RS232 Sabre Plus Controller
User Manual
Preface
Features of keyboard controller:
- support VISCA protocol completely.
- can set and call 1-46 presets of Sony video conference camera.
- communication mode: RS485, RS422, RS232.
- all parameter can be set conveniently through function keys.
The primary function of the keyboard controller:
- can control a maximum 7 pcs Sony video conference camera.
- all input/output ports adopt lightning protection design, communication distance up to 1200m.
- support operation password function.
- key-press warning on/off function.
- can control Sony video conference camera rotate with variable speed by its joystick.
- LCD screen for displaying commands and camera’s working status.
Declaration
This manual might not be accurate technically or contain minor typos.
The contents of this manual about production description and the program will be updated aperiodically without notification.
Note：
- the LCD is fragile, with no crash or long exposure under strong light.
- The joystick is fragile, please make sure the product is packed in original packing material when you send it back for reparation.
- The keyboard controller shall be used in a specified environment where the temperature and humidity are suitable.
- Please follow the connection method defined in this manual.
Parameter:
| Item |
Parameter |
| Power supply | DC 12V±10% |
| Working temperature | -10℃~55℃ |
| Working humidity | ≤90% RH |
| Communication | RS485, RS422, RS232 |
| Baud rate | 2400bps, 4800bps, 9600bps, 19200bps |
| Ports | RS422 and RS232 port |
| Display | blue LCD screen |
| Size | 420mm(L)*260mm(W)*170mm(H) |
Accessories:
| name | quantity | unit | note |
| connecter | 1 | pc | N/A |
| DC 12V adapter | 1 | pc | Input: 100-240vac, 50/60Hz |
| <user manual> | 1 | pc | N/A |
Front panel and rear panel introduction
All keys’ function introduction
1.1.1 keyboard controller function keys:
【Esc】 back to the previous menu.
【Setup】 press and hold for 3s, and get into the setup menu.
【Search】 inquiry the keyboard controller’s model number, S/N, key-press sound, and operation lock.
1.1.2 Sony video conference camera function setup/recall keys:
【Auto】 enable autofocus
【Manual】 Enable manual focus.
【Data Screen】 open/close the data screen.
【Back Light】 turn on/turn off the backlight.
【Home】 control the camera toward ahead.
【P-T Reset】 reset the camera.
【Power】 power on/off the camera.
【SetID】 camera ID setup.
【Preset】 camera’s preset set up, shall be used together with the number key and 【Cam】key.
【Call】 recall camera’s preset, it shall be used together with number key and 【Cam】key.
【Menu】 get into the camera menu.
【Cam】 select the camera’s ID.
1.1.3 Number keys:
【CLR】 delete key: delete all information that is keyed in.
【0】～【9】 number key: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
【Enter】 confirm key: confirm and save all information that is keyed in.
1.1.4 Video conference camera basic function keys:
【Near】 in manual focus mode, focus near.
【Far】 in manual focus mode, focus far.
【Tele】zoom near in slow speed, enlarge the magnification, reduce the view angle, and enlarge the object (screw the joystick clockwise, zoom near in high speed).
【Wide】 zoom far at slow speed, reduce the magnification, enlarge the view angle, and reduce the object (screw the joystick counterclockwise, zoom far at high speed).
【Open】 in manual aperture mode: enlarge camera aperture.
【Close】 in manual aperture mode: reduce camera aperture.
【LR-REV】 press this key, and the camera will move in the opposite direction when operating the joystick.
【LR-STD】 press this key, and the camera will move in the correct direction when operating the joystick.
LCD screen
All operations of the keys or joystick will have corresponding information shown on the LCD screen. The LCD screen will get into power-saving mode if the user does not operate the keyboard controller over 30s ( its brightness reduces to the lowest, and information which showed on the screen will back to its initial status).
Joystick function
|
operation |
Output control | operation | Output control | operation |
Output control |
|
|
up |
|
down |
|
left |
| operation | Output control | operation | Output control | operation | Output control |
|
|
right |
|
Zoom near |
|
Zoom far |
Rear panel introduction
Rear panel: 5 ports for RS422, 1 RS232 port, 1 DC 12V input port, and 3 status indicator lights. Details as below:
Function item specification:
| item | mark | interface |
description |
| ① | RS-422 | Control command output port: Connecter 1-4 | Connect to RS422 port of video conference camera: Ta to RXD IN-, Tb to RXD IN+ Ra to TXD IN-, Rb to TXD IN+ |
| ② | Ground | Control line ground port | Control line ground port |
| ③ | TXD | Send command indicator | Flicking and green denote it is sending commands |
| ④ | RXD | Receive command indicator | Flicking and green denote it is receiving commands |
| ⑤ | PW | Power input indicator | It will be always on and red when the keyboard controller is powered on |
| ⑥ | DC-12V | Power input port | DC 12V input port |
Operation introduction
Single function key and combined function key introduction
2.1.1 Single function key means: pressing this key, the camera will recall a function.
Single function keys:
【Auto】、【Data Screen】、【Home】、【Back Light】、【P-T Reset】、【Tele】、 【Wide】 【Open】 【Close】、【LR-STD】、【LR-REV】、 Joystick.
2.1.2 Combined function key means: need to press and hold for over 2s then the camera will recall a function.
Combined function keys:
【Manual】、【Preset】、【Call】、【Menu】、 【Cam】、【Power】、【SetID】、【CLR】。
Combined function key specification
2.2.1 get into control status:
If LCD screen display: 
denote keyboard controller is in control status. If it displays other information, please press【Esc】key back to control status.
2.2.2 Select camera ID:
Press 【Cam】key, key in-camera ID number, and press 【Enter】.
For example select camera ID “2”
Operation: press 【Cam】key, LCD screen will display: 
Press the‘ 2’ key, LCD screen will display: 
press 【Enter】,LCD screen will display: 
Camera ID setup:
Sony D70/D100 video conference camera ID will be set as ‘1’ automatically after power on each time, so it shall be set by the keyboard controller.
2.3.1 There is only one video conference camera
Connect the camera to the keyboard controller properly, press and hold the 【SetID】 key for 2s, LCD screen will display 
, denoting the camera ID has been set as ‘1’.
2.3.2 there is more than one video conference camera(max. 7)
Connect the camera to the keyboard controller properly, all cameras shall be connected in cascade mode, press and hold the 【SetID】key for 2s, LCD screen will display, denoting the cameras’ ID has been set in sequence as ‘1’, ‘2’, ‘3’…, the ID of the camera which directly connects to the keyboard will be set as ‘1’, and so on.
preset setup and recall
Preset setup: select the camera ID, then press【Preset】key, LCD screen will display, after adjusting the camera’s direction and zooming near/far, key in a number as this preset’s number, for example: ‘6’, then press 【Enter】, setup finish. Repeat the above steps for another preset setup, or press 【Esc】key to exit.
2.4 preset setup and recall
Preset setup: select the camera ID, then press【Preset】key, LCD screen will display ,
after adjusting the camera’s direction and zooming near/far, key in a number as this preset’s number, for example: ‘6’, then press 【Enter】, setup finish. Repeat the above steps for another preset setup, or press 【Esc】key to exit.
Preset recall: select the camera ID, then press 【Call】key, LCD screen will display, key in the preset number.
For example ‘6’, LCD screen will display,
press【Enter】, one preset is recalled. Repeat the above steps for recalling other preset, press 【Esc】key to exit.
2.5 Menu setup
The following operation can change parts of the camera’s functions, for the camera’s detail functions, please refer to the camera’s user manual.
Note: move the joystick up/down to select a different sub-menu, and move the joystick left/right to set the sub-menu.
2.5.1 when the keyboard controller is in control mode, press 【Menu】key:
- CAM_DZoomModeInq, LCD screen display ,
move the joystick left/right to select D-Zoom ON or D-Zoom OFF. - CAM_DZoomC/SModeInq, LCD screen display,
move the joystick left/right to select Combine Mode or Separate Mode. - CAM_AFSensitivityInq, LCD screen display,
move the joystick left/right to select AF Sensitivity Normal or AF Sensitivity Low. - CAM_AFModeInq, LCD screen display,
move the joystick left/right to select Normal AF or Interval AF. - CAM_WBModeInq, LCD screen display,
move the joystick left/right to select Auto, In Door, Out Door, One Push WB, ATW or Manual. - CAM_AEModeInq, LCD screen display,
move the joystick left/right to select Full Auto, Manual, Shutter Priority, Iris Priority, Bright. - CAM_SlowShutterModeInq, LCD screen display ,
,move joystick left/right to select Auto, Manual. - CAM_ExpCompModeInq, LCD screen display,
move the joystick left/right to select On, Off. - CAM_SpotAEMModeInq, LCD screen display,
move the joystick left/right to select On, Off. - CAM_LR_ReverseModeInq, LCD screen display,
move the joystick left/right to select On, Off. - CAM_FreezeModeInq, LCD screen display,
move the joystick left/right to select On, Off. - CAM_PictureEffectModeInq, LCD screen display ,
move joystick left/right to select Off, Neg.Art or B&W. - CAM_ICRModeInq, LCD screen display ,
move joystick left/right to select On, Off - CAM_AutoICRModeInq, LCD screen display,
move the joystick left/right to select On, Off
Note:
- the keyboard control will receive the answer code from the camera when performing the above operation, if the answer code is not correct, the keyboard controller’s LCD screen will display “RE DATA UNKNOWN”.
- When finish setup for the sub-menu, press【Esc】key, LCD screen display ,
if press 【Esc】key again, setup will be saved at present, after power off, it will be deleted. If press【Enter】key, the setup will be saved forever till it is modified by the user next time.
Parameter setup and inquiry
3.1 system parameter setup
the keyboard controller’s system parameters include password, default factory, key-press sound on/off, ID, and lock. Please refer to the following setup description of ‘default factory setup’ and ‘keyboard lock setup’ for the setup method.
3.1.1 default factory setup
press and hold 【Setup】key for 3s, LCD screen display ,
key in password(default is 8888), press【Enter】key, LCD screen display 
move joystick right, LCD screen display ,
press【Enter】key, LCD screen display , 
press【Enter】key again, buzzer will sound for about 1s, LCD screen display,
setup is finished(press【Esc】key to quit and setup will
not be saved), press【Esc】key for 2 times back to normal mode.
3.1.2 Keyboard lock on/off setup
press and hold the 【Setup】key for 3s, LCD screen display
,
key in the password, press【Enter】key, LCD screen display
,
move the joystick to select item 6, LCD screen display
,
press【Enter】key, LCD screen display
,it means the keyboard lock function is off,
move joystick left or right, LCD screen display 
,
press【Enter】key, LCD screen display
,
key in 4 digit password (please keep it in mind), press【Enter】key again, LCD screen display 
,
press【Esc】key for 2 times to quit and back to normal mode.
3.1.3 use the method of keyboard lock function
in normal mode, press 【Esc】key, LCD screen display
,
key in the password, press【Enter】key, LCD screen display
, it means keyboard controller is locked now.
Press each key, LCD screen display 
,
key in the password, press【Enter】key, keyboard controller will back to unlock mode.
3.2 parameter setup framework
| >SYSTEM Setup | >SET PASSWORD | OLD PW： | 4 digit |
| NEW PW： | 4 digit | ||
| AGAIN PW： | 4 digit | ||
| >LOAD DEFAULT | SURE? | 【Enter】to confirm 【Esc】to quit | |
| LOAD ISP | SURE? | 【Enter】to confirm 【Esc】to quit | |
| SOUND | ON | Move the joystick to select, 【Enter】to confirm | |
| OFF | |||
| KB ID | ID | Number【0】-【15】 | |
| LOCKSET | ON | Move the joystick to select,【Enter】to get into sub-menu | |
| OFF |
3.2 system parameter inquiry
Press 【Search】 key, following information, will display:
|
System inquiry |
MODLE: XXXXXXXXXX | Maximum 10 digit |
| SN; XXXXXXXX | 8 digit | |
| KB ID: XXX | 2 digit | |
| LOCK(ON/OFF) | Keyboard lock status(on or off) | |
| SOUND(ON/OFF) | Key-press sound status(on or off) |
Typical wiring diagram
4.1 Typical wiring diagram
Table 1. VISCA RS422 port definition:
| item | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| definition | TXD IN+ | TXD IN- | RXD IN+ | RXD IN- | GND | TXD OUT+ | TXD OUT- | RXD OUT+ | RXD OUT- |
4.2 specification:
4.2.1 connection between keyboard controller and camera
When adopting the RS422 control bus, the 3rd port of the keyboard controller(Ra) connects to the 3rd port of the camera(TXD IN-), the 4th port of the keyboard controller(Rb) connects to the 4th port of the camera(TXD IN+), the 1st port of keyboard controller(Ta) connect to the 1st port of camera(RXD IN-), the 2nd port of keyboard controller(Tb) connect to the 2nd port of camera (RXD IN+).
Keyboard controller ……………………………camera
Ra ………………………………………………….TXD IN
Rb ………………………………………………..TXD IN+
Ta ………………………………………………RXD IN
Tb……………………………………………… RXD IN+
When adopting the RS232 control bus, the 1st connecter(RXD) of keyboard controller RS232 port connects to the 3rd connecter(TXD) of the camera RS232 port, the 2nd connector(TXD) of the keyboard controller RS232 port connects to the 5th connecter(RXD) of camera RS232 port, the 3rd connecter(GND) of keyboard controller RS232 port connects to the 4th connecter(GND) of camera RS232 port(or use a standard RS232 cable to connect both devices).
Keyboard controlled……………………. camera
RXD ………………………………………TXD
TXD ……………………………………..RXD
GND ……………………………………..GND
The client can select each of the above connection methods.
4.2.2 connection between cameras
When adopting the RS422 control bus, the 1st camera’s output port connects to the 2nd camera’s input port, the 2nd camera’s output port connects to the 3rd camera’s input port, and so on. Please refer to the following figure:
When adopt the RS232 control bus, the connection method is almost the same, the 1st camera’s output port connects to the 2nd camera’s input port, the 2nd camera’s output port connects to the 3rd camera’s input port, and so on. Please refer to the following figure:
FQA
| Phenomenon | Reason | Solve method |
| The keyboard can not control the camera | Faulty wiring | Please refer to section 4.2 for the correct wiring method |
| Faulty setup | Please make sure the baud rate is correct | |
| some cameras can be controlled, the other can not | Faulty wiring | Please refer to the section 4.2 for the correct wiring method |
| Faulty setup | Confirm the camera’s setup is correct | |
| All cameras will be controlled together | Faulty wiring | Please refer to section 4.1 for the correct wiring method |
| Forget the keyboard lock password | reset the password | |
Documents / Resources
 |
Angekis RS232 Sabre Plus Controller [pdf] User Manual RS232, Sabre Plus Controller, RS232 Sabre Plus Controller |
