Contemporary Research SW-DX User Manual
RF Design and Installation
The architecture of a Contemporary Research SignStream Media Express or Display Express
display control system follows the same design as a standard RF local insertion system. A
key aspect of the system is that the underlying iC-Net technology is compatible with most
existing RF systems, and control channels used for display operation will not conflict with
current TV channels or sub-channels.
Local AV, including:
o AV sources, digital cable or satellite recievers feeding analog modulators
o Off-air HDTV channels inserted as digital QAM channels
o HD sources feeding HD cable modulators
o SignStream HDTV channels
Cable Feed, using a noise filter, if needed
SignStream or Display Express control, inserted as micro control channel
Local Sources
Each local AV source feeds an RF modulator. Analog video sources, such as DVD players, or
a PC that runs standard 4:3 digital media such as digital videos or a PowerPoint information
channel, feed the AV output of the source to an analog channel modulator. CR QMOD HD
Modulators can be used to distribute HD sources as digital QAM cable channels.
There are many ways to balance the channels, depending on the design of the system.
Obviously, the output of some channels will be reduced, while others are amplified.
Contemporary Research 1 iC-Net Tips – RF Design and Installation
Display Control Software
Zone
Address
Zone
Address
Zone
Address
1
256
6
1536
11
2816
2
512
7
1792
12
3072
3
768
8
2048
13
3328
4
1024
9
2304
14
3584
5
1280
10
2560
15
3840
All
4095
There are several ways that CR display networks can be controlled:
Display Express software connected to an ICC-HE Head End. The Web-based control
software can be accessed anywhere on a network, usually located adjacent to Head
End.
SignStream Media Player connected to the ICC-HE Head End via RS-232 (It’s usually
in the same rack as the Head End)
Custom software, running on an AMX, Crestron, or other control system, often
connected to an ICE-HE Ethernet Head End over a network.
Installation Process
In most systems, one group of installers will integrate the displays, then another tech
comes in after that to install and test Display Express software or a custom control system.
The following installation process will allow the first team to correctly install the displays and
verify the install long before the control software is integrated.
Step One – Pre-Plan Controller Network.
Display Controllers are identified on the RF network by unique addresses. There are 4,000
possible addresses, divided into 15 zones. All the controllers within the same zone respond
immediately to a single zone command. Some systems use a simple architecture, using the
same address for all controllers in the same zone. As control for specific controllers may be
needed in the future, it’s usually a good practice to assign each a unique address.
Zones
In most systems, try to arrange the addresses to fit into the natural Zones in the
network. This way, most commands affect all displays in each Zone with a single
command.
The new Display Express software, versions 4.3 and above, can also create free-form
Groups. This is useful for controlling a set of displays that don’t fit the normal Zone
structure.
Set up a spreadsheet that defines all the displays in the system, include the name,
location and network address. This becomes a “roadmap” for the team that installs
the displays.
From the Roadmap, go ahead and set the addresses and label the display controllers. This
simplifies the job for the team that installs the displays, and reduces system installation
errors.
Contemporary Research 2 iC-Net Tips – RF Design and Installation
Step Two – Install ICC Head End
The ICC-HE or ICE-HE Head End will receive the RS-232 or Telnet commands from the
software and translate them to a small RF channel that runs between channels 4 and 5. It
also sends out a test command every second. The display installers can use this “pulse”
feature to confirm that the controller is “on the network”.
A common error for first-time installers is to attach the main cable feed to the RF In on the
Head End and attach the other end of the feed into RF Out. Nope. The RF In is for special 2way control signals. You use an external combiner to mix the control channel with the other
channels.
The key step in this part is to insert the RF Out of the Head End into the RF cable system.
Generally, you’ll use a combiner or splitter to combine the control channel with the main RF
feed. To do so, you want the control channel set to about the same strength as the RF
system. The Head End broadcasts at 50 dB, and includes a couple filters to knock that down
when needed.
The best technique is to use an RF meter to measure the main feed’s level, then match the
output of the Head End. The blunt approach would be to combine the Head End, then look
at how it affects other channels. If the other channels are affected, drop in a 20 dB
attenuator.
In other sites, you’ll be mixing the output of the Head End with other sources into and RF
Combiner, then amplifying the total output to the main system. Again, all the sources need
to be combined at approximately the same RF level. The best way is to use an RF meter to
measure all the sources to match. Generally, digital channels are set about 6 dB less than
analog channels. Measure the control channel as an analog channel.
Typical outputs are
RF Modulator – 45-55 dBmV
Cable Feed – 15 dBmV
Head End – 50 dBmv
QMOD Modulator – 29 dBmV
Contemporary Research 3 iC-Net Tips – RF Design and Installation
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