Quantum Data 700A User Manual

700A Series

Portable Video
Test Generators

Quick Start Guide

Contents

Model 700A, 701A Video Test Generators

Quick Start Guide

Getting Started ........................................................................................................... 3

Computer Interfaces.................................................................................................... 4

User Interface ............................................................................................................. 5

Selecting Formats ....................................................................................................... 6

Selecting Images ........................................................................................................ 7

Gating Outputs ............................................................................................................ 7

Setting Power Save Preferences ................................................................................. 8

Calibrating Generator .................................................................................................. 9

Adjusting Horizontal Scan Frequency ........................................................................ 11

Detecting Formats Supported by a Monitor ............................................................... 12

Using Test Sequences ............................................................................................... 13

Using Generator with CS-1 Probe .............................................................................. 15

Testing HDCP Interfaces ........................................................................................... 15

Generating Psuedo Random Noise ............................................................................ 16

Using Video Generator Manager ................................................................................ 17

Creating Video Formats ............................................................................................. 18

Modifying Test Sequence .......................................................................................... 19

Pattern Descriptions .................................................................................................. 20

Updating Firmware .................................................................................................... 24

Specifications ........................................................................................................... 25

Service and Support Contacts .................................................................................. 26

2 Model 700A, 701A Quick Start Guide

Getting Started

Using AC Power

Use only the AC adaptor provided with the generator to avoid operator injury and damage to the
generator.

Using Battery Power

The generator uses six AA rechargeable nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, which can be re­charged about 1000 times.

You may use alkaline batteries instead, but not while the AC charger is connected to the generator.
Only NiMH batteries can be safely recharged in the generator.

All batteries in the generator must be the same type.

The supplied batteries may not come fully charged. Use the supplied AC charger to charge the
batteries for at least 18 hours. The AC adaptor may be used to operate the generator and to recharge
the batteries at the same time.

With fully charged batteries, the generator should operate for about 8 hours using VESA mode. Using
the LCD backlight, DVI, NTSC/PAL, or RF features will reduce the battery life. The generator displays a
low battery message when the NiMH batteries need recharging, or when the alkaline batteries need
to be replaced.

3

Computer Interfaces

RS-232 9-Pin D-Sub Plug

Pin Signal

1 No connection
2 Data in (Rx)
3 Data out (Tx)
4 DTR out
5 Ground
6 No connection
7 RTS out
8 CTS in

External DC Power /
Battery Recharge Input

Warning: Using an external power source other than the

Quantum Data supplied AC power supply may injure the
operator and damage the generator.

Center pin: +12.0 VDC
Outer sleeve: - (Ground)

Factory defaults

9600 baud
8 data bits
No parity
1 stop bit
X on - X off

Pinout same as for 9 pin PC-AT serial port connector

(Active on 701A only)

SDI/HD-SDI

DVI interface on 700A
outputs analog signals
only, using included
DVI-to-VGA adaptor.

4 Model 700A, 701A Quick Start Guide

User Interface

_ Item_ 1 ______Item_ 5*
_ Item_ 2 ______Item_ 6
_ Item_ 3 ______Item_ 7
_ Item_ 3 ______Item_ 8

Asterisk indicates active

menu item.

Item 1

Item 2

Item 3

Item 4

Item 5

Item 6

Item 7

Item 8

Buttons activate items in current

menu list. Use +/ buttons below

to scroll menu screens when
more than 8 items available.

LEARN MONITOR

Obtain EDID data from
unit under test via DDC
connection.

ON/OFF FORMAT IMAGE TEST

GATING

SIGNAL

TYPE

OPTIONS

LEARN

MONITOR

CHARGE

BACKLIGHT

+ / -

Page through
menu screens
when more
than 8 items
available

FORMAT

Menu of available video
formats (set-ups) of the
selected signal type.

ON/OFF

Toggle generator
power on and off

CHARGE

External power
source (charger)
connected when lit

IMAGE

Menu of available
test images.

TEST

Menu of available
testing modes.

BACKLIGHT

Toggle LCD backlight on
and off. Goes out 20
seconds after any button
press on batteries. Stays on
when using external power

OPTIONS

Menu of
generators
configuration
options.

SIGNAL TYPE

Menu for which
format types are
shown by FORMAT
button

GATING

Menu for gating video
and sync compontents
on and off

LCD Display

The LCD window displays messages and menu options.

Function Buttons

5

Selecting Formats

HD/SDI

Viewing Formats by Signal Type

Press the Signal Type button, and then select
a signal type, to list formats based on the
selected signal type.

VESA Red, green, blue component color

video per VESA standards. (DVI-to-VGA
adaptor used for outputs.)

NTSC/PAL Composite color baseband video

signal (BNC connector) and Separate Luminance and Chrominance video signals (S-Video
connector) or RGB component video per NTSC and PAL standards.

Names of formats using modulated RF output end with _Cnn, where nn is the NTSC-M or PAL-G

television channel used.

HDTV/SDTV-RGB Luminance plus color difference signals per HDTV standards

HDTV RGB RGB component color video signals per HDTV standards

HD/SDI Digital video signals (701A only)

USER User-defined formats, of any type, stored in non-volatile memory

Selecting Formats

Press the Format button to select from a list of video formats of the type selected from the Signal Type
menu.

Reloading Standard Formats

If you modify or delete standard formats, you can restore the original formats by reloading the
standard formats.

To reload the standard formats:

1. Select Options > Clr_Fmts to delete all formats, including user-created formats.

2. Select Options > Reload Fmts to restore the standard formats to their original memory locations.
The standard formats will replace any user-created formats in the original memory locations.
User-created formats in locations not previously occupied by a standard formats will not be
replaced.

6 Model 700A, 701A Quick Start Guide

Selecting Images

*CutOff________ _GrayBar

_Window Regulate
_Focus Checker
_ColorBar______ Dot_12

*RED__ GATING___ _ACS_
*GRN Format _ __ DCS_
*BLU__ Image _ ___ DSS*

_____ OUT*

Red Color
Component
ON/OFF

Green Color
Component
ON/OFF

Blue Color
Component
ON/OFF

ACS - Select Analog
Composite Sync
(Composite Video)

DCS - Select Digital
Composite Sync

DSS - Select Digital
Separate (H&V) Sync

OUT - All test signal
outputs ON/OFF

Current
format

Current
image

Selecting Images

Press the Image button to select from list of
available test images (patterns).

You cannot modify the images, or add your own
images.

Gating Outputs

Press the Gating button to gate outputs, and to switch sync types.

Note: Color gating works for all images except Ramp.

7

Setting Power Save Preferences

Hot Plug:In

Options Menu

Press the Options button to set system-level options.

Setting Power Save Preference

When the Power Save preference is on, and the generator is on battery power, the generator will turn
off after 30 minutes of no front panel activity.

If the generator is running a test sequence in Burn-in mode, the Power Save preference is ignored.

To set the Power Save preference, select Options > Pwr Save.

8 Model 700A, 701A Quick Start Guide

Calibrating

Model 700A and 701A generators use programmable hardware to set the amplitude calibration
factors for analog video outputs. These calibration factors are stored in Flash EPROM, and are not
lost if the batteries are run down or removed.

Quantum Data calibrates the analog video and sync output amplitudes in new generators to pub­lished specifications. You can recalibrate these amplitudes over a nominal range to meet your
specific testing conditions.

WARNING: Recalling the original factory calibration settings is not possible after saving
your own settings.

Equipment Needed for Calibration

• DC voltmeter capable of measuring from 0 to 1 volt with a minimum resolution of 2 millivolts

• Precision 75 ohm (+/- 1%) input terminator for the voltmeter

• Test cable to connect the voltmeter to the R, G, B and ground pins on the VGA connector

• Oscilloscope with a precision 75 ohm (+/- 1%) input impedance and suitable gain and band-

width to display a 1.00 Volt pk-pk signal with 3.579 MHz color carrier

• 75 ohm coaxial cable to connect the oscilloscope to the BNC TV output

• Vector scope

9