Thanks for the replies guys,

am trying   via  usbuirt,  or I will be, once I  get it to learn/blast  !

many thanks,
Ian

Hi all,
        calling any electronics people,

I have a Cambridge Audio 540R v2 which I'm wanting to control via serial port on pc, using LinuxMCE.
Acording to CA's tech support the rs232c port on the receiver is for software updates only (540R v3 does support), and having tried that option (they originally told me it was posible)...Dead end ? ...no ..the receiver has a Custom Install Bus which appears to be a normal rca audio connector.

The manual states............


"The 540R V2.0 features a Control Bus input that allows un-modulated
remote control commands (positive logic, TTL level) to be received
electrically by the unit. These control commands are typically generated
by custom installation (multi-room) systems or remote IR receiver
systems. The Control Bus socket is colour-coded orange.
This unit features 'direct' IR/Control codes as well as toggle codes for
many of their features to simplify programming custom installation
systems. Special direct On/Off commands can be accessed on the
supplied remote control for teaching into C.I. systems as follows:
1. Press and hold the Standby/On button on the remote control. The
remote first generates it's standby (toggle) command. Keep the
button held down, after 12 seconds an AV receiver “On” command
will be generated. If the button is kept held down for a further 12
seconds, an AV receiver “Off” command is generated.
Repeat this procedure with the Mute, Sub On/Off, Stereo Mono and
Tuner AM/FM buttons to send On/Off commands. The Tuner AM/FM
button also provides unique FM and AM commands to allow switching to
a specific band."

and also

CONTOL BUS INPUT

"Opto isolated, TTL positive logic,
Unmodulated"


I've googled like hell all day , and from what I can gather , this should  be possible,but all the references
are either way over my head,/too vague to be of any use/ or are involved with both sending and receiving thro micro controllers/usb


So, my questions,
1) would it really be an rca phono plug?
2)if so would it be possible to directly connect via com port on pc,and if so which pins ?
3) any potential problems?



any help / clues on where to start greatly appreciated,
tia
Ian

ps..please...KISIS...keep it simple, I'M stupid.

niz23,

YOU ARE A STAR,
tv now working on md , thanks for the patience , and the work you and Andrew's team have put into this.
Any clues on the remote side of things?  (getting the channel list to display without the need for a keyboard would really make my system usable, )

many thanks,
Ian

Hi niz, andrew,
many thanks for response,
@andrew,
all same entries as per your post,

@niz,
yes it's phillips rc6 remote.

 "Regarding your problem MD. Check that your channels.conf is identical on all machines (including your MDs)."


eerrrrmm   how exactly ?,i.e  file location for md ?   I assume  ssh  moonxx.....?
  (I did upload  thro , web admin > cnfig> vdr setup  on both hybrid and core,)

contents of /etc/vdr/plugins/streamdevhosts.conf




#
# streamdevhosts  This file describes a number of host addresses that
#                 are allowed to connect to the streamdev server running
#                 with the Video Disk Recorder (VDR) on this system.
# Syntax:
#
# IP-Address[/Netmask]
#

127.0.0.1             # always accept localhost
#192.168.100.0/24     # any host on the local net
#204.152.189.113      # a specific host
0.0.0.0/0            # any host on any net (USE THIS WITH CARE!)

Also,
?? was I right in enabling  streaming live tv and recordings  in vdradmin?


thanks,
Ian

Edit  btw I've renewed the batteries   

Hi all,
have installed as per readme/wiki (+nite-man's post)

RESULTS

Core
Up/Down..OK
Vol up/down  ...no effect
Ch  up/down  ...no effect
Dvd menu    ....no effect
Live Tv  OK
Mute  no effect on sound/does toggle subtitles
guide    osd
               +red  no effect
               +green    ui2 menu bar plus osd
               +yellow      flashes light/vol  'rose'
               +blue   no effect


IN Live TV
red...(flashes cursor) ....no effect
green..displays lmce menu bars
yellow..toggles light/vol rose
blue...no effect

Cannot find a button combination to get to main OSD allthough it has shown up once, enabling me to change language


ON MD     "No Signal"

F6 shows same channels as on core    osd/schedule/error messages are showing  RTL ASTRA/Premier



Any help/tips/ handholding/sympathy/cash  would be greatly appreciated, after 2 clean installs setups, and these updates I feel slightly whipped 

Thanks in Advance,
Ian

Hi nite_man,
 thanks for response, I must have messed something up, (have been messing with numerous things recently)- remote/vdr  not operating as per  wiki/your link, -so I'm going to reinstall and retry,no doubt I'll be pestering again in a few hours,
regards,
 Ian

Hi niz,

*please be gentle with me *


have installed as per instructions, vdr working on core  -1 where's the language setting ?

md showing same channels as core thro ui2, osd showing default channels, and  No Signal,

        so ,                                                            - 2 where should channels .conf be on md ?

"Core.... in /etc/vdr/plugins/streamdev.conf........"       no file exists so -3 create new file ? or , should that have read streamdevhosts.conf,?  which did include that line.

Apologies for being so thick,
thanks in advance,
Ian 

Hi hari ,

Cambridge tech support have reversed their original statement, 232 is NOT supported on 540R  V2..........bummer !

Thanks for your help , sorry it was a waste of time,
regards,
Ian

Hi Hari,
have swapped out the cables, setup tv thro usb/serial , so receiver is now connected to /dev ttyS0.

Ran (many times/commands):

linuxmce@dcerouter:~$ /usr/pluto/bin/TestSerialPort -p /dev/ttyS0 -P N81 -b 9600 -t "#1,01,0\r"


and get no errors,  But ,  nothing happens on receiver.
Have re contacted  tech support to make sure 232 control is possible with  540V2 and asked for  any further insights .Will let you know of any developments,
many thanks,

Ian

Hi niz,
 nice one, will post feedback as soon as poss,

regards ,
Ian

Hi Z,

fwiw  (I'm a noob) , my md is vga, crt , works a treat ,

regards ,
Ian

Hi Hari,
really appreciate the help,
tried TestSerialPort as you suggested, keeps returning Unknown: #(whatever command)  so I assume it must be the serial cable  (belkin "laplink") , I'll pick up both varieties of serial cable (straight thro' and crossover) tomorrow and let you know the  result,
regards,
Ian

Hari,

WELL spotted......but no cigar,that was just an example of how the manual formatted commands and how I'd put it into the template...thinking I'd made  some obvious error...

the funny thing is , the receiver was clicking on any remote key,not just  the vol+/- and 2 inputs I'd entered.
Its now connected direct to serial and clicking has stopped, still no other effect tho,so am presently working thro other receiver templates to try and find some inspiration,who knows ?, "maybeoneday",
I'll get my head around this beast !!!
best regards,
Ian

Hari,
many thanks for quick response,    yes clicking !  on any keypress of remote,so by my logic "something " is getting through,
Will read up on your suggestions ,(another learning curve) and get back to you,
regards,
Ian

Hi all,

I'm trying to create a device template for a CambridgeAudio 540R  receiver, with rs232.The tech dept assures me that the protocol is applicable to V2/V3 and 340  variants (mine is v2)

http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/assets/documents/AP227921Azur540RV3SerialControlProtocolV1.pdf

So, I've created the template, included volume and input change commands (just to test for now), updated connection wizard,reloaded router  (at each stage) and  ......nothing  ,   except the receiver is clicking when i hit remote keys.

It's connected via  pl2303 usb/serial converter plus the serial cable I've been successfully using on the TV, and the  usb connection is showing up in the template,  (pci0000:00/0000:00:1a.1+1  )


The examples given  in the manual follow this format:

                              #2,01,02\r


which I've entered into the template as,

                              <$"#2,01,02\r"$>


and , as I said, the only result is a faint clicking when using the remote.ANY help/pointers would be greatly appreciated,

thanks in advance,

Ian