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FOR.A FSC-80E FRAME SEQUENCE CONTROLLER
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WHAT OUR EXPERTS SAY...
What has the FOR.A FSC-80E colour video multiplexer got in
common with hamburgers? Time's up. The answer is McDonalds in America have
brought five hundred of them, for use in their restaurants. The McDonalds
endorsement carries a lot of weight -- whether or not you like their hamburgers
-- its fast-food outlets are representative of many small to medium-sized
retail and commercial businesses in this country, in terms of size, staffing levels
and security requirements.
The FSC-80EP is the PAL version and one of a range of three
colour multiplexers currently marketed by FOR.A in the UK, (the other two have
6 and 16 inputs otherwise the specifications and facilities are broadly the
same). The headline feature on all models is custom-designed digital processing
microchips, which helps keep the cost down, improve performance and ensure
reliability. Up to 8 asynchronous (free-running) cameras can be connected to
the FCS-80EP, so there's no need for any external synchronisation and almost
any type of camera can be used. It works in full duplex mode, which makes it
possible to review recorded tapes whilst continuing to record, though this
particular trick requires two VCRs.
During normal record or replay operation the monitor output
has three display options: normal full screen of one camera channel, 4 x 4
quad, and 3 x 3 multi-screen. Full screen images can be individually selected
or automatically sequenced, with a variable dwell time of between 1 and 30
seconds. The multiplexer generates user pre-settable camera idents plus time
and date information. Each camera channel has an associated alarm input that
when triggered, switches the sequencer and VCR output to the camera concerned
for a pre-set period and a time-lapse VCR -- if used -- is set to real-time
recording mode.
The multiplexer is housed in a standard rack-mountable steel
case measuring 430 x 44 x 375mm. On the rear panel there is a bank of 16 BNC
connects, one for each camera input, and it's associated loop-through output.
Incidentally, these are automatically terminated (75 ohms), if the output is
left open-circuit. There are three more
BNC sockets, two of them are for the video input and output connections to a
VCR, and the third one is for the monitor output. In the middle of the panel
there's a set of four miniature spring terminals, used for the alarm output, to
trigger a time-lapse VCR. There are three multi-pin connectors. The first is a
9-pin D-Sub, used for RS-232 serial communications, allowing the main functions
of the multiplexer to be controlled from a PC (connection and software
requirements are outlined in the instruction book). Next to that there are two
25-pin D-Sub connectors, the upper one is labelled Remote and is used
exclusively by a remote front panel. The lower one is for alarm sensor inputs,
one for each camera, and an input for an external timing signal, to initiate
auto switching when two or more FSC-80's are connected together. Also on the
back panel is a fuse holder, ground terminal and 3-pin AC mains socket.
The mains on/off switch and power on indicator are on the
left side of the front panel. To the right of that there's a button for auto
sequence start and alarm reset. It's followed by the 8 camera input selector
keys. By the way, all but one of the front panel buttons has their own green
LED indicator. In the centre of the panel there's a cluster of buttons
concerned with operating mode and monitor output, this includes the quad and 3
x 3 'split' display options and a selector for VCR playback. Lastly, on the
right side are keys for calling up the various menus and on-screen displays.
There are two other indicators, for showing time-lapse VCR operation and
time-lapse trigger activation.
Inside the slimline case, bolted to the base of the sturdy
all steel chassis there are three printed circuit boards. The largest one is
the motherboard, which is concerned with control and housekeeping functions,
digital video processing and on-screen displays. A smaller daughter-board
handles all of the analogue video signals; both PCBs are heavily populated with
surface mount components. There are very few interconnections -- they're mostly
heavy-duty ribbon cables and on-board connections -- which bodes well for
long-term reliability. The third PCB is a switched-mode power supply module.
Everything is very neatly laid out -- the few cables inside the case are held
in place with cable ties -- overall the standard of construction is very high
indeed.
OPERATION
So far so good but it's not all plain sailing. The first
surprise is that there is no anti-tamper protection for the front panel
controls or on-screen menus. The only security feature is a tiny DIP switch, to
disable the front panel controls. This is located on the motherboard inside the
case. It can only be accessed by removing the ten screws that keep the lid on;
you can take it as read that it is not very easy to get at. Surely it wouldn't
have been beyond the whit of the designers to come up with a simple PIN-coded
routine and incorporate it into the operating software? As it stands we suspect
most end users will not want to go to the fuss and bother of dismantling the
unit simply to disable the controls. This will leave it vulnerable to
accidental (or deliberate) mis-operation.
The second surprise is the somewhat convoluted menu-driven
on-screen displays, which appear to defy most normal conventions. The main menu
appears after pressing an unmarked button on the right side of the front panel.
The selection is made by moving an asterisk up and down a list of options,
using a pair of arrow keys. Thereafter logic goes out of the window and it's
usually only by trial and error that you find out how to make, change and save
selections. Creating a camera ident is especially time-consuming for example
and setting the clock for the first time takes ages. Whilst we're on the
subject, the position of the camera ident is fixed, which could be a nuisance
if the characters obscure an important part of the image.
After a while you can get used to it's strange little ways.
In any event most operators will only need to use the on-screen display to
change settings fairly infrequently, but it's as well to keep the instruction
manual close to hand. Speaking of which, it is one of the better examples we've
seen lately. It is neatly laid out and logically presented, with all of the
information installers and end-users are like to need, accessible and easy to
follow.
Split screen display positions are included in the set-up
routine, so it is possible to choose which cameras are included in what
sub-screen locations on the quad and 3x3 displays. It is also possible to
program the multiplexer to skip selected channels, either because they are not
being used, or to split coverage between, say, interior and exterior locations.
A timer enables particular cameras to be accessed in 'day' or 'night' modes;
the factory default is for night to begin at 18:00 and day to start at 06:00
hours, these settings can be changed if necessary.
If enabled the alarm system can be set to one of three
modes. In mode one, when triggered the video output switches to the camera (or
cameras concerned) and the word 'Alarm' flashes on the screen. If there's more
than one event the outputs from the associated cameras are multiplexed. In Mode
2 sequencing continues as normal and again the word Alarm flashes on the
display. Mode 3 functions like mode one, except that if there's more than one
alarm each associated camera is sequenced, at one second interval, and the word
alarm flashes on the screen. Alarm reset time is factory preset to 10 seconds; the
range is from 1 second to 39 minutes and 59 seconds. An internal buzzer can be
set to sound if required and all alarm events are logged, with details of the
date, time and camera channel. Up to 100 entries are recorded, when the memory
is full the first entries are overwritten.
The multiplexer can be set to superimpose time and date
information on the monitor and VCR outputs. For the record the date generator
is Year 2000 compliant and correctly registered the Millennium as the year '00'
in a simulated Y2K rollover test. The internal clock and memory settings are
protected against power failure; the lithium backup battery on the motherboard
has an estimated operating life of 5 years.
PERFORMANCE
The multiplexer is largely transparent to the video signals
passing through it. Resolution is unaffected; we tried it with colour and
monochrome cameras capable of resolving up to 500 lines, without any noticeable
reduction in detail or change in texture. There is certainly no increase in
picture noise, if anything it could even be a little lower, on at least one
camera there was slightly less 'fizz' in areas of high saturation. Colour
fidelity is unchanged from the original input signal. In fact the only
significant alteration to the video input occurs in the split screen (i.e. quad
and 3 x 3) monitor display modes, where digital compression reduces resolution
and frame rate, giving the image the characteristic jerky quality.
Camera sequencing is very clean with no disturbance or loss
of stability at the switching points. Picture performance, when replaying
multiplexed recordings, depends to a large extent on the capabilities of the
VCR, however, our sample was able to lock onto individual camera channel
without any loss of synch, in both full frame and split screen modes. Replayed
images can also be frozen, picture stability is good.
OVERALL ASSESSMENT
As far as normal multiplexing operations are concerned the
FSC-80EP works very well indeed. Image quality is very good and picture
stability is excellent in both record and replay modes. The feature list is
brief and to the point, in fact the only thing missing is a front-panel
security lock. The internal switch is a bad idea and counter-productive, we
doubt many end-users will ever use it, as it stands. The on-screen display
system is a bit cumbersome, it could do with tidying up, though it's fair to
say that apart from the fixed camera idents, it has no impact on day to day
operation. McDonalds chose well, the FSC-80
is a capable no-frills design that does the job it is designed to do
efficiently, with a minimum of fuss and for a realistic price.
PRODUCT ASSESSMENT
Design and design features ****
Circuitry and components ****
Ease of installation and wiring *****
Range and variety of functions ***
Accompanying instructions ****
Technical advice and backup *****
Value for money ****
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R.Maybury 1998 0806
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