DVin page
Most DV cams imported to Europe are without possibility to record video clip back to the tape. There are some companies here which sell their solutions to enable DV in for Sony, Panasonic, Canon and maybe other models of DV cams. There are more companies here which offer this solutions to owners of cams. Prices are from 50$ to 200$ (maybe more), no guarantee (you can lost guarantee to cam) and why pay for something, what non europe owners have for free (for the same price as you).
I decided to make solution for my Panasonic NV-DA1. The program named PanaTest (...only for testing and studying purpose, blah, blah...) is working good, is very simple to use if you know the right codes for enabling (or back - disabling) your cam. This program can read/write code (byte) from/to any address (location) of VCR memory (parameters for VCR mode). PanaTest uses the same commands like Panasonic DV Studio (for capturing still images) so that if the DV Studio works with camera, PanaTest will work too.
Why we need DVin
The digital system converts the analog video and audio information to a digital format prior to recording the video on to tape. Standard digital data storage techniques such as compression, and error detection and correction mechanisms are utilized to ensure that the integrity of the data remains high. Because noise and crosstalk are not an issue with digital data, the video can be transfered to the PC, edited, and copied back to the tape without any loss in quality.
What do you need?
PC - Windows 95/98 (not tested with Windows NT, but works with Virtual PC 3 on MAC- thank Reinier S.)
free serial port
Panasonic DVC still capture cable
If you haven't panasonic personal computer connection kit (VW-DTA1E) you can make your own cable .
plug - RS232
RX ---> pin 3 (TX)
TX ---> pin 2 (RX)
GND -> pin 5 (GND)
This is my cable uncovered
Read detailed description - Make your own cable - http://www.cis.tu-graz.ac.at/wb/dvin/panautil.htm or Siggi's homepage (German)
How can I enable (disable) DVin?
Note: PanaTest v. 2 has new option - Page. This Instruction for use and picture is for older PanaTest. They are very similar, but if you aren't sure, how to use PanaTest v. 2, wait some days for new instruction.
1. Connect PC and DV cam by cable, turn DV cam on and switch to VCR mode.
2. Run PanaTest. Close About dialogue.
3. Check Com port which you are using (1) and click on Read button (2).
4. You should see:
1st line - Address F8 (3)
and its code (4),
this can be used for identification DVC (62 is DA1 and so on).
2nd line - Address F7 (5)
(address field) and its code (6) (read code field),
this says you if DV in enable or disable (look table 1).
If the connection is wrong, you'll see message box and XX in code fields
(4)
(6).
5. If you know right code, put it in field above Write button (7) (written code field) and you can write it to cam by clicking on Write button (8). Use only capital characters (A, B, C, D, E, F) or digits (0..9). If you put wrong character (i.e. ff, b8, ...), you'll get warning message and non code is written to cam. Allways make note of address and code before and after writing! After succesfully writing to cam you'll see written code in read code field (6).
6. Some models need to change code of address 30:
Click on address in address field (5),
delete it and put 30 in address field. Click on Read button (2).
Make note of the code. Put right code (table 1) in written code field
(7) and click Write
(8).
7. If you are finished, turn DVC off for no less then 5 sec.
If you need to disable DVin (for servicing) you can do it by the same process with codes for disabling.
WARNING!!!
Be careful.
If you use wrong codes or addresses, you may damage your cam!
Close Panatest and turn off cam before connecting or disconnecting, you may damage your port!
Have you any question?
Read FAQ
DVin codes
Table 1 - older cams
If you don't have PanaTest v. 2 (unnecessary for older cams) ignore column Page
Model | Page | Address | Code En. | Code Dis. | Comment | List |
DS77 | 0 | F8 | 42 | 42 | Identification | |
0 | F7 | 01 or 81 | 19 or 99 | |||
0 | 30 | 23 | 33 | Confirmed | DS77List | |
DA1 | 0 | F8 | 62 | 62 | Identification | |
0 | F7 | 00 | 18 | |||
0 | 30 | EF | FF | Confirmed | DA1List | |
DS33 | 0 | F8 | 72 | 72 | Identification | |
0 | F7 | 01 | 19 | |||
0 | 30 | 23 | 33 | Confirmed | DS33List | |
EX1 | 0 | F8 | 82 | 82 | Identification | |
0 | F7 | 01 | 19 | |||
0 | 30 | 23 | 33 | |||
DX100 | 0 | F8 | A2 | A2 | Identification | |
0 | F7 | 00 | 18 | Confirmed | DX100List | |
DS5 | 0 | F8 | B2 | B2 | Identification | |
0 | F7 | 00 | 18 | Confirmed | DS5List | |
DS1 | 0 | F8 | C2 | C2 | Identification | |
0 | F7 | A0 | B8 | Confirmed | DS1List |
Table 2 - New Cams
Model | Page | Address | Code En. | Code Dis. | Comment | List |
DS99 | 0 | F7 | A0 | A0 | ||
0 | DD | 2C | 3C | |||
1 | 97 | 02 | 12 | Confirmed | DS99List | |
DS11 | 0 | F7 | 68 | 68 | ||
1 | 97 | 03 | 13 | Confirmed | DS11List | |
EX3 | 0 | F7 | A0 | A0 | ||
0 | DD | 2C | 3C | Note 1* | ||
1 | 97 | 02 | 12 | Confirmed | EX3List | |
DS8 | 0 | F7 | 68 | 68 | ||
1 | 97 | 83 | 93 | Confirmed | DS8List | |
DS35 | 0 | F7 | A0 | A0 | ||
0 | DD | 2C | 3C | Note 1* | ||
1 | 97 | 02 | 12 | Confirmed | ||
DS55 | 0 | F7 | A0? | A0? | ||
0 | DD | 2C? | 3C? | Note 1* | ||
1 | 97 | 02? | 12? | Not confirmed |
Note:
For older cams (Table 1):
Difference between codes of address F7 is allways 18h (in codes above):
Disable[F7] - Enable[F7] = 18h
Disable[30] - Enable[30] = 10h
For newer cams (Table 2):
Disable[0;DD] - Enable[0;DD] = 10h
Disable[1;97] - Enable[1;30] = 10h
Your List may be different from these above for different setting (or e.g. with/without cassette).
Note 1*:
Update 4.7.2000:
It isn't necessary to change code at address DD (page 0) for types DS8 and DS11,
I got message that DV in of DS11 and DS8 works fine with unchanged code 3C at address DD.
I got also information that EX3, DS35, DS55 and DS99 probably have the same codes but I still didn't get
verifying about it.
Update 6.7.2000:
I got other messages that it is suffice to change only address [1;97] for all cams (except DS99 -
I didn't got any message about it).