Equipment identification help wanted please :)

[Mike Connell]

Hi folks. I’ve recently been lucky enough to purchase the tech install from a cinema, and have started unloading it and working out what I’ve got and what needs updating (nervous about expired certificates). There’s a couple of pieces I’d appreciate sone knowledge on.

The first is the IMB on the NC900-C - is this a 2k4?

Secondly, I have a piece of rack mount equipment which is a bit generic - pic attached. Anyone any idea what it is? With a drive caddy I’m wondering if it’s another NAS or maybe a digital file recipient? Any help appreciated and apologies if I’m coming across as a massive newby; because I am!
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[Pete Naples]

The IMB needs a DCP2K4 Showvault to work with it. You're right to be wary of certificates, not an issue if dealt with in time.

The rack mounted device, is most likely a Lansat. Depending where this equipment came from, it may not have belonged to the cinema, many Lansats are on loan as part of a deal rolled out a few years back.

[Philip Jones]

Yes, definitely a LANsat and although I think you can purchase them, most were loaned

[Mike Connell]

Thanks both. I'll make sure I reach out to LANSAT once I've got into the equipment (digitally speaking) to ensure it's mine before embarking on anything extravagant. The kit came with a Doremi Showvault-4 which I assume was connected.

[Carsten Kurz]

You should connect and fire up the NC900 in combination with the ShowVault. I assume you also got the necessary PCIe cable?

This combo may need some checking into firmware - if it isn't running on current firmware and software, the cert will expire late November and the IMB will be useless.

Not much is needed - AC cables for projector and ShowVault, PCIe cable, a VGA monitor, USB or PS/2 keyboard and mouse.

Then you may need to change cert battery on the ShowVault. Are you familiar with basic electronic testing, i.e. using a multimeter?

Did you also get a sound processor? Otherwise you will at first have problems to get sound working.

[Ryan Gallagher]

Note you may not have the power for the lamp supply at your location, but that is not needed to do the initial firmware and battery status checks that Carsten is referring to.

the Showvault/IMB firmware update is critical before November otherwise it becomes e-waste.

[Carsten Kurz]

The NC900 consumes less than a typical hair dryer, even with both lamps on, so that shouldn't be a problem.

[Mike Connell]

Thanks folks! Yes, I’ve got a pcie cable to connect the imb and doremi. Its first on my list to bring back and hook up to sort, so any tips or guidance on sorting the impending certificate issue would be greatly appreciated.

the kit also came with a Dolby CP750 for sound processing.

in pulling everything apart what I haven’t found is barrel keys for the NEC though - any clues on getting replacements? IMG_1576.jpg

[Ryan Gallagher]

If they are like the old krypto lock barrel keys, they can be opened with a plastic tube from a ball point pen.

[Dave Macaulay]

Nhe keys are all the same for these NEC projectors and can be purchased from an NEC dealer, maybe direct from NEC.

[Steve Guttag]

To be clear...within a model, keys are all the same. But NC1200/2000C keys are not the same as NC900/1000 keys. I forget if the newer laser projectors are using the the same keys.

[Mike Connell]

Thanks Steve. I’ve reached out to Sharp/NEC, so let’s see what happens. I need the key to replace the coin battery asap!

[Steve Guttag]

For the NC900C, the keys should be: 79TY1701

I have verified that the part number for keys for some of the later projectors, like the NC3541L are different.

[Mike Connell]

Thanks Steve - that’s awesome of you to check that out for me!

[Leo Enticknap]

The 900 and 1000 use the same chassis and covers, meaning that the keys are the same.

The lock blade on the card cage and lens covers does not operate a tamper switch, meaning that as long as you have no physical security concerns (who has access to the booth, etc.), you can disable them permanently (but not irreversibly), as so:

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This will make removing the cards and lens for their annual clean and reseat a bit easier.

My memory is a bit hazy, but I believe that the lock blade on the top lid cover does operate a tamper switch, meaning that you can't disable that one. But this cover would only ever need to be removed for emergency repairs and the every 20,000 hour scheduled fan replacement (which is only supposed to be done by a certified tech anyways), whereas the other two need to be removed for more frequent planned maintenance, which in some theaters is done by the end user.

There is a separate set of keys for xenon-lit Series 2 NECs: one key opens the lamphouse, the other everything else. I guess the thinking there is that the lamphouse key is made available to projectionists, but the "everything else" key stays in the manager's office. The "everything else" key from this set also opens the side panels of many NEC lasers, but the current generation of lasers (e.g.2041L and 3541L) have a physical laser safety key, that has to be inserted and latched in order for the light source to come on; and that key is separate from any others.

The last I knew, we (a US-based official SharpNEC dealer) were able to order replacements for all NEC key sets except for Series 1 projectors, of which they no longer have any left. If you want to buy a proper set of keys rather than have to resort to lock picking, I would suggest contacting a UK-based SharpNEC dealer (i'm guessing Sound Associates, Bell Theatre Services, Omnex, and Future Projections are, but that's just a guess).

In any case, making contact with a dealer is a good idea, because you'll need lamps and air filters sooner or later. It is possible that your projector arrived with gross and disgusting air filters, like this fine specimen...

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...in which case, they need to be replaced ASAP.