Getting an Ion

[Dustincoc]

The schools buying an Ion to replace the Express on our main stage that has been moved to the second stage when the Expression that was there died. They're getting the touch screen feature as well although we aren't buying any monitors for it because of their cost. Will any touchscreen monitor work with the board or does it need to be an ETC monitor?

[Serendipity]

INTERFACES
• DVI video connector with splitter supports two external DVI
displays (1280x1024) with optional touch screen control

This datasheet seems to say that any monitor with DVI connector will work, although I would still check with someone else on the board who has used an Ion, or one of our ETC friends.

Edit:
The Ion Manual gives hardware setup instructions on page 22 of the pdf:
Setting Up the Hardware
Follow these steps to prepare your Ion for use. [snip]
Step 2: Connect any monitors to the proper ports on the back of the console. Your monitor
connection choices are:
• Single VGA monitor connected to the blue VGA connector.
• Single DVI monitor connected to the white DVI port (using the “Y” cable).
• Two DVI monitors connected to the DVI port using the “Y” cable...
Any monitor attached to the DVI “Y” cable must be a DVI monitor. DVI-VGA
adaptors will not work with the “Y” cable.

[jmabray]

ETC does not manufacture Monitors of any sort, much less the touch screen kind. You can purchase an approved monitor and use it with the console.

There is a list of approved monitors somewhere that I will work on tracking down for you, but I can't seem to find it right now.

By the by, The touchscreen support is standard on the ION. It's not a feature that you have to pay extra for - it comes with every ION.

Also - In the post about -it should be DVI connector, not CVI. Do be aware, that the two monitors that are currently (or at least were) being used to display your Expression outputs will more than likely not work for the ION. You will need to have at least one of them become a DVI monitor. A DVI to VGA adapter on the cable will not work as the desk only supports DVI signal out of the DVI output.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

[LightStud]

Originally Posted by Dustincoc

Will any touchscreen monitor work with the board or does it need to be an ETC monitor?

See Lighting solutions for Theatre, Film & Television Studios and Architectural spaces : ETC. Besides the 19", other smaller and less expensive ELO models are supported as well, including, I believe, a 15" for <$400. Contact your dealer, or ETC at 1.800.688-4116.

You'll find it impossible to operate an Ion without any monitor(s), and the touchscreen option is a huge benefit. Why put a Geo engine in a Corvette?

[Serendipity]

Originally Posted by jmabray

Also - In the post about -it should be DVI connector, not CVI.

Thanks! It was a typo...
Is there a such thing as CVI connector?

[Techfiend]

When I was at an Ion demo, this same question came up and the rep said that there were 3 criteria that the monitor had to meet:
1) DVI connection
2)1280x1024 resolution
3) Accutouch (type of driver that the monitor runs on, accutouch is the only drivers that are installed on the Ion)

Hope this helps.

[Dustincoc]

Originally Posted by LightStud

See Lighting solutions for Theatre, Film & Television Studios and Architectural spaces : ETC. Besides the 19", other smaller and less expensive ELO models are supported as well, including, I believe, a 15" for <$400. Contact your dealer, or ETC at 1.800.688-4116.

You'll find it impossible to operate an Ion without any monitor(s), and the touchscreen option is a huge benefit. Why put a Geo engine in a Corvette?

I was told the monitors were going to run an extra $1000 each if we got them with the board. We're planning on getting some spare monitors from the IT dept. or using a couple of the CRT's we have laying around from the other old boards and computers.

[farmerjo1111]

ETC is now selling our own branded 19" touch screen. The ELO one will still work however if you want a touch screen we recommend the ETC one. Contact your local dealer for more info.

[icewolf08]

Originally Posted by farmerjo1111

ETC is now selling our own branded 19" touch screen. The ELO one will still work however if you want a touch screen we recommend the ETC one. Contact your local dealer for more info.

I was going to mention that, but I didn't know if it had been made public yet, and I didn't want to blow the cover if it hadn't.

[Serendipity]

Originally Posted by farmerjo1111

ETC is now selling our own branded 19" touch screen. The ELO one will still work however if you want a touch screen we recommend the ETC one. Contact your local dealer for more info.

Cool. I don't want to bother the local dealers with my curiosity (as I don't plan on purchasing one), but do you know if there's any spec sheets or photos floating around? I didn't see it on ETC's website.