1. On the PCS-XG80, while Encryption is enabled, no memory stick recording is available.

2. The maximum resolution of the RGB input to the back of the XG80 is SXGA (1280 X 1024). The maximum resolution of the RGB input on the standard definition CODECs (PCS-1, PCS-G50, PCS-G70, etc) is XGA (1024 X 768).

3. The Digital Zoom of the PCSA-CXG80 camera of the XG80 and XG55 is defaulted to "on." To turn the Digital Zoom off, go into the camera menu and select "Off." This will limit the zoom to 10X optical.

4. The phone book of the XG80 and XG55 is a different file type than the standard definition CODECs (PCS-1, PCS-G50, PCS-G70, etc), and can not be interchanged.

5. The AUX Audio In on the XG80 and XG55 DOES run through the CODEC's internal echo canceller. On the Standard Definition CODECs (PCS-1, PCS-G50, PCS-G70, etc.), it does not.

1.       The serial port on the back of the XG80 is for the connection of RS232 control devices, like an AMX or Crestron panel.  The one on the front, is for diagnostic interface only.  The drivers for the two are different and not interchangeable.  

2.      Currently, the USB ports on the back of the XG80 are non-functional.  Even though they have power to them, there are no drivers to perform any function.  Always use the USB port on the front of the XG80/XG55 when you are loading the upgrade for Presentation (PCSA-DSG80) or Multipoint software (PCSA-MCG80—only for the XG80).   

3.      The maximum number of PCSA-A7P4 microphones that can be daisy chained together is 80.

4.      On the XG80, “Reject answer” (which stops the unit from going in to Multipoint mode if in a call and another call rings in) is available in two menus – 1.  in the “Answer” menu in Tools/Setup and 2. during the call, by hitting the “Tools” button, this option can be switched on the fly.  

5.      White balance for the EVI-HD1 camera can be adjusted in the Camera menu.  Select “Details” and choose one of four options:  Auto, Outdoor, Indoor and One Push.  One push will bring the white balance either one setting cooler or warmer with a press of the corresponding arrow button on the remote.  

1. When the XG80 or XG55 is not in a call, if you want to see the camera image full screen (with no menus), press the Layout button on the remote.  You will then also be able to move adjust the camera, set presets, etc.

2. There are several ways to set a camera one-touch preset (1-6 on the remote).  A really quick way to do it is to press the Layout button as described in the previous tip, move the camera to the desired view with the arrows and zoom buttons on the remote, then hold down the number you want to store the preset to (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6) until the system makes a tone, then an onscreen indicator will appear showing you that the preset has been successfully saved.

3. When you are attempting Sync an RF remote to the XG80 or XG55, you must be within 20 centimeters of the CODEC and attempt the procedure within 3 minutes of boot up.  The procedure to sync the remote consists of the following steps: 1. power off the unit (fully off, not standby)  2. press the power button  3.  wait for the unit to come on and the green light to be steady  4. count to ten, then hold the remote within 20 cm of the codec and press the Return and Tools buttons on the remote simultaneously  5.  the red light on the remote will begin flashing rapidly, once this happens pres the Enter  button on the remote.  6.  The remote is now paired with that codec.

4. When two multipoint calls are connected by joining the two multipoint host units, it is called Cascading.  When cascading, the only available option for the multipoint call is Voice-activated Switching, where the active speaker is shown full screen to all the participants.

5. A good rule of thumb for recording on a memory stick is 1 Gigabyte of memory stick space for every hour of recording.

1.  On all Phonebook entries, including the F1 speed dials on the main screen, a picture can be added to help identify the number. To use a screen captured image of the location, you MUST have a memory stick inserted in the front slot.   Once you are connected to that location through a video call, hit the tools button and then select “screen capture”. Whichever image is on the main screen (from the far site) will be placed captured onto the memory stick.  Once the call is disconnected, select that location in the phone book (or the F1 speed dial location) and select “Edit”. Select the image in the upper right hand corner and toggle to the right until you see the image you took.  Then select “Save”. That image will be placed on that location’s entry EVEN IF YOU REMOVE THE STICK.

2.       Images can also be recorded to distinguish the locations of the preset sites of the camera (such as close up, wide angle, white board in the background, etc.) -- these DO NOT require a memory stick to be inserted.  Simply select the camera menu from the main menu, toggle to “presets”, select the preset you are working on, and then select “edit”.  If necessary, select “adjustments” to set a different camera angle.  Once you are satisfied with the angle and image the camera is giving you, before saving it, select the box that says: “Register in thumbnail list”   Now, whenever you choose camera, and presets, you will see that image on the preset number.

3.       The home menu is completely customizable.  Go to “Tools”, then  “Setup”, then hit F4 to expand the menu and page down to Home Menus 1, 2 and 3.  You can make the main screen as busy and complicated, (turning on every indicator) or as simple as you like.  You can have direct dial, tools menu, everything up on the main screen if you choose.   IN ADDITION, the translucency of the menu can be adjusted by in the 72 command, the options are 1%-99%, with 86% as the default.  If you want the menus to be more or less translucent to see varying degrees of the image behind them, this can be adjusted.  Just let me know and I can pass on the commands (888-807-7473).

4.       There are shortcuts available from the remote control.  I.e, you wouldn’t have to go into the menu to perform certain functions.  For example, during a call, if you press the green connect button twice, it will bring up the Speed-dial (F) buttons.   Attached is a list of shortcuts for the XG80.

5.       Prior to a call, if you want to see the camera image full screen, just press the Layout

This month’s tips are explanations of extraneous settings in the menu that you might run in to but not know what they mean.

 

1.        Auto Restore – Admin menu number 7. If this is turned on, whenever the XG80 receives power, it will boot and go to the main menu.  With this setting off, when you plug the XG80 in, it will not boot up until you press the switch on front of the CODEC.

2.       Display Indicator – General menu number 3. If this is turned on, you will see the “packet loss” indicator and other error messages.  You will also see the “Far” indicator when you have far end camera control.  If this is turned off, you will not see either of those indicators, as well as some other errors.

3.       NTP – General menu number 2. This directs the XG80 to go out to the internet and get the correct time, the same as your PC does.  You have to put at least one internet (URL) address in for this to work and but will not get error messages if the address is incorrect.  One I use (there are several available on the internet) is:

NORTH-AMERICA.POOL.NTP.ORG

Make sure you have the correct time zone entered in directly below that menu.

4.       Communication menu number 5. The “Restrict” menu deals with making an ISDN connection, the choices are “auto” or “56k”.   In the US, most of Canada and some other countries, ISDN channels are 64K each, in Mexico, Europe and some countries in South America the ISDN channels are 56K each.  (NOTE:  There ARE exceptions to this everywhere, it is totally dependent on the telephone company supplying the ISDN and half the time THEY don’t even know the difference.  Last week, I troubleshot an ISDN issue in the US that turned out to be a 56K circuit, even though the phone company swore up and down it was 64.  Point to be taken:  Even if it is in the US, or Europe, or other areas, don’t assume the above rule is always correct).   The default setting is auto, which should sense if the circuit is 64 or 56K, but, especially with older circuits, it doesn’t always work.  If you are having trouble connecting on ISDN, try changing the setting to 56K and see what happens.  This is also known as a “Switched” setting.

5.       Answer menu – ISDN MSN stands for “Multi-Subscriber Number” and is a very old method of ISDN communications, kind of like a party-line for videoconferencing.  Supposedly, the standard has not been used in the US since about 1995 but it does occasionally pop up in Europe.  If your customer can not receive an incoming ISDN call, try turning this setting on, (especially if there is a connection to Europe).

Here are my weekly (or whenever I feel like it) random-general tips.

 

1.        The Wacom tablet will only work on XG80/XG55 to XG80/XG55, not to ANYTHING else - no other manufacturers, no other Sony systems.

2.        When you are finished recording a session, use the menu to stop the recording,  MAKING SURE you wait for the light underneath the memory stick slot to stop blinking BEFORE you remove the stick; (only takes about 5 seconds).

3.      Recording capabilities: The PCS-1, and the TL- series can only record a still image to the memory stick.  The G50 and G70 can record audio and video, but no H.239.  The XG80 and XG55 can record audio, video and H.239.

4.       The reason the XG80/XG55 takes so long to boot up is because it is in a “green” mode, i.e  it is using practically NO power in sleep mode so has to boot up from practically power-off condition.

5.       The XG80 is the only Sony system officially certified as “SIP” capable, and only to either the NEC or the ASTERIX server.

Paul’s Bi-weekly (or whenever I feel like it) 5  tips for Sony Videoconferencing.   I will randomly throw out pieces of information about the Sony videoconferencing products, some may have come up from calls this week, or they may be off the top of my head.  Anybody has any questions please feel free to let me know.

 

1.        The camera signal from the CXG80 camera (EVI-HD1) to the CODEC is COMPONENT: Red, Green and Blue.  On all standard def systems, the camera signal from the EVID-100 is luminance/chrominance  (S-video).

2.       The max data resolution the XG80/XG55 (high definition systems) will accept is SXGA, 1280 X 1024.  The max on all the SD systems is XGA, 1024 X 768.

3.       The USB slots on the XG80 can NOT support a mouse to go through the menu. The reason is there are no drivers loaded, or capability of loading drivers up on the CODEC.  The only drivers present are for the Wacom pen tablet.

4.       There are TWO types of “RGB”  (Red Green Blue).  VIDEO RGB is otherwise known as COMPONENT, and is connected by three RCA-type connectors, (colored Red, Green and Blue).  DATA RGB is your standard computer-monitor connector, otherwise known as 15 pin (or sometimes, errantly, VGA, this is not technically correct but people refer to VGA like they refer Xerox to copy machines).  This is explained below.

RGB – When computers first came out, they had a resolution referred to as CGA, Centered Graphics Array, and (I think) the resolution was 288 X 166.  They quickly advanced to EGA, then VGA, then SVGA (super VGA), then XGA, SXGA (super XGA), UXGA, (Ultra XGA) WXGA so on and so forth.   When monitors first really started being popular, the standard was VGA, so everyone referred to it as a VGA cable.  Some people still do, although the actual resolution might be much higher, like SXGA.   Just verify when someone says “RGB” whether they are referring to the VIDEO- COMPONENT Red Green Blue, with the three colored RCA connectors, or the DATA – 15 Pin (VGA standard computer monitor cable).

 

5.       The G70 is the only CODEC to offer a tracking camera.  It is also the only one to offer 9 monitors out, 1 S-video for each of the five external multi-point sites, 1 RGB for presentation, 2 S-videos for near and far end, and 1 composite, for far end.

 

 

 

 

Remember!  Those that live in Glass houses grow no moss.