Summary of Contents for Digitalis Digitarium Alpha
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Page 1: User Manual
Digitarium Alpha Portable Digital Planetarium Projector User Manual Version 1.20 February 23, 2006... - Page 2 Copyright 2004-2006, Digitalis Education Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved. The Digitalis Education Solutions, Inc. logo, Digitarium, and Digitarium Alpha are trademarks of Digitalis Education Solutions, Inc. PO Box 2976 Bremerton, WA 98310 USA DigitalisEducation.com Phone: 360.616.8915 Digitarium Alpha User Manual 2...
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Page 3: Table Of Contents
Creating Multimedia Disks Video-In Port Maintenance Updates Lens Care Lamp Life Checking Remaining Lamp Life Lamp Replacement Troubleshooting How to Get Help Product Specifications Warranty Two year limited warranty Limited liability Software Licenses Regulatory Information Digitarium Alpha User Manual 3... -
Page 4: Introduction
You will get the most out of your projector if you understand the components of which it consists. The Digitarium Alpha is comprised of a computer, a DLP projector, and two remote controls. The computer runs planetarium software which is controlled by the Digitarium remote control. -
Page 5: Safety
Be careful lifting the projector due to its weight. • Feature Identifier Features, as labeled above: 1. Infrared receiver for Digitarium Alpha projector remote control 2. Projection lens 3. DVD drive 4. Video-in port 5. Audio jack 6. -
Page 6: Set Up And Turning On The Projector
The lens focus is fixed and not user adjustable. If your lens is loose or projection seems blurry even after the projector has fully warmed up (about three minutes), contact Digitalis technical support. Power On/Begin Projection 1) Switch on the projector. The start up process takes about one minute. -
Page 7: Stop Projection
While cooling, the indicator light will flash orange. Once finished, it will be steady orange. Note that the computer components of the Digitarium Alpha are still running. To resume projection, turn on the projection lamp just as you did the first time. -
Page 8: Turning Off The Projector
Packing To assist you in packing your Digitarium Alpha projector, a small white circle is attached to one corner of the transit case base foam. The lens of the Digitarium Alpha projector should be placed in the corner marked by this circle. This lines up the lens with a hole in the foam-lined top of the transit case, putting less pressure on the lens. -
Page 9: Use
Remote Control The Digitarium Alpha remote control is pictured below. There are four modes for the remote control: normal operating mode, menu mode, script playback mode, and media mode. The following pages will explain what the buttons do in each mode. -
Page 10: Normal Operating Mode
Accelerate speed of time forward. Can be pressed multiple times. Turn on/off labels for bright stars. Toggle between planet labels, planet labels with orbits, and no labels or orbits. To show one planet orbit at a time, select a Digitarium Alpha User Manual 10... -
Page 11: Normal Operating Mode
The equatorial grid is analogous to lines of latitude and longitude. It consists of parallels and meridians, with meridians crossing at the north and south poles. Move forward (+) or backward (-) in time the specified number of days. Digitarium Alpha User Manual 11... -
Page 12: Menu Mode
Remember that the observed rate depends on the location of the radiant, maximizing at the zenith. Will only display meteors while at real time rate. Access or exit media mode. Hide/show pointer. Cancel an object selection or other action. Digitarium Alpha User Manual 12... -
Page 13: Menu Mode
While editing, the setting value you are editing is displayed in white. Use the number buttons 0-9 and “ .” or “ -” to enter a number. To finish your edit, press . To cancel your edit press . To leave the menu, press again. Digitarium Alpha User Manual 13... - Page 14 5.4 Magnitude sizing multiplier: When object sizing is based on magnitude, this allows you to adjust the final size to your liking. 5.5 Milky Way intensity: Adjust the brightness of the Milky Way, from 0 to 100. Default intensity is 1. Digitarium Alpha User Manual 14...
- Page 15 7.5 N-S centering offset: Adjust sky centering north to south. Deprecated: Use DLP projector remote to adjust vertical position. 7.6 E-W centering offset: Adjust sky centering east to west. Deprecated: Use DLP projector remote to adjust horizontal position. Digitarium Alpha User Manual 15...
- Page 16 Enter the number 6. Enter the number 7. Enter the number 8. Enter the number 9. Enter a decimal point. Enter the number 0. Enter negative values (for southern latitudes and western longitudes). Cancel a selection. Digitarium Alpha User Manual 16...
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Page 17: Script Playback Mode
Script Playback Mode Scripting makes it relatively easy to create your own prerecorded segments and play these back on a Digitarium Alpha projector. This allows you to automate repetitive or awkward tasks, customize aspects of Stellarium, or even create complete prerecorded shows. See the separate document entitled “ Creating Scripts for the Digitarium Alpha”... -
Page 18: Media Mode (Using The Dvd Drive)
Media Mode The Digitarium Alpha has an integrated DVD drive which allows you to show your own or third-party content from a data CD, data DVD, or unencrypted video DVD. Most common formats of still images and video are supported. Audio files in WAV or OGG format can be played with an accompanying visualization. - Page 19 The next time you press this button, you will be taken to the DVD main menu. Note: You cannot open the DVD drive while in media mode as the disk drive is being used. Digitarium Alpha User Manual 19...
- Page 20 Pan up in a large image. Pan left in a large image. Pan right in a large image. Pan down in a large image. Decrease (-7) or increase (+7) video volume. Reset audio system. See troubleshooting section for more Digitarium Alpha User Manual 20...
- Page 21 Button Media Mode Function information. Access or exit media mode. Stop displaying an image or video. Digitarium Alpha User Manual 21...
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Page 22: Creating Multimedia Disks
The only way to know for sure is to test your disk in the projector. MPEG video is generally the best option, if you have a choice. Please also note that the Digitarium Alpha projector does not support encrypted video DVDs. -
Page 23: Video-In Port
The port accepts RGB input from a PC or Mac; a VGA cable for a PC is included. To switch back and forth between the internal video source and the external video source, press the “ source” button on the DLP remote control TWICE. Digitarium Alpha User Manual 23... -
Page 24: Maintenance
2. Plug a network cable into the socket located on the side of the enclosure. 3. Bring up the menu using the Digitarium Alpha remote control, and go to menu section 7, Administration. 4. Scroll down to 7.3, “ Update me over the Internet” and press 5. -
Page 25: Lens Care
Lamp Life The Digitarium Alpha planetarium projector is designed to require minimal maintenance. However, the projector lamp will eventually grow dimmer and burn out. It is important to keep track of the life remaining in the lamp, and to replace the lamp when its design lifetime is reached, even if it is still apparently working fine, in order to avoid catastrophic failure. -
Page 26: Lamp Replacement
THE NEW BULB. To reset the lamp life counter in the DLP projector: 7. Remove the side panel of the Digitarium Alpha projector which is opposite the the side with the DVD drive. To remove, unscrew the three screws along the bottom of this side, then move the side down toward the base and the bottom edge out away from the projector. -
Page 27: Troubleshooting
Turn on the azimuthal grid. Use the DLP projector remote to seems off adjust the horizontal position (“ H Position” ) of the projection as center. needed. This setting is accessible on the image menu section of the DLP projector on-screen display. Digitarium Alpha User Manual 27... - Page 28 Short term solution: Wait approximately 90 seconds, then turn projector lamp back on. If you have breaks between classes, turn off the projector lamp but not the Digitarium Alpha to cool the lamp. As soon as possible, follow the directions below for long term repair.
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Page 29: How To Get Help
4. If you play the video again, you should hear sound. How to Get Help If you are experiencing problems with your Digitarium Alpha, please: 1. Reread the manual to make sure you haven't missed a possible solution. 2. Check out the online support section of our website, DigitalisEducation.com. -
Page 30: Warranty
This warranty grants you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary based on your local laws. Limited Liability In no case shall Digitalis be liable for more than the purchase price of the product. Software Licenses The Digitarium Alpha projector is driven by software. -
Page 31: Regulatory Information
Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help. Modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer could void the user's authority to operate the equipment under FCC rules. Digitarium Alpha User Manual 31...