HS and RS-232 with AB8SS

[Rustytek]

I have an AB8SS (HACS speaker selector) and want to control the changing of speakers through scripting. I know I could pay 30.00 for the plugin but I would rather program it into my scripts. The problem is I have no idea how to read and write data to the com ports. I have no problem opening and closing the problem is sending the data.

THis is primary script

sub main()
status=hs.OpenComPort(6,"9600,n,8,2",1,"com6_event.txt","main")

if status <> "" then
hs.writelog "Error","Comm port 6 could not be opened"
end if

'HOW DO I SEND THIS INFORMATION?
hs.SendToComPort 6,"!8400007C*"


end sub

With Calling Script "Com_6_event.txt"


sub main(dataFromCom3)
hs.writelog "Received",dataFromCom3
end sub

 

[smee]

I don't have time right now to help, but I'll try and get back later if nobody else replies. Serial stuff in HS is pretty easy.

I just wanted to mention that you may find it's more work than you expect to control the AB8SS. If I recall correctly [1], the communications protocol requires a lot of handshaking. You can't just send a message. You need to send one character at a time and wait for acknowledgement from the AB8SS before you send the next.

I know I've discussed this with people before. There's probably a thread or two here or on the HS boards covering some of it.

[1] and I may be thinking of the multiplexor (AB8X8 ?) instead of the AB8SS.

 

[electron]

Your SendToComPort command should work, take a look at the my.elk script to see how to process serial data:

http://www.cocoontech.com/index.php?showtopic=2353&st=0

 

[Rustytek]

I can follow your elk script (somewhat) but still a little slow with sending commands. My intention is to learn to send the command's simply and then build upon that. From what I gathered from the ElK script is that CRC error checking is required but I still am not sure how to send the commands. From the HACS website I can see that each command is sent and then echoed back. The protocol is as follows:

9600 baud
1 start bit
8 data bits
2 stop bits
no parity

Thanks for the help so far, but I am still not quite understanding how to send data.

I have searched all of the homeseer forums and none of the devices and sample code are quite the same.

 

[electron]

the crc checking is part of the Elk protocol, so it isn't required. But if smee is right (and he always is :unsure, then it is going to be much more complicated to send serial data than using a single sendtocomport command.

 

[deranged]

I am by no means a programmer, I have said it a thousand times. But when I want to do something bad enough I learn enough to accomplish the task.

I have a script for the HACS AVS8x8 that would probably be a value for you to look at.

I am sure most programmers will get a good laugh out of the script and find many flaws or better ways to do things. But currently the script works fine for me.

I should also point out I am not afraid of any criticism....

So maybe these will get you started in the right direction.

I write myself docs for everything because I will never be able to remember what the heck I did.

I had to save the docs as a pdf because I couldn't get the text to show up right.



StevenE

 

[deranged]

And here is the avs8x8 script

 

[tonlof]

I tried to download the script without success.

 

[deranged]

I tried to download the script without success.

Try this.

StevenE