Can a serial port be split?

gf5300

Active Member
I have a Russound CAM 6.6. This is what I am trying to accomplish:
1. Connecting an Omnipro II to the Russound serial port.
2. Connecting a PC running Casa Tunes to the Russound via serial port.

The problem: the Russound only has 1 serial port.

Is there such a thing as a serial splitter? Any other ideas?

Thanks.
 
I have a Russound CAM 6.6. This is what I am trying to accomplished:
1. Connecting an Omnipro II to the Russound serial port.
2. Connecting a PC running Casa Tunes to the Russound via serial port.

The problem: the Russound only has 1 serial port.

Is there such a thing as a serial splitter? Any other ideas?

Thanks.

Not that I know of.
 
I have a Russound CAM 6.6. This is what I am trying to accomplish:
1. Connecting an Omnipro II to the Russound serial port.
2. Connecting a PC running Casa Tunes to the Russound via serial port.

The problem: the Russound only has 1 serial port.

Is there such a thing as a serial splitter? Any other ideas?

Thanks.
Yes, there are ways to split/join a serial cable, but generally only in one direction... otherwise you get voltage problems driving power into an output or something.

Dunno if the Omni and CasaTunes would collide, but... Put a serial-IP converter on the Russound and connect it to the Ethernet. Put the HWgroup VSP (virtual serial port) software on the CasaTunes machine. CasaTunes then thinks it is talking to a serial port, but it is really going over the Ethernet. then I guess you would need another IP-serial converter to put the Omni on the Ethernet., but maybe it can already connect to the Russound via Ethernet.
 
Here is a device that works. I have one connecting CQC and my URC MSC-400 to my AV Receiver. Both have complete control and feedback. It is a bit pricy at $75, but it does the job.
 
Here is a device that works. I have one connecting CQC and my URC MSC-400 to my AV Receiver. Both have complete control and feedback. It is a bit pricy at $75, but it does the job.

Ipott6,
Thank you very much. Perfect! It even has specific instructions for the Russound.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
 
Elk's IP232 allows multiple serial connections over IP. You could put one on the russound and configure another one to automatically connect to the russound device in order to bridge the HAI. The PC can easily route a serial port via IP, many utilities to do that.

Alternatively you can build a switch that connects/disconnects the serial port from the HAI when the HAI needs it. Not sure if that meets your needs. Likely only 2-4 conductors are in use so it is pretty easy to switch. There are some pre-built RS-232 switching relays out there, but I haven't seen them in a while.

Finally, the worthington catalog has always suggested adding a seperate Russound tuner. The tuner has a serial port and apparently you can use both ports at the same time. Never tried it, just saw it in the catalog.
 
lpott6's device looks interesting and affordable. I should be able to manage my Ocelot, while it is still connected to my Elk M1, right?
 
The risk I see with these sharing devices is that the OmniPro & CasaTunes will be receiving ALL responses, including responses to commands it didn't send, so they need to be tolerant of this "noise". Hopefully they are, but this cannot be universally assumed for all hardware pairings.
 
What WayneW said. I have not noticed any ill effects in the way I use it, but the potential is there for sure.
 
I assume there isn't control capability of CasaTunes via ELK...ideally you have a master server that is orchestrating all this stuff. That's what CQC / Homeseer / MainLobby were built to do :)
 
Back
Top