Codec C20 & 3rd Party Cameras

[Kelvin Machakaire]

Can you use the Codec C20 with third party cameras in place of the Precision HD Camera?

I ask because one prospective client has got camera and sound systems that are already setup in different sites which they prefer in place of our PrecisionHD Cameras. The cameras system outputs HDMI and VGAs.

Thanks in advance!

[Martin Koch]

Unless you get a better answer here:

As the C20 is not an "integrators codec" I will not garantee that it is supported neither that it will work 100%.

The C and SX 20 are nice devices, but are limited regards there connections.

Even if it works maybe looking into a C40/C60/C90 would be the better way here.

Obsticles I see

* camera

- video input

- camra contol

* sound

- input (c20 does only have AUX audio in or the mic input which is only for the included mics)

Besides that check out the datasheet:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/ps7060/ps11304/ps11333/data_sheet_c78-628621_ps11424_Products_Data_Sheet.html

Video Inputs (2 Inputs)

1 X HDMI Inputs, Supported Formats: • 1920 x 1080@60 fps (1080p60) • 1920 x 1080@50 fps (1080p50) • 1920 x 1080@30 fps (1080p30) • 1920 x 1080@25 fps (1080p25) • 1280 x 720@60 fps (720p60) • 1280 x 720@50 fps (720p50) • 640 x 480@60 fps (480p60) • 800 x 600@60 fps (SVGA) • 1024 x 768@60, 70, 75, 85 fps (XGA) • 1280 x 1024@60, 75 fps (SXGA) 1 X DVI-I Inputs, Supported Formats: Analog (VGA): • 1920 x 1080@60 Hz (1080p) • 1280 x 720@60 Hz (720p) • 1600 x 1200@60 Hz (UXGA) • 1280 x 1024@60, 75 Hz (SXGA) • 1280 x 960@60 Hz • 1024 x 768@60, 70, 75, 85 Hz (XGA) • 1920 x 1200@50 Hz (WUXGA) • 1680 x 1050@60 Hz (WSXGA+) • 1440 x 900@60 Hz (WXGA+) • 1280 x 800@60 Hz (WXGA) • 1280 x 768@60 Hz (WXGA) Digital (DVI-D): • 1920 x 1080@60 fps (1080p60) • 1920 x 1080@50 fps (1080p50) • 1920 x 1080@30 fps (1080p30) • 1920 x 1080@25 fps (1080p25) • 1280 x 720@60 fps (720p60) • 1280 x 720@50 fps (720p50) • 640 x 480@60 fps (480p60) • 800 x 600@60 fps (SVGA) • 1024 x 768@60, 70, 75, 85 fps (XGA) • 1280 x 1024@60, 75 fps (SXGA)

[deamanga]

Hi Kelvin,

As Martin mentioned previously, The C20 is not an "Integrator codec" any third party camera used with this codec will not be supported from ourside, this is not designed for it, I will recommended to look for a C60/C90 and make sure the camera are supporting Visca protocol.

Regards

Dean.

[byrnisicus1111]

The SX20 will accept a 1080P 60 source via its HDMI input for an external camera feed. The SX20 will not be able to control that camera (unless someone has some scripting that can make it happen). If you have an external control system such as a Crestron, AMX etc, the SX20 can be controlled through it's USB port via a USB to serial adapter. The Trendnet version has the right chipset that works. I believe it is the TU-S9 - $10.

There is a breakout cable from Cisco available for the weird HDMI/control input port to extend the camera. They provide pinout info and the protocol may be VISCA. The IR control for the remote rides on that data link as well, so it may be tricky. (a standard HDMI connector will fit into that jack)

You can use an external control system to control the SX20 and the third party camera. There will be no far end control of the camera though.

The SX20 has both audio inputs and outputs. If you have an external audio dsp all you need to do is route the audio in and out of the sx20 through the audio dsp. There are some menu functions in the SX20 that you need to disable such as AEC (echo cancelling) if you are utilizing that via the external audio dsp. Also, if my memory serves me well, the audio input into the SX20 needs to be either the mic input or the aux. I think its the aux but it could be the mic. There was something odd about that.

Both audio inputs and outputs are via 1/8" mini stereo unbalanced connectors. If you are running the audio longer than 6' you may want to balance the outputs and provide a balanced to unbalanced transformer for the inputs. Look at RDLNET.com. 

I have been told by a product rep of Cisco that the SX20 does exactly what the SX80 does minus all of the audio i/o and extra video output.

It is not the integrator friendly device such as the SX80 but for half the price its workable. 

Warning: The remote only works with through one of the compatible Cisco PTZ cameras. I believe you can access an HTML page of the unit for control but for external control you will need to use the RS-232 to USB because typically the Ethernet is put on the DMZ (outside of the internal firewall) so you may not have access to control the unit via the HTML page in some circumstances. This depends on the IT guy and their security concerns. They can open up ports to the WAN but that is not always easy.

I have done this successfully with 4 units I saved the client $25K. Luckily the units that were purchased for this install came with the Cisco PTZ cameras (that were not used) A couple of times when I did not have control via the RS-232 because our programmer was slow, I had to plug in the PTZ camera into the units to get control of them with the supplied remote control.

Please use this information cautiously and I accept no responsibility for messing you up or completely confusing you.

I hope this helps anyone.