ross@isis.UUCP (Ross McConnell) (07/21/87)
Does anyone know of a VCR that can be controlled via a serial or parallel port from a PC? I just want to give basic commands such as RECORD, STOP, REWIND, etc, under program control.
larry@kitty.UUCP (Larry Lippman) (07/22/87)
In article <1880@isis.UUCP>, ross@isis.UUCP (Ross McConnell) writes: > Does anyone know of a VCR that can be controlled via a serial > or parallel port from a PC? I just want to give basic commands > such as RECORD, STOP, REWIND, etc, under program control. I know of VCR's controlled by PC's for interactive education, product ordering, etc. - such as the NCR INteracTV (tm) - but that is probably not what you want (these systems are generally play-only). However, it would be fairly easy to build what you want. Take a VCR with a _wired_ remote - such as the Panasonic NV-8420. The wired remote consists merely of a keypad connected to a cable. Use a reed relay matrix to replace the keypad and provide isolation. Connect an octal latch to a parallel printer port, using the printer strobe line to reload the latch. Using suitable relay driver IC's, drive the select relays from the octal latch. All you have to do is write bytes to the printer port to control the VCR. I have already done this to a Panasonic NV-8420, and have the following commands available: STOP, PLAY, RECORD, FORWARD, REVERSE, SEARCH FORWARD, SEARCH REVERSE, SLOW, PAUSE, and FRAME ADVANCE. I actually used optoisolators instead of reed relays - but the reed relays are a safer bet unless you feel totally comfortable working with the VCR logic. You can build this entire circuit for less than $ 20.00 in components. If you use the above suggestion, don't forget that you have to write a null (00H) to the printer port after each command (except for the SEARCH commands), since the remote keypad is momentary in nature. <> Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, New York <> UUCP: {allegra|ames|boulder|decvax|rocksanne|watmath}!sunybcs!kitty!larry <> VOICE: 716/688-1231 {hplabs|ihnp4|mtune|seismo|utzoo}!/ <> FAX: 716/741-9635 {G1,G2,G3 modes} "Have you hugged your cat today?"
buz@CS.UCLA.EDU (07/23/87)
In article <1880@isis.UUCP> ross@isis.UUCP (Ross McConnell) writes: >Does anyone know of a VCR that can be controlled via a serial >or parallel port from a PC? I just want to give basic commands >such as RECORD, STOP, REWIND, etc, under program control. There have been a lot of requests for single frame recording and computer control recording of images onto video tape. This is another in the sequence. The problems are still not solved at a reasonable price. Control with some other facilities is available from: GYYR Corporation 1515 South Manchester Ave. Anaheim, CA 92802 (714) 772-1000 This company specializes in time lapse recording (for security applications) using video tape. Their best machine has an RS232 interface, it is not clear however that the RS232 interface (which is an option) also combines with the color option. They do not give a price for both combined. If they do combine, the result would have the order number TLC2051-C-232, and the price will be in the neighboorhood of $4,000. In answer to the people who want single frame recording and synchronization with a PC monitor this machine will also record single frames, as long as the frames are generated faster than every 2.5 minutes. It will also require conversion of the RGB to NTSC and a Genlock in the PC. I have no idea how well this scheme would work but somebody with money might try it out and let us know. I would sure like to find a cheap way to do animation. Not that 5-6K is cheap, but it is the cheapest way I have heard of yet. Because of the 2.5 minute restriction, many images will have to be precomputed and stored on either a hard disk, floppys, or tape cassette to do real animation. This is a direction well worth exploring. I talked to the people at GYYR and they seem receptive to this new market, someone with money could really get something started. BUZ
alastair@geovision.UUCP (Alastair Mayer) (07/30/87)
In article <1880@isis.UUCP> ross@isis.UUCP (Ross McConnell) writes: >Does anyone know of a VCR that can be controlled via a serial >or parallel port from a PC? I just want to give basic commands >such as RECORD, STOP, REWIND, etc, under program control. I'd be interested in such a gizmo myself (n-year, n-event programability!) but haven't heard of such off-the-rack. However, hardware-hacking a device that makes use of a VCR's normal remote control shouldn't be too hard - you could hack the actual remote controller to command switch closures via a serial port. Ciarcia's column in "BYTE" a couple months back described a generic, programmable, IR controller that you might borrow circuits from. -- Alastair JW Mayer BIX: al UUCP: ...!utzoo!dciem!nrcaer!cognos!geovision!alastair (Why do they call it a signature file if I can't actually *sign* anything?)