Panasonic Plasma Driver Ready for Testing

[noworries]

This modest update adds support for Series 9 Panasonic Plasma monitors. The only real difference between the Series-9 and the Series-6 is that I've confirmed that its possible to select the sub-channels on the input cards with Series-9 units. So if you have a card with S-Video and Composite on the same Card, you can Select "Slot 2A" or "Slot 2B", for example. I've NOT confirmed that you can't do this with the Series 6, or 7, or 8.

Note that Series 8 is not listed in the driver. It SHOULD be the same as 6, or 7, or maybe even 9. If you have a Series 6-8 unit, try selecting the Series-9 when installing the driver and see if the sub-channel selection works. If so, I'll consolidate them.

Another note is that the on-line reference for the current driver shows that the Volume field is R/W. It was implemented as Write-only in the driver as shipped with CQC. There does not seem to be a way to get the volume information out of the monitor with a query. So, there's no way to pick up any volume changes made via the Panasonic remote control. Frankly, you'll probably change (and track) the volume with your receiver anyway so the monitor's volume field's not of much use.

Please report any issues in this thread.

[Mikla]

That's great. Whenever I get the Plasma moved into the new house (it's been over a year and counting), I will try it out.

[noworries]

Panasonic is supposed to be mailing me a copy of the Series 9 protocol since the fax'd version is not quite readable. I can tell, however, from what I can read that Slot 3 does not appear to support multi-channel cards, so that's probably wrong in the driver attached to the front of this thread.

Also, there are a whole bunch of queries and commands for the thing. I'm inclined to enable just the PIP feature, however, and maybe add the audio query to get volume out during polling at least.

[willplaice]

Hi, i have a new series 10 panel, which looking at the protocol has a load of pip features... anyone running with this or should i look at the series 9, and go from there ?

[noworries]

Originally Posted by willplaice

Hi, i have a new series 10 panel, which looking at the protocol has a load of pip features... anyone running with this or should i look at the series 9, and go from there ?

I never got back to adding the PIP features since I don't have two inputs connected. Also, the current version still lets you try to select an A or B input for Slot three which the 9-series does not allow. Notwithstanding, the driver has been working fine for me. Truth be known, all I do it turn it on and off. I haven't had much if any need to change the screen between its different formats (Full, Justified, etc). I'd try selecting the 9-Series and seeing if it works for the 10.

[dman000000]

Just tried importing this driver into a 2.4.16 install and received an error that the package will not work with this CQC version. Is there a new driver package for the 9-series that can be imported into the latest version?

[anogee]

I'm looking at something like the Panasonic TH-58PZ700U. How can I tell if this is a controllable model?

[auphan2]

Originally Posted by anogee

I'm looking at something like the Panasonic TH-58PZ700U. How can I tell if this is a controllable model?

This is a model from last year and only controllable through IR. The only current model, from the consumer side, that has serial control is the 850 series. You can get the 850 in 46, 50, 58 or 65 inches.

[ctay]

Originally Posted by auphan2

This is a model from last year and only controllable through IR. The only current model, from the consumer side, that has serial control is the 850 series. You can get the 850 in 46, 50, 58 or 65 inches.

Sadly there is no 1080P over component on the 850 series so no luck for those who use a matrix switch.

[anogee]

What TV can do 1080p over component? And do you really think you can see the difference between 1080i and 1080p? Most can't.