[slinkelist] Basic Need / Question from a Newbie

Ian Cole iancole@earthlink.net
Thu, 11 Jan 2001 20:00:32 -0500


Another option is to have another program running as a client and
controlling CDJ where CDJ acts more like a server application - you can
still connect to it for database updates, playlist creation, etc - but then
you have a custom app running on your "controllers"

Ian

----- Original Message -----
From: Saleh W. Igal <saleh@yahoo.com>
To: <slinkelist@nirvis.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2001 6:37 PM
Subject: RE: [slinkelist] Basic Need / Question from a Newbie


> Yes, you can do this -- there are several schools of thought on the best
> way.
>
> 1) VNC.  In your case, probably a remote control based approach would work
> best.  VNC (www.uk.research.att.com/vnc/) lets you remote control a host
PC.
> Install the slink-e on the host PC, install VNC on the host PC, and use
any
> of the remote PCs to take over the host.  The benefits are easy setup and
a
> single set of configuration settings.  Also, you can start CDJ from PC 1,
> start a playlist, close the connection from PC 1, go to PC 2, re-open the
> connection, control it... without interrupting the music.  The downside is
> that this doesn't handle different screen resolutions very well -- if you
> have a high resolution display on the host and a low-resolution client,
> you'll do a lot of scrolling.  Also, if you want to use CDJ from a remote
> PC, and your wife wants to read e-mail on the server PC, you'll see her
> e-mail rather than your CDJ -- the client and server display the exact
same
> thing.
>
> 2) DCOM.  CDJ has full blown client/server support through DCOM: a server
> (slinkesrv) runs on the server that is connected to the slink-e, and a
> client (CDJ) runs on a client PC.  This addresses VNCs limitations.
> However, it's a bit harder to set up, and even if you point all PCs to the
> same database on the network, they can still get different settings (e.g.
> toolbars, display settings...) from the local registry on each machine.
> Also, you can't start a playlist on PC 1 and move to PC 2 without
> interrupting the music.  As a minor issue, every CDJ update resets some
DCOM
> settings, so you manually have to reconfigure after each CDJ update (only
> takes about a minute, but kind of a pain as frequently as Colby updates
> CDJ.)
>
> 3) WTS.  Windows Terminal Service works similar to VNC, but lifts the
screen
> resolution and client/server seeing the same thing limitations.  However,
it
> requires the slink-e server to run Windows 2000 Server, and only supports
> 256 colors, making your cover art look a little crummy.
>
> 4) Terminal server/device server.  A terminal server (also known as a
device
> server) has an Ethernet port plus one or more serial ports.  Software on
the
> PC handles mapping a local device name (e.g. COM8) to a port on the
terminal
> server.  See the ETS series on www.lantronix.com for examples.  This
> basically Ethernet-enables any serial device, but they are expensive
> ($1000+) unless you happen to pick one up on ebay or a used equipment
site.
> This has limitations similar to DCOM, but doesn't require a server PC.
>
> There are some other options, but most folks are using #1 or #2.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: slinkelist-admin@nirvis.com [mailto:slinkelist-admin@nirvis.com]On
> Behalf Of Davis, John
> Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2001 1:48 pm
> To: 'Michael Holopainen'; 'slinkelist@nirvis.com'
> Subject: RE: [slinkelist] Basic Need / Question from a Newbie
>
>
> Hi Michael,
>
> Thanks for the response. Please let me see if I understand this correctly:
>
> PC (COM PORT) ==> Slink-e ==> Sony CD Changer
>
>
> I guess what I want to be able to do is the following:
>
> Any PC (via LAN/Ethernet) ==> PC (COM PORT) ==> Slink-e ==> Sony CD
Changer
>
>
> As far as displaying, as long as I can access and control the Slink-e from
> any PC on the LAN, then displaying is not an issue - but that's the
> question: can I run the Slink-e remotely?
>
> FYI,  At each PC on the LAN, I am using a Samsung SyncMaster 150mp TFT LCD
> monitor that has a built-in TV tuner and can accept coax inputs from any
> NTSC modulated video signal, but I guess that's irrelevant for what we're
> talking about.... (?)
>
> Basically, I want to be able to control Slink-e from any PC in the house -
> and see cover art, track times, etc, etc. If I can do this basic thing,
then
> all the other stuff (HA control via IR and X-10, etc) is just icing. I
just
> want to be able to go to any PC and control our music.
>
> Is this "do-able" ?
>
> Thanks & regards,
>
> Jcd
>
>
>
>  -----Original Message-----
> From: Michael Holopainen [mailto:michael@laserle.fi]
> Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2001 4:32 AM
> To: Davis, John
> Subject: Re: [slinkelist] Basic Need / Question from a Newbie
>
> > I have automated my home and am also on a user list for a product called
> > Stargate.
>
> Wow,stargate, so you are SERIOUS about home-automation and you don't have
> slinke, shame on you ; )
>
> > Can the Slink-e interface be used in a TV environment?
>
> PC and displaycard with TV-out (ati all-in-wonder RADEON or Matrox G450
eTV
> which have tv tuner so you record tv /video directly to MPEG2 (DVD-format)
> 3h = 5Gb(MPEG2 = DVD quality) 7h=5Gb MPEG1 VCR quality)
>
> > Does the signal need to be modulated?
>
> ??? What signal TV or slinke ?
> Yes you need to "modulate" PC VGA to NTSC (or PAL)
> Slinke signal ??? NO slinke is connected to PC via COM-port and slinke is
> connected to Sony CD-magasines via WIRE (3.5" mono phono plugs).
>
> > Is controlled then via IR?
> >
>
> Yes ,and NO.
> Slinke is ADD_ON to connect Sony S-Link (Control-A1 (II)) to PC and CDJ is
> software to control Sony CD-magasines via PC.
> Slinke (Control-A1) uses wire_control, BUT Slike-box also has IR receiver
&
> transmitter.
> For example I have this stupid Sony 2-way Remote, and with very little
work
> and Ir_helper application made my slike user I got remote contol for my PC
> DVD player.
>
> >
> > Or, is it better to accept that it is designed to work in a PC
environment
> -
> > and then my next question is, can it be accessed over a LAN by multiple
> > PC's?
>
> Yes many users use it like that and few have added streaming to it = and
now
> they have their own internet radio station, and one user have reported
that
> he uses it via wireless LAN and his laptop in his car while driving around
> US.
>
> > The latter is actually much preferred, because (I believe) it would
> > dispense with the need for IR, and allow direct control through the
> Slink-e
> > interface.
>
> IR is just an extra feature, Slinke controls CD-magasines via Wire and
other
> sony Control-A1 devices via wie or IR (wire is much better it is 2-way, as
> IR only one-way(you can config slike to both receive and transmit IR
> commands)) and YOU control slinke/CDJ via COMPUTER, then it up to you how
> you control computer = over LAN, RF mouse&keyboard, palmtop, Philips
Pronto
> Remote....
>
> >
> >
> > Has anyone put together an installation like this? I'd appreciate your
> help
>
> YES !!!!!!!!
> You can in Japan and control & listen your cd.player in USA.
>
> KISS approach to NetworkCDJ is "WinVNC oy ORL" , it's FREEWARE !!!!!!!
that
> given you complete control of a remote computer. Running VNC equals
> connecting you monitor+mouse+keyboard to the remote computer you connect
> with VNC.
>
>
> >
> > and insight.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Jcd
> >
> > PS: Although I've wired my home to the nth-degree, I am actually not a
> > computer/web/electronics/programmer type of person, so I need answers in
> > basic language. Telling my to write a java-script app and run it on a
> > web-server will go straight over my head :o)
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > slinkelist maillist  -  slinkelist@nirvis.com
> > http://www.nirvis.com/mailman/listinfo/slinkelist
>
> --
>    --"Would you fly on airplane controlled by MS Windows ?"--
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> | Michael Holopainen | Valuraudantie 25 | Tel: +358-(0)9-35093825  |
> |                    | 00700 Helsinki   | Fax : +358-(0)9-35093850 |
> | Laserle Oy         | Finland          | email: michael@laserle.fi|
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
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