High Resolution VGA and Macintosh

®

Computer-to-Video Scan Converter

USER’S MANUAL

WORLD HEADQUARTERS

55 Cabot Court

Hauppauge, NY 11788 USA

TEL: (631) 273-0404 FAX:(631) 273-1638

WWW: http://www.commspecial.com

EMAIL: info@commspecial.com

Communications Specialties, Pte Ltd

100 Beach Road

#22-09 Shaw Tower

Singapore 189702

TEL: +65 6391 8790

FAX: +65 6396 0138

EMAIL: csiasia@commspecial.com

Copyright



1999

P/N 120556 Rev. E

Scan Do Select

User’s Manual



CONTENTS

Certification Information .................................................................... 3

Introduction ........................................................................................ 5

Installation .......................................................................................... 6

Operation ............................................................................................ 8

Tips for Improving Your Converted Computer Images ................... 11

Troubleshooting ................................................................................ 13

Accessories ....................................................................................... 14

Rear Connector Pin-outs .................................................................. 15

Statement of Warranty ...................................................................... 16

INCLUDED WITH THIS PRODUCT

YOU SHOULD HAVE:

1 -

Scan Do

®

Select

Computer-to-Video Scan Converter

1 - AC power line cord

1 - 6 foot Computer input cable for VGA and Macintosh

1 - 12 foot composite video output cable

1 - 12 foot S-Video output cable

1 - User’s Manual

1 - Product Registration card

AVAILABLE OPTIONAL

ACCESSORIES

• RF Modulator for North America channels 3 and 4

• AC line cords for North America, Japan, UK, Europe or Australia

• Rack mounting kits

Scan Do

is a registered trademark of Communications Specialties, Inc.

Macintosh

and

Mac

are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.

Scan Do Select

User’s Manual

Page 1



CERTIFICATION

FCC STATEMENT:

WARNING:

This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio

frequency energy and if not installed and used in accordance with the

instruction manual, may cause interference to radio communications. It

has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A

computing device pursuant to Subpart B of Part 15 of FCC Rules, which

are designed to provide reasonable protection against such interference

when operated in a commercial environment. Operation of this equip-

ment in a residential area is likely to cause interference in which case the

user, at his own expense, will be required to take whatever measures may

be required to correct the interference.

This product carries the UL and CUL marks for ITE equipment,

File # E173243, Project 99ME42861

UL INFORMATION:

CE INFORMATION:

Standards to which conformity is declared:

EMC

EN 55022: 1994, CISPR 22: 1993, Class A Limit

EN 50082-1: 1992

IEC 801-2: 1991

IEC 801-3: 1984

IEC 801-4: 1988

WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRONIC SHOCK, DO NOT

EXPOSE. THIS APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.

CAUTION:

CAUTION

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

DO NOT OPEN

TO REDUCE THE RISK OF

ELECTRONIC SHOCK, DO

NOT REMOVE COVER. NO

USER SERVICEABLE PARTS

INSIDE. REFER SERVICING

TO QUALIFIED SERVICE

PERSONNEL.

This symbol warns the user of

uninsulated voltage within the unit that

can cause dangerous electronic shocks.

This symbol alerts the user that

there are important operating and

maintenance instructions in the lit-

erature accompanying this unit.

Scan Do Select

User’s Manual

Page 3



INTRODUCTION

Communications Specialties, Inc.

55 Cabot Court

Hauppauge, NY 11788 USA

TEL: (631) 273-0404

FAX: (631) 273-1638

WWW: http://www.commspecial.com

EMAIL: info@commspecial.com

Singapore Office

180B Bencoolen Street

#05-01 The Bencoolen

Singapore 189648

TEL: +65 6837 8790

FAX: +65 6333 0501

WWW: http://www.commspecial.com

EMAIL: csiasia@commspecial.com

T

hank you for purchasing

Scan Do Select,

the amazingly affordable,

high-performance, computer-to-video scan converter. With

Scan Do Select, you now have the ability to convert your high-

resolution computer video signal into a form suitable for recording on

a VCR, displaying on a conventional TV or video monitor, or integrating

into a multimedia production system.Scan Do Select does not require

any special software and operates completely externally from your

computer.

We advise that you read the section entitled

Tips for Improving Your

Converted Computer Images

later in this manual. It provides some useful

suggestions for obtaining the best possible image from your Scan Do

Select. It also explains what you should expect, in terms of image quality,

when your computer images are recorded on a VCR or displayed on a

conventional video monitor or TV.

Like all the products from Communications Specialties,

Scan Do Select comes with our continuing commitment to provide

support. In order to assist us in this process, please be sure to mail in your

product registration card. This will make it easier for us to notify you

with any new product announcements or other information concerning

our product line. Should you need to contact us for support, our office

is open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time.

We also offer a comprehensive web site for your added convenience.

Thank you for choosing Scan Do Select. As always, we welcome your

comments and suggestions.

Scan Do Select

User’s Manual

Page 5



INSTALLATION

INSTALLATION STEPS:

1.

2.

Disconnect your monitor from the monitor port on your PC.

Using the reversible 6-foot input cable provided with Scan Do Select,

connect one end to the monitor port on your computer and the other to the

connector on the rear panel of Scan Do Select marked either

VGA In

or

Mac In.

Connect your monitor, if you have one, to the Scan Do Select connector

labeled

VGA Out

or

Mac Out.

Use the cable that is attached to your

monitor for this purpose.

Connect the AC line cord provided with Scan Do Select to the connector

labeled

Power.

Plug the AC line cord to the wall outlet to provide power.

Connect Scan Do Select’s Video or S-Video output to your video

equipment. If desired, you may use both outputs simultaneously. (Refer

to the next section.)

Complete the installation by turning your computer on, if it is not on

already. The front panel green LED labeled

Input

should illuminate,

indicating the unit is receiving a valid signal from the computer.

3.

4.

5.

6.

AVAILABLE OUTPUTS:

Composite:

This is a single composite video signal and is compatible

with the “video” input on consumer TVs, monitors and VCRs as well as

on all professional video equipment. It cannot be connected to the

“antenna” input.

S-Video:

This is an advanced form of video where the brightness and

color parts of the image are actually on two separate signals. This signal

is sometimes called S-VHS, S-Video or Y/C. It is also compatible with

Hi-8 and the Beta-ED standards. Using this output will result in a better

quality picture than using the

video

output.

Both outputs are available for use at the same time. Unused outputs do

not have to be terminated if they are not being used.

SYNC TYPES SUPPORTED:

Scan Do Select will automatically lock to any one of three different sync

types: separate H & V; composite sync; and sync-on-green.

Page 6

Scan Do Select

User’s Manual



VIDEO STANDARD

SELECTION:

NTSC/PAL:

This switch selects the video timing standard to be used for

the

Video

and

S-Video

outputs. NTSC is the standard for the USA,

Canada, Mexico, Japan and parts of South America. PAL is used

throughout most of Europe, the Middle East, Southern Asia and the

Pacific Rim.

REMOTE CONTROL:

Scan Do Select provides for a hard-wired RS-232 remote control

connection using a 3-pin Phoenix-type connector on the rear panel. The

baud rate is 9600 baud, no parity, 1 start bit, 1 stop bit. The pin out is as

follows:

1 - Ground

2 - Receive Data

3 - Transmit Data

1

2

3

Please contact the sales department at Communications Specialties or our

web site at www.commspecial.com for detailed specifications on the

command structure for this remote control port.

Scan Do Select

User’s Manual

Page 7



OPERATION

can Do Select not only offers high performance and reliability, but

also provides an extremely easy, intuitive user interface. How-

ever, in order to fully understand how Scan Do Select operates and

to take advantage of all of its features, we suggest that you read this

section in its entirety. If, after becoming familiar with the unit’s operation

and features, you still have questions and need to contact us, please refer

to Page 3 for our phone, fax, email and web address.

S

DIAGNOSTIC LEDS:

Power:

This indicator tells when power is present and

Scan Do Select is ON. If this light is glowing dim or not at all, it is an

indication that something might be wrong with the internal power

supply.

Input:

This indicator tells when a valid computer signal is present at the

VGA In

or

Mac In

connector on the rear panel.

VGA AND MAC RESOLUTIONS

SUPPORTED:

Scan Do Select will support any resolution having a horizontal sync

frequency within the range of 31-71 kHz. Generally, this will include

PCs up to 1280 x 1024 at 60 Hz. Interlaced resolutions are not supported.

HOW TO ACTIVATE

TEST SIGNALS:

Test:

This button will force Scan Do Select to generate a test signal on

its

composite

and

S-Video

outputs. Press the button once and the unit will

generate color bars. Press it again to turn off the test signal generator. The

green LED on the

Test

button indicates when the test pattern generator

is in operation.

From time to time, your Scan Do Select may output color bars even

though you have not pushed the

Test

key on the front panel. If your unit

is generating color bars but the LED on the

Test

key is not illuminated,

there is either no input signal from the computer or the input signal from

the computer is not in a resolution or mode supported by Scan Do Select.

COLOR BARS WHEN TEST IS

NOT ACTIVATED:

Page 8

Scan Do Select

User’s Manual



SIZING THE IMAGE:

Zoom:

The zoom feature performs two important functions. First of all,

it provides an “underscan” function, which shrinks the image display

both horizontally and vertically by 15%. This ensures that no edges of

your image are lost beyond the borders of your screen when converted to

a TV video format. (TV pictures are designed to “bleed” off the screen,

while images on computer monitors typically have visible borders.)

Secondly, the zoom feature provides three settings which enlarge your

image display while also enhancing its resolution. By repeatedly pressing

the zoom button, you can cycle through the following different image

sizes:

Zoom Ratio

85%

100%

130%

160%

200%*

Indicator LED

ON

OFF

ON

ON

ON

*The

200% zoom ratio may not be available at the

highest input frequency.

Zoom Shortcut Keys:

In addition to cycling through the various zoom

ratios, Scan Do Select also provides the option to go directly to three of

the zoom settings using the following key combinations. Both keys must

be pushed simultaneously to access this feature.

Zoom Ratio

Key Combination

85% (lowest zoom; "underscan mode")

ZOOM &

↓

100% (standard "overscan mode")

ZOOM &

→

200% (highest zoom mode)

ZOOM &

↑

REDUCING FLICKER IN

THE IMAGE:

Anti-Flicker:

This button will activate one of four levels of flicker

reduction. To turn on the flicker filter, push the

Anti-Flicker

button once.

This activates level one of the filter. The green LED should illuminate,

indicating that this feature is now active.

Press the button repeatedly to cycle through levels two, three and four

of the flicker filter. The green light will remain lit for all four stages.

Pushing the button a fifth time will turn off the flicker filter and

extinguish the green LED.

Try the different settings for this button to see which gives the best

results for the application you are viewing. You’ll discover that depending

on the type of image, different settings provide the maximum benefit.

Scan Do Select

User’s Manual

Page 9



FREEZING THE IMAGE ON

YOUR VIDEO SCREEN:

Freeze:

Scan Do Select gives you the ability to freeze or stop the image

on your video screen without halting your computer application. When

you push the

Freeze

button, the

video

and

S-Video

images output by

Scan Do Select will freeze and the green LED will illuminate. (The loop-

through support to your local computer monitor will remain active.)

Press the button again to deactivate the freeze feature and extinguish the

LED.

While in the freeze mode, all keypad functions are still active. How-

ever, you will not see the effects from using any other features, such as

Zoom,

until the

Freeze

mode is turned off.

POSITIONING THE

IMAGE ON THE

SCREEN:

Cursor Keys (Arrows):

As TV monitors and video projectors may not

always display the image in the center of the screen, you may use the four

“arrow” buttons on the front of Scan Do Select to position the image up,

down, left and right. The image will move one increment each time you

push the button. If you continue to push down any of the arrow buttons,

the image will begin to move continuously, first slowly and then more

quickly.

Positioning Shortcut Keys:

Pushing the following key combinations

simultaneously will immediately position your image as follows:

IMAGE POSITION

Center image vertically

Center image horizonatally

Upper left corner

Upper right corner

Lower left corner

Lower right corner

KEY COMBINATION

↑

and

↓

←

and

→

↑

and

←

↑

and

→

↓

and

←

↓

and

→

These key combinations will work with all zoom settings.

RETURNING TO FACTORY

DEFAULT SETTINGS:

Reset:

You may quickly return all Scan Do Select functions to their

factory default settings by simultaneously pressing the

Test

and

←

keys.

Lock/Unlock:

The key panel may be locked or unlocked by simulta-

neously pressing the following key combinations:

LOCK:

UNLOCK:

TEST AND

↑

TEST AND

↓

LOCKING THE KEY PANEL:

Page 10

Scan Do Select

User’s Manual



TIPS FOR IMPROVING YOUR

CONVERTED COMPUTER IMAGES

t has been our experience, at CSI, that customers are sometimes

surprised that computer images converted to video do not look as

sharp and vivid as the original computer image does. Unfortunately,

this result is inevitable regardless of the scan converter you use, for the

technology behind TV video is far inferior to that behind newer computer

video standards. This is not to say that the quality of scan converter you

use doesn’t matter, but even the very best scan converter will not provide

output that matches the quality of your original computer picture.

Scan converters, like Scan Do Select, were created to bridge the

differences between the relatively new standards of computer video and

the 40-year old standards of conventional TV video. When using a scan

converter, there are several things you can do to get the best possible

results from the conversion process. These involve understanding the

limitations of standard TV video and creating images that “work around”

these shortcomings. The following tips apply whether you are displaying

your scan converter output directly on a monitor or recording it onto

videotape. While you should have realistic expectations regarding the

type of image you will be able to obtain, taking the following steps will

definitely improve your results:

I

KNOW WHAT YOUR CONVERTED

IMAGE WILL LOOK LIKE:

First of all, when

creating

any computer presentation that you ulti-

mately plan to display in video format, it is always a good idea to hook

up a Scan Do Select and view the output on a TV monitor during the

creation process. While this may require a little bit of extra set-up time,

it has the potential to save you far more time and aggrevation later on by

avoiding the need to correct any unwanted “surprises” in your finished

work.

USE BLACK AND WHITE:

In the world of standard TV video, shades of gray are processed

differently than colors. In fact, TVs and VCRs process black, white and

all grays in between with a minimum of distortion. Use this to your

advantage in the design process by substituting gray in place of color

whenever appropriate.

AVOID INTENSE COLORS:

Along the same lines, fully saturated colors (like bright red and green)

look terrible on a TV monitor. And, recording these colors to videotape

makes them look even worse. Whenever possible, try to use slightly

muted colors instead.

Scan Do Select

User’s Manual

Page 11