(Unless you changed it in the Utility MenuUtility Menu
Utility MenuUtility Menu
Utility Menu)
Stop bits: 1
Data bits: 8
Parity: None
Echo: Off (or Set Duplex to Full)
Note that other combinations may not work reliably or may not work at
all, so please double check your connections and communications
program setup. Also confirm that the MCG-2 Device IDevice I
Device IDevice I
Device IDD
DD
Dcode is set
to 0101
0101
01, in the utility menu.
If you did everything correctly, then when you type on your computer
keyboard the REMOTE light should flash.

12 MCG-2 Micro Character Generator
Networking:
Your MCG-2 may be used as a stand alone unit, or in a network of
linked MCG-2’s. Networking allows more than one MCG-2 to be
controlled from a single PC computer, over a single RS232 link.
A MCG-2 network is much like a telephone party line, where each
subscriber may listen in but only one person is allowed to talk at any
one time. Because of this, each MCG-2 may be put to sleep or woke up
and in this way only one MCG-2 will talk at any one time.
Each MCG-2 in a network is assigned a unique ID number. (See “Set
device ID” in the UU
UU
UTT
TT
TII
II
ILILI
LILI
LITT
TT
TY MY M
Y MY M
Y MEE
EE
ENN
NN
NUU
UU
Uin Part One). This number is used to
wake up an MCG-2 so you can send it commands.
Waking Up the MCG-2
When first powered up the MCG-2 will be asleep, meaning that it will
ignore any data sent to it except for a WW
WW
WAA
AA
AKK
KK
KEE
EE
Ecommand. (However, the
front panel keypad will work whether the MCG-2 is awake or asleep).
The wake command format is as follows:
>W>W
>W>W
>WK,idK,id
K,idK,id
K,id
Where idid
idid
id is the device ID number. (Range 00 to FF Hex.)
After receiving a WW
WW
WAA
AA
AKK
KK
KEE
EE
Ecommand the responding MCG-2 will send
the following:
##
##
#id Rid R
id Rid R
id REAEA
EAEA
EADD
DD
DYY
YY
Y
CC
CC
COO
OO
OMM
MM
MMM
MM
MAA
AA
ANN
NN
ND?D?
D?D?
D?
>_>_
>_>_
>_
Again, the II
II
IDD
DD
Dis the device number. At this time the MCG-2 is ready to
receive commands.
To switch to another MCG-2 on the network, first issue a sleep
command as follows:
>S>S
>S>S
>SPP
PP
P

13 MCG-2 Micro Character Generator
This will put all MCG-2’s on the network to sleep. Next issue a WW
WW
WAA
AA
AKK
KK
KEE
EE
E
command using the ID number for the MCG-2 you wish to work with.
Note that the SS
SS
SLELE
LELE
LEEE
EE
EPP
PP
Pcommand does not use an ID number; instead, the
SS
SS
SLELE
LELE
LEEE
EE
EPP
PP
Pcommand puts all MCG-2’s on the network to sleep.
Notes On Cables:
Your MCG-2 uses standard 4-conductor RJ11 modular telephone cable.
This type of cable was chosen because of its low cost and ease of use.
RJ11 cable (with connectors) is widely available in various lengths, or
custom lengths can be fabricated. You can make you own cable; Radio
Shack stocks cable, connectors, and the crimping tool.
The cable has four conductors and uses four conductor RJ11
connectors. The connectors should be attached so as to have the
locking “snap” tab facing the same way on both ends of the cable. Use
the sample cable that came with your MCG-2 as an example. Some
cable has a rib along one side to aid in orienting the connectors.
Connecting the MCG-2
To connect several MCG-2’s together, proceed as follows:
Run an RJ11 cable from the PC computer to the RS232 HOST
connector on the first MCG-2. Next connect another RJ11 cable from
the LOOP connector on the first MCG-2 to the HOST connector on
the next MCG-2. The process repeats for all MCG-2’s on the network.
The RJ11 cabling should be a direct connection from one MCG-2 unit
to the next. Do not use “Y” connectors or try to double up units. Also
the computer MUST be first in line on the network.
If the layout of a building is such that the computer should be in the
middle of the cabling, you might want to split the network between two
COM ports on the computer.

14 MCG-2 Micro Character Generator
Video Cabling
Video cabling is set up a bit different than the RJ11 cables. If all units
will be using the same video source, then a cable may be connected to
each unit’s VIDEO-IN connector using BNC T-adapters. Note,
however, that the 75 ohm termination jumper on the MCG-2 (JP9) must
be removed on all but the physically last unit on the cable (see
JUMPER SETTINGS in Part Three). The rules for connecting the
video cables to the MCG-2 units are the same as for connecting several
monitors (without loop through) to one video source. The MCG-2
VIDEO-OUT connector is connected to a video monitor. The monitor
should be terminated with 75 ohms.
If the MCG-2 units will use separate video sources, then connect each
video source to its MCG-2, and leave the MCG-2 terminator jumper
(JP9) in place.
If it is not convenient to run video cables over a long distance, and a
black background video is acceptable, you may consider placing a
black burst generator at the MCG-2 remote location. Burst Electronics
manufactures a full line of black burst generators. Call for more
information.

15 MCG-2 Micro Character Generator
COMMAND REFERENCE:
Your MCG-2 may be remotely controlled by sending two letter
commands. The commands in this section are listed in alphabetical
order.
All commands have the same basic format, as follows:
CC
CC
CC,X,YC,X,Y
C,X,YC,X,Y
C,X,Y
Where: CC
CC
CCC
CC
Cis the two letter command itself.
XX
XX
Xand YY
YY
Yare operation parameters.
Parameters are information the command needs to operate. These may
be page and line numbers or something else. Parameters may be one or
two characters long. Some commands take one parameter, others take
two, and some don’t use parameters at all.
An example:
The following command, WW
WW
WRR
RR
RII
II
ITT
TT
TE LIE LI
E LIE LI
E LINN
NN
NEE
EE
E, will write a line of text to the
MCG-2 memory:
WW
WW
WL,8,3,TL,8,3,T
L,8,3,TL,8,3,T
L,8,3,THH
HH
HII
II
IS IS I
S IS I
S IS A TS A T
S A TS A T
S A TEE
EE
ESTST
STST
ST
This sequence will write THIS IS A TEST to page 8, line 3 of the
MCG-2.
To display the page that has this line, use the DD
DD
DII
II
ISS
SS
SPP
PP
PLALA
LALA
LAY PY P
Y PY P
Y PAGAG
AGAG
AGEE
EE
E
command:
DD
DD
DP,8P,8
P,8P,8
P,8
In this case we used only one parameter.
To get started, first be sure to read the remote control tutorial and
WW
WW
WAA
AA
AKK
KK
KII
II
INN
NN
NG UG U
G UG U
G UPP
PP
Pthe MCG-2. Then look over the command reference to
get familiar with the remote control commands. If you will be
controlling your MCG-2 manually then you will simply send the
MCG-2 commands with a communications program. If you will be

16 MCG-2 Micro Character Generator
writing your own software to control your MCG-2, look at the example
programs on the floppy disk that came with your MCG-2.
These example programs show how to send commands and how to set
up the serial port of a PC computer. See the RR
RR
REAEA
EAEA
EADD
DD
DMM
MM
MEE
EE
E.D.D
.D.D
.DOO
OO
OCC
CC
Cfile on the
floppy disk for more information.
The description of each command is formatted as follows:
PURPOSE: Tells what the command does.
FORMAT: Shows the correct format for the command. Keep in mind:
Capital letters must be entered as shown, lower case letters are variable
information (parameters), commas must separate commands and all
parameters.
DESCRIPTION: Describes in detail how the command is used.
EXAMPLE: Shows one or more examples of how to use the command.

17 MCG-2 Micro Character Generator
Command List
Name Command Action
Background BB
BB
BGG
GG
GSets background on/off.
Clear All CC
CC
CAA
AA
AClears all pages.
Clock Display CDCD
CDCD
CD Turns TIME/DATE ON/OFF.
Clear PC Screen CC
CC
CLL
LL
LClears PC Screen.
Clear Page CPCP
CPCP
CP Clears one page.
Character Size CC
CC
CSS
SS
SSets character size.
Clear Video CVCV
CVCV
CV Clears only Video Display screen, not CP.
Date Location DD
DD
DLL
LL
LDate location on video.
Display Page DD
DD
DPP
PP
PDisplays page on video.
Edit Page EE
EE
EPP
PP
PAllows editing of a page.
Help HH
HH
HEE
EE
EDisplays help screen to PC monitor.
Display ID II
II
IDD
DD
DDisplays MCG-2 network ID on video.
Mixer MXMX
MXMX
MX Sets Mixer to on or off line.
IBM PC Type PP
PP
PCC
CC
CSets Control for IBM Type PC.
Page Position PP
PP
PPP
PP
PSets position of page on screen.
Run Diagnostics RR
RR
RDD
DD
DRuns diagnostic tests.
Read Line RR
RR
RLL
LL
LDisplays MCG-2 text line to PC monitor.
Set Current Page SS
SS
SCC
CC
CSets the current page.
Set Date SS
SS
SDD
DD
DSets the date to Real Time Clock.
Sleep SS
SS
SPP
PP
PPuts all devices on network to sleep.
Set Responds SS
SS
SRR
RR
RTurns responses from commands to on or
off (for high speed communication).
Set Time STST
STST
ST Set time of day of Real Time Clock.
Time Format TT
TT
TFF
FF
FDisplay format of Time of Day.
Time Location TT
TT
TLL
LL
LTime Location on Video.
Update Page UU
UU
UPP
PP
PUpdate Page (No Char. Size Change)
Version Number VNVN
VNVN
VN Displays ROM software version number to
PC monitor.
Wake WW
WW
WKK
KK
KWakes up a device on the network.
Write Line WW
WW
WLL
LL
LWrites a line of text to the MCG-2.

18 MCG-2 Micro Character Generator
BB
BB
BG BG B
G BG B
G BACAC
ACAC
ACKGKG
KGKG
KGRORO
RORO
ROUU
UU
UNN
NN
NDD
DD
D
PURPOSE: Set the background video for a page.
FORMAT: BB
BB
BG,pG,p
G,pG,p
G,p
p = 1 for background ON
p = 0 for background OFF
DESCRIPTION: Sets the background status for the currently selected
page. Background status is stored on a page by page basis.
EXAMPLE:
BB
BB
BG,G,
G,G,
G,
11
11
1Sets background ON

19 MCG-2 Micro Character Generator
CC
CC
CA CA C
A CA C
A CLEALEA
LEALEA
LEAR AR A
R AR A
R ALLLL
LLLL
LL
PURPOSE: Clears all 10 pages in the MCG-2 memory.
FORMAT: CC
CC
CAA
AA
A
DESCRIPTION: Clears all 10 pages in the MCG-2 memory. This
command does not clear the MCG-2 screen (See the CD, CCD, C
CD, CCD, C
CD, CLEALEA
LEALEA
LEARR
RR
R
DD
DD
DII
II
ISS
SS
SPP
PP
PLALA
LALA
LAYY
YY
Ycommand). For obvious reasons this command should be
used with caution. This command needs no parameters.
EXAMPLE:
CC
CC
CAA
AA
AClear All Pages