Kestra Video Multiplexer KVM24 Machine Vision Info Needed

Did you just happen to buy this one?

Quite an impressive box; too bad the seller didn't have a power supply. I imagine that you asked about it and potential documentation.

I recently got some Maxim video crossbar IC samples and began building a

From your description, the PSU inputs drive rectifiers; how about a variac driving a low voltage transformer while monitoring the three-terminal devices downstream - crank it up until the rails stabilize? Then it would be useful to check voltages on the camera connectors and compare that to known power pins on the Sony versions. Once powered you can empirically deduce the signals in the camera connectors. Tracking down a real manual is quite unlikely in this day and age; in my experience it was a lot easier to do when companies had longer lives, support was a decades-long commitment and documentation lived in reference libraries rather than dumpsters.

On another subject, do you perchance have any documentation for a Sigma Electronics TSG-440 sync generator/tsg? I have not yet requested a manual (service) from the successor Sigma Technology and they have no mention of the device on their website. For the moment, I am curious about the signals on the rear panel BNCs labeled SC SY BL and OPT; I had assumed that SY and SC were Y/C outputs but observing these signals suggests otherwise.

Michael

Yep, that Kestra box in the auction is the one I'm attempting to decipher. Several aspects seem weird about it, although they probably aren't big hurdles. The 3 power supplies seems goofy.

I was looking for some genlock, time code and other similar generators recently, and saw some Sigma units in auctions, but I didn't really get too enthused about them, since they looked old and required 120VAC. I don't have any support documentation for Sigma gear.

I dunno if it applies to the unit you have, but SC on some broadcast equipment refers to subcarrier/subcarrier phase and/or subcarrier phase adjust. Ahh.. a search for Sigma+TSG+440 brought up a link to the Broadcast Store/BCS, and this site often has some in-depth info about equipment, so I clicked the Additional Model Brochure Information link, and there was this:

I've been to the BCS site often, it's a good resource. If that Sigma unit was a thrift store find, I'll have to stop by the local ones to see what I've been missing.

I've bought some Horita generators, and they are very versatile, really compact little boxes.

I've gotten several of these for about $10 each, on eBay and a local hamfest, although they sell new in the $300-500 range. The manuals weren't included for the generators (and Horita doesn't have them online), but they can be figured out by going thru the different switch positions, and making some notes. What ya might call unbeatable value, as they are multi-purpose, reconfigurable and multiple-output units. They operate on 9VDC, so they're portable for field use. I'm not certain that I'll need these generators, but since some of the recent video equipment acquisitions have had more capabilities, I thought I'd get some of these other devices in the event that I will need them.

I know exactly what you mean about finding useful documentation for electronic gear, as I've had this sickness for a very long time. An advanced degree in electronic engineering (and a library of data books) would be time better spent, rather than having so much potentially good stuff turn into extensive research projects.

Fortunately, there are often very helpful people in newsgroups, and sometimes luck is involved in finding some other enthusiasts' websites showing more info than one might've expected to find (not so often, though).

-- Cheers, WB .............

Not really. There are lot of wideband op amps used in video equipment that require a split rail to allow the video to hit zero volts at the sync tips. and a +5 or +3.3 volt rail to power the control logic is neccesary, to isolate the noise on the rail from the video. There may be LDO regulators or for each camera, which would be why you can't find anything on the 12 pin conectors. On the other hand, the cameras it was made for may be line powered, or have other power requirements provided by individual CCUs. It looks like you not only need a manual but possibly software, or other equipment to use this item. On the other hand, the maxim data sheets & application notes are good enough to reverse engineer from.