Adaptive/Alpha LED Sign Animations

MrD

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I've been working with some Adaptive Signs creating arcade based animations. I'm going to post here how it can be done, and files to do it. The signs can be found pretty easily on eBay. There are different models, with different specs. They are all mostly compatible, programming wise, but the specs are different.

Here are the steps to make this work:

a) Get a sign. I've used the following Adaptive signs:
213c (Beta Brite) 8 color 80 x 7 pixels (one line sign, 8 color is really 3 color with some variations)
https://www.alpha-american.com/p-alpha-213c.html
320c 8 color 120 x 7 pixels (one line sign)
https://www.alpha-american.com/p-alpha-320c.html
4120c 3 color 120 x 16 pixels (two line sign)
https://www.alpha-american.com/p-alpha-4120c.html
4160c 3 color 160 x 16 pixels (two line sign)
https://www.alpha-american.com/p-alpha-4160c.html
7200c. 3 color 200 x 24 pixels (three/four line sign)
https://www.alpha-american.com/p-alpha-7200c.html

I believe the 215c is similar to the 213c except it's 90 x 7 pixels.
https://www.alpha-american.com/p-alpha-215c.html

Generally, the animations work on a similar sign with similar pixels. So a file for the 213c beta brite will work on the 320c, it's just centered on the sign since the file is based on 80 pixels wide, and the 320c has 120 pixels. However, a 320c file based on 120 pixels might have mixed results on a 213c sign as it's too big.

b) get a cable. Your sign might have a cable with it. Most signs use an RS232 connection. Sometimes they also have a RS485 connections as well. They connect with a RJ12 connection. The first problem is that computers no longer have an RS232 connection. I've worked up a cable, modifying a USB Cisco console cable. It requires cutting off the RJ45 end, and repositioning the wires to an RJ12 connection. I'll post how, but If someone wants one, I'll sell you one already done. Basically at cost so not trying to make any money on this, sometimes it's just easier to give you the end result, rather than trying to explain it. These USB cables seem to auto-configure with all the windows versions that I've tried. Your mileage may vary. The other option is to configure an actual serial cable and plug that into an existing serial port. Even if you have a port, the USB is probably still the easiest. You can also connect Digiport Server (with RJ45 serial ports), and put that on your network. A little more complicated. I'll post about that at some point.

c) Once your cable is auto-configured, you'll need to determine what COM port it created. You'l have to go into your device settings and see. I've seen them come up as COM4 or COM3. It really depends on your setup, but you'll need to know the COM port in a later step.

d) Programming: the protocol for the adaptive signs is pretty lengthy. The manuals are available online. I'll post a link if I can find one. There is limited free software out there. The AlphaNet program from Adaptive is pretty expensive unless you plan on doing a lot of changes. I believe that most of the BetaBrite signs come with limited software. Coding it all by hand would be pretty tedious and difficult but once you are hooked up you can play around with it. Might be easiest just to take one of the files I post and send it to your sign.

e) Animations: The big problem with these signs is twofold. Limited resolution, and limited color pallet. 7 pixels high isn't all that much to work with. Even 16 pixels isn't that much. Luckily, classic arcade games didn't have great resolution either. If you look at the sprite graphics, you can find some good examples of what can work and what can't. Pacman, Defender, Centipede, and Space Invaders all have sprites that are doable. The color pallet is another problem. Red, green, amber and black don't give you much to work with. So Pacman and a red ghost are ok, but the Blue ghost has to show up as Green. Acceptable, but not perfect. You work with what you can.

An animation on one of these signs is really made up of different graphic frames. You can do about 100 frames total (internal sign number limit). You are also limited by total memory space. You can determine the delay between frames, or no delay. The Files I've been working with are playing at the smallest delay (but not NO delay). No delay really works better, but then you need more frames to smooth it out. An animation then is made up of some text programming, plus up to 100 80 x 7 pixel images strung together. I've had to basically draw the frames by hand with Paint. Once you start seeing everything in pixels, you know you've been at it too long!

Stay tuned for more updates!
 
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To program the sign, you need to know your COM port. Let's assume in this example that your cable is COM4.

You need to do the following:

a) connect your cable to the PC and the sign. Make sure it's plugged into the RS232 input on the sign (not he RS485 if there is one)

b) save the programming file someplace in your system. Assume c:\downloads (probably not on your computer, but you'll have to substitute). The file is signfile.txt

c) Get to the command line: CMD

d) do the following:

CD c:\downloads
mode com4:9600, N, 8, 1
copy signfile.txt com4: /b

e) that's it. The file might be 50k, so at 9600 baud it will take a little time. Your sign will probably go blank while it's programming, then start up.


KEEP IN MIND, that some of the signs will keep the programming in memory for a long time. Others will hold with an internal battery after being unplugged, for maybe 30 days. The beta brite's hold their memory/clock if they are plugged in, but turned off. If you have a remote, you can turn the signs on/off, while keeping them plugged in.
 
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Unzip and view the readme. Descriptions of various files. Some for Betabrite/320c or 4120c files. File updated 1/20/19.
 

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Here is a small animation sequence. They look better on a sign but you get the idea.
 

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I know I have an Alpha sign hiding somewhere but I have never been able to find the software for it. That's partly what holds me back form inquiring about buying dozens more from work where they are being decommissioned.
 
One thing to keep in mind - especially for signs that were used in a commercial environment (not the beta brites), they sometimes have custom firmware depending on their use. I've purchased a couple off of Ebay and had to burn a new EPROM. Not a big deal if you have a burner.
 
Made up a couple cables if anyone is interested in trying to get a sign to work. Tested with Betabrite, 320c and 4120c. I can ship you one for $12.

Also uploaded some files in the 5th post above. Including the long arcade based sequence - about 100 frames with Pacman, Space Invaders, Centipede and Defender - for the betabrite. Some files for Beta/320c. A couple for 4120. I'll work on uploading a few more setups.
 

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Thanks again for providing this to the community.

I always love watching the animations you set up in my game room.


It was really easy to upload the file to the sign just like you said
 
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Can you upload a video of all the animation sequences created so far and provide the model of display it's in?
 
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I've had some life issues to deal with and sort of shelved the project.

Hopefully it's settling down and I can get back to it with some updates. I'll post some more here as I progress.
 
I Have the Alpha 4120R 1019-4403N firmware 27C010 Just updated a bunch of signs for a customer. The Red sticker firmware on the 4121R I guess is limited in function. I Cannot believe they charge $85.00ea for a chip and carrier WTF?

20220219_231955-1024x576.jpg

Sign-1024x576.jpg
 
I had recently stumbled on this thread (I have several Beta-Brites). The "sign-beta-arcade.txt " file works great. However, on my Beta Brite, it displays the time at the beginning of the sequence (every time). I don't see that on the video posted above. Anyone know how to turn that off? Also anyone know what program was used to generate the .txt file? I have several of the Beta Brite programming apps, but none can read that file.
 
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