So, the projectors are a pair of Sanyo PLC-XF47. The video feed seems to be fine, but the RS232 cables go to a
AMX control
unit, which doesn't seem to work and doesn't do what I want it to anyway, so it's going to go. I'll probably find a use for it elsewhere. What I'd like to do is put a twin port RS232 card into the computer (just a normal PC) and set a piece of software to automatically turn on the projectors at a certain time of day. As I intend to get the video server put onto the
network, I'd also like to be able to overide the timer and turn it on or off from the office. This would have the bonus of being able to load new material onto the server remotely. It's the software that I'm not really sure about at all!
I have worked on a number of visitor centers, marketing centers, displays,
etc. with
AMX system running shows, in fact I believe that Disney used some
AMX systems for show control. And unless it is a pretty old
AMX central
processor, as in 15 to 20 years old, then it probably incorporates an internal calendar date and time clock.
Just for some idea, I designed a Visitor Center some years ago with an
AMX system controlling the presentations. A 'show' consists of raising the lights, opening the entry doors, playing an announcement, waiting a set time with interim announcements, flashing the lights and playing an announcement, closing the entry doors, restarting a "time to next show" clock, lowering the lights, opening the main curtain and starting the presentation. After the timed presentation the
AMX system closes the curtain, raises the lights, opens the exit doors and plays an announcement. After another
preset time the control
system triggers an announcement, closes the exit doors and starts all over. The
system starts running shows automatically at a set time each day and stops after the show ends after a defined time, those times can be set by the staff (in this case they wanted a simple set of choices, but they could potentially also direct enter the times). The
AMX system also automatically runs different presentations during different times of the year. By pushing a
button on a touch panel the people at the front
desk can elect to run the next presentation to be a subtitled version if anyone requests that. If they get busy the people at the main
desk can hit another
button on the touch panel that switches the
system over to running shorter versions of the presentations. And if they get real busy they can make another selection that starts a second, smaller
venue running the same shows at offset times, deselecting that returns that room to its normal standalone mode of operation. That same touch panel also provides a status of the room and show at all times and provides notification if the control systems senses a problem such as a failed
projector lamp or a source not reporting to be playing when requested to do so. Oh, and there is an ambient noise sensing
system that senses the noise levels in the room during gaps in the audio and automatically adjusts the volume based on a low/medium/loud offset that the staff chooses (the default is medium but if they see a bus load of kids or seniors they may select the volume to be a greater
level over the ambient). And when not being used for the canned shows, they have an
AMX touch panel they can use in the room to directly operate the
system for special events and presentations.
That actually represents a relatively simple
AMX system and programming effort. However, you do need someone who understands
AMX programming to not only write the initial program but also to make changes to any defined timing and sequencing. So it may not be ideal for what you want, but I wouldn't necessarily discount the
AMX system being able to do what you want.
The Sanyo PLC-XF47 does not have standard
network control capability, however Sanyo did offer an optional POA-MD13NET2
network card for it that works with their PJ Master software (see
http://us.sanyo.com/dynamic/product/Downloads/PDG-DHT100L_NETWORK BOARD-20937530.pdf). That board is out of production but there may be used ones available. It essentially uses a
network interface to transfer the serial commands and I have not actually tried using the PJ Master software to perform timed
power operations so I am not sure how or if that is supported.
