APANTAC KEYPAD Installation and Configuration
Keypad Configuration Connection
Keypad Operation Connection
The Apantac Tahoma Control Keypad is a 20 buttons and one line LCD Display Keypad. It can control one Tahoma
series Multiviewer via the RS 232 line. Each button can be configured for sending one or more AXP (Apantac
eXchange Protocol) commands. It comes with the configuration application CD, a 5 VDC power supply, one serial
cable for configuration via a PC and one 5 meters serial cable for connection to the multiviewer.
Keypad Connection
There are two connection modes:
The Keypad set up connection to the configuration PC for and the Operation connection to the Tahoma Multiviewer.
Tahoma Multiviewer Configuration
This consists in specifying the Serial Port protocol.
Launch Director, the Apantac Tahoma Multiviewers configuration
application, and do:
System > Control Board Settings > Ensure that “Mode 1 Software Control”
is selected and “Enable 5v” is not checked > Press OK
This will ensure that the AXP commands sent by the Apantac Keypad are
understood
The Tahoma Multiviewer Serial Port communication parameters are:
Baud rate = 38400 bps, data bits = 8, parity = none, stop bit = 1, flow control = none
Regarding the AXP commands syntax, refer to the “Apantac Software Panel Configuration” and the “Apantac
eXchange Protocol” documents. The Apantac Software Panel (ASP) uses the same AXP commands as the Keypad but
over Ethernet.
Keypad Configuration
During the configuration process, connect the Keypad to the configuration PC as per the “Keypad Configuration
Connection” drawing above and plug the Keypad power supply. You will be able to configure and test the
configuration directly from the configuration PC.
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You will need first to run the supplied MiniTermProSetup_v5_41_w7x64.exe application on a PC equipped with serial
COM port. This application will allow configuring the Keypad, e.g. assign Apantac eXchange Protocol (AXP)
commands to any of the 20 available buttons.
The screen shots below show the various software installation steps:
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Once the installation procedure is completed a new icon is available in
the task bar. Click it to access the Keypad applications.
You can also refer to the supplied MiniTermPro documentation if
needed. The only configuration aspects covered here refer to using the
Keypad for controlling an Apantac Tahoma Multiviewer.
Launch the MacroMaster232 application.
Make sure that the Keypad is connected to the
configuration PC and that power is applied to the Keypad.
The next step will consist in ensuring proper
communication between the configuration PC and the
Keypad.
The Keypad is either delivered with factory configuration
– in this case the communication speed is set to 9600 bps
or it is already preloaded with some AXP commands – in
this case the communication speed is set to 38400 bps.
The other communication parameters are already set for
controlling a Tahoma Multiviewer.
We will now use the Test utility to check the communication. Press the Test button located top right of the
MacroMaster232 application.
By default the Test utility will launch with 9600 bps speed and
use the COM 1 port.
Press the Beep button. If no beep is heard this means that either
the COM port or the communication speed is incorrect.
In this case click on File and then Disconnect. The bottom bar will
now turn yellow and report the status
Then set the Baud rate to 38400 and again click on File and then
Connect. The available COM ports will show up. Select the
correct COM port to which the Keypad is attached to.
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Press the Beep button again. If no beep is heard, try again with
different COM port and communication speed (9600 or 38400
bps) until the beep is heard.
Hearing the beep will confirm that the communication is
established. Pressing the Get Version button will read the Keypad
FW version, pressing the Send button will display the message
next to it on the Keypad LCD display.
If the Keypad was already preloaded with AXP commands then
pressing the Keypad buttons will display them.
It is now time to create your own configuration.
Press the properties buttons and set it according to the
screen shot:
Line Edit Mode selected
Baud Rate set for 38.4k
Word Format set for 8,N,1
No LEDs
No Card Reader
Other parameters let to default
You may adjust also the Key Beep parameter.
Any time you press a Keypad key, a beep is
heard for the entered duration
Press OK when done
Now you will assign your first AXP command to a
button. Ensure that “20 keys” is checked in the
view section.
For each button configuration to be configured:
Press the Keypad button
Check “Transmit this key (…)”
Enter the AXP command using the
Macromaster232 application or the
configuration PC keypad. A Macro length
warning will pop up – Just check “Don’t
show this message again”
Repeat for the next button
Remarks:
AXP commands are case sensitive
All commands must be terminated by “CR” (Press the Enter key to get it)
When using the AXP Load command the file names must be entered with their extension (*.ptx where x is a
number or *.all). Enter the name and extension you used when you saved the preset with Director
AXP commands make use of a “|” separator. (Vertical bar)
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Once all the buttons have been configured, press the “Save As”
button to save your work and give it a name.
The next step will be to download the resulting file into the
Keypad. Press the Download button. You may get and error
message because the application tries an immediate download
and the communication parameters of the download utility have
not been set yet.
Press the Port Setup button, set the Baud rate to 38400, set the
proper COM port to use and press OK
Try again a download by pressing the Download button. You will
see the progress both in the Download utility Progress window
and on the Keypad LCD display: You will get “Receiving Data:”
and then “Load Complete!” messages
Finally run again the “Test” utility” (Test button of the
MacroMaster232 application) to ensure that the configured AXP
messages are properly sent as expected. Refer to the steps above
for setting the proper communication speed and COM port
choice and press the configured buttons in turn. You will see the
corresponding messages that will be sent by the Keypad to the
Apantac multiviewer. E.g. in the example, three buttons have
been assigned: The two first respectively recall the “Default.pt1”
and “Borders.pt1” presets. The third one sets the digital clock 0 to
2 minutes and starts a down count.
Repeat the previous configuration and test steps until the Keypad
is fully configured according to your needs.
Operation
Finally connect the Keypad to the Tahoma Multiviewer according to the “Keypad Operation Connection” drawing in
the beginning of this document and ensure that pressing the buttons have the expected result. Note that the
Keypad, the ASP (and Apantac Touch Panel), the Tahoma Multiviewer front panel buttons and GPI control (e.g. using
the Apantac Simple Preset Panel) can operate all in parallel.
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