RS232 control

by **bhopp@matrixcomputer.com** on Thu Sep 28, 2006 7:33 am

I have two components which will allow me to control with rs232. The manufactures actually support this and offer the spec sheet on what commands to send. I have programmed rs232 programs before. Can I send these with xLobby or how is this done? Is it possible to utilize a com object and perform tasks this way?

Thanks,

by **rembetis** on Thu Sep 28, 2006 11:24 am

A few of us have been lobbying for built-in support for RS232 control, but for now (unless you want to hand-script something) you will need to use Girder and the serial control plugin. Do a search on these boards and you should find a link to the free version, then head over to the Proximis boards to get up to speed on Girder.

by **jbretsch** on Fri Sep 29, 2006 2:38 am

version 3.2.9 is the last free version of girder. I am using it to control my projector from xlobby via rs232

by **bhopp@matrixcomputer.com** on Sun Oct 08, 2006 6:12 am

Thanks for the response, I will check into these.

Byron...

by **xlobbyer** on Sun Oct 15, 2006 2:34 pm

My LG TV has a rs-232c port for controlling it.
Before I can use girder thru xlobby,I need to know how to send rs232c commands in general.I know nothing about this.
My manual has these specs,
Baud rate:9600
Data length:8 bits
Parity:none
Stop Bit: 1
Communication Code:ASCII
And the commands are for example for power on:
[k][a][][1][][1][Cr]
So where to I put that command?

by **jbretsch** on Wed Oct 18, 2006 12:27 am

In Girder 3.2.x you enable the generic Serial plugin, This is where you define com port baud rate etc.

To control your device you add an event. Under the Plugin tab page you select the generic Serial plugin and hit the slect button. This is where you put in the data to send to your TV...

In Xlobby, you need to setup your screen to fire a girder event you can catch with an eventstring in Girder.

This will be more clear after you have installed girder.

by **xlobbyer** on Thu Oct 19, 2006 3:26 am

jbretsch wrote:In Girder 3.2.x you enable the generic Serial plugin, This is where you define com port baud rate etc.

To control your device you add an event. Under the Plugin tab page you select the generic Serial plugin and hit the slect button. This is where you put in the data to send to your TV...

In Xlobby, you need to setup your screen to fire a girder event you can catch with an eventstring in Girder.

This will be more clear after you have installed girder.

Ok thanks,i'll give it a try.

by **xlobbyer** on Sat Oct 21, 2006 1:09 pm

Ok I got the serial plugin installed for girder and set up to my TV's settings.
You say, to control my device that I add an event.I don't have that option but I can add a command.So I add command and select the serial plugin and select settings and put my command in the text box.
Then I test command and girder says serial was sent but nothing happens.
Do I need to set the "target"?

by **jbretsch** on Sun Oct 22, 2006 1:00 am

on the Xlobby side:
Add a girder/send event string to your skin and asign the event to a button. Lets call the event "Tv on" and the event string "TV.Power.On"

On the girder side:
Under file/settings/Plugins: Check the generic Serial support. Select the settings button and add a device for your tv. Make sure you select the correct Com port etc.
Exit the setting screen
Add a group "TV"
Add a comand under the "TV" group called "Power On"
Select the plugin tab and select generic serial support. Under setting you key in the command for your tv.
Add an eventsting under the command.
Select girder event and press learn event. Key in "Tv.Power.on" and press select
Save your file and your are done (with this one function that is)

You can test each part individually:

When you activate the event in xlobby, you should see tv.power.on on the buttom of the girder screen.

and you can test the rs232 part by click the "power on" command and press F5.

by **xlobbyer** on Sun Oct 22, 2006 1:49 pm

and you can test the rs232 part by click the "power on" command and press F5.

When I do that at the bottom of girder it shows serial sent to LGTV(my device) and the next box has 05.I sent kb 1 5.It looks like its only sending the 5 part.
I think I might have to change or adjust some settings for the plugin.
The only settings I know are
Baud rate:9600
Data length:8 bits
Parity:none
Stop Bit: 1
Communication Code:ASCII
In girder there are settings for handshaking,message definitions receive and transmit.Maybe I need to change those??

by **xlobbyer** on Sun Oct 22, 2006 2:24 pm

Well I tried changing some settings and found one that worked.In the transmit message setting I checked terminator, add and left everything else unchecked.That seams to work

Thanks for your help.
Now on to my next situation...