CED Digest Vol. 2 No. 25

CED Digest Vol. 2 No. 25 • 6/21/1997
From: RedCircus
Date: Sun, 15 Jun 1997 15:44:01 -0400 (EDT)
To: ceds@teleport.com
Subject: CED's 4 Sale

RCA VideoDiscs for sale -

ADAM & THE ANTS (Live)  $5
AMITYVILLE HORROR  $5
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA  $10
BUCKAROO BONZAI  $10
EASY MONEY  $5
FANTASTIC VOYAGE  $5
GHOSTBUSTERS  $5
THE HOWLING  $5
PAUL McCARTNEY & WINGS - Rockshow  $5
FIRST ANNUAL PLAYBOY PLAYMATE REVIEW  $20
MONTY PYTHON'S LIFE OF BRIAN  $20
NEIGHBORS  $5
ONE FLEW OVER THE CUKOO'S NEST  (2 discs) $10
PHANTASM  $15
PSYCHO  $10
PSYCHO II   $5
THE SHINING  (2 discs)  $20
SOYLENT GREEN  $5
STAR TREK - The Menagerie  $10
STAR TREK - Balance of Terror/Mirror, Mirror  $10
THE THING (John Carpenter)  $5
WAR OF THE WORLDS  $5

** shipping costs are $2 per disc.

email to: redcircus@aol.com

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 16 Jun 1997 07:10:47 -0700
From: Ted Dudziak
To: Tom Howe <ceds@teleport.com>
Subject: Re: CED Digest Vol. 2 No. 24

> Date: Sun, 8 Jun 1997 21:24:35 -0500 (CDT)
> From: Geoff Oltmans
> To: Tom Howe <ceds@teleport.com>
> Subject: Re: CED Digest Vol. 2 No. 23
> MIME-Version: 1.0
> 
> Ted:
> 
> >
> > At the same time that videodic was in development, the IBM-PC was
> > introduced and the Apple II was going full guns.  We decided to
> > implement an RS-232 interface on the MAV port.  Basically, the videodisc
> > player "woke up" in the MAV mode.  However, if the device connected to
> > the videodisc asserted a "break" or an extended space on the line, then
> > the unit would switch to the RS-232 mode.  The commands were ASCII
> > equivalents for FF, REV, etc.  One should be able to communicate with
> > the port using a PC and the terminal program in Windows or Procomm or
> > some other communications program.  The command sent by the PC will
> > cause a response by the player.  I left RCA before J line was released
> > or I might have the command set.  The commands were one or two letters
> > and were the obvious combinations for the function that you want. FF for
> > fast forward, etc. Give it a try but the interface needs to be 0 to 5v
> > unless the boys put the clamp diode in the input circuit.
> 
> As I recall for the Colecovision system there were several proposed "Super
> Game Modules" (the final product being the ADAM computer) one of which
> used a videodisc player to do games like Dragon's Lair and Space Ace
> through the RS-232 serial port which you suggest here. RCA and Coleco were
> supposed to have collaborated on this if I remember correctly.
> 
> *Geoff!*
> 
Tom,

It looks like I DO have the specification for the serial port as well as
the on-screen display IC used in the J and K line players.  I also have
other documents such as the notes that were used for the technical
writeup of the SFT-100 player, a copy of the VIP-1000 service manual
from Hitachi. 

While I am not willing at this time to give up the originals I would be
willing to share copies of what I have.  

I was looking through my documents in an attempt to help Peter Goldberg
with his skipping problem.  

Ted

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 18 Jun 1997 16:12:30 -0700
To: Tom Howe <ceds@teleport.com>
From: (Marlin Bates, IV)
Subject: Re: CED Digest Vol. 2 No. 24

I have a wee question for you all...

I have a SJT 400 Player.  When I got it it did not have a manual or a
remote control so I have been searching for one for a long time.  Well, a
few weeks ago I came across something called "Digital COmmand Center" by
RCA.  Big huge remote that had buttons like "Band" "Audio B" "Page" etc on
it so I hurried it home after paying the exorbinant $20 for it.  Nothing.
Nada.  So I figured it was either broken or did not work with the player.

Today I saw another one - IN THE BOX (no instructions) this one was a
paltry $5. SO I fighured it HAS to work.

Got it home and it doesn't seem to do anything either.  EXCEPT on my "A
Week at The Races" Game it flashes "Illegal Command Entered" when I hit
"Audio B" (The first one does this as well I found out).

So, couple of questions:
Am I doing something wrong?
Will this not work with the SJT-400?
What DOES it work with?
If I can't use it does somebody else want one?

Thanks

-Marlin

---***     Videos, VWs, & Video games...sad and pathetic but social
---***     Marlin Bates, owner: '69 VW Westfalia Bus aka Lazarus
---***     XL/XE: 236/ Lynx: 80/ Jag: 58/ Sega: 69/ CED: 1197/ TG:52/ 3DO: 37
--*-*-*    Always looking for RCA VideoDisks (aka CED)
-*--*--*   Web Page:      http://www.stocko.sonnet.com/Fujidom/

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 18 Jun 1997 19:52:54 -0700
To: Tom Howe <ceds@teleport.com>
From: (Marlin Bates, IV)
Subject: RCA Digital Command Center

On a related matter, I was looking at the scans of the owners manual to the
SKT-400 and noticed that the DIgital Command center in there is different
(slightly) from the one I have.

Mine does NOT have a Disk button, but rather has "TV" VCR" "AUX" "AM/FM"
"PHON" "TAPE" and "CD"

Also, instead of the "0" button saying "Aux" over it (as it does in the
SKT-400 manual) mine says "Input"

Thanks again and any help is appreciated.

-Marlin

---***     Videos, VWs, & Video games...sad and pathetic but social
---***     Marlin Bates, owner: '69 VW Westfalia Bus aka Lazarus
---***     XL/XE: 236/ Lynx: 80/ Jag: 58/ Sega: 69/ CED: 1197/ TG:52/ 3DO: 37
--*-*-*    Always looking for RCA VideoDisks (aka CED)
-*--*--*   Web Page:      http://www.stocko.sonnet.com/Fujidom/

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 19 Jun 1997 21:55:38 -0700
From: Tom Howe 
To: ceds@teleport.com
Subject: RCA Digital Command Center -Reply

Marlin:

When RCA introduced the original CRK 32 Digital Command Center in late 1983
there were only three mode buttons on the upper left, but RCA had the Dimensia
Integrated Component System under development, so space was left to add
additional mode buttons. When Dimensia was marketed about a year later (after
the CED cancellation announcement),  the DISC button was renamed VID2, but it
continued to function as a DISC button to control a 400 series player. Due to
the layout of the circuit board inside these first generation Digital Command
Centers, the third button from the left on the top row will always function as a
DISC mode button. But you may have noticed that the CRK 42 units you have are
missing the third button from the left. There's just an empty spot where the
button should be. This was a strange thing for RCA to do, since the PAGE, BAND,
and SEEK buttons specific to interactive CED usage are still labeled on the unit.
The good news is that the DISC button is still there, it's just hidden under the
top panel, so the CRK 42 remote can be used for full interactive control of the
400 series player. There are two ways to accomplish this. With batteries installed
in the unit, remove the four screws holding the top and bottom of the case together,
then remove the five screws holding the circuit board to the top panel. Now the
keypad can be separated from the top panel (being careful not to lose the
grounding spring), the hidden button can be pushed, and the unit reassembled. 
As long as the batteries continue to power the unit, and no other mode button
is pushed, the Digital Command Center will function as a 400 series remote. The
other option would be to drill or cut a hole in the casing above the DISC button
position when the remote is disassembled. Then a straightened paperclip or some
other small instrument could be used to activate the DISC button.

--Tom

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 20 Jun 1997 00:01:56 -0700
To: Tom Howe 
From: (Marlin Bates, IV)
Subject: Re: RCA Digital Command Center -Reply

Tom (and the list),

You know there are times like these where I *LOVE* the net!!  (On an
semi-related side note: IO just bought a TRS-80 Model 100 Portable Computer
and got TONS of stuff about it off the net on a 12 year old ocmputer!)

Thank you so much on the information.  I will do the dis-assembly and let
you know the results.

-Marlin

---***     Videos, VWs, & Video games...sad and pathetic but social
---***     Marlin Bates, owner: '69 VW Westfalia Bus aka Lazarus
---***     XL/XE: 236/ Lynx: 80/ Jag: 58/ Sega: 74/ CED: 1197/ TG:52/ 3DO: 43
--*-*-*    Always looking for RCA VideoDisks (aka CED)
-*--*--*   Web Page:      http://www.stocko.sonnet.com/Fujidom/

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 20 Jun 1997 00:34:35 -0700
To: Tom Howe 
From: (Marlin Bates, IV)
Subject: Re: RCA Digital Command Center -Reply

OUTSTANDING!!!!!!

EXCELLENT!!!!

(Can you tell how happy I am?!?!?!?!?!)

This is GREAT!  Tom, you are a deity among men!  On a side note - the
circuit board in the Command Center I have (you termed it model CRK 42)
states CRK 32!  So they did not even bother to change it!

Excellent.  I made a rather largeish hole in the old one but I think the
second one I will put a very small paperclip sized hole in it.  (The second
one is the new one so I do not want it to be all nastified by my bad
drilling!

Thanks again!

-Marlin

---***     Videos, VWs, & Video games...sad and pathetic but social
---***     Marlin Bates, owner: '69 VW Westfalia Bus aka Lazarus
---***     XL/XE: 236/ Lynx: 80/ Jag: 58/ Sega: 74/ CED: 1197/ TG:52/ 3DO: 43
--*-*-*    Always looking for RCA VideoDisks (aka CED)
-*--*--*   Web Page:      http://www.stocko.sonnet.com/Fujidom/Date:
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