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Author Topic: The Best Failsafe? Jeff Newton unregistered posted 05-30-1999 01:31 AM              Can anyone give a recommendation as to a good reliable failsafe and cue detector? We have the old cue tape sprip on the edge of the film kind and they have never worked properly and we want to upgrade. Brad Miller unregistered posted 05-30-1999 01:31 AM              I highly recommend the Component Engineering if you are just looking for a good, solid 3 cue detector/failsafe that won't miss! I have used these in different theaters for years and years. I tell you, they are incredible. I don't think they have ever missed a cue. If they have, I sure didn't know about it. There is a link to Component Engineering on the "movie related" links page. I think the model is FM35, but don't quote me on that. If you are searching for something more that just a 3 cue reader, repost and I can recommend some automations that will read up to 99 cues as well as automations that can take a single cue reader and do virtually unlimited commands. Joe Redifer unregistered posted 05-30-1999 01:32 AM              The CE cue readers actually have missed a few cues. From what I have seen, the cues are created as little dots from a hole puncher or something similar. Well, from my experience these little dots aren't quite big enough, and the cues miss. Making your own dots (or squares) so that they are bigger will solve that problem and the cues will never miss. CE also offers a motion detecter instead of a failsafe. The CE automation is also kind of cool. The one with bells and whistles, forget the model # Ken Layton unregistered posted 05-30-1999 02:38 AM              Component Engineering's FM-35 is the best and most reliable failsafe unit on the market. They stand behind their products 100%. For those of you who are looking around this is the unit to get, but no matter what brand you get, it won't work for very long if you've got any oil leaks from the projector or soundhead. It gets on the circuit board and/or obscures the LED's causing false shutdowns or failure to start the show! If you have machines that leak oil then you should stick with the conventional drop failsafes with micrositches and cue foil strips on outside edge of film. I've seen REGAL projectionists spray Windex of the circuit boards (while the power was on, yet!!!)to try and clean off the oil. Goodbye circuit board---hello refunds! Sean McKinnon Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1712 From: Peabody Massachusetts Registered: Sep 2000 posted 09-13-2000 02:54 PM                        Use the component engineering it is the best failsafe/Automation package.  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 09-13-2000 06:54 PM                     I personally like the EPRAD prox unit or the Raven prox detectors  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 09-14-2000 06:49 AM                     The FP-350 or the CE units. I feel they are about equal. The CE unit does do motion sense too which can be tied into the fail safe for that extra margin of safety. Mark  |  IP: Logged Dave Cutler Master Film Handler Posts: 277 From: Centennial, CO Registered: Jun 2000 posted 09-14-2000 09:06 AM                     I will second Mark on the FP-350. I have used it with much success. Attatched to the CNA-200 Automation (Learn mode ALWAYS ON!) from Strong all my cues worked, and were 100% invisible on screen. Very nice.  |  IP: Logged Greg Pauley Expert Film Handler Posts: 173 From: Huntington, WV, USA Registered: Jun 2000 posted 09-14-2000 10:14 AM                        I'm running 15 of the FM35 with very few problems. Anytime I had a problem, its been due to a lack of proper cleaning. CE has great support!  |  IP: Logged

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