RS232 Panasonic Version

VueFinder
Transport Control Panel
Operator's Manual

Introduction
The VueFinder transport control panel provides basic transport control for video tape recorders. This version of the VueFinder connects into the 25-pin remote control connector found on the Panasonic VTRs equipped with RS232 interfaces, such as the AJ-D230.

The control knob enables the operator to have fingertip control over the Reverse Shuttle, Forward Shuttle, Reverse Jog, and Forward Jog functions. Switching is automatic between the shuttle and jog modes.

Installation
A single 9-conductor cable connects the control panel to the transport. This cable transfers power to the control panel and control data to the transport. Simply plug one end of the supplied cable into the VueFinder control panel and the other end into the VTR. Set the remote control switch on your VTR to "REMOTE" to enable the serial port.

Many VTR connectors use metric thread (2.6mm or 3.0mm) rather than the more familiar #4-40 SAE thread. VueTech has replacement jack screws that are available upon request. Replacement is a simple matter of backing out the standard jack screws from the molded cable end and screwing in the metric thread jack screws. Fax or call Tech Service for these screws; there is no additional charge. All metric-threaded screws are colored on the caps to help distinguish them from SAE-threaded screws (red for 2.6mm, blue for 3.0mm).

It may be necessary to use the VTR's menu to select the Remote's serial port settings. Refer to the VTR's Operating Instructions for details on how to do so. On the AJ-D230, the deck should be set up with the following serial port settings:

Parameter Setting Display
Baud rate 9600 200 - 0003
Data length 8 bit 201 - 0000
Stop bits 1 bit 202 - 0000
Parity None 203 - 0000
Ack return On 204 - 0001

Another menu selection that affects the VueFinder's operation is the S/F/R EE SEL item, which determines what video is displayed during Stop, Fast Forward, and Rewind. "EE" will cause the VTR's input video to be displayed; "TAPE" will cause the video off tape to be displayed. Unless recording is anticipated, the "TAPE" mode seems to work better.

Parameter Setting Display
S/F/R EE SEL TAPE 102 - 0001

The VueFinder should be active at this point.

Panel Layout and Operation
The VueFinder's general operation parallels that of the VTR's own front panel. The control panel includes five pushbuttons for direct control of the Pause, Stop, Play, Record, Rewind, and Fast Forward functions. Pushing any of these buttons causes the appropriate serial command to be sent to the transport.

Stop and Pause share the button labeled Stop. One press of the Stop button causes the video transport to go into still mode, with the tape is still against the video playback heads. A quick, double press of the Stop button causes the video transport to enter the stop mode; if "EE" was selected in the VTR's menu, input video is now displayed. Yet another quick, double press of the Stop button will cause the VTR to go into Standby Off mode, with the tape unthreading from the playback heads.

Simultaneously pushing Stop + >> will cause the tape cassette to eject.

The Record button, by itself, does nothing. To record video, the Record button must be held down while pushing the Play button (Record + Play). This two-button lockout is intended to prevent undesired tape erasures. Once a Record or Play operation has been commanded, the jog/shuttle knob is disabled so that any inadvertant bumps to the knob will not abort a record operation. Use Stop to end the Recording process.

Assembly editing is possible from the VueFinder and works the same way as from the VTR's front panel. If a Record Pause operation is commanded (Record + Stop), the deck will immediately rewind for 1 to 2 seconds and wait for a Record + Play button push. Each subsequent push of Record + Play will alternately Pause and Record.

The jog/shuttle knob works differently than any other jog/shuttle on the market today. Starting from its most counter-clockwise rotation, the one knob covers the range from maximum reverse speed, to still, through 12 jog steps, to maximum forward speed. The cross-over between jog and shuttle is automatic and intuitive for the operator. The operator doesn't need to keep track of which mode is active, he just keeps his eyes on the video display monitor as the video is searched.

The maximum forward and reverse shuttle speed is a user-selectable option. Inside the VueFinder panel, the "OPT4" option jumper selects between 4x (jumper in) and 16x (jumper out).

Option Jumpers
Two options are currently selectable with the VueFinder panel: Reverse Play and Eject. Two shorting jumpers on the VueFinder's circuit board select the optional functions. The options change the commands sent to the VTR when the button silkscreened "Record" is pushed. Only one of these options can be selected at a time.

Locate the four shorting jumper positions on the circuit board. Simple 0.1" shorting jumpers are used to select an option. (Some boards may not have the jumper pins installed, in which case a small wire may be soldered in to select an option.) The shorting jumpers are installed such that they connect only one pair of pins. The shorting jumpers should be oriented crosswise, not lengthwise, on the 2x4 grouping of pins. (On some circuit boards, Option 4 contacts may be located apart from the other option contacts.) Units shipped from the factory are shipped with no option jumpers installed.

Reverse Option
With a jumper installed in position #1, the Record button sends a REVERSE PLAY command rather than the normal RECORD command. Video is played back off tape at a fixed, 1X speed in the reverse direction.

Eject Option
With jumper installed in both positions #1 and #2, the Record button send an EJECT command rather than the normal RECORD command. The STOP+FAST FORWARD combination also will continue to work.

RS232 Cable to Panasonic AJ-D230
Panel VTR
9pinD 25pinD Signal flow
Mandatory signals:
pin 2 => pin 2 Transmit from panel to deck
pin 3 <= pin 3 Receive to panel from deck
pin 4 <= pin 6 DTR to panel from deck
pin 5 --- pin 7 Ground

For the edit pass-through connector, if a standard PC COM port is functioning as the editor output, then a "cross-over" or null-modem cable will be required.

GPI Connections
The GPI Switch pins need to be connected to ground via a switch for the assigned function to occur. Use only as long a GPI cable as necessary; longer cables are more susceptible to noise than shorter cables. The use of shielded cabling will also help reduce the effects of electrical noise. Intermittant and unexplained deck control might be due to electrical noise. If the VueFinder control panel works well only without the GPI cable attached, the GPI cable is likely at fault.

The pin assignments are as follows:
Pin Function
1: Fast Forward
2: Reverse
3: Record
4: Play
5: Stop
6: Ground
7: undefined
8: undefined
9: undefined

NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own expense.

Should you encounter any troubles or have any suggestions, please contact the technical service number listed below.

VueTech
PO Box 2617
Grass Valley CA 95945

Phone: 530 477 2905
Fax: 530 272 1528
Tech Service: 831 372 6192
Website: www.vuetech.com

1/30/99