Fuse CATS Genlock Tester User Manual

The Fuse CATS Genlock Tester is a portable diagnostic tool designed to analyze video genlock signals (bi-level and tri-level sync). It operates in two modes: Handheld Mode for quick visual confirmation and Tethered Mode for detailed statistical analysis via a Web UI.

1. Handheld Mode

In Handheld Mode, the device operates autonomously using its built-in LED matrix display. Simply connect a genlock source (via the BNC connector) and the display will show the signal status.

Status Colors

The LED text color indicates the detected signal type:

• RED: NO LOCK
  • No valid video sync signal detected.
• GREEN: NTSC
  • Standard Definition Bi-level Sync (approx. 525 lines).
• YELLOW: PAL
  • Standard Definition Bi-level Sync (approx. 625 lines).
• BLUE: 720p / 1080p
  • High Definition Tri-level Sync (Progressive).
• MAGENTA: 1080i
  • High Definition Tri-level Sync (Interlaced).
• WHITE: Unknown SD/HD
  • Valid sync signal detected, but line count does not match standard broadcast formats perfectly.

Display Text

The text scrolls from right to left, displaying:
[TYPE] [FORMAT] [FPS]Hz

• Example: TRI-LVL 1080p 60.000Hz
• Example: BI-LVL NTSC 29.970Hz

2. Tethered Mode (Web UI)

For deep analysis, connect the device to a computer via USB. The Web UI provides real-time jitter statistics and format details.

IMPORTANT
Browser Requirement: You must use Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge because this tool relies on the Web Serial API. Firefox and Safari are currently not supported.

Connection Steps

1. Connect the Fuse CATS Genlock Tester to your computer via USB.
2. Open the Genlock Tester Web Interface (open index.html in Chrome/Edge).
3. Click the CONNECT DEVICE button in the top right.
4. Select your device (e.g., "pico") from the popup list and click Connect.
5. Verification: The Status bar should turn green and say CONNECTED.

Dashboard Overview

The dashboard is divided into three sections:

A. Status Bar (Top)

Provides an immediate summary of the signal:

• STATUS: Connection state (CONNECTED / DISCONNECTED).
• SIGNAL TYPE: TRI-LEVEL, BI-LEVEL, or NO LOCK.
• VIDEO FORMAT: Detected standard (e.g., 1080p60, NTSC).
• FPS: Measured frames per second (e.g., 59.940).

B. Signal Metrics & Jitter Statistics (Middle)

A detailed technical readout:

• Lines per Frame: The raw number of horizontal lines counted between vertical syncs.
• HD Detect: Hardware verification of Tri-level (HD) vs Bi-level (SD) pulses.
• Mean Period: The average duration of a single frame in microseconds (µs).
• RMS Jitter: The root-mean-square deviation of frame timing. Lower is better / more stable.
  • Values < 1.0µs are displayed in nanoseconds (ns).
• Peak-to-Peak: The difference between the longest and shortest frame detected.
• RMS Jitter (ppm): Jitter expressed as Parts Per Million relative to the frame rate.

C. Jitter History Graph (Bottom)

Visualization of signal stability over time:

• Y-Axis: Jitter (RMS) in microseconds (µs) or nanoseconds (ns).
• X-Axis: Time (showing the last 100 samples).
• Line Color: Matches the signal type color (Blue for HD, Green for NTSC, etc.).
• Behavior: The graph updates in real-time. If the signal format changes, the graph automatically resets.

Troubleshooting

• "NO LOCK" but signal is present: Check your cable and ensure the signal level is standard broadcast voltage (1V p-p or similar).
• Web UI not connecting: Ensure no other software is using the USB port. Close the tab and reopen it to reset the Web Serial permission.