Advanced Configuration Tab

The Advanced Configuration tab is present if a System 5 IP or MediaLink® Controller (MLC), or one of their control ports has been selected in the IP Link® Tree window.  The Advanced Configuration tab varies slightly depending on which product is selected, and has the following functions:

Details for each function are provided below.  Differences between the System 5 IP and MLC screens are identified.

Power Settings

System 5 IP

MediaLink Controller (MLC)

The Power Settings fields are typically populated by the selected device driver, but are user-selectable (adjustable) as described below.

  • Auto shut-off display power after being inactive for – Powers off the display if there is no display activity for user-selectable inputs of 0 to 720 minutes in 30-minute increments.

  1. When display is on, delay I/O switching for – After an input switch, this feature prevents the occurrence of a second input switch for the specified duration (0 to 5 seconds in 0.5-second increments).  This allows the projector to sync to the input signal before switching can occur again.

  2. When powering up, delay for – Sets the time for which the display power-on indicator will blink during power-up before it remains solid, indicating the display is warmed up and ready for use.  User-selectable inputs are 0 to 300 seconds in 2-second increments.

  3. When powering down, delay for – Sets the time for  which the display power-off indicator will blink during power-down, before it remains solid, indicating the display has cooled down and the power-down sequence is complete.

  4. Repeat IR Power down – Many projectors require that a remote control power-off button be pressed twice before the projector powers down.  This checkbox sends a power-down command twice if the remote control power-down button is pressed, eliminating the need to physically press the button twice.

  5. Send Channel IR/232 as display powers up – Sends the currently selected video input to the display when the display is powered on.  If not checked, the display powers up displaying the input selected when the display was last powered  down.

  6. Lockout I/O switching while display powers ON or OFF – Prevents all input selection changes during the display power-up or power-down sequence.

  7. Hold power-down button for two seconds – Requires the front panel display power-down button be held down for 2 seconds before the power-down sequence occurs.  This prevents accidental display shutdowns.

System 5 IP only

  1. Video outputs active simultaneously – Some projectors require an active signal at each of their input ports in order to work properly.  The System 5 IP keeps the RGB output active at all times.  If you want to keep either the composite video or S-video output active, along with the RGB output, in order to support the projector's requirement for all inputs active, check the Video outputs active simultaneously check box.

Volume Settings

System 5 IP

  • When power up, limit the volume level to – Sets the volume limit during power-up to a user-selectable level of 0 to 40 in single-digit increments.

Volume Settings

MediaLink Controller (MLC)

There are two types of device driver options available for the volume adjustment on a MediaLink (MLC) device:

  • Up / Down button – Drives the volume up or down depending on which button is pressed.

  • Slider – Where 0 (no volume) is on the left and a numerical value (high volume) is on the right.

 

If you configure the front panel Volume UP and DOWN buttons (1) in GC with the Volume Up / Down command (2), the volume control on the MLC front panel will interface electronically with the device like Up and Down buttons.

If you configure the Volume UP and DOWN buttons on the front panel (1) with the Volume Range command (3) the volume control on the MLC front panel will interface electronically with the device like a volume slider.

If you choose the Up / Down command in the Button Operations section, you must also choose the Increment / Decrement option in the Volume Settings section of the Advanced Configuration tab (see below right).

If you choose the Range command in the Button Operations section, you must also choose the Range option in the Volume Settings section of the Advanced Configuration tab (see below right).

 

When adjusting the volume, use: Range or Increment/Decrement – Volume control for a projector, display, or audio output device involves one of two methods:

  1. Select a setting within a specific range of values.

  2. Send a simple command to increment or decrement the volume by a fixed amount.

Select the appropriate method for the equipment you are using.  Refer to the user's manual for the display or audio device.

 

When you choose the Range option, the field labeled "Maximum volume steps for projector" becomes active.

This field is initially populated by the device driver, with the maximum number of volume steps available for the associated projector.

If you wish to limit the maximum volume level of the projector, simply adjust this number to the desired level.  You may only lower the maximum volume number.  You may not raise this number above the initial setting provided by the associated device driver.

The volume control indicator lights on the MLC act in the following manner, depending on the setting of the field labeled "When adjusting the volume, use":

  • Range – As the knob is turned clockwise, increasing the volume, five indicators come on, one at a time, from bottom to top and remain lit.  The top indicator flashes when the volume reaches its upper limit.  

    As the knob is turned counterclockwise, decreasing the volume, five indicators turn off, one at a time, from top to bottom.  The bottom indicator flashes when the volume reaches its lower limit.

  1. Increment / Decrement – As the knob is turned clockwise, increasing the volume, indicators flash on, in a bottom-to-top sequence, then quickly go out.

    As the knob is turned counterclockwise, decreasing the volume, the indicators flash on, in a top-to-bottom sequence, then quickly go out.

The other fields within the MLC Volume Settings section of the Advanced Configuration tab, are:

  • When powering up, limit the volume level to – Sets the volume limit during power-up within a range of 0 to 100 in single-digit increments.

  • Volume encoder scaling factor (0 - 255) – This feature allows you to slow down the volume knob (the encoder) on the MLC’s front panel.  The value entered in the encoder scale area is the encoder speed scaling factor.  A value of 1 scales the speed down by a factor of 2 (the MLC issues commands at
    1/2 speed), a value of 2 scales by a factor of 3 (the MLC issues volume commands at 1/3 speed), and so forth.  A factor of zero sets the MLC for no scaling (the volume encoder works at full speed).

 

This feature addresses a problem that occurs with some projectors that use a range type volume control.  When the MLC’s knob controls projector volume, sometimes the MLC sends the volume commands faster than the projector can detect and process them.  The projector does not detect some of the volume change commands, resulting in a choppy volume ramp.

Encoder scaling gives the programmer the ability to slow the knob down to a speed the projector can handle.  The drawback is that you must turn the knob more to change from minimum to maximum volume.  It is up to you to find a balance between smooth audio ramping and the number of knob turns needed to cover the volume range.  This requires trial and error for each projector exhibiting this problem.

Although this feature is mainly for range type volume control, it applies to any range type command programmed to be executed by the volume knob.

PIN Settings

System 5 IP

MediaLink Controller (MLC)

The Pin Settings section allows you to enable/disable the requirement to enter a PIN prior to accessing the device front panel buttons.  The options are:

  1. Enable all security PINs – Requires an administrator or user to input a PIN prior to accessing the front panel buttons.

  2. Enable administrator PIN only – Requires an administrator to input a  PIN prior to accessing the front panel buttons.  This option locks the front panel buttons against all other attempts.

  1. Disable all security PINs – Provides all users with access to the front panel buttons.

  2. Administrator – Displays the current Administrator PIN and allows the user to input a new PIN.

  3. User – Displays the current User PIN and allows the user to input a new PIN.

Note:  The factory default  PINs  are:

Device

Admin

User

System 5 IP

1524

1524

MLC 226

1346

1346

MLC 104 IP Plus

1423

1423

MLC 104 IP

1423

1423

MLC 104

1423

1423

Note:  See the respective device's user's manual for instructions on how to enter a PIN on the device front panel.

Digital Input / Output

System 5 IP

  1. Digital Input # 1 – The System 5 IP has one Digital Input port that can be configured here as:

    1. Input – Select for any type of digital input status signal.

    2. Power Sensor – Select if there is a power status output from the display.

Note:  Use the Schedule and Monitor tabs to select conditions, actions, and
e-mails in response to the Input or Power Sensor signal.

Digital Input / Output

MediaLink Controller (MLC)

  1. The MLC has one Digital I/O port that can be configured here as:

    1. Input – Select for any type of digital input signal.

    2. Output – Select for any type of digital output signal.

    3. Input With Pull-up – Select for any type of digital input signal that requires a pull-up resistor.

    4. Output With Pull-up – Select for any type of digital output signal that requires a pull-up resistor.

  1. The MLC has a second Digital Input port that can be configured here as:

    1. Input – Select for any type of digital input status signal.

    2. Power Sensor – Select if there is a power status output from the display.

Note:  Use the Schedule and Monitor tabs to select test conditions, actions, and e-mails in response to an Input, Input With Pull-up, or Power Sensor signal.

Note:  Use the Schedule and Monitor tabs to select the appropriate port, and action or e-mail to be associated with an Output, or Output With Pull-up signal.

Miscellaneous Settings

System 5 IP

MediaLink Controller (MLC)

Miscellaneous Settings include:

  1. Reset button statistics on upload – The System 5 IP stores front panel button statistics in non-volatile memory.  If you would like to reset these statistics each time you perform a build and upload cycle, click this checkbox.

  2. Upload enhanced web pages to device – The enhanced Web pages include an improved graphical representation of the device front panel that is displayed in the System Status Web page.  

To view the enhanced Web pages:

    1. Click the check box here.

    2. Perform a build and upload cycle.

    3. Right-click on the device in the IP Link Tree window.

    4. Select Open System Status Page.

This displays the System Status page.

    1. Click the Control tab.

The enhanced Web pages are launched.

  1. Enable / Disable IR Receiver – The System 5 IP and MLC have two Infrared (IR) receiver ports, by which the device can be remotely controlled.  Enable or disable these IR receivers using one of the following options:

    1. Enable front & rear IR ports

    2. Disable front & enable rear IR ports

    3. Enable front & disable rear IR ports

    4. Disable front & rear IR ports

Set Button Light Group Color

If you have assigned button groups on the Front Panel tab, you can assign different colors for the buttons in each grouping.

The color options for the buttons, themselves, are:

  • Amber (default)

  • Green

  • Red

To assign a color to a specified button group:

  1. Click Set Button Light Group Color.

  2. Select the desired Group.

  3. Select the desired color from the associated drop-down listing.

  4. Click OK.

When you have assigned multiple buttons to a grouping, only one of the buttons can be activated at a time.  

When you assign a color to a button group, the activated button illuminates with the assigned color on the physical front panel of the device and in the representation of the front panel in the GlobalViewer® interface.

Note:  On a System 5 IP device, only the front panel ROOM buttons can be configured in groups.