BDL AUTOSCRIPT - Accessories

Accessories The section below describes our new digital controller system. Information on our original analogue controllers can be found further down.
	Hand control type HC1 The HC/1 Opto Desk Hand Control is a potless device, which uses an opto sensor to control the prompt output speed. This provides high reliability becauses there are no wiping contacts. This controller is compatible with the colour PCI bus PCIPrompt Card, the USB XBOX and the ISA bus PCPrompt Card. When the HC/1 hand control is plugged straight into the prompter card, using the 9 pin to 9 pin D type serial cable, a maximum distance of 60 feet (18 metres) can be run between the control and the base station. When used with the PCIPrompt Card or USB XBOX, longer runs of cable can accomodated by using our coax adaptors.
	Opto Foot Control This uses a potless device. It uses the same mechanism as the HC/1 to provide high reliability. This controller is compatible with both the ISA bus PCPrompt Card and the colour PCI bus PCIPrompt Card. When the HC/1 hand control is plugged straight into the PC PromptCard using the 9 pin to 9 pin D type serial cable a maximum distance of 60 feet (18 metres) can be run between the control and the base station. Longer runs of cable can accomodated by using our coax adaptors.
	Opto Foot Control Panel This control panel plugs straight into the Opto Foot Control to provide the same control functions as the hand controller, such as page up, page down etc. In addition to this there is an extra button for reversing the direction of scrolling of the prompter text.

Controller Expansion Options

Coax Adaptor

The distance between the Hand control and the PCIPrompt card can be extented with the use of Coax Converters. This allows the control to be extended using standard 75 ohm video coax cable up to a distance of 300 metres. This has the advantage that it can use existing studio cable runs if required. One Coax Converter is required at each end of the run. At the PCIPrompt end, the converter simply plugs into the 9 way D connector of the card. At the controller end, the converter plugs into the contoller's 9 way D connector and is powered from an external power unit.

Foot controllers can be extended in a similar way except that in this case the converter is built into controller obviating the need for a seperate converter.

Smart Combi

Up to four Opto Hand or Foot controls can be used with the PCIPrompt card using the Smart Combi box. The box plugs into the 9 way D connector PCIPrompt card. It has four coax inputs that accept connections from the controllers via their associated Coax Adapters (see previous section for adapter details).

It is possible to expand the number of controllers virtually indefinately by linking two or more Smart Combi boxes using their expansion connectors. Smart Combi's can be linked via standard 75 ohm coax cable and can be located up to 300 metres from one another.

Controller Interconnect Options

Simple single controller connection

The diagram above illustrates the simplest way of connecting a Hand or Foot control to the PCIPrompt card. The controllers are fitted with a 9 way 'D' plug. Any 1:1 9 way 'D' cable can be used for this connection.

Increasing the controller distance

The diagram above shows how the distance between a Hand Control and the PCIPrompt card can be increased to up to 300 metres by using our Coax Adaptor boxes. The adaptor at the PCIPrompt card end obtains it's power from the card, the adaptor at the hand control end is powered off a small 12V power supply.

The diagram above shows how the Foot Control can be connected remotely. The Coax Adaptor is actually built into the Foot Control therefore a seperate box is not required.

Using the Smart Combi

The diagram above shows how up to four controls may be connected to the PCIPrompt card using the Smart Combi box. A standard 1:1 9 was 'D' cable connects the Smart Combi to the PCIPrompt card. The Smart Combi accepts inputs from the BDL coax control system. Hand controls are connected to the 75 ohm coax using the Coax Adaptor boxes described earlier. Foot controls, with their built-in coax adaptor plug straight in. The Coax Adaptors and Foot controls are fed from a 12V power supply.

Using multiple Smart Combis

The diagram above illustrates how the Smart Combi units can be cascaded to provide a virtually limitless number of Hand and/or Foot controls. The Smart Combi units have two extra 75 ohm coax connectors which are used for linking multiple units. The expansion interface allows the use of standard 75 ohm coax cable which can be up to 300 metres in length.

PCIDA
	The PCIDA is general purpose four output video distribution amplifier. It conveniently plugs into any spare PCI slot on a PC. It's prime purpose is to provide extra video outputs for the PCIPrompt Card.

Classic Hand and Foot Controls

	The "Classic" Hand Control shown operating with our small TFT preview monitor. This controller can be used with our older ISA bus PCPrompt Card, the XBOX, the PCI bus PCIPrompt Card and the XBOX USB unit. Two buttons on the unit can select "Next" and "Previous" stories in a rundown. An LED is illuminated when the control is off it's centre indent position. Up to four of these hand controls can be used to control one prompter with the aid of the 4 into 1 Combiner Box.
	The "Classic" Foot Control. This controller can be used with our older ISA Bus PCPrompt Card, the XBOX, the PCI bus PCIPrompt Card and the XBOX USB unit. The button behind the pedal is used to select the direction of scroll so that the script can be scrolled backwards.
	Foot Control shown with its companion desktop keypad. The keypad provides "Next" and "Previous" story functions.
	The "Location" Hand Control. This is functionally equivalent (apart from the LED indicator) to the "Classic" Hand Control shown earlier. The scroller control is easily operated by rotating the knurled wheel using the thumb and index finger.
	The 4:1 Combiner Box. This unit allows any combination of "Classic" controllers to be used with any of our prompter units. All connected controllers have 'live' access to the prompter. The controller that is operated last is deemed to have control. This obviates the need for any switching.