Education AV CommBox Micro User manual

COMM BOX PTY LTD | abn: 431 583 817 05 | Telephone [phone] | Fax: [phone]
PO Box W105, Warringah Mall, NSW 2100 Australia | www.commbox.com.au
AUSTRALIA, CHINA, MALAYSIA, SINGAPORE, KOREA, SOUTH AFRICA
CommBox Micro
Training, Installation, Application notes.

COMM BOX PTY LTD | abn: 431 583 817 05 | Telephone [phone] | Fax: [phone]
PO Box W105, Warringah Mall, NSW 2100 Australia | www.commbox.com.au
AUSTRALIA, CHINA, MALAYSIA, SINGAPORE, KOREA, SOUTH AFRICA
Introduction
CommBox Micro was introduced to answer the need for a small, economical but still
very capable Programmable Media Controller, particularly for use with Home Theatre
and also for applications where there is no audio or video requirement. In fact, it can
function in a similar way to PLCs if desired.
CommBox Micro is simply the programmable controller section of a CommBox
Classic unit.
It has all the same capabilities without the inbuilt audio and video systems.
It has no front panel controls, but there is a socket for connecting an optional
diagnostic control panel.
For system integrators already familiar with CommBox Processors, this manual
covers the points of difference and presents some typical applications - it is not
intended to be complete in itself but, for programming purposes, to be used in
conjunction with MAN0008.
This manual will concentrate on
Choosing your ancillary equipment
Connecting this equipment for control purposes
Guiding you through the process of changing a standard Theatre Commander
template to suit CommBox Micro in a typical home theatre environment.
For detailed information on the many advanced capabilities of CommBox Micro,
other Command Systems products that form part of the system and the software tools
that tie it all together, see MAN0008.
Thank you for purchasing a Command Systems product! We know you’ll be pleased
with it!
The CommBox team,
Command Systems Pty. Ltd.
Brookvale, NSW, Australia.

COMM BOX PTY LTD | abn: 431 583 817 05 | Telephone [phone] | Fax: [phone]
PO Box W105, Warringah Mall, NSW 2100 Australia | www.commbox.com.au
AUSTRALIA, CHINA, MALAYSIA, SINGAPORE, KOREA, SOUTH AFRICA
What’s inside the box?
Here is a block diagram.
CommBox Micro is simply a highly programmable controller that can respond to
incoming messages and control virtually anything that is capable of being controlled
by
Contact closure *
Switching *
Analog Voltage 0-10 †
RS-232
RS-422
RS-485
Infra-red
* Requires Peripheral Interface Unit.
† Requires ZTP0001 P.I.U.
RS-232
port (DB9)
6
5
4
3
2
1
Serial Port Interface. (RS-232 & IR)
IR modulator
IRBus
Control
panel port
Serial ports –IR & RS-232. 
Programming,
Networking &
Control port.
PIU port
Control
Panel
IR
receiver
Touchscreen or
other Control panels
Peripheral
Interface Unit.
(Relays, Power
switches etc.)
Microcontroller
User Program Storage
(EEPROM)
Front Panel Socket
4 timers

COMM BOX PTY LTD | abn: 431 583 817 05 | Telephone [phone] | Fax: [phone]
PO Box W105, Warringah Mall, NSW 2100 Australia | www.commbox.com.au
AUSTRALIA, CHINA, MALAYSIA, SINGAPORE, KOREA, SOUTH AFRICA
How to connect a CommBox Micro.
PC
for programming only
Serial Port
PIU
Peripheral Interface Unit
Relays, Digital outputs,
Analogue outputs.
Lights
Screen
Power
Curtains
Dimmer
AirCon
Modular
Switcher
Projectors
Power
Supply
12-16v.
DB9 programming port can also
be used to link up to 119 TCs
and/or CommBox Micros using a
ZVF0003 Coms Router.
Typical serial port usage
Audio system
Projector
Cassette/CD
DVD
VCR
Video Commander
Any of these ports are capable
of either Infra-Red or RS-232
communication
Control panel,
Touchscreen,
IR Receiver

COMM BOX PTY LTD | abn: 431 583 817 05 | Telephone [phone] | Fax: [phone]
PO Box W105, Warringah Mall, NSW 2100 Australia | www.commbox.com.au
AUSTRALIA, CHINA, MALAYSIA, SINGAPORE, KOREA, SOUTH AFRICA
How to program CommBox Micro
Because the CommBox Micro lacks the full-size unit’s inbuilt audio and video
facilities, any references to these in existing programs, templates and macros have to
be changed. Fortunately, this is quite easy because you can use the Resource Usage
dialog to find all the places where you need to make changes.
Of course, your application may not need any audio controls, in which case there’s
nothing to do! There’s no reason why unused items can’t be left in place – they just
won’t do anything.
But it’s quite likely that you will be using a remote-controllable audio system of some
type. This is probably going to be an infra-red controllable “Hi-Fi”-type item such as
an AV receiver or modular Music System. These units often have video switchers in
addition to the normal audio input selections and volume control.
Another possibility might be to use the audio functions of a projector or TV monitor.
In any case, TC’s normally inbuilt audio functions will need to be replaced by “Send
Serial Code” commands that will activate the appropriate functions.
Here’s how I’d suggest you go about it:
1.Choose and Load a Codeset
You will need to use a codeset to suit the equipment you are using and one that
already has the Input select and Volume Up/Down commands. If there is nothing
suitable in the library you may have to sample your unit’s remote control.
2.Change the Volume Control in the Function List
Change the Audio Control Add and Audio Control Subtract items to Send Serial
Code statements.
3.Change the Input Select macro
I suggest you add the necessary Send Serial Code commands and leave the existing
Audio Switch, Video Switch and AV Switch commands in place. This is because
other things, such as the Control macro, may rely on them.
That’s all there is to it!

COMM BOX PTY LTD | abn: 431 583 817 05 | Telephone [phone] | Fax: [phone]
PO Box W105, Warringah Mall, NSW 2100 Australia | www.commbox.com.au
AUSTRALIA, CHINA, MALAYSIA, SINGAPORE, KOREA, SOUTH AFRICA
CommBox Micro application 01
Conference/Training room
All ports are capable of
IR or RS-232/485
Control panel &/or IR Receiver
AMP
Input looping/
expansion
socket
RGBHV
address
Input
Audio 1
Audio 2
Video
Inputs
Input looping/
expansion
socket
RGBHV
address
Input
Audio 1
Audio 2
Video
Inputs
Input looping/
expansion
socket
RGBHV
address
Input
Audio 1
Audio 2
Video
Inputs
Input looping/
expansion
socket
RGBHV
address
Input
Audio 1
Audio 2
Video
Inputs
Input looping/
expansion
socket
RGBHV
address
Input
Audio 1
Audio 2
Video
Inputs
Input looping/
expansion
socket
RGBHV
address
Input
Audio 1
Audio 2
Video
Inputs
Input looping/
expansion
socket
RGBHV
address
Input
Audio 1
Audio 2
Video
Inputs
Input looping/
expansion
socket
RGBHV
address
Input
Audio 1
Audio 2
Video
Inputs
Input looping/
expansion
socket
RGBHV
address
Input
Audio 1
Audio 2
Video
Inputs
Input looping/
expansion
socket
RGBHV
address
Input
Audio 1
Audio 2
Video
Inputs
Input looping/
expansion
socket
RGBHV
address
Input
Audio 1
Audio 2
Video
Inputs
Input looping/
expansion
socket
RGBHV
address
Input
Audio 1
Audio 2
Video
Inputs
Input looping/
expansion
socket
RGBHV
address
Input
Audio 1
Audio 2
Video
Inputs
Input looping/
expansion
socket
RGBHV
address
Input
Audio 1
Audio 2
Video
Inputs
Input looping/
expansion
socket
RGBHV
address
Input
Audio 1
Audio 2
Video
Inputs
Output
address
Control
port
Audio 1
Audio 2
Video
RGBHV
Outputs
RS-232
RGB
Video
: : : :
:
: : : :
:
: : : : :
VCR
DVD
10 pin IDC ports can be used for monitor “loop-thru” outputs
12-18 VDC
ZTP0004
Mini PIU
ZTT0200
CommBo
x Micro
ZTR0100
Modular
Switcher
Screen, equipment power, lights
Control panel &/or IR Receiver

COMM BOX PTY LTD | abn: 431 583 817 05 | Telephone [phone] | Fax: [phone]
PO Box W105, Warringah Mall, NSW 2100 Australia | www.commbox.com.au
AUSTRALIA, CHINA, MALAYSIA, SINGAPORE, KOREA, SOUTH AFRICA
CommBox Micro application 02
Home Theatre system
AV Surround Amplifier
Tuner
Multi CD player
VHS
DVD
Cable TV
Cable TV In-room speakers
Outside speakers
(video & audio wiring not shown)
Choose from a large
range of control panels
Games
PC
PIU
Peripheral
Interface
Unit
AirCon

COMM BOX PTY LTD | abn: 431 583 817 05 | Telephone [phone] | Fax: [phone]
PO Box W105, Warringah Mall, NSW 2100 Australia | www.commbox.com.au
AUSTRALIA, CHINA, MALAYSIA, SINGAPORE, KOREA, SOUTH AFRICA
CommBox Micro application 03
Free-running Retail Sales/ Advertising display
How to connect two VCRs to provide continuous replay, or scheduled multiple replays over a 24
hour period, starting at a time set by an external timer switch.
CommBox Micro is programmed so that VCR 1 is rewinding while VCR 2 is playing, and vice versa.
VCR 1
Video In Video Out
Audio In Audio Out
IR or RS-232
VCR 2
Video In Video Out
Audio In Audio Out
IR or RS-232
1 2 3 4 5 6
Serial Outputs
Micro-TC
A/V In
RLMD-P
Isolated A/V Out
Power In
Plasma Screen
Video In
Audio Amplifier
Cabling to lower
floor or another
part of the
building…
RLMD-P automatically switches on power to
plasma screen when a video signal is
available, and switches it off when the video
is switched off.