Test Chest

Your comprehensive pocket-size TV Laboratory

* LCD TV Monitor.	* TV Wave-Form Monitor
* 16:9 native format.	* Oscilloscope function
* SDI/CVBS autoswitching	* TDR Cable Fault Detector
* SDI Test Signal Generator.	* OSD of detected IP mode
* Analog Test Sig Generator.	* Powerful LED flashlight
* SDI de-embedding	* Rechargable NMH battery
* Audio Level Measurement	* Universal Ext PSU (3 pin IEC)
* Built-in Loudspeaker	* Splash & Dust protected (IP 65)

Why struggle with a trolley load of TV Test Equipment when all you require is Test Chest?

This comprehensive hand held unit, which is equivalent to a bay of test equipment, has been developed from Murraypro's earlier Which-Wire?, and now embraces LCD Monitor, SDI & Analog Test signal generation with powerful monitoring and measurement features, all in one compact weather resistant case.

Policing of colour Gamut is facilitated by three different modes of parade monitoring on the integral WFM.

Your audio requirements are not forgotton either, with an XLR3-M output of the analog tone source; incredibly, there is even an internal mini-loudspeaker and also a numeric display for accurate level monitoring. An output on 3.5mm Jack socket is also provided for headphone monitoring, which is current controlled, limiting SPL, for your hearing protection.

Cable Fault problems too are swiftly resolved, with Test Chest clearly indicating the distance to open or short-circuits and iterative termination errors; and it might even locate the odd crushed cable for you!

A powerful white LED flashlight is incorporated which will be found extremely useful, especially when operating in low light levels; where, normally under these circumstances one might be struggling to correctly identify cable colours, or even system labeling.

Test Chest, 9 major functions

....in one compact case

Combining 9 major functions into one robust ultra-compact hand held unit only 195 x 85 x 33mm, and eliminating a trolley load of Test Equipment, Test Chest's 3.6" 16:9 LCD correctly identifies input sources, switching automatically between SDI & CVBS mode, whilst an on-screen banner declares detected video standard.

Test Chest's unique "Video detect" mode, which was pioneered by our innovative Which-Wire?, does not require you to operate a power switch; instead it automatically awakes from "slumber" when video is applied, and automatically turns off when the input signal is removed. Pretty neat, eh?

15 different high quality TV Test Signals are available, with simultaneous OP of SDI to 10 bit resolution, and CVBS to 8 bit equivalent resolution. For maximum battery economy, the SDI output may be depowered, when only a CVBS output is required.

A continously moving puck feature is also provided which may be overlaid on to the Colour Bar output, enabling Synchroniser freezes and MPEG-Transport artifacts to be instantly detected and localised. Selecting the SDI input signal as "source", with the output selected to "LCD", enables Test Chest to OP a fully equalised and reclocked SDI OP stream, together with a very useful parallel feed of Composite Video!

Test Chest doubles as a system Wave-Form Monitor, and is provided with a range of TV related timebase ranges. Selecting between the YPrPb, RGB and YRGB Parade modes, enables Users to monitor Camera OP for Gammut errors, and to apply correction whilst in the field under battery power, even under adverse weather conditions. To aid trace identification whilst in Parade mode, the switched channels are appropriately coloured, see our montage above. The WFM display is also available on BNCs, in SDI and CVBS format, for display on an external monitor if required, where the digitally produced graticules will be reproduced.

With an SDI input signal, Test Chest provides an indication of IP cable length.

Composite video input with Pulse and Bar.

Selected pairs of channels of audio are de-embedded from the input SDI source, and the audio level is displayed on a numeric display, enabling instant and unambigious differentiation between an AES reference tone @ -18dBFS or an SMPTE @ -20dBFS level, for example. Either channel may be selected for monitoring on the internal confidence loudspeaker via the volume control, and the selected audio signal is also brought out to a 3.5mm headphone Jack socket, which is a particularly useful feature in noisy environments.

SDI 2H display: the embedded audio packet present between EOL & SOL, is clearly shown.

Test Chest also provides a vital indication of Stereo Phase, between the embedded audio channel pairs, whereby a suspicious reading is immediately obvious by "L-R" (=Alegbraic Difference signal) exceeding "L+R" (=Algebraic Sum signal), on the "%" fields of the Audio display.

A toggle switch at the end of the case selects the XLR3-M output between the on-board audio tone generator providing monaural analogue balanced baseband audio at 0, +2 or +4dBV; or a stereo AES encoded bitstream at 110 ohms. Test Chest furnishes an invaluable one-stop test source for the confirmation of System audio gain.

An Oscilloscope function, with 1M +20pF nominal IP loading, and a frequency response extending above 10MHz is provided. This supplements the ubiquitous Engineer's Boot and MultiMeter, enabling the utilisation of more subtle and conventional bench fault-finding techniques whilst in the field. Via a x10 Probe, it is practical to use the Test Chest's internal speaker, or headphones, to visually monitor and listen to an input signal without any significant circuit loading, as shown below..

Using Time Domain Reflectrometry techniques, Test Chest is able to differentiate between open and short circuit cables, clearly indicating itterative termination errors, together with an estimation of the distance to that error point. This feature is particularly valuable when identifying the physical location of cable problems, and particularly when determining at which end of a cable the defective connector is located (so, no more tiresome remaking that good end first!).

The photo below shows a demonstration of a 2 metre length stub, "Tee'd in" at 90 metres, on to an otherwise correctly terminated cable of 120 meter in total length.

Test Chest contains an internal RTC, which is usually set to insert Time-Of-Day on to the output signals. An on-board character generator with nonvolatile RAM stores your own alpha-numeric string, ensuring that a uniquely identified source signal is available for your "down the line" applications.

Last, but by no means least, is the integrated flashlight, which is powered by the Test Chest's NMH rechargable battery. This powerful white LED generated beam is particularly valuable when working in restricted space and in conditions of low ambient light, illuminating System ident labels and even differentiating cable colours. The picture on the right, is an un-retouched photograph, taken in total darkness, with zero ambient illumination.

Test Chest is supplied with an external universal +12V SMPSU which is fitted with IEC320 3 pin male mains connector; so that a simple swap-out of mains lead will permit operation anywhere in the world.

Test Chest is housed in a robust extruded aluminium housing, & connectors are either rated at, or sealed to IP65, ensuring splash and dust protection for this compact miracle. A complimentary "wrap" style cover is provided with Test Chest for day to day protection, but a tough ever ready case with carrying strap in Cordura™ material is available to provide instant access, see photograph below, and to provide a futher measure of protection from the real world.

Test Chest in it's optional "Ever-Ready" case (shown with the integral protective Visor raised).

Incorrectly-equalised cable losses are clearly visible here, on this CVBS 100.0.100.0 Colour Bar input signal.

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© Murraypro Sept 2007, E&OE.