880 Series Generator Quick Start Guide agstr Contents ® Introduction Video Interfaces Computer Interfaces Front Panel Interface Status Indicators Menu Selection Keys Selecting menu items Item selection examples Using the Settings and Options keys 2 2 3 4 4 5 5 5 6 Generator Operational Modes Booting up the generator Basic mode Browse mode 8 8 8 9 Video Display Testing Procedures Making physical connections Selecting the device type and interface Selecting video formats Selecting images Web Interface E
Introduction This Quick Start Guide describes the basic features, functions and operating procedures for the 881 and 882 Quantum Data video test instruments for testing analog and digital video display devices. The 881 provides features for testing video displays in production environments. The 882 is its complement. It provides extended features to test video displays for development environments and quality assurance applications. Video Interfaces This section describes the generator’s video interfaces.
Computer Interfaces Computer Interfaces This section describes the generator’s video interfaces. The video interfaces are shown below and the table describes each connector. Interface Description 1 SERIAL connector provides RS-232C serial data communication interface for the generator. 2 DEBUG connectoris for Quantum Data use only. 3 ETHERNET connector is used to connect the generator with a TCP/IP network, for remote administration and control, and for sharing resources from a file server.
Front Panel Interface Front Panel Interface This section describes the front panel interface for operating the generator. The front panel keys are shown below. Status Indicators Status indicators provide feedback about the operational status of the generator. The graphic below shows the location of the status indicators.
Selecting Menu Items Menu Selection Keys You can access the generator’s menus using the menu selection keys depicted below. Selecting menu items When you press a menu selection key, a menu appears on the generator’s display. Each menu item corresponds to a key located adjacent to the item. These keys are called "soft keys because their functions change depending on the items that appear on the generator's display.
Settings and Options Keys Using the Settings and Options keys The Options key enables you to view or set basic options for the selected item. For items with multiple pages of options, press the Options key again to view additional pages. Typically, options are attributes that are either enabled or disabled. For example, the screen below shows the options for a format.
Generator File System The generator has a file system that can be stored on multiple media (storage devices or locations). The 880 series generator file system is comprised of two main directories (folders): 1) System and 2) Library. The System folder contains the realtime operating system and firmware file (vxWorks) and the gateware. The Library folder contains the following resource files: File Type Description Fonts Object files used to define the font types.
Generator Operational Modes The generator has two operational modes: 1) Basic mode and 2) Browse mode. The generator boots up in the Basic mode which is the main operating mode you will be using. Both modes are described below along with instructions for booting up the generator. Booting up the generator When the generator is powered up it presents a screen enabling you to select the boot device.
Browse Mode In the Basic mode you make selections in the front panel with the item selection keys and the soft keys. Browse mode Browse mode is for advanced users who want to load objects from different media and program the generator function keys. When in Browse mode, the selection keys shown below are active. The procedure below describes how to place the generator in Browse mode: To place the generator in Browse mode: 1. Press and hold the Tools key.
Operational Modes 2. Choose the media type that you wish to browse through. A list of folders on that medium appears on the generator’s display as shown below. 2. Choose the folder you want to open by pressing the adjacent soft key. The contents of the folder appears on the generator’s display. 3. Continue selecting folders to open until you locate the item you need. To use an item, press the adjacent soft key.
Operational Modes 3. Press the soft key adjacent to the Library folder. The contents of the selected folder appears on the generator’s display as shown in the example below. 4. Press the soft key adjacent to the folder you want to use. For example, to set the format path, press the soft key adjacent to the Formats folder. The contents of the Formats folder appears on the generator’s display. 5. Select a format by pressing the adjacent soft key.
Video Display Testing Procedures This section provides an overview of the video testing process, which involves connecting the generator to the display under test, selecting the interface and format appropriate for the display, and then selecting images to exercise the display to ensure proper functioning. Making physical connections Use the following table as a guide for connecting the generator to the display under test. First identify the Signal type and determine the Port (Interface).
Video Display Testing Procedures Interface Description VGA For testing analog VESA displays and component consumer electronic displays. C VBS For testing composite analog consumer electronic displays. S-Video For testing composite (separate luma and chroma) analog consumer electronic displays. HDMI-D For testing DVI displays through the HDMI interface. HDMI-H For testing HDMI consumer electronic displays. SDI/HD-SDI For testing SDI and HD-SDI professional AV displays.
Selecting Video Formats Note: For more information about formats, see the 881/882 User's Guide. Selecting formats automatically When testing EDID-compatible displays, the generator can automatically update the Source list to include only formats supported by the display under test. To update the Source list automatically: 1. Connect the generator to the display you want to test. 2. Press the Sink key. 3. Press the Options key. The following information appears on the generator’s display. 4.
Selecting Images Selecting formats manually When testing a display that is not EDID-compliant, you must manually choose formats that are supported by the display. Note that once you select an interface the source list of formats will be filtered to only those that are suitable for a particular video interface. For example if you select CVBS as the interface the source list of formats will not include the VESA formats. The generator has a library of standard formats.
Displaying Images Displaying images Use the following procedures to view primary images. Once you have selected an image you can modify the image options if necessary. To select an image: 1. Identify the type of display (CRT or FPD) and the images that are used for testing this type of display (see the table below). 2. Press the Content key. A list of images appears on the generator’s display as shown below. Press the + and - keys to see all of the images.
Displaying Image Versions The table below provides a summary of digital FPD display characteristics and the images used to evaluate them. For details on the images and display attributes, see Appendix B, “Image Reference” of the User's Guide. Display type Display characterisitic Images Digital Flat Panel (fixed pixel displays) Flat, Raster, Ramp, Focus Text. Pixel anomolies (stuck pixels, miss sampling) Photometry Flat, Flatgray, Ramp, ColorBar, SMPTEBar, SMPTE133.
Displaying Image Versions To view multiple image versions in the Content list: 1. Select an image by pressing the Contents key. 2. Enable and view image versions as follows: Press the Options key. The following menu appears on the generator’s display: 3. Choose the More item by pressing the adjacent soft key until a + and Rendition appears next to the item. 4. Press the + and - keys to advance through the image versions.
Web Interface The generator has a built-in Web server that enables you to interact with the generator using a PC and an Ethernet connection. The Web interface includes the following functions: • Virtual Front Panel for operating the generator remotely. • Generator FTP Browser for copying files between media within the generator, between generators, and between a generator and a PC. • Format Editor for creating formats and modifying and viewing format parameters.
Establishing a Network Environment Another type of network scenario is to directly connect a single generator to a file server. For a direct connection, you must use a crossover Ethernet cable and connect it from the Ethernet port on the file server to the generator Ethernet port as shown below.
Setting the Generator's IP Address 4. Press the Settings key. The Network Connection screen appears on the generator’s display as shown below. Note: If the IP Address configuration option is not visible, press the soft key adjacent to the arrow symbol by SubnetMask until IP Address appears. 5. Change the IP address as follows: a. Position the blinking cursor on the address digit you want to change.
Setting the Server's IP Address To return to the Network Connection screen without saving the changes, choose the Back item. 8. Reboot the generator to enable the IP address change. Setting the server's IP address in the generator You must enter the IP address of the file server in each generator so the generator can communicate with the file server. In addition, you can also enter a name (called the Server Name) for the file server. To specify the IP address and host name of the file server: 1.
Virtual Front Panel a. Position the blinking cursor on the address digit you want to change. To do this, press the soft key adjacent to the arrow by the address to move the cursor left or right until it appears on the digit you want to change. b. Adjust the value of the digit up or down by pressing the + or - keys. Repeat for each address digit you want to change. 6. (Optional) Change the Server name as follows: a.
Virtual Front Panel The following procedures describe how to access the Virtual Front Panel using a Web browser. To determine the IP address of the generator: 1. Press the Tools key. The Tools menu appears on the generator’s display as shown. 2. Choose the System item by pressing the adjacent soft key. The System menu appears on the generator’s display as shown below. To use the Virtual Front Panel: 1.
Virtual Front Panel You can add the page to your list of favorite pages in your Web browser to avoid retyping the IP address each time you want to access the page. 2. Click the Virtual Front Panel link. The Virtual Front Panel appears.
FTP Browser If you create objects on a PC, such as images or formats, you can use the Generator FTP Browser to copy these objects to a generator. You can also use the Generator FTP Browser to copy objects between media in a generator and to copy objects from one generator to another. Copying files from a PC to a generator You can copy files from the PC to the generator when you are upgrading the generators with new system or library files. To copy files from a PC to a generator: 1.
Copying Files with the Generator FTP Browser In the Look in box, click the down arrow and select the storage medium where you want to copy the file. Select tffs0 for the generator’s flash memory or card0 for the generator’s PC card. In the list of files, open the destination folder. 4. In the Host Files area, click Download. The Transfer Files dialog box appears. Verify that the source file or folder and the destination folder are correct, and then click OK.
Copying Files with the Generator FTP Browser 3. In the Instrument Files area, locate and select the file or folder you want to copy as follows. 4. In the Look in box, click the down arrow and select the medium where the file is located. Select tffs0 for the generator’s flash memory or card0 for the generator’s PC card. 5. In the list of files, select the file or folder you want to copy. 6. In the Host Files area, open the destination folder where you want to copy the files. 7.
This manual for use with the following Models of Quantum Data Video Generators: 881 and 882 The following hardware options are covered: - GPIB Communications Port Ethernet Communications Port Serial Communications Port NTSC/PAL TV Outputs (CVBS and S-Video) VGA Analog Video Outputs Single Link HDMI/DVI Digital Video Outputs SDI/HD-SDI Output (Serial Digital Interface/High Definition) (optional interface) Information based on the following generator firmware versions: 881/882: Version 2.0.
