Crystal Vision VDA110R User manual

Crystal Vision Ltd., Lion Technology Park, Station Road East, Whittlesford, Cambridge, CB22 4WL, England.
E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.crystalvision.tv Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]
VDA110R
Analogue video distribution amplifier

VDA110R User Manual V3.2 Crystal Vision
122/09/05
Contents
1 Introduction 3
2 Installing Statesman 4
3 Statesman operation 5
3.1 Video status and settings 6
Gain 6
Equalisation 6
Status indicators 6
Input standard select 7
3.2 Setting alarm/clamp options and recalling factory defaults 7
Alarm on black 7
Output clamp 7
Cal all 7
4 Using the active control panel 8
Selecting the VDA110R 9
Navigating the display 10
4.1 The VDA110R menu structure 11
Shorthand codes 11
4.2 Adjusting video gain and EQ 12
4.3 Input video status and settings 13
4.4 Adjusting alarm settings 14
4.5 Recalling factory defaults 15

VDA110R User Manual V3.2 Crystal Vision
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5 Card edge operation 16
6 Hardware installation 18
6.1 Universal rear connectors 18
Rear module connections with RM01 19
Rear module connections with RM09 19
Rear module connections with RM18 20
Rear module connections with RM16 21
Rear module connections with RM02 22
Rear module connections with RM10 23
6.2 General purpose interface 24
6.3 Configuration 26
Changing the input termination 26
Changing the output setup (local mode only) 26
Changing the GPI output drive 27
7 Problem solving 28
8 Specification 30

Crystal Vision Introduction
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1 Introduction
The VDA110R is a single analogue video DA with up to eleven main outputs. A loop
through output may be available depending on the rear module fitted.
It has adjustable gain, equalisation and clamp and gives sophisticated error reporting,
including dark and white clip video. Input termination is link selectable.
The VDA110R may be used with the RM01 and RM09 single-slot rear connectors for up
to 12 modules in a 2U frame, the RM02 and RM10 quadruple-slot rear connectors for up
to 9 modules in a 2U frame and the RM6 and RM18 double-slot rear connectors for up to
6 modules in a 2U frame. The eleventh output is only available with the RM18.
The unit plugs into the front of the rack frame, and the universal connection system
allows a mixture of Crystal Vision modules in the frame. The hinged front panel of the
case reveals LED indication of input status, output status and controls for cable
equalisation, gain and output clamping.
VDA110R video distribution amplifier
The VDA110R has LED and GPI indication of dark and clip input failure and input
standard for each channel. General-Purpose Interface lines are also provided to indicate
dark, clip and input presence.
The main features are as follows:
•Single 1 in 11-out video distribution amplifier
•Continuously-variable equalisation for up to 300 metres of coaxial cable.
•GPI dark, clip and input presence indication
•Card edge, active/remote panel and Statesman control options
Note: This manual covers the single channel VDA110R. The dual channel VDA210R and the
VDA210M/110M without remote control are also available.

Crystal Vision Installing Statesman
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2 Installing Statesman
The Crystal Vision Statesman PC control software is designed to control a range of
Crystal Vision modules via serial control from a PC. Statesman provides a user friendly
means of configuring and operating modules with the benefit of see-at-a-glance status
monitoring. Most functions can be accessed from Statesman menus.
The main Statesman application communicates with each module in a frame through an
active or passive control panel. A passive panel cannot be used for Statesman control.
Minimum pre-requisites:
•A PC running either Windows 2000 or Windows XP is recommended
•A parallel port dongle for Statesman PCs with attached Crystal Vision frames
•An RS422 serial connection from the host PC to the Control/422 RJ45 or
Remote/RMT 2 connector on Crystal Vision frames
•An active or Statesman enabled control panel MUST be fitted to the frame with
version 1.63 or above firmware – if it is an Indigo frame the firmware must be
V1.04 or above
•An optional RS422 to RS232 converter if the PC has no RS422 ports
Installing Statesman
•Refer to the readme and/or help file on the CD before proceeding
•To view all application windows, set graphics resolution to at least 1024 x 768
•Remove any previous version of the Statesman software using the Add/Remove
Programs application in the Windows Control Panel
•Ensure that the Statesman dongle is fitted to the parallel port of the host PC
•Insert the Statesman CD and the installation should start immediately – if it
does not, run the setup.exe file on the CD
•Obey any installation program prompts and restart the PC when prompted
Running Statesman for the first time
The Statesman PC Control System may be run from the Crystal Vision programs folder
via the Start menu or by double-clicking on the Crystal Vision.exe file in the installed
program directory.
When the program runs it will require licence information and an administrator name and
password. It will also need to know which computer port is being used to connect to a
Crystal Vision frame(s).
Note: For further details of Statesman configuration please refer to the Statesman manual.

Crystal Vision Statesman operation
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3 Statesman operation
Once Statesman is configured it should automatically detect any statesman compatible
modules in the connected frame or frames and display them in the left hand explorer-style
window of the main application.
Open any frame by clicking on the ‘+’ sign or by double clicking on a frame. Installed
modules should be shown with module icons. Frame and module icons can be named as
desired by right-clicking or using the edit menu and choosing rename.
To aid user recognition of module and frame status quickly, the following colour and size
coding is used:
•A module is shown present by full colour and absent by greyed colour
•A module is shown open by large icon size and closed by small icon
•A module is the source of an active alarm if red and not alarmed if green
Double-clicking on a module will enable the display of the main application menus.
Statesman main application window
The two large control panes shown in the upper and lower halves of the window may
display different menus for the same card, or controls for different cards. Click on the
horizontal button-bar between the two panes to close the lower plane or drag the button to
vary the size of the panes.

Crystal Vision Statesman operation
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3.1 Video status and settings
The VDA 110 Control tab provides access to the following
•Variable gain
•Variable equalisation
•Input status/error status/standard
•Black picture detect delay
•DC restoration settings
•Restore factory settings
VDA110R Control tab
Gain
Video gain may be varied in gain in 0.025dB steps from 70% (–3.0dB) to 140% (+3.0dB)
using the slider provided. Press the CAL button to restore unity gain.
Equalisation
Cable loss compensation may be varied in 1.2m (4 feet) steps from zero to 300m (0 to 984
feet).
Press the CAL button to restore the default of zero equalisation.
Status indicators
Ind colour Action
Inp Presence Green Composite / Y + sync / Green + sync input signal present.
Sync Error Yellow Input sync size <90% or >110% of expected value.
Luma Over Yellow Output luma levels >110% of peak white
Luma Dark Yellow Output luma level <15% of peak white for time delay set by
rotary Delay control
525 Green 525-line signal input
625 Green 625-line signal input

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Input standard select
Although the input standard is detected automatically, it may help to match the on-board
video content error detection with the precise input video standard. Use the Input standard
check boxes to select the standard that matches the actual input present.
Std Default Alternatives
625 PAL-B, -G, -H or -I. PAL-N and PAL-N (Argentina).
525 NTSC-M PAL-M and NTSC-M (Japan).
3.2 Setting alarm/clamp options and recalling
factory defaults
The Alarm on black area provides access to the following:
•Alarm on black on/off/delay
•Clamp – fast, slow, off
•Set defaults – Cal All
Alarm on black, Clamp and Cal All
Alarm on black
Use the rotary control to adjust the delay time after which dark (<15% luma) picture
content sets an alarm. The delay is adjustable in 1 second steps from 1 second to 10
minutes. Check the Off box to disable the dark alarm and the corresponding GPI output.
Output clamp
Check an appropriate clamp option. Fast provides a recovery time of approximately 6
lines. Slow provides a recovery time of approximately 60 lines. Off selects an AC-
coupled output.
Cal all
Click on Cal All to clear all user adjustments and set the VDA110R to factory defaults.

Crystal Vision Using the active control panel
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4 Using the active control panel
This operational guide assumes that the panel has been setup according to the Panel setup
procedure described in the Crystal Vision Controls Panel manual.
Note: It is ESSENTIAL that the Panel setup procedure is followed and any old or unknown
passwords cleared prior to using the panel for the first time.
At power up, the two line 20-character screen will display ‘Crystal Vision’ followed by
the firmware version number for the control panel. All eight control panel key LEDs will
illuminate.
The Crystal Vision control panel start up display
'Control Panel' then briefly replaces the version number display.
If the control panel firmware has been updated for Statesman control (version 1.5.0 or
higher), Statesman Mode will be entered and the message, ‘Press CAL to Exit’ will be
displayed and the CAL LED will light.
Statesman mode is entered by default

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To continue with control panel operation or configuration, press the ‘CAL’ key once. A
second press of the ‘CAL’ key will return to Statesman control.
The control panel will display the name of the card that first responds to the polling
request together with its location number.
The location number consists of the frame number plus the card position in the frame.
Selecting the VDA110R
To select a particular card in a frame, press the DEVICE key to go to the Device menu.
The top line of the display will show ‘Available Cards X’, where X is the number of
cards that have responded so far to the polling request.
Device menu showing available cards
Rotate the shaft encoder and the bottom row will display the successfully polled cards by
name and location or slot number.
In the example above, the card displayed is located in the first frame in slot number 12.
When the desired card is selected press the ENTER key to access that card’s HOME
menu.
If remote control has been enabled, the control panel will then enter card mode and
communicate with the VDA110R at the node number last displayed in the available cards
list. If the card is in local mode, 'Remote Ctrl Disabled' will be displayed.
The VDA110R home menu
Note: The VDA110R will need to have the card edge local/remote switch (lever 2) in the
DOWN position to enable active or remote control panel operation. Refer to the Card
edge operation chapter or Installation chapter for more information.

Crystal Vision Using the active control panel
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Navigating the display
The functions assigned to control panel keys are dependent on the card selected for
control, and the panel mode. The following list illustrates the functions when controlling a
VDA110R.
•DEVICE – enters Device menu to select a card or card to control / enter Panel
setup when held down during power up / shows frame status when pressed from
Statesman mode
•CAL – Enter or leave Statesman mode / enter panel diagnostics mode when held
down during power up / set default value when enabled
•Asterisk – enters board rename menu from the Device menu
•F1 to F4 – soft keys, function assigned within each menu
•HOME – moves the display to the home menu
•ENTER – accept current selection
•Upward arrow – used to move up the menu structure / enter lock panel menu
from the Device menu
•Rotary control – shaft encoder used to select options or variable data
Note: Please refer to the Crystal Vision Control Panel manual for details of the Panel Setup,
Lock Panel and Diagnostic menus.

Crystal Vision Using the active control panel
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4.1 The VDA110R menu structure
The main top-level menus for the VDA110R module are obtained by pressing the F1, F2,
F3 and F4 keys from that module’s HOME menu. Menu keys are illuminated when active
and when further menus are available. The four top-level menus are:
•Video gain and/or EQ – press F1
•Input menu – press F2
•Output menu – press F3
•CAL – press F4
The following chart shows the available menus.
The VDA110R menu tree
Note: Function keys and shaft encoder LEDs are illuminated when active.
Menus associated with the shaft encoder for changing assigned values are shown with a
black circle.
Shorthand codes
The following shorthand codes are used in active control panel menus:
Menu code Function description
EQ Equalisation
Std Video standard
Clamp DC restoration

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4.2 Adjusting video gain and EQ
Pressing F1 from the home menu will display the gain/EQ menu.
Channel gain menu Description
Press the F1 key for the gain menu
Press the F2 key for the equalisation menu
Rotate the shaft encoder to vary the video gain in
0.025dB steps from 70% (-3.0dB) to 141% (+3.0dB).
Press CAL button to restore 0dB gain.
Rotate the shaft encoder to vary the input video
equalisation from zero to 984 feet of Belden 8281 or
similar cable. Press CAL button to restore zero
equalisation.
Note: The gain values in remote mode and local mode may be different to each other and are
retained through power down, and restored when the unit is powered up.

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4.3 Input video status and settings
Pressing F2 from the home menu will display the I/P video sync status and set input
standard to optimise error correction:
•Check – Input horizontal sync status
•Std – Display/set input standard (to optimise error detection)
Channel gain menu Description
Press the F1 key to view the input sync status
Press the F2 to set input standard details
Displays status of input horizontal sync pulse.
Press the F1 or CAL button to update the screen with
current status.
Matches the on-board video content error detection
with the input video standard.
Note: The input sync is of the form nnnmV sync , where nnn is the sync-tip to blanking level in
millivolts.
Expected value is 300mV for PAL-B, PAL-G, PAL-H, PAL-I or PAL–N (Argentina).
Expected value is 286mV for NTSC-M, PAL-M or PAL-N.
Although the input standard is detected automatically, it may help to match the on-board
video content error detection with the precise input video standard.
The input standard defaults with a 625-line input to PAL-B, -G, -H or -I. Press the F1 key
to set PAL-N, press F3 to set PAL-N (Argentina).
With a 525-line input it defaults to NTSC-M. Press the F1 key to set PAL-M, press F3 to
set NTSC-M (Japan).

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4.4 Adjusting alarm settings
Pressing F3 from the home menu will display the Output menu.
The following settings can be adjusted:
•Check – output luminance status
•Clamp – display/set DC restoration setting
•Alarm – Set dark alarm settings
Channel gain menu Description
Press the F1 key to view output luminance status
Press the F2 key to set output DC restoration
Press the F3 key to set the Dark Alarm settings
Displays status of output luminance content.
Press the F1 key to update the screen with current
status.
Display/set DC restoration type.
Press F2 or F3 to cycle though the available choices:
Fast, Slow or Off.
Adjusts period after which dark (<15% luma) picture
content sets an alarm. Press the CAL key to set the
dark decay to the default of 60 seconds.
Press the F1 key disables the dark & clip alarms.
Notes: Output luminance status is one of the following:
Ok: Output luma levels between 15% and 110% of peak white.
Dark: Output luma levels less than 15% of peak white for a period determined by Dark
Alarm menu.
Over: Output luma levels greater than 110% of peak white.
Video clamp defaults to Fast (approximately 6 lines recovery time). F2 button press sets
clamp to Slow (approximately 60 lines recovery time). F3 button press sets clamp to Off
(AC-coupled output).
Dark alarm timer adjustable in 1 second steps from 1 second to 10 minutes. F1 button
press disables the dark & clip alarms and their corresponding GPI outputs.

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4.5 Recalling factory defaults
Pressing the F4 key provides access to factory defaults recall (CAL) menu.
Channel gain menu Description
Press F4 from the home menu to display the CAL
menu
Press the CAL key to clear all user adjustments & set
the VDA110R to factory defaults.

Crystal Vision Card edge operation
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5 Card edge operation
Once the start-up initialisation procedure is complete, the VDA110R card can be
controlled or configured from the card edge, the active control panel or the Statesman PC
interface. This chapter will concentrate on the card edge controls.
The front edge of the card provides power rail monitoring, signal status, gain/EQ
adjustment, output clamp type, dark and clip GPI alarm settings and remote/local
selection.
VDA110R front edge view
The 8-way piano switch allows the card settings be adjusted.
Lever Function UP DOWN
1CAL Rotate ADJUST to alter the selected
parameter (local control only)
Rotate ADJUST to calibrate the
selected parameter (local control only)
2REMOTE Front-panel (local) control Serial remote control
3Not used Not used Not used
4EQ / GAIN Rotate ADJUST to alter cable
equalisation (local control only)
Rotate ADJUST to alter gain (local
control only)
5ALARM Dark and Clip alarm GPI outputs
enabled (local control only)
Dark and Clip alarm GPI outputs
disabled (local control only)
6SLOW Fast (6 lines) output DC restore (local
control only)
Slow (60 lines) DC restore (local
control only)
7AC DC-restored video output (local
control only)
AC-coupled video output (local control
only)
8Not used Not used Not used
8-Way piano switch menu functions
The VDA110R is supplied factory-set with zero cable equalisation and 0dB gain.
EQ DIL levers 1, 2 and 4 UP: Cable Equalisation continuously variable
from 0 to 300m using the ADJUST control
GAIN DIL levers 1, 2 UP, 4 DOWN: Gain continuously variable ± 3.0dB
using the ADJUST control

Crystal Vision Card edge operation
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Video monitoring test point
A 75Ωmonitoring output is provided on two test hooks at the board edge. White is
Monitor Out, black is Ground.
LED indication
LED Location/colour Action
IN Green (bottom) Composite / Y + sync / Green + sync input signal present.
ERROR Red (top) Input sync size <90% or >110% of expected value.
DARK Red (bottom) Output luma level <15% of peak white for an extended
period (set by timer)
CLIP Red (top) Output luma levels >110% of peak white
525 Yellow (bottom) 525-line signal input
625 Yellow (top) 625-line signal input
PSU Green Power supply OK.
LED indicators

Crystal Vision Hardware installation
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6 Hardware installation
The VDA110R single channel video distribution amplifier fits into all Crystal Vision rack
frames. All modules can be plugged in and removed while the frame is powered without
damage.
6.1 Universal rear connectors
The 2U Indigo or FR2AV frame will house up to 12 modules and dual power supplies.
The 1U Indigo or FR1AV frame will house 6 modules and a single power supply. The 1U
Desk Top Box has built-in power supply and will house up to 2 modules.
The 1U and 2U frames have a hinged front panel that gives access to the PSU and all
modules. The Desk Top Box has a removable front. The universal frame wiring system
allows any of the interface range of modules to be fitted in any position with the use of
removable rear modules.
There are six types of rear connector available which provide system flexibility by
allowing a mix between total I/O access and module packing density.
The VDA110R may be used with the RM01 and RM09 single slot rear connector for up
to 12 modules, the RM02 and RM10 quadruple slot rear connectors for up to 4 modules
and the RM16 and RM18 double slot rear connectors for up to 6 modules in a 2U frame.
The following table summarises the rear connectors available and their recommended use
with either the single channel VDA110 or the dual channel VDA210.
Connector No of
Slots
No of
Cards *
Loop-
throughs
VDA110 VDA210 Differential
inputs
RM01 1 1 No 1 in 5 out 2 in 2 x 2 out No
RM09 1 1 1 1 in 4 out Not used Yes
RM15 2 1 2 Not used 2 in 2 x 4 out Yes
RM16 2 1 1 1 in 10 out Not used 1st input only
RM18 2 1 No 1 in 10 out 2 in 5 out / 5 out 1st input only
RM02 4 3 No 1 in 8 out 2 in 3 out / 4 out 1st input only
RM10 4 3 1 1 in 10 out Not used Yes
Notes: *Table shows no of cards per rear connector.
Passive loop-throughs are independent of the amplifier; the module may be removed
without losing the looped-through source.

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Rear module connections with RM01
RM01 fits in all frames Description
RM01
•12 modules in 2U, 6 in 1U &
2 in a DTB
•All frame slots can be used
BNC Signal assignment
IN Input.
OUT 1 Output
OUT 2 Output
OUT 3 Output
OUT 4 Output
OUT 5 Output
Rear module connections with RM09
RM09 fits in all frames Description
RM09
•12 modules in 2U, 6 in 1U &
2 in a DTB
•All frame slots can be used
BNC Signal assignment
IN Input.
LOOP IN Input loop through
OUT 1 Output
OUT 2 Output
OUT 3 Output
OUT 4 Output