Installation manual

Engineering - 10
Satellite Automation
Satellite control input and output, and satellite audio input and output to and from the SMARTCASTER
are all accomplished through either a 37- pin D-connector located at the rear of the unit, or an Optional
Breakout, (fan-out), card. A diagram of this 37- pin connector is included at the end of this section.
If the system purchased contains an 8x4 Audio Switcher, please scan through this documentation, and
then refer to the AMX 8x4 Switcher section later in this manual. Installation of an 8x4 Switcher for
satellite automation is different from most SMARTCASTERS.
Control Wiring
The control wiring allows the SMARTCASTER to determine when a Local Break is to occur or if a jingle,
Audio Switcher ID, etc., needs to be fired. Control flows from the satellite receiver to specific digital
inputs of the SMARTCASTER. These digital inputs, located at the 37- pin connector, read the relay
closures from the satellite receiver. There are eight of these digital inputs, labeled DI 0 through DI 7.
Digital Input 0 is used for Local Breaks, (commercials), and Digital Inputs 1 through 6 are used for Audio
Switcher ID’s, jingles, etc.
To understand the wiring of the control circuits, we recommend that the installing engineer become more
familiar with the concepts of spot files and Function files. (Found in the Operations section of the
manual.) Briefly, spot files always mute the Network while they are being played, and are fired from
Digital Input 0 of the SMARTCASTER. Functions, on the other hand, are fired from Digital Inputs 1
through 7, and do not mute the Network audio while they play. These Functions play Audio Switcher
ID’s, jingles, magic calls, etc.
For example, to hook up the Local Break closure from the satellite receiver, Digital Input 0 on the 37- pin
connector is used. For an Opto-Isolated unit, (see explanation on Opto-Isolation), the unit fires a Local
Break if the positive lead of a 12 Volt DC power supply is connected to pin 12 of the 37- pin connector,
(Digital Input High #0), and the common lead is connected to pin 30 of the 37- pin connector, (Digital
Input Low #0). (Note: All units, not using the 8x4 Switcher, have been shipped in the opto isolated
mode since about 1991.) A 12 volt power supply is provided with the unit.
Applying twelve volts across the next Digital Input, fires Function 0 of the SMARTCASTER. Digital
Input 2 fires Function 1, etc...
On the other hand, in the rare event that the 37 pin connector is not optoisolated, a simple short across the
contacts of the Digital Inputs fires the Break.
What is heard when the various Functions are fired is dependent on two things: the wiring of the satellite
receiver relays to the unit, and secondly, what is recorded for that Function. For detailed instructions on
the recording and rotation of Functions, see the Function section of this manual.