Simplex® 4100U Fire Alarm Control Panel

Simplex® 4100U Fire Alarm Control Panel was a very sucsefull fire panel. We have many installations that still go strong after many years. In a recent maintenance check we discovered on site a "dead" PC that run the 4100U Programmer Softwere, making any core changes nearly impossible. We had to install Windows® 98 and the above software to a new computer. The programmer for the 4100U panel is a Windows based application with graphical interface that enables the user to build a specific site configuration and download the configuration image into the 4100U panel via the PC serial port. The installation process creates a directory named after the Programmer's version (e.g. Version 12.05.02) under "C:\Program Files\Simplex\4100U Programmer" directory. It is essential to use the 4100U Programmer version that matches the Panel Master Exec version.

The programmer operation is controlled by a Programming Key (Dongle) that must be attached to the parallel port to enable programming access. USB dongles take up to 1 minute to be recognized by the software, so don‟t expect it to be immediately ready when first plugged in. If you do not have it in your posetion an error message will redirect you to Simplex Service Support.

To launch the programmer click Start > All Programs > Simplex > the appropriate version number > 4100U Programmer and follow the steps to create a new system configuration.

Solid State Time Relay

Where  isolation, switching, logic functions, time delay functions and frequent on/off cycles are required along with time control a solid state relay (SSR) can be used. They are activated by a variety of AC/DC control signals from PLCs, PCs, TTLs or other microprocessor and microcontroller controls.  Absence of moving components, increase long-term reliability. They hardly wear out and there is no contact bounce due to vibration.

In a recent application we hade the chanse to use Omrons H3DS-ML. With some quite impressive specifications like 8 operating time modes, huge time range (0,1ms to 150h), high mechanical and electrical life expectancy, wide operating voltage range and DIN Track mounting (standard 17.5-mm width) is the perfect relay for the job. Low commercial price is also a plus. It's a great piece of equipment.

Multitrack Recording

Audio from conferences, meetings, presentations, lectures, training rooms, court houses, and other various venues and events have to be recorded so that after the live event is over a high quality multi channel audio record is kept. You will need to provide different audio file formats and mixes for ftp upload, web broadcasts and transcription purposes. You will also need to distribute various copies to participants, stenographers, reporters, correspondents and broadcast news analysts. You will even need to provide legal evidence.

One of our latest attempts was to provide a multitrack recording solution for a large conference venue. We used Adobe's DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) software Audition CS5.5, Michael Tippach's ASIO4ALL driver and multiple ZOOM R-16 recorder interface controllers.


The Software

Using Audition CS5.5 you can record, mix, edit, and master your audio with a powerful cross-platform audio toolset. Sessions can be saved in XML format. With Real-time input monitoring you can listen selected audio inputs as you record, including effects applied to the input track. You can record, edit, and mix any number of tracks and you can sort files in the by common metadata fields such as name, media type, sample rate, and more. The powerful mixer panel proviceds flexible mixdown options and a convenient way to mix down your entire session, selected clips only, or a specified range. The only drawback is the lack of control surface support like "Mackie Control". ZOOM R-16 suports major DAW applications such as Cubase, Logic, and Sonar. Unfortunatly Adobe does not support it wet.

The Driver

ASIO (Audio Stream Input/Output) is a computer sound card driver protocol for digital audio specified by Steinberg, providing a low-latency and high fidelity interface between a software application and a computer's sound card. ASIO bypasses the normal audio path from a user application so that it connects directly to the sound card hardware. It offers access to multiple audio inputs and outputs independently. Bypassing the inherently high latency, poor-quality mixing and sample rate conversion of Windows audio mixing kernels like KMixer & WASAPI, allowes direct, high speed communication with audio hardware. Bit perfect and 24-bit sample support offer higher audio fidelity and signal-to-noise ratio. Michael Tippach and his custom made ASIO driver, enables Audition DAW software to use multiple R-16's. ASIO4ALL is a universal ASIO Driver for WDM (Universal Audio Architecture) Audio.

The Recorder

ZOOM R-16 is an ideal solution that provides flexible multitracking, onboard effects, SDHC storage, easy file transfer over USB, DAW intergration using standard Mackie Control architecture and it is also portable so that it can be used for small meetings and fit in tight spaces.

Configuration of BOSCH Recording Station Web Server in Win7

One of the key benefits of Bosch Recording Station, are the flexible network access options including WAN support and unlimited remote receiver stations. By installing BRS’s web server you can connect to any recording station, view live or recorded videos and control PTZ cameras. To install BRS Web Server in Win7 follow the next steps.

Turn on feature Internet Information Services (IIS)

• Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features > Turn Windows features on or off 
• In Windows Features select the following features: 
• IIS Management Console (under Internet Information Services > Web Management Tools) 
• ASP.NET (under Internet Information Services > World Wide Web Services > Application Development Features) 
• Static Content (under Internet Information Services > World Wide Web Services > Common HTTP Features) 

Configure Default Web Site in IIS

• Control Panel > System and Security > Administrative Tools > Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager > Computer name (local computer) > Sites > Default Web Site > under Edit Site, click Basic Settings... 
• Click Select…. 
• In the Application pool box, select Classic .NET AppPool > OK 
• Under Physical path:, click …. 
• Select C:\Program Files\Bosch\Recording Station\Web\aspx > OK 
• The path is displayed in the Physical path box. 
• Click OK and close IIS Manager.

For other operating systems you can follow the steps from the Installation Guide.

LANTRONIX UDS2100 Ethernet to serial port interfacing to BOSCH DCN-NG

The LANTRONIX UDS2100 is an intelligent Dual Serial-to-Ethernet device server that enables any device or machine with a serial port to become network and Internet-enabled within minutes. Using a method called Serial Tunneling you can manage your equipment from virtually anywhere over a network or the Internet. The UDS2100 device server has an integrated web server, allowing any device to which it is attached to be "contacted" and monitored via a standard Internet browser. TCP/IP is embedded into the UDS2100, enabling it to operate within non-PC environments. The Modem Emulation Mode allows it to behave like a modem but communicate over TCP/IP. The UDS2100 is a product which can be integrated into a system with minimal set-up. The configuration utility allows quick and easy customization to suit any network or serial device. Virtual Comm Port drivers are provided to allow a UDS2100-connected device to communicate with existing software over TCP/IP.

This video shows how to configure the Lantronics© UDS2100 Ethernet to serial port converter, allowing long-distance connectivity from any PC to Bosch conference equipment.

Install and start the Lantronix device installer, it will search automatically at first time use.

• Select the UDS2100 from the list.

• Select "assign IP" and enter the dessired IP address.

• Open the same address in IE.

• Select "channel 1 > serial settings"

• Set speed to 115.200 for DCN-CCU.

• Select "apply settings" to reboot the unit.

Install the Lantronics COM port redirector.

• Start the Lantronics CPR manager from the start menu

• Press add\remove and add 1 or 2 new COM ports.

• Select the first available COM port.

• Type the IP address into service slot 1, repeat for Com (n+1) and press "save".

• Bosch LBB4190 software, DDTK tool and open-interface tool packages are limited to COM 1 to 4.

Open windows device manager:

• Start > control panel > system > hardware > device manager

• Select "Ports" then "Lantronics CPR port (COM#)" then doubleclick.

• Select "port settings" then "advanced" then "COM port number".

• Change COM port to COM 1, 2, 3 or 4. Accept when asked to overwrite.

• Close all windows.

Analog Video Processing and Enhancement

While digital video is the way to go today, analog video still has a strong place in the market. The signals high vulnerability along with the limited life span of its storage media, renders it technologically obsolete. Nevertheless a CCTV technician should still be able to cope with analog installation issues and problems. This week we had a chance to play around with various analog video enhancement devices. They can easily be inserted in the video chain line providing a minimum to excessive image manipulation, depending on sources quality and desired result. Here is a brief description of the equipment we used.

MoniVis - Visibility Enhancer by Monitron International

Boots in a choise of 525 or 625 TVL. Removes shading and lens flare giving a flatter, more even image. Brightnes, contrast, equalization controls. Blue haze, lens vignetting, white overload removal. Marker insertion for brightness, contrast and monitor linearity. Bypass switch. Designed to enhance visibility in fog, dust, lowlight, snow, smoke, subsea, etc.

Sony - XV-3000GA Video Enhancer

Two individual audio video inputs and outputs on RCA. Phase correction, sharpness enhancement and noise clipping. Bypass switch. Designed to restore signals phase shifts over long cable runs and remove any noise insertion.

Creator SC-190 Video Scaler

Signal converter and scaler, compatible with NTSC 3.58, NTSC 4.43, PAL and SECAM video. One S-Video input and one composite on RCA connector. One channel of VGA/SVGA/XGA output on RGBHV female BNCs and a parallel VGA output for simultaneous monitor viewing. Effectively transfers input video signals to output VGA signals without any interferences from the transferring signals. Various scaling options for better results.

Upgrading from Divar MR to Divar XF

Upgrading a Divar MR digital video recorder to a Divar XF can sometimes be tricky. In some installations you may find yourself trying to install a Divar XF and get no monitor output from the two VGA connectors. Keep in mind that Divar MR's RGB output is SVGA (800×600) while Divar XF has a SXGA (1280×1024) output. So your preinstalled monitor has to be compatible enough to run the above mentioned resolution.