Contemporary Research ICE-HE User manual

Contemporary Research 1 Display Express System Manual
Product Manual
Display Express PC
Display Express Version 3.5.0
February 5, 2009

Contemporary Research 2 Display Express System Manual
Table of Contents
Setup Tips (A Must Read)...................................................................................................................3
Controller Installation .............................................................................................................................3
PC Setup ...............................................................................................................................................3
Software Updates...................................................................................................................................3
Display Express PC Setup ...................................................................................................................4
General .................................................................................................................................................4
Ethernet................................................................................................................................................4
Head End Installation.........................................................................................................................5
RS-232 Control.......................................................................................................................................5
Ethernet Control.....................................................................................................................................6
Reset IP Address....................................................................................................................................6
RF Setup ...............................................................................................................................................6
Display Zones......................................................................................................................................7
SignStream Find .................................................................................................................................8
Display Express...................................................................................................................................9
Version 3.5.0 .........................................................................................................................................9
Local Access ..........................................................................................................................................9
Displays – Control ................................................................................................................................10
Special Commands............................................................................................................................11
Displays – Edit .....................................................................................................................................12
Editing Modes...................................................................................................................................12
Preset Parameters.............................................................................................................................12
Displays – Edit With Multi-Step Presets...................................................................................................13
Creating a Multi-Step Preset...............................................................................................................13
Managing Timelines...........................................................................................................................13
Displays – Setup...................................................................................................................................14
Head End Communication..................................................................................................................14
Broadcast Settings ............................................................................................................................14
Changing Zone Names.......................................................................................................................14
Schedule - Control................................................................................................................................15
Export Schedule...................................................................................................................................15
Schedule - Edit.....................................................................................................................................16
Editing Modes...................................................................................................................................16
Event Parameters..............................................................................................................................16
Quick Scheduling..................................................................................................................................17
Alerts - Control.....................................................................................................................................18
Alerts - Edit..........................................................................................................................................19
Editing Modes...................................................................................................................................19
Alert Parameters...............................................................................................................................19
Telnet Commands.............................................................................................................................20
SignStream DX TCP...........................................................................................................................20
SSCmd.............................................................................................................................................20
End User License Agreement............................................................................................................21

Contemporary Research 3 Display Express System Manual
Setup Tips
Your installation will go well if you keep a few key facts in mind. If you don’t understand a bullet point, read the
rest of the manual or call CR Support.
Controller Installation
•Create a spreadsheet and divide the system into Zones before you begin. Otherwise, you’ll
need to change the controller addresses later on. This is far superior to the free-form groups used by
the old IC Commander program.
At some point, we will add the ability to change controller addresses remotely. Stay tuned. You can use
iC Commander (included with the PC Express PC) to change device addresses over RF:
oRun iC Commander – it’s in the Program Files/ContemporaryResearch folder.
oGo to Setup/Communications to set the COM port or IP address to the Head End.
oGo to Setup/Diagnostics, the Device Loader window will appear, click Exit at the bottom.
oUse the Change Device Number tool to change the number.
•Pre-test display control on at least one controller and display before starting. You can use a
Head End and iC Send to test on and off control. In most cases, all displays and controller settings are
the same across the system. If some are different, pre-test those, if possible.
PC Setup
•Change the Time Zone when you install the PC. All the units are shipped sent to Central or Pacific
Time. Also enable to synchronize with an Internet time server if possible (some networks may block
that). That will assure that the PC and remote browsers are set to an exact standard.
Note a browser
on the network will display the time from it’s own PC clock, not the DX PC.
Software Updates
•Presently, you will use Control Panel/Add-Remove Software to uninstall DX Service and Web. Then
install both. You won’t lose any settings. You’ll need to restart the service that runs the Web pages and
scheduling. Either restart the PC or go to Control Panel/Administrative Tools/Services. Scroll down to
SignStream DX Service, and click Start the Service on the upper left.

Display Express PC Setup
General
•Windows XP Pro software installed
•SignStream Web operation provided by Localhost IIS service
•Operating system and program files in C: driv
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
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Head End Installation
In most applications, the Display Express PC will be installed adjacent to a Contemporary Research ICC-HE
Head End. 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. Instructions for connecting the server to the iCE-HE
Ethernet Head End are included on the next page. Additional instructions are included in the ICE-HE Head End
manual.
RS-232 Control
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.
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Contemporary Research 6 Display Express System Manual
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.

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Display Zones
Display 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 Display Express – see Display – Setup in the Display
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 3841-4094
All Zones 4095

SignStream Find
Contemporary Research offers an alternative way to find Display Express and Media Express applications, called
SignStream Find. This application can be downloaded from the SignStream MX or Download pages at
www.crwww.com. When launched, SignStream Find will find all the SignStream programs in your network.
Simply click on the desired server to bring up the SignStream Web pages from that server. You can also find
SignStream applications outside your network with the Add IP Addresses tab. To allow external access the IT
department needs provide access:
•Make sure the SignStream Server’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 server and UDP ports.
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Display Express
Display Express, part of the SignStream family of display solutions, manages displays via Web pages accessed
from the local Display Express PC, any computer on the network, or remotely from a distant location. The pages
are compatible with IE7, FireFox, Chrome, Opera, and Safari browsers.
Version 3.5.0
Version 3.5 adds the ability to communicate to up to four ICE-HE Ethernet Head Ends, simplified scheduling
with the option of scheduling a Preset without needing to name the event, and Telnet commands for control
system integraton.
Local Access
•Connect a USB keyboard and mouse (or PS2 versions) and RGB Monitor to the PC.
•Launch Internet Explorer and enter
localhost (Normally, this is the default home page)
•The browser will automatically display the Display Express Web pages
•Click on the Setup link at the top
•Note the System IP Address of the server
•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 Display Express from outside the
network.
Contemporary Research 9 Display Express System Manual

Displays – Control
The Display pages offer the ability to send control commands to displays and projectors throughout the system.
The Control page includes three types tools for display control.
•Presets. Sends a saved Preset group of commands to displays.
oSend launches the preset to the system.
oCancel cancels the preset that was sent (applies only to timed, multi-step presets).
•Preset Buttons. The first 12 saved commands appear on the right side. Just click to send.
•Special Command. In addition to typical display commands, there are other rarely used commands
that can be sent when needed, provided with system documentation. This includes:
oSet display code - instructs a controller to use a different set of control codes for a different
make and model of display.
oTune analog or digital only - can lock an HD display to only tune digital or analog channels.
oUse CableCard tuning - switch to the 5-digit CableCard style digital tuning from normal two-part
dashed (XX-XX) digital channel tuning
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Special Commands
The chart below covers the most command commands that can be sent via the Special Commands tool. Many
more are available from the product manual or product page at www.crwww.com. Some commands can be
sent with no other information, such as P1 for Power On. Most other commands need an added parameter,
such as volume level or control type.
Command Description
All Controllers
Power Off P0
Power On P1
Tune Analog TC, 2-127
Example: TC,33
Tuning Format
All S0, 0=CATV
1=Off-Air
2=IRC
3=HRC
4=Auto
Volume
VL, Sets TV volume level 0 = Mute
1 – 63 = Minimum level (1) to maximum volume (63)
RS-232 ICC1-232, ICC2-ATSC, ICC2-VDC
RS-232 Control
T0, Selects control make and model for RS-232 control. Check Manual or
www.crwww.com product Install page for codes
Tuning Style
ICC1-232 H1= 1 = 5-digit CableCard style tuning (1-9999) 2 = Virtual HD Major-Minor tuning (tunes to virtual channel ID in display)
3 = Physical HD Major-Minor tuning (physical channel, minor digital)
HD Tuning
TH, <Major>,<Minor> Example: TH,15,1 tunes channel 15-1
HD Tune Style
ICC1-232 TH <Style>,<Major>,<Minor> Once a Style parameter is included in tuning command, the ICC1-232 will stay in
that mode until the Style is changed
<Style> 0=No change in tuning style
1=5 digit channel (Major=high byte, Minor=low byte)
2=Virtual channel (Major-Minor)
3=Physical channel (Major=Physical - Minor=minor)
Example: TH,3,15,1 tunes the digital channel physically broadcasting on 15
The ICC2-ATSC always tunes the virtual channel
IR ICC1-IR, ICC2-IRC
IR Code T1, Sets IR control code.
Check Manual or www.crwww.com product Install page for codes

Displays – Edit
The Display Edit page offers the ability to create, copy, or edit new display control Presets. Presets can be
created as a single event, or to launch a list of Presets, with time delays as needed. Display Express assigns
control Presets to three entities:
•All Zones – All displays respond to a single Preset
•Zones – All displays within one of 15 Zones respond to a single Preset
•Single Display – Sends Preset to one display address
Editing Modes
•Create New Preset – Clears values in the Preset fields.
•Edit Existing Preset – Fills in the values from the selected Preset. Change and Save.
•Copy Existing Preset – Copies the values from the selected Preset. Change and Save.
•Make Button – Displays preset as a button on the Control page.
Preset Parameters
Add or change values to an existing or new Preset. Parameters that are checked on the left will be sent, those
unchecked will not be saved or sent.
•Name – Enter a name for a new or copied Preset. Hint – Use numbers 1-12 at the beginning of text to
order Presets on Control page, or use the automatic alphabetical sequence.
•Make Button – Displays preset as a button on the Control page.
•Zone – Select from 15 Zones or All Zones.
•Single Display – use radio button to select a Preset to a specific display.
•Power - Set Power On or Off.
•HDTV Channel – Enter HDTV channel in dashed (XX-X) or CableCard format (XXXXX)
•NTSC Channel – Enter desired analog channel (digital TVs will ignore this Preset)
•Volume - Set volume level 0 (Mute) to 63 (Full)
•Control Lock - Enable or disable display’s front-panel and IR control (not all sets have this feature)
•Tune Ring – For legacy Smart TV control, defines list of channels accessible by user
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Displays – Edit With Multi-Step Presets
Most Presets will be created as a single command, as shown on the previous page. In version 3.0 and above,
you can also create a multi-step preset. There are several key applications to this feature:
•Power On Delay. Many displays will ignore commands for a brief period of time after the power is
turned on. In the example above, Display Express will wait 8.5 seconds before launching the next series
of presets.
•Multi-Zone Control. Each Preset can only be sent to one Zone or one device. Now you can create one
Preset that can control several.
Creating a Multi-Step Preset
•Create all the Single Presets that will be included in the list. Normally, you would uncheck the Make
Button option for those Presets so they don’t take up real estate on the Control page.
•Create a new Preset that will run the list. This type of Preset can’t send any commands by itself, it runs
a list of Presets with time delays.
•Select Preset List.
•Select Presets from the Preset list below the list box, then click the +button to add.
•Select a Time Delay, from 1-999 in 10ths of a second. Note: Only one time delay can be used
between two Presets. You can add a second delay, but it will be skipped.
•Use the Arrow buttons to create the desired order of events.
•Use the Xbutton to delete a Preset or delay.
•Save the Preset
Managing Timelines
Note that, when a timed multi-step preset is running, any other presets that sent during that event will be
delayed until after the timed preset is competed. You can include one or more timed multi-step presets in a
Preset List. In that case, each Preset will activate in sequence. For example, if you have four 5-second Presets
in the list, the entire multi-step Preset will take 20 seconds. The Cancel button on the Preset Control page will
cancel a running multi-step Preset.
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Displays – Setup
The Display Setup page defines how the SignStream connects to the system Head End and basic channel
tuning operation.
Head End Communication
Sets the form of communication to an ICC-HE or ICE-HE Head End. The ICC-HE communicates via RS-232,
while the ICE-HE can handle data via Ethernet and RS-232. The RS-232 baud rate is normally set to 19,200.
With Version 3.5, the user can specify up to four ICE-HE Ethernet Head Ends. Data will be set to all Head Ends
at the same time, each Head End would be comprised of different Zones of displays.
Broadcast Settings
Defines the type of cable system (Air, Cable, Cable HRC, or Cable IRC frequencies), and overall style of digital
tuning (1-Part CableCard, 2-Part virtual channels, or 2-part physical channels).
Changing Zone Names
The names of the Zones can be changed here. It’s useful to start the text with the Zone number to remember
which Zone the name represents. The list will always be sorted by the numeric order of the actual Zones.
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Schedule - Control
The Schedule Control page launches Events by date or recurring cycle. Events are similar to Presets, but include
an assigned date, cycle, and time.
•Schedule displays the list of Events by date and time.
•Enabled/Disable – click to run or stop the schedule
•Today’s/All Events – Displays just the events for today or all Events
•Click Select to select an Event – selected Event text turns red.
•Event Name – displays selected Event, click Edit to change, Remove to delete.
•Events – Use the pull-down list of Events, select, then click Add to add to schedule
Export Schedule
To Export the schedule as a comma-separated data file, click the Export button at the top right of the page.
This can be imported by a spreadsheet or other data program to arrange, display, and print as needed.
Contemporary Research 15 Display Express System Manual

Schedule - Edit
The Schedule Edit page creates a database of Events. You can create a Name for each event or merely assign a
Preset to times, cycles and events (See Quick Scheduling on the next page).
Editing Modes
•Create New Event – Allows creation of a new Event, clears values in Event data
•Edit Existing Event – Fills in the values of the selected Event. Change and Save.
•Copy Existing Event – Copies the values of the selected Event. Change and Save.
Event Parameters
Add or change values to an existing or new Event. Parameters that are checked on the left will be sent.
•Save – Saves changes
•Delete – Removes Event
•Send Now – Launches Event immediately
•Name – Enter a name for a new or copied Event.
•Use Preset – uses the values of the selected Preset
•Zone – Select from 15 Zones or All Zones.
•Single Display – use radio button to select a command to a specific display.
•Power - Set Power On or Off.
•HDTV Channel – Enter HDTV channel in dashed (XX-X) or CableCard format (XXXXX)
•NTSC Channel – Enter desired analog channel (digital TVs will ignore this command)
•Volume - Set volume level 0 (Mute) to 63 (Full)
•Control Lock - Enable or disable display’s front-panel and IR control (not all sets have this feature)
•Tune Ring – For legacy Smart TV control, defines list of channels accessible by user
•One-Time – Event is launched on one date only
•Recurring – Check days of week for cycle
•Start Date – When Event or cycle begins
•End Date – When Event ends (removes Event from Schedule at 11:59 PM on specified day
•Time – AM or PM
•Include in Schedule – adds to Schedule
•Use Preset – Select a Preset instead of entering commands
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Quick Scheduling
You don’t have to name Events to create a schedule. Especially for those who create many events, there is a
quicker and easier way:
•Click Use Preset and select an existing Preset.
•Click Include in Schedule
•Add the time, cycle, and date cycle information.
•Save the Event without entering a name – [unnamed event] text will appear in the Event Name.
•The Preset will be added to the schedule.
In this process, the name of the Preset will appear in the Schedule. You can Select, Edit and Remove the
Event from the Schedule page.
Another way to expedite an Event is to simply add the control commands to the Event and skip the need to
create a Preset. We find that the “power users” of scheduling will prefer the quick Use Preset method – but all
the options are available just in case.
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Alerts - Control
The Alerts Control page will display a group of up to 16 buttons a user can click to launch a saved Alert. The
Alerts Edit page defines the name and actions in the Event.
When a button is clicked:
•The button will be highlighted in red, and as Stop button appears on the right.
•All displays (or a display Zone) will remember current power and channel settings, then change to
appropriate channel.
•Clicking STOP restores displays to their previous state.
The Alerts feature can impact more than displays. An RS-232 controller or integrated tuner/controller can send
a message to presentation room control systems, triggering a programmed response by the system. In
addition, an external control system can send Telnet commands that can trigger a saved Emergency Alert.
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Alerts - Edit
The Alerts Edit page functions the same way as scheduling Events. However, Alerts behave differently than
Events or Presets. When an Alert is sent, the iC-Net controllers will save their current power and channel
settings. When an Alert ends, the controllers will return displays to their saved setting.
Editing Modes
•Create New Alert – Clears values in Alert fields.
•Edit Existing Alert – Fills in the values of the Alert command. Change and Save.
•Copy Existing Alert – Copies the values of the Alert Command. Change and Save.
Alert Parameters
Add or change values to an existing or new Alert. Parameters that are checked on the left will be sent; those
unchecked will not be saved or sent.
•Name – Enter a name for a new or copied Alert.
•Use Preset – uses the values of a selected Preset.
•Zone – Select from 15 Zones or All Zones.
•Single Display – use radio button to select a command to a specific display.
•Power - Set Power (Power On for Alerts).
•HDTV Channel – Enter HDTV channel in dashed (XX-X) or CableCard format (XXXXX)
•NTSC Channel – Enter desired analog channel (digital TVs will ignore this command)
•Volume during Alert- Set volume level 0 (Mute) to 63 (Full)
•Volume after Alert- Set volume level 0 (Mute) to 63 (Full)
•Control Lock - Enable or disable display’s front-panel and IR control (not all sets have this feature)
•Tune Ring – For legacy Smart TV control, defines list of channels accessible by user
•Use Preset – Select a Preset instead of entering commands
Save the Alert. Up to 16 Alerts will appear on the Alerts Control page.
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Telnet Commands
As integrators have asked for tools to interact with Display Express from custom control systems, we have
added several Telnet commands to our software. More commands will be added on request from our users and
control partners.
Commands are case-insensitive, so upper or lower case may be used. Precede all commands
with ‘]’.
Command Description Examples
? Displays all DX TCP
commands. ]?
EF Echo off ]EF
EN Echo on ]EN
ID Information on SignStream.
Reply: ]ID [present application
[working directory
[version
ServerInfo Information on a SignStream
server.
Reply:
]ServerInfo
[server name
[server description
[version
SendPreset Have the Head End send the
specified preset. ]SendPreset=Turn on All Displays
Quit Close TCP connection. ]Quit
SignStream DX TCP
To send commands to the Display Express server over the intranet using TCP/Telnet, do the
following:
1. For HyperTerminal and other Terminal applications, enter the IP address of the
SignStream DX server and 2728 as the Telnet port. Make sure the Windows Firewall
exceptions include SignStream TCP, port 2728.
2. In a command window, type
telnet <name or IP address of SignStream DX server> 2728
For example, telnet CR Streams 2728. You should get a welcoming message.
3. Type SignStream DX TCP commands at the prompt. See above table of commands. For a
list of commands, type ‘]?’. To stop, type ‘]quit’.
SSCmd
SSCmd.exe is found in C:\Program Files\Contemporary Research\SignStream DX Server. It can
be used to execute TCP-style commands in a command window or in a batch .cmd file. For
example, to send a preset to the Head End, navigate to the SignStream DX Server directory in a
command window, and at the prompt type
> sscmd ]sendpreset=Turn On All Displays