Hi, I'm hoping someone will have some info to provide regarding a Kestra
Video Multiplexer with 24 camera inputs.
The front panel layout is the following, except the PSU connectors are on
the bottom edge of the box. The diecast box measures 10.5" x 7" x 2.5" deep.

There is a Status LCD display that appears to have 4 lines of 20 characters.
24 Hirose 12-pin camera connectors.
A 9-pin serial D-sub connector labeled Serial Comm.
3 power connectors labeled PSU 1, 2, 3 (three 3-pin XLR connectors)

6 BNC connectors labeled:
Horiz Sync
Vert Sync
Int
PClock Res
Idle Control
Video Out Capture Card

I was hoping that the 12-pin camera connectors would be the same pinout as
some Sony and Pulnix (and maybe Panasonic) industrial machine vision camera
connectors.
With no power applied, I'm not able to trace any of the PSU leads directly
to the 12-pin connector pins to verify that the pinouts are compatible.

Since I'm not sure how the unit is supposed to be powered, I'm not sure how
to proceed. I've discovered that the MAXIM ICs are -5/+5V devices, the
cameras I'm familiar with are 12VDC, so the 5V supplies could be derived
from a 12V input.

If I may assume that I know something about how this box might work, I think
it will power the cameras (cam ports fed 12V from a PSU input), and allow
any of the 24 input signals to be output to the Video Out/Capture Card port
(controlled by a PC connected to the Comm port).
I also assume that if the cameras have their own internal sync, then the BNC
ports wouldn't need to be fed with other sync and pixel clock signals.
Or, the cameras could possibly use sync signals from this unit's internal
sync circuits (if they are present).

Kestra appears to have been a UK based company.
The ICs show date code year of 2000, so the unit isn't very old.

Inside the box, it seems that the 24 inputs may be separated into 3 banks of
8 cameras, as there a
3 ea. MAXIM MAX440CPI (U2, 3 & 4)
8-Channel, High-Speed, Video Multiplexer Amplifier

additionally:
8 ea. 74HCT245N Philips near the LCD display module.

And:
1 ea. PIC16C65A-20 I/P Microchip

Finally, there are 24 each 6-position dip switches (1 for each camera
input), which are all set to the same positions (3 Off, 1, 2, 4, 5 & 6 On).
I assume that each dip switch is for switching/selecting each of the 6 BNC
port signals on/off for each camera.

An IC for the serial port, some rectifiers (at the PSU inputs), a few
3-terminal voltage regulators and not many discreet components are the
balance of internal parts.
The LCD display is a self-managed module.

--
Cheers,
WB
..............

Wild_Bill wrote:

Yep, that Kestra box in the auction is the one I'm attempting to decipher.
Several aspects seem weird about it, although they probably aren't big
hurdles.
The 3 power supplies seems goofy.


Not really. There are lot of wideband op amps used in video
equipment that require a split rail to allow the video to hit zero volts
at the sync tips. and a +5 or +3.3 volt rail to power the control logic
is neccesary, to isolate the noise on the rail from the video. There
may be LDO regulators or for each camera, which would be why you can't
find anything on the 12 pin conectors. On the other hand, the cameras
it was made for may be line powered, or have other power requirements
provided by individual CCUs. It looks like you not only need a manual
but possibly software, or other equipment to use this item. On the
other hand, the maxim data sheets & application notes are good enough to
reverse engineer from.


--
You can't have a sense of humor, if you have no sense!