TextGrabber Model GP500

Closed Captioned (VBI 21) Decoder System For Windows, MAC, and LINUX

TextGrabber is a unique product that is designed to access the closed captioned information contained within a television signal, convert it to text or straight ascii, and then transfer it to a PC over a standard serial or RS-232 line. As a result, you can generate a word-for-word transcript from a television program. TextGrabber even captures text off a standard VCR, DSS or DVD!

TextGrabber is capable of decoding data from the 4 caption channels (C1,C2,C3,C4), and from the 4 text channels (T1,T2,T3,T4). TextGrabber even supports the new XDS extended data service channel. TextGrabber can be set to decode all of the contents of field one, field two or both fields simultaneously. In addition, TextGrabber supports a special filter mode which will strip out the various control characters from the text stream used for positioning text for traditional on screen display applications, leaving a clean word-for-word sentence structured transcript. All of these functions plus many more are handled exclusively by a custom on board microprocessor which is controlled by sending a series of simple control characters from either custom application software or most terminal emulation programs such as Hyperterm or ProComm.

TextGrabber offers a wide variety of applications. In education it will generate written transcripts of television broadcasts for use as study guides. Create supplemental text for the hearing impaired. Offers a low cost solution for the broadcast industry to recover VBI 21 data for MPEG processing.

Accesses all Closed Caption Channels (i.e., C1,C2,C3,C4). Accesses all Text Channels (i.e., T1,T2,T3,T4). Supports the New XDS Format (Extended Data Services). Can Select a Specific Data Channel (i.e., C1 or T3) or The Entire Field. Filter Mode for Stripping Out Control Characters Used for OSD Formatting. Raw Mode That Accesses All Data Contained Within a Given Field. Front Panel LED's to Display System Mode and Data Present Conditions. NTSC, SVHs and PAL Support. (Note: The Unit Must Have A Composite Video Input!) Generate Word-for-Word Transcripts of Your Favorite Television Programs. Read the News in Minutes by Quickly Filtering Out Annoying Commericals. Create Hard Copies of Various How To Programs for Later Reference. Create Transcripts of Documentaries And Use as a Study Guide. Operate you own clipping service using the TextGrabber Control Software. Broadcasting - Use as a VBI Line 21 Recovery Device. Digitial Processing - A Must For MPEG and MPEGII Processing. Education - Create Transcripts For Classroom Use. Adverising - Video Monitoring and Media Asset Tracking Hearing Impaired - Use TextGrabber to Supplement OSD Display's on Television Sets. Visually Impaired - Connect to Brail Printers to Create Brail Transcripts of Television Programs.

IR External Serial Device

Model IR500 PC Controlled External IR Transceiver

The IR500 series is a full featured, full learning Infrared (IR) Transceiver that allows a personal computer to control virtually any IR appliance including VCR's, DVD's, DSS's, Stereo Surround Sound Systems and other common IR devices.

The IR500 is heuristic device that can learn any IR remote. Simply point the desired IR remote toward the front of the unit, depress each key on the remote, and the IR500 will learn and store the exact IR profile of each key to your PC's hard drive. There is no limitation to the number of IR remotes the IR500 can learn and store.

Once an IR remote profile is learned and stored, a simple software interface enables your PC to send the appropriate IR "data packet", command to the IR500. The IR500 converts the "data packet" into the signal necessary to control the given appliance. Now your PC is in full control of your appliances! The IR500 can also receive IR Signals from handheld remotes, decode the signal and pass them on to the PC in real-time. This means you can launch PC applications, home automation functions, macros for launching multimedia sequences and more, with a handheld remote! The IR500 is a simple device that solves the myriad of IR compatibility and software issues common to home and office automation installations. See examples.

The IR500 comes with Windows and Linux application software to learn, store and transmit IR profiles captured from handheld remotes. It also functions well with standard communications programs such as Hyperterm. The IR500 comes with either USB or RS-232 Interfaces, 4 External Emitter/ Status Probe Ports. The IR500 is also available in internal PC-card, IR400, and as an Ethernet modular device configuration as the IR300.

Product Highlights

Easy-to-Use - Quick Setup and Easy Operation. Facilitates software integration.

State-of-the-Art - The IR500 uses our advanced IR-OEM Core V.2 Technology.

Frequency Agile - Can emulate most remotes operating between (10KHz - 550KHz).

Bi-directional - IR signals can be received and transmitted to and from the PC.

Highly Defined Data Packets - Includes 'Modulation Frequency', 'Bit Timing', 'Function', 'Emitter Port' and 'Probe Channel'.

High Performance - Over 20' range & "Ultra-Monochromatic" IR detectors for use with fluorescent lighting environments.

Easy Integration - Requires no special software drivers and can easily be integrated to application software. See Details

Two Year Limited Warranty - Each unit is shipped with a two-year limited warranty.

Hardware Features and Connectivity

Includes one (1) Internal IR Receiver - For learning and receiving IR signals from a hand held IR remote..

Includes one (1) Internal IR Transmitter - For transmitting IR signals to IR appliances received from the PC.

Includes four (4) Ports that can be configured as either External IR Emitter Ports - For connecting an "External IR Emitter Cable", or as External State Probe Inputs - For connecting an "External Status Probe".

A visible LED showing transmission or receipt of IR data.

Connectivity - Available with Serial (RS-232) or USB (HID) Interface.

Applications (Vendor Specific Application Software May be Required)

Home Automation - Provides seamless control of all Audio and Video equipment.

Commercial Applications - Use to sequence through Multimedia Presentations.

Hobbyists - Build your own applications to control Specialized IR equipment.

System Integrators - Use the IR500 to solve your IR hardware integration problems.

IR500 Models

Serial (RS-232) Interface

USB (HID) Interface