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Enabling
codes for extra facilities
on Sony DCR-TRV8E camcorders
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You modify camcorder memory values
entirely at your own risk!
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Procedure
for modifying memory values and updating checksums:
(not for the faint hearted, or those who haven't
got a clue what is going on)
Dire Warning!
- Read this before changing any memory values.
The
instructions below refer to the use of DVin Lite
V1.7, together with a suitable interface cable.
Video Pages has used this software together with
the interface cable supplied with a Smart DV PC
based enabling device to enable various non-standard
facilities on various Sony camcorders: three
examples of the DCR-TRV320E (Digital-8), a DCR-TRV620E
(also Digital-8), two DCR-TRV120Es (Digital-8, of
which one was unsuccessful - see below), two
examples of the CCD-TR913E (Hi-8), and on a CCD-TRV65E
(Hi-8).
It is not known which, if any, element provoked
the electrical failure pn the DCR-TRV120E (serial
number 1035459). It is possible that the
particular example of the TRV120E had a weakness
in the area of the of the LANC port which was
forced into actual failure by the usage of the
port to enable the facilities. However, it is
known that the LANC port failed together with the
5 volt output which should be present on the
other pole of the 2.5mm connector used for the
LANC.
It is also possible that neither the camcorder
nor any of the other elements of the set-up were
at fault. At the time of the failure the port was
being "hammered" by incrementing or
decrementing page addresses and data values at a
rapid rate, possibly a higher rate than it was
designed to accept.
The software provides the conventional "up"
& "down" arrows for incrementing
and decrementing values. The intended manner of
usage is to left "click" once (using
the mouse) on one of the arrows, thus changing
the value in the window by 1, then repeating this
as necessary until the required value is
displayed. This can be time consuming, and it was
found to be faster to click once on the
appropriate arrow, then to use the "enter"
key on the keyboard with it's inherent auto-repeat
feature to rapidly change the value in the window
to the required value. It is thought that this
may drive the port at a higher rate than it was
designed for, thus provoking the failure.
In
view of this it is strongly recommended that the
mouse is used to increment or decrement values
one step at a time, and that no attempt is made
to use the auto-repeat facility on the keyboard
in order to speed up the process.
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| 1) |
A suitable adapter (interface
cable) must be bought or made to connect the LANC
port on the camcorder to the parallel port on the
PC. Note that a desktop PC is a better choice
than a laptop, as some laptops use 3.3V
technology which does not interface well with a
camcorder. |
| 2) |
A suitable memory management
utility such as DVin Lite V1.7, RM95, or
RM95EMGY must be downloaded and used for
memory examination and/or modification. For users
of Windows 95 or later, DVin Lite V1.7 is
the preferred option. |
| 3) |
To enable changes in memory
values, change 00:01:00 to 00:01:01
(Store) |
| 4) |
Modify the data on page 0D(h)
in accordance with requirements, from the
information given below.
(Store each change). |
| 5) |
Finally, disable memory-write by
resetting 00:01 from 01
to 00 (Store). |
| 6) |
For modifications made by Video
Pages to the DCR-TRV8E camcorder, serial number
16,700, the checksum was not updated. Instead,
compensating values were used, and these were set
into specific locations. However, it is still
essential to read and understand the section
below headed "Checksum - and what to do if
it all goes wrong". |
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Checksum
- and what to do if it all goes wrong
It is important to note that the camcorder's memory
has a checksum which is always tested on start-up when
the power source is reconnected after having been
disconnected. If the camcorder has been switched off but
a power source is still connected - ie there is a charged
battery on the camcorder or the mains unit is connected
and switched on - switching on the camcorder will not
cause the checksum to be tested. For the checksum to be
tested the camcorder must be isolated
from all power sources for a minute or two, then a power
source reconnected and the camcorder switched on. If an
invalid checksum is found, the camcorder will be locked.
It is not damaged, and it is possible to rectify the
situation. The data must be corrected, but the problem is
that in these circumstances the camcorder turns off after
approx. 5 - 10 seconds, and the LANC port does not work.
It is possible that the camcorder may work well enough to
give access via the LANC port to the memory for the old
data to be rewritten, but only by continually opening and
closing the cassette door. It is highly impractical for
one person to do this while rewriting the data, so it
inevitably becomes a 2-person job.
The latest version of DVin lite (version 1.7)
has an "emergency" button. If the camcorder is
locked, the emergency mode may be invoked so that the
data may be easily rewritten. The locked camcorder must
be switched off and the power source(s) removed. This
means physically removing the battery and unplugging the
cable from the mains unit (if connected). The camcorder
must then be connected to the PC's parallel port using a
suitable interface (adapter) cable, and DVin lite V1.7
started. When the message: "Check cable ..."
appears, click on "YES". Connect a power source
(either a charged battery or the mains unit) and then
press the "Emergency" button. Wait approx 20
seconds untiil the next message appears, and and the
camcorder should then be able to accept the correct data.
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A few comments on
the objectives and procedures
The following codes are for The Sony TRV8E
mini-DV camcorder only, and should not be tried on any
other type of camcorder, not even a Sony camcorder of a
different type. To change memory values from the original
to the new, software such as DVin Lite or
an alternative Sony RM95 emulator must be used to access
the camcorder's memory. The existing memory values are
returned (and new values must be entered) in hexadecimal.
Specific values are given, and therefore bit manipulation
is not required.
It would be prudent to make a note of the
original value in case it becomes necessary to revert to
it at any time. Unless specified, all changes are to
memory values on page 0D(h), 13 (dec), except
that "memory write enable" is on page
00(h). Memory write must first be enabled before
changes can be made to any other memory location. It is
also essential to disable memory write after all the
required changes have been made, so that memory data is
not subsequently corrupted.
| Step |
Address |
Old data |
New data |
Action |
Steps 1-5 below are one self
contained procedure for enabling DV input and
recording. They may be used
independently of steps 6 - 14 which are for
enabling additional features.
|
| 1 |
00:01 |
00 |
01 |
Enable memory write |
| 2 |
0D:14 |
24 |
26 |
Enable recording |
| 3 |
0D:15 |
38 |
3B |
Checksum compensation |
| 4 |
0D:27 |
12 |
13 |
DV-in enable |
| 5 |
00:01 |
01 |
00 |
Disable memory write |
| If both the sets of
steps 1-5 and 6 - 14 are to be taken in one
session, then steps 5 and 6 may be omitted.
However, if steps 1-5 are not being taken, then
steps 6-14 must be regarded as a self contained
procedure and in this case step 6 must not be
omitted. The checksum compensation at step 13
requires that all the other steps in the
procedure be taken. If any steps are omitted then
the checksum compensation will be in error and
the camcorder will crash on start-up.
|
| 6 |
00:01 |
00 |
01 |
Enable memory write |
| 7 |
0D:17 |
77 |
F7 |
Enable viewfinder readout of
aperture and gain (manual exposure only). |
| 8 |
0D:18 |
40 |
60 |
Zebra-pattern over-exposure
indication. |
| 10 |
0D:24 |
01 |
19 |
Enable interval & frame
recording. |
| 11 |
0D:25 |
24 |
81 |
Colour bars (in camera mode).
Useful for setting up monitors. |
| 12 |
0D:26 |
00 |
10 |
Enable DV editing (as per TRV10E) |
| 13 |
0D:29 |
2F |
22 |
Checksum compensation |
| 14 |
00:01 |
01 |
00 |
Disable memory write |
| Note: it has not
been found possible to enable AV inputs on this
model. If anyone reading this page should happen
to find out how to enable the TRV8E for AV input,
please e-mail the details to Video Pages. We will
then put the information on the site for
everybody's benefit, and credit the provider of
the information. |
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| Page last
updated: 11 September, 2005 |