Contemporary Research SSV-101 User manual

Product Manual
SignStream Media Express
Installing and using SignStream Technology
Media Express Version 2.0.5
March 24, 2008
Contemporary Research 1 SignStream Installation and Operation

Contemporary Research 2 SignStream Installation and Operation
Table of Contents
SignStream Media Player Setup .........................................................................................................3
Ethernet................................................................................................................................................3
PCI Card Slots for SSM-ATSC Modulator Cards..........................................................................................3
ATSC Media Files.................................................................................................................................4
Encoding ATSC Media Files......................................................................................................................4
MainConcept MPEG Encoder....................................................................................................................4
SignStream ATSC Modulator Cards.....................................................................................................5
SSM-ATSC .............................................................................................................................................5
Head End Installation.........................................................................................................................6
RS-232 Control.......................................................................................................................................6
Ethernet Control.....................................................................................................................................7
Reset IP Address....................................................................................................................................7
RF Setup ...............................................................................................................................................7
SignStream Zones...............................................................................................................................8
SignStream Find .................................................................................................................................9
SignStream Media Express ...............................................................................................................10
Version 2.0..........................................................................................................................................10
Local Access ........................................................................................................................................10
Media - Control ....................................................................................................................................12
Current Playlist .................................................................................................................................12
Media Files .......................................................................................................................................12
All Cards...........................................................................................................................................12
Media - Edit.........................................................................................................................................13
Editing Modes...................................................................................................................................13
Playlist Library ..................................................................................................................................13
Media Files .......................................................................................................................................13
Media - Setup ......................................................................................................................................14
Card Channels ..................................................................................................................................14
Options............................................................................................................................................14
Displays – Control ................................................................................................................................15
Special Commands............................................................................................................................16
Displays – Edit .....................................................................................................................................17
Editing Modes...................................................................................................................................17
Preset Parameters.............................................................................................................................17
Displays – Setup...................................................................................................................................18
Head End Communication..................................................................................................................18
Broadcast Settings ............................................................................................................................18
Changing Zone Names.......................................................................................................................18
Schedule - Control................................................................................................................................19
Note to Users of Pre 1.7 Software ......................................................................................................19
Schedule - Edit.....................................................................................................................................20
Editing Modes...................................................................................................................................20
Event Parameters..............................................................................................................................20
Alerts - Control.....................................................................................................................................21
Alerts - Edit..........................................................................................................................................22
Editing Modes...................................................................................................................................22
Alert Parameters...............................................................................................................................22
Technical Specifications ...................................................................................................................23

SignStream Media Player Setup
While SignStream media players may vary in appearance and configuration, all share common attributes:
•Windows XP Pro software installed
•SignStream Web operation provided by Localhost IIS service
•Operating system in C: drive
•SignStream media, playlist, and schedule files in E: drive
Ethernet
IP Address: 192.168.1.245
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Gateway Address: 000.000.000.000
Telnet TCP Port: 2728 Telnet Access
UDP Port: 2729 For remote Find SignStream access
80ForWebAccess
Web Access: Internal Access - http://localhost/SignStream
External Access - http://<IP address>/SignStream
External Access - http://<Computer Name>/SignStream
Hard Drives
SSV-101 80 GB hard drive for OS, software, and media, 50 GB media partition
SSV-300/304: Windows: 80 GB SATA II hard drive, 7200 RPM
Media: 250 GB SATA II hard drive, 7200 RPM
SSV-306R: Windows: Two 80 GB SATA II hard drives, 7200 RPM, RAID 1
Media: Four 80 GB SATA II hard drives, 7200 RPM, RAID 5
PCI Card Slots for SSM-ATSC Modulator Cards
SSV-101: 1 PCI
SSV-300: 3 PCI
SSV-300: 4 PCI
SSV-306R: 6 PCI (5 PCI, 1 PCI-X)
1 PCIe for RAID 5 controller
Contemporary Research 3 SignStream Installation and Operation

ATSC Media Files
SignStream plays ATSC 1080i or 720p MPEG-2 Transport Stream files, the same standard digital media file used
by all broadcast TV stations, and is compatible with all ATSC HDTV tuners.
In basic terms, most MPEG-2 videos played on PCs are Program Streams, designed for playback on a device. An
MPEG-2 Transport Stream is similar, but is formatted to maintain signal integrity when sent over long distances.
Encoding ATSC Media Files
Most HDTV video production houses have studio-level software that formats digital media into ATSC streams
required by television broadcasters. Costs for conversion software range from expensive studio programs
(which include features not required for SignStream, such as inserting channel ID information), and low-cost
applications such as MPEG Encoder by MainConcept.
All ATSC files must use the extension .trp for playback. The modulator card can play 720p-format media, but
for smooth, seamless transitions in playback, all files should be in 1080i format.
To estimate hard drive storage needs, assume that every 10 GB will host 60 minutes of content.
MainConcept Reference MPEG Transcoder
The MainConcept Reference MPEG Transcoder is not included with SignStream, and is available for $450 from
www.mainconcept.com, for Windows operating systems. Key features include:
•Converts AVI, MPEG-2, QuickTime (video), and WMV video files. Graphics and vector based “video”
files, such as Flash, cannot be converted.
•Encodes 1920 x 1080 (and smaller) digital video files into ATSC 1080i format. This means you can
convert 1280 x 720 and DVD-quality 16:9 (856 x 480) video files for use with SignStream. Generally
speaking, the lower-resolution formats work well for graphic presentations, less for pure video shows.
Ready-made 1080i and 720p presets, and instructions for converting files are available from the SignStream
Content page.
Contemporary Research 4 SignStream Installation and Operation

Contemporary Research 5 SignStream Installation and Operation
SignStream ATSC Modulator Cards
SignStream ATSC Modulator Cards install into the player’s PCI and PCI-X card slots. SignStream media players
employ two types of SSM Modulator Cards, the SSM-ATSC or the SSM-ATSC2. Only one type of card can be run
within the same Media player, the cards cannot be mixed within the same media player.
SSM-ATSC
General: Broadcasts ATSC and simultaneous NTSC analog channels
Modes: Cable, IRC, HRC, Off-Air
ATSC RF Out: F connector, +24 dbmV
ATSC Channels: Off-air Channels 14-22 or Cable channels 66-73
NTSC RF Out: F connector, +24 dbmV, mono audio
NTSC Channels: Off-air Channels 3-13, 95-99, Cable 3-22, 95-99
NTSC Formats: Auto, 4:3 (center), cropped, letterbox, or full

Head End Installation
Some SignStream applications run HDTV playlists only, other applications include CR iC-Net technology to
control displays through the same RF coax as the HDTV channels. In systems that provide control a
Contemporary Research ICC-HE Head End is installed near the SignStream media player. This unit receives
control commands via RS-232 and inserts the commands into the RF system as a small control channel between
TV channels 4 and 5. If your SignStream system is not used to control displays, ignore this section. Refer to the
ICE-HE manual for Ethernet communication to Head End.
RS-232 Control
Most applications will use RS-232 communication, connected to an ICC-HE Head End. Check the front panel of
the Head End, as shown above, and see if the last 3 DIP switches under the RS-232 LED are set as follows:
•Switch 6 Off (Down)
•Switch 7 On (Up)
•Switch 8 On (Up)
This sets the speed of communication to 19,200 baud.
Next, connect the included RS-232 cable between the 9-pin RS-232 port at the SignStream back panel to the
RS-232 Remote Control port on the back of the ICC-HE.
Contemporary Research 6 SignStream Installation and Operation

Contemporary Research 7 SignStream Installation and Operation
Ethernet Control
The ICE-HE typically communicates over a network using a static IP address, and is shipped set to a default
address:
IP Address: 192.168.1.251
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Gateway Address: 000.000.000.000
Odds are, at least the IP address will change when the ICE-HE is connected to the client’s network. One your
first steps will be to obtain a static address from the client’s IT department, as well as an external gateway IP
address if you intend on supporting the system from your office or anywhere outside the site’s firewall.
Once you change the settings, create a label noting the settings and attach to the back of the ICE-HE.
Reset IP Address
If you change the default address and forget what it is later on, you can always reset the ICE-HE back to the
default settings using the unit’s front-panel DIP switch 2. While the power is on, flip the switch off, then back
on to reset the IP address. The IP and Subnet Mask will change, the Gateway will stay at its current setting.
Since its possible another network device is using the default IP address, the best approach is to enter the new
settings offline, outside the network. You can use one of two, requiring one of two offline options:
1. Direct PC Connection. Use an Ethernet “Crossover” cable to make a direct connection to the ICE-HE
Ethernet port and your PC. Two pairs of wires are reversed at one end to create a direct send/receive
path for data.
2. Hub or Switch Connection. Another approach for connection is to use a standard Ethernet hub or switch
between your computer and the ICE-HE. Using standard Cat5 Ethernet cables, connect your PC to one
port, then connect the ICE-HE to the second port.
RF Setup
The Head End sends the control channel at a level of 50 dBmV. In virtually all installations, the system installer
has installed filters to the RF Out connection to match the level to the SignStream channels. The manual that
was shipped with the Head End provides more detail, if needed, can be downloaded from the Head End page in
the www.crwww.com Web site.

Contemporary Research 8 SignStream Installation and Operation
SignStream Zones
Media Express assigns control to three entities:
•All Zones – All displays respond to a single command
•Zones – All displays within one of 15 Zones respond to a single command
•Single Display – Sends command to one display address
When you design your SignStream system, arrange your display addresses into one of the 15
zones
. This allows you to control a group of displays as if they were one display.
Note that you can change the default names for Zones in Media Express – see Display – Setup in the Media
Express section.
You’ll discover that the ICC1-IR and ICC1-232 controllers typical for many SignStream display control systems
are designed to follow this Zone address format. You can use the 4 top switches in the second DIP switch to
define the controller’s Zone. You could stop at that point, or use the upper switches to define the controller’s
address within the Zone. For example, setting S2/1 On and S1/2 On defines that the controller is part of Zone 1
(256), and is the second unit in the Zone (2). The unique address of the controller would be 258 (256 + 2). The
ICC2-ATSC follows a similar procedure – using front-panel programming, you set the unique Unit address (1-
255), then the Zone (1-15).
Use the chart below as a guide to setting your Zones and addresses.
Zone Device # Unit Total Device #
1 256 1-255 257-511
2 512 1-255 512-767
3 768 1-255 769-1023
4 1024 1-255 1025-1279
5 1280 1-255 1281-1535
6 1536 1-255 1537-1791
7 1792 1-255 1793-2047
8 2048 1-255 2049-2303
9 2304 1-255 2305-2559
10 2560 1-255 2561-2815
11 2816 1-255 2817-3071
12 3072 1-255 3073-3327
13 3328 1-255 3329-3583
14 3584 1-255 3585-3839
15 3840 1-255 3841-4000
All Zones 4095

SignStream Find
Contemporary Research offers an alternative way to find SignStream media players, called SignStream Find.
This application can be downloaded from the SignStream MX or Download pages at www.crwww.com. When
launched, SignStream Web will find all the SignStream media players in your network.
Simply click on the desired media player to bring up the SignStream Web pages from that media player. You
can also add SignStream media players outside your network with the Add IP Addresses tab. To allow external
access the IT department needs provide access:
•Make sure the SignStream Media player’s Windows Firewall exceptions allows access to TCP 2728, UDP
2728 and TCP 80, set Change Scope to Any Computer, or My Network if you want to limit access to
within your network.
•The network firewall needs to be set up for remote access to the media player and UDP ports.
Contemporary Research 9 SignStream Installation and Operation

SignStream Media Express
SignStream Media Express manages playlists via Web pages accessed from the local SignStream Media player,
any computer on the network, or remotely from a distant location.
Version 2.0.5
•You can now define with a scheduled Event ends. The Event will be removed from the schedule at
11:59 PM at the end of the day.
•All data for playlist, control, and schedule operation are now included in the Data folder in the media
directory. Copy this folder along with media files to “clone” other SignStream Media players
•The Configuration file is now in the SignStream root directory so it can’t be accidently copied to other
media players
Local Access
•Connect a USB keyboard and mouse (or PS2 versions) and RGB Monitor to the SignStream Media
player.
•Launch Internet Explorer
•The browser will automatically display the SignStream Web pages
•Click on the Setup link at the top
•Note the System IP Address of the media player
•The IP Address can be changed via Windows Network tools, and should normally be set as a static IP
address for remote access.
Remote Access
To access SignStream Web pages within the network, just browse to the computer by
•Enter http://
Computer Name /SignStream
•Enter http://
IP Address /SignStream
You’ll need to communicate with your IT department to set up access to SignStream from outside the network.
Users only need access to the IP address, not to the media file directory.
Contemporary Research 10 SignStream Installation and Operation