Description: Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE SCP, a Program to Control Certain LuminatorTM (See disclaimer) and Sunrise NXTP/NXTPS Signs SIGN CONTROL PROGRAM Description Surely you were deliriously happy when you first acquired the treasure that is your flip-dot, Horizon, Titan, or NXTP(S) transit sign. At least until you discovered that you could not write your own messages to it. Then had to explain to a spouse or friends why exactly you thought you needed such a thing.... Or, if you are a bus operator and have a few spare signs lying around unused, that could be put to better work in the office for displaying important info like tour package ads or motivational messages, if only there were an easy way to do it... Well, that dark era when you couldn’t easily accomplish such a feat has come to an end! Here for your message displaying pleasure comes the Sign Control Program (SCP), a real time interface to control flip dot signs from your Microsoft Windows PC. With this program you can deploy your finest prose to your sign in mere seconds, then kick back and enjoy the soothing sound and visual majesty of the rippling dots as they artfully display your literary creations. Or, if you’ve nothing particular to say on a given day, you can employ your sign to display the time and date, and in this way have the very coolest clock on the block! Features · Allows you to compose and send messages to your sign ‘on the fly’. · Hundreds of example messages included for ideas and methods. · Messages can be saved to or read from your hard drive as text files. · Supports writing messages to multiple signs. · Messages can be emulated on the PC to develop them without a physical sign, or to create .GIF’s of message sequences, or .PNG’s of individual displays. · Startup message and settings are user configurable. · Eighteen built in fonts for simple text messages. · Fonts and individual characters in fonts are text bitmap files which can be added to or customized. New characters up to complete displays can be created as text bitmap files. · Many formatting options including inverse, upside down, sideways, mirror, flip, top, bottom, middle or offset, left, right, center justification, random noise, outline, shrink are available. · Time, Date, and Countdown displays are available when the PC is connected to the sign. Time displays are a great way to put a sign into service without having to think of anything witty to say. There are even examples of displaying time in Dice, which electronically can span 0 thru 9, while real dice can only show 1 thru 6... · Time or date controlled messages can be created. An example is to add a message that only appears on Wednesdays to say 'Take Out the Trash' if your trash pickup day is Thursday. · Switch input controlled messages can be created. For example, push a button and the time display changes to “YELLOW ALERT”, release the button and time display comes back. Switch inputs are made thru use of 9 pin D USB to RS-232 serial port adapters. Each adapter can provide up to 4 inputs. Switch contact inputs can be made by connecting switches between the 9 pin connector pins 2 and 3, 7 and 8, or 4 and 6. A 4th open-close input can be made thru pin 1 if splice the other side of switch to pin 7 or 4. · Discrete outputs can be made thru use of 9 pin D USB to RS-232 serial port adapters. Each adapter can provide up to 3 discrete outputs. The three outputs [pin 2 (Tx), 7 (DTR), or 4 (RTS)] be used as outputs to drive LED's or solid state relays. Each output of an RS-232 interface provides +/- 3 to +/-12 Vdc depending on the specific adapter, with respect to pin 5 (ground). Using a diode, can choose which polarity will activate a LED or solid state relay. Or, use both polarities to drive outputs that are always opposite. An example project driving "Stadco Life-Saver" mini-traffic lights (red-green-yellow) is included in the manual. Real traffic lights can be controlled with the same outputs using solid state relays. · Address scan: Addressable sign's addresses are set by a DIP switch inside or on the sign. Address scan sends messages to all addresses to see which sign’s respond. This avoids the need to open up the sign to figure out what the DIP switch is set to. Address scan can also help find the sign's address if the dip switch isn't working properly. For LuminatorTM signs, scan finds responsive signs. For NXTPTM signs, the sign’s will show a message with the address they match. · Supports many MatrixMaxTm (See disclaimer) and MegaMaxTm (See disclaimer) Flip-Dot signs, HorizonTm (See disclaimer) LED signs, TITANTM LED signs, SpectrumTM color LED signs, LCD Max signs, Vista LED signs, early (non-system controller) ODKs (Operator Display Keypads), Sunrise Systems NXTP and NXTPS signs, and ARTI UMD Under Monitor Displays. See list below of known working signs. · Supports a New Year’s Ball controller feature if you wanted to do your own ball drop. · User’s Manual describing commands, examples, and how to wire up the signs to various hardware adapters. · One year free updates or one significant update, whichever comes later. Signs Figured Out: Matrix: MAX® Signs · 7x90 GTI Matrix:MAX® DISPLAY Front Sign Part Number: 510222003 Rev J, fluorescent lit · 7x90 GTI Matrix:MAX® DISPLAY Side Sign Part Number: 510218025 Rev.-, fluorescent lit · 7x23 GTI Matrix: MAX® DISPLAY Rear Sign Part Number: 510232001 Rev A, · 51045019 Rev.L Mega: MAX® Signs · 16x98 510043 007 REV F Front Sign, Fluorescent Lit · 7x90 Fluorescent Lit, unknown part number · 10x23 Rear Sign, Rectangular Part Number: 510445001 GTI Mega Max: 3000® Partial support: These signs require SCP to actively tell them when to show each line of a message which it does in conjunction with using the sign sim feature:. · 7x90 Side Sign Part Number 510479001 Rev.A, LED lit Flip Dot · 16x98 Front Sign Part Number 510476001 Rev.B, LED lit Flip Dot Unknown series LED Illuminated Flip Dots · 10x23 Rear Sign, Rounded LED lit Flip Dot 510438001 Rev. – GTI Mega: 2000® · 16x108 Front Sign Part Number 510431003 Rev.-, LED lit Flip Dot Horizon ® and Titan LED Signs · 8x96 HORIZON™ Side Sign 510545019 Rev L · 8x96 HORIZON™ Front Sign 510578003 Rev A · 12x40 HORIZON™ Route Sign Part Number: 510637001 · 16x40 Amber SMD FRONT GEN 4TM Sing Part Number: 510818001 · 16x48 HORIZON™ Rear Sign Part Number: 510546001 Rev. H · 16x48 SPECTRUM™ Rear Sign Part Number: 510638001 Rev. A · 16x108 HORIZON™ Front Sign Part Number: 510578003 Rev.A · 16x120 HORIZON™ Front Sign Part Number: 510543001 Rev.A · 16x160 HORIZON™ Front Sign Part Number: 510552001 Rev.C · 24x50,100,200 GEN IV TITAN™ Front sign with Power Entry Assy 507639002 – partially figured out, sign I have has some hardware issues. Works with 1 or 2 panels and 24x50 and 24x100 configs. Pretty sure the config is just scaled up for the 4 panel size, but is yet to be verified. Sunrise Systems LED Signs For J1708/J1587 versions, write only, messages can be transmitted to them using RS-485 adapter. SCP does not read status back from them. Older NXTP (pre-NXTPS) sign memories / message formatting are limited, restricting their use of dot graphics. Particularly, the older signs can’t do a whole line of dot graphics, but ACSII text and graphics can be mixed. The number of message lines they can store even in ASCII text is limited. · NXTP7X962M/J1587 · NXTP7X1202M/J1587 · NXTP15X962M/J1708 · NXTPS7X962M/J1587 · NXTP7X962M/J1587-2 · NXTPS7X962MA485 LCD:Max Signs · 7x80 LCD:Max™ Side Sign 51336005 Rev. A (Note – I have one available for parts.) VISTA LED Signs · LED VISTA COACH FRONT SIGN 510648001 Rev.B ARTI Under Monitor Display (UMD) Signs · 1x16 ARTI Under Monitor Display (UMD) Signs Not Figured Out: · Twinvision, Hannover Note - If you have another size or type sign and controller that does display messages, you can use SCP to get a recording of the data sent to the sign. Send it to me and I can look at it to figure out if it can be added to SCP capabilities. Other Limitations · This is a software program only - no hardware or sign. The sign will need a power supply and a USB to RS-485 data converter to be useful, neither are included with this program. Hardware needed and how to hook it up is described in the manual. · The Sign Control Program's control panel is complicated. However, most controls can be ignored until needed. · Only supports the signs listed. Does not support any other manufacturer’s signs. · SCP Does Not Support reprogramming any messages built into your sign. If you get a message sequence running then power cycle your sign, it will not remember anything. · A PC running SCP is required for any message to appear on a sign. · “There can be only one” system controller – SCP is a controller: · For signs that contain their own system controller (some Matrix and MegaMax front signs) you need to disconnect the system processor board inside the sign to allow use of SCP. · For systems that get their messages from an ODK, you need to disconnect that ODK in order to allow this Sign Control Program to run it. · After sending any message sequence to the sign, the PC could be disconnected. The message sequence will continue to replay as long as the sign remains powered up. Upon loss of power, the message is lost. For flip dot signs, whatever message is present on the sign when the sign is powered off will remain on the sign without power. · For use of any time display functions, your PC must be running to produce the time updates. If you want to use your sign as a clock, set your PC power settings so that it powers off "Never". Else, if the PC enters power saving mode or shuts down, time updates will stop (the time will go stale), even if display updates (for multi-line time messages) continue. There is an option to display a timeout message if PC updates stop, but if the PC is lost during a message update, it is possible that this timeout message may not always appear. · Time display updating may prevent the PC from entering power saving modes or from automatically shutting down. This may increase your electric bill. · LED signs go blank during updates, flip-dot signs don’t. So while time displays on flip dot signs are always cool, time displays on LED signs** can be annoying if set for update rates faster than once a minute. **Except for recent 8x64 color sign, which retains it's last display (flip-dot 'esque like behavior ) while it is being updated. 3 Cheers and a Hip-Hip Hooray for the programmer that finally fixed that after two decades :) · Creation of custom fonts is time consuming. I’ve got a primitive "True Type" to dot matrix font converter created. With trial and error on font size, can get dot matrix to match 7, 8, 12, or 16 dot signs. Message me if want to use True Type fonts. · No real-time technical support: I am mostly unavailable while at work during the week. I check my email daily. I don’t want to promise more than I can deliver. Instead I strive to keep your expectations for timely support low. · No promise of updates: SCP updates are likely (have done 364 in 6 years) as I want signs to show super stuff. But there’s no actual promise of updates, and it is entirely possible that there will be no updates during the year following your purchase. That said, if you message me upon finding a bug, I can work on fixing it. Requirements · Interface Cabling and a USB to RS-485 adapter (NOT included) are required to connect to the sign to your PC. SCP supports both echoing and non-echoing RS-485 adapters. A variety of USB to RS-485 adapters are available on ebay, I have examples of the ones I've tried in the manual. Interface cable wiring is also described in the manual, you'll need to order connectors. Or check my other listings to see if I have any cable kits available. · Originally created on Windows XP, then 8.1, now running on Windows 10. Never tried on Windows 7, 8, or 11. Theoretically it should work, but there are slight differences, so it is possible it might not run smoothly on Win 7, 8, or 11. · SCP is compiled using VB.Net framework 4.8.1. The Setup.exe installer will advise if you don’t have the required .Net installed and ask if you want to install a newer one. .NET frameworks are a free download from Microsoft. However, .Net's are now associated with certain Windows releases. If you have a PC that cannot be upgraded, send a note and i can see if I can recompile SCP with an earlier .Net framework. · Your sign(s) require a power supply - not included. · On signs that do display their own messages (GTI Mega Max Front signs, VISTA signs), the built in controllers (system processor boards) that provide those messages must be disconnected so that SCP can control the messages instead. This requires opening the sign back, locating the data bus connector on the system processor board, and de-mating that data bus connector from the controller card. This is described in the manual. On signs that don’t have system controllers, they are ready to go without changing anything. License Terms By purchasing this software you agree to abide by the terms of this license agreement. · A license allows the use of this program on one PC for as many signs as can be controlled by the PC at one physical location, or for use on multiple PC's at one physical location where the PC's are controlled by one license holder. · The license is transferable. Either the old or new license holder should send me an email documenting the transfer, so that the new license holder becomes a documented license holder. · No tech support is promised for unlicensed copies. · License applies to the latest version downloaded during the year following the license purchase. · After a year, email for $7 upgrade subscription. Note - subscription price subject to change without notice. What You’ll Get Nothing physical! There is nothing to physically pick up, SCP is sold as downloadable software. Shipping is listed because there is no "Nothing" shipping option in ebay listings. You will receive by ebay message a link to the SCP software download web page. In that website you'll find an installation zip file, example files and the manual. Note: Do not fear if quantity available is low! I try to keep quantity available low to preclude any risk of having a buying stampede. It's software, so the supply should theoretically never actually run out. Disclaimers LuminatorTM, MatrixMaxTM, MegaMaxTM, HorizonTM, SpectrumTM and TitanTM are trademarks of Mark IV Industries Luminator Division. Mark IV Industries Luminator Division does not approve of, support, endorse, nor have any association with this Sign Control Program. NXTP and NXTPS signs are made by Sunrise Systems. Sunrise Systems does not approve of, support, endorse, nor have any association with this Sign Control Program. Use of this software is at the user's own risk. The author believes this software will perform all the functions advertised but makes no claim nor warrantee of its fitness for duty and is not responsible for any deliberate or incidental losses or damages caused by the use of this software. For examples, the author is not liable for any increased electric bill due to your PC not sleeping when running this program in any clock or date modes, or for damage to your sign or PC if the sign or wiring short circuits and PC breaks while this program is running, or for any liability or damages if someone crashes a car due to being distracted by reading a message sent to your sign by this program, or for any liability or damages if your stock trading program fails to make trades or buys at the wrong time due to this software using up CPU time on your PC, etcetera. etc.
Price: 23.45 USD
Location: Palmdale, California
End Time: 2024-04-05T04:23:28.000Z
Shipping Cost: 0 USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
