Wireless RS-232 extender

Community Playground General Discussions
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Convenience, ease and reliability combine to make the new Gefen Wireless RS-232 Extender a must-have solution for home theater and home automation installers. As more and more home automation systems utilize RS-232 commands for system control, this device will give access from any room in the home. It is particularly well suited for retrofit installations as control capabilities can be added long after the actual installation. Hard to reach displays and projection systems also benefit from the wireless capability of this new solution.

Uses small sender and receiver units equipped with short antenna to propel the RS-232 protocol up to 100 feet (30m) in distance. It also offers two transmit speeds, 19200 and 9600, for added flexibility. A built-in 2.4 Ghz RF module in the sender unit is capable of delivering an RS-232 signal through walls unimpeded. Wall mounted displays and ceiling mounted projectors can be accessed from anywhere. When used with other powered devices, no additional power supply is needed. When other 2.4 Ghz devices are operating in the same environment, the Gefen Wireless RS-232 Extender remains immune to interference, working perfectly.

http://www.gefen.com/kvm/dproduct.jsp?prod_id=8840

I see 2 problems - $200 price and only two baudrates supported 19200 and 9600…

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Wow. I’d think you’d pickup one of the GlobalCache iTach’s. That way you’ll have Ethernet (or WiFi) on one end, and a little cheaper.

For folks wanting a “Wired” solution to a remote Serial Port, I just replaced my [Hacked] ASUS + USB-Serial combination with a WIZnet 110SR device for about $30. It’s a cheap option if you already have Ethernet wiring, and simpler than getting the ASUS configured correctly. I updated the Serial Devices Wiki with the details, since it’s now working with my TV.

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Hi Guessed, Wow thats a bargain!
Is this easy to set up? I just bought one and am also looking to control my Panny plasma. Just want to be able to turn it on an off really. If it works out then i may also want to get another as i have a monoprice matrix switch that has serial also (if i can figure out the Luup stuff to get it to work)

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@strangely. The Device itself is easy to setup, as they provide a tool (Windows specific, unf) that finds the device, then you just set it to DHCP, “Server mode” and the Serial port settings you require (9600/N/8/1 for the Panasonic). This is a one-time setup, after that it’s set-n-forget from the hardware side.

Getting Vera to “see” it as a remote Serial port is a lot more arduous. I’ve written about it in another thread, with the detailed instructions on how to get it recognized.

My hope is that MCV&Team provide a more “direct” route to register Remote/IP-based Serial Ports (eg. “Add Serial Port”). If that doesn’t come about in the new Designtime UI’s then I’ll write a Plugin that does the heavy lifting to create the IP-Serial port config.

For reference, here is the prelim version of the Panasonic TV driver:

http://www.box.net/shared/2gq7dd0lcm

it contains code snippets that conform to the required interfaces. I was waiting to publish it until the SquareConnect/DotControl lads to assign/prioritize making their component conform to the standard Vera interfaces. When they do, I’ll push it out formally, and update the wiki. In the meantime, the snippets inside it might help you get something going on your end.

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These seem to support regular Ethernet, which means they can possibly work over WiFi bridge

@guessed Wouldn’t it be interesting to try to connect it via of of your Asus in bridge mode? :wink:

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Thanks, Mine will turn up Wednesday, if it turns up early i’ll see if i can get it to work then as i have to fly to back to the UK early afternoon (brrr very cold there at the moment) for a week :frowning:

If i dont have the time, I might even really try to make use of all home automation has to offer by setting up my IP cam in front of the TV so that i can test the result remotely :slight_smile:

I think i may have read your other thread about this concerning the ASUS!
Time to fwd port 22 i guess through my router!

Richard

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@325xi, yeap. I have mine attached to the ASUS, but the ASUS is wired into my house network so I don’t need to do the Wireless Brdige thing, but it should work.

Each module consumes ~180mA, so presuming a normal USB port you could run 2x of these (with a suitable USB-Hub).

My config is currently:

Wired Ethernet
- ASUS Router (acting as a 5 port switch at this point)
- USB Hub (Monoprice)
- USB - 5v “Cable” to power WIZnet (Sparkfun TOL-08639)
- USB - Serial adapter (the original from Monoprice running under ser2net)
- Ethernet - WIZnet SR110
- Ethernet - Panasonic Viera TV
- Ethernet - Playstation

Wiring it with the USB - 5v avoids yet-another-plugpack being in the mix. There are 5v plugpacks for a few $$ if folks need them.

As you say together with Wifi it would certainly be a cheaper option to both Remote a Serial port or two, and give you a few Ethernet ports (for Amps, etc)

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@guessed, nice setup and great idea about using USB-5v power! I wish there were more devices powered by 5v - I hate seeing all those power bricks… :slight_smile:

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Do you mount those with no case or some cover?

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I’m hoping i have a wall wart i can power it from (i have few USB ones at least anyway). Its a shame my Panny TV doesn’t have USB as i could maybe get the power from there; although this would most likely be off anyway once the TV goes off and then i wouldn’t be able to turn it back on again :slight_smile:

I have only one Cat 6 cable near my TV and it goes into my SIP phone first and then back out to the TV. ( i was stupid to have not wired a second one when i put that and the HDMI cable in the wall!)

Guess i’m going to have to try and dig out another hub/switch to use anyway now or disconnect the one to the TV as i don’t really use the Viera stuff anyway as my PC is hooked up via a matrix switch anyway which makes the Viera menu pretty much obsolete. My other option is i have a linksys wall wart style travel router with openWRT on it and could use that in bridge mode via wifi perhaps.

@Guessed, maybe you could hack your asus box and put it internally?

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@325xi, no case. You can get an encased version, but largely overkill IMHO.

The “board” is currently hanging via an RS-232 cable (technically a F-F Null Modem/Gender changer).

If I need a cover I’ll encase it in some “larger” heat-shrink tubing. More likely I’ll just attach it vertically to the Plasma Wall mount, along with a bunch of other Electronic kit (like the Router)

…vertically so it doesn’t gather as much dust, and also like the elements in the SWC upstairs (they’re boxless, but at least live in a closet to slow the dust bunnies)

@strangely, the ASUS is the 520U, which is a lot smaller than the one that Vera is using. The 520 is packed so unfortunately it wont fit inside. I could probably fit a car in the spare space inside Vera :wink:

Here are some other powering options, just in case:

[ul][li]an old iPhone charger - original 5v USB Charger. Not sure that they’re rated for[/li]
[li]an AppleTV, you can likely use it to power the thing also. [/li]
[li]you mention a home Theatre PC. If this is “local” then just power it from one of those ports.[/li]
[li]Your Amp, if it’s newer, might have a USB connector for music. Just watch out for startup power ordering[/li]
[li]climb into your plug-pack jungle and grab one of those (I have about 25-30 plugpacks that are orphaned, I’m sure others have the same).[/li]
[li]SparkFun does sell one for about $5.95. There are cheaper companies out there, but I use them for a bunch of Zigbee/XBee/Arduino stuff so I’m always on their site. They tend to ship stuff to me quickly (they in NV, I’m in CA)[/li][/ul]

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[quote=“guessed, post:11, topic:165363”]@325xi, no case. You can get an encased version, but largely overkill IMHO.

The “board” is currently hanging via an RS-232 cable (technically a F-F Null Modem/Gender changer).

If I need a cover I’ll encase it in some “larger” heat-shrink tubing. More likely I’ll just attach it vertically to the Plasma Wall mount, along with a bunch of other Electronic kit (like the Router)

…vertically so it doesn’t gather as much dust, and also like the elements in the SWC upstairs (they’re boxless, but at least live in a closet to slow the dust bunnies)

@strangely, the ASUS is the 520U, which is a lot smaller than the one that Vera is using. The 520 is packed so unfortunately it wont fit inside. I could probably fit a car in the spare space inside Vera :wink:

Here are some other powering options, just in case:

[ul][li]an old iPhone charger - original 5v USB Charger. Not sure that they’re rated for[/li]
[li]an AppleTV, you can likely use it to power the thing also. [/li]
[li]you mention a home Theatre PC. If this is “local” then just power it from one of those ports.[/li]
[li]Your Amp, if it’s newer, might have a USB connector for music. Just watch out for startup power ordering[/li]
[li]climb into your plug-pack jungle and grab one of those (I have about 25-30 plugpacks that are orphaned, I’m sure others have the same).[/li]
[li]SparkFun does sell one for about $5.95. There are cheaper companies out there, but I use them for a bunch of Zigbee/XBee/Arduino stuff so I’m always on their site. They tend to ship stuff to me quickly (they in NV, I’m in CA)[/li][/ul][/quote]

I know i have a couple of them (probably more like a box full of old ones for old crap) somewhere (USB) and maybe one with a regular power connector that will fit.
The HTPC is a no no as its an office upstairs with the rest of the AV gear, HDMI matrix and vera.

But i like the Amp/receiver idea as i do have one there on the receiver for an iPod which never gets used; problem with that is i also think that it has no power when the receiver is off and i because i don’t normally use the remote for it as its CEC/viera link compatible, the TV turns it on after it powers up. The plan was to do away with the IR / RF remotes and try to use the iPhone/Square connect app or web interface so that i could hit one scene for watching TV that sets lights, launches the remote, vera then uses the USB UIRT to power up the DVR (not theres any point in powering it down), powers up my matrix switch to the correct input/screen, vera would also signal via Ethernet / RS232 to switch the TV on, TV then powers up the Receiver and hey presto i have a happy wife who doesn’t have to work out why nothing works when she want to watch reality shows :slight_smile:

The only parts that dont work at the moment is control of the matrix switch which i’ll either have to get working via the UIRT (needs the IR codes copied) or buy a new USB/RS232 converter for vera (the one I’ve had for years despite being and FTDI one doesn’t seem to get recognized by vera) and hope i can write a plugin to control it; and lastly of course the TV which i need the to be controlled over RS232.

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I know Micasa has said previously in a post elsewhere that they didn’t want to support Bluetooth but it would have been pretty cool to just have had limited device support for it and a very basic stack that only allows serial port emulation. I have an RS232 bluetooth serial port i bought a while back for a project at work and it worked great for what i needed it for. It would be nice to re-purpose it now for this.

This is the one i have -

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There are bluetooth dongles to tap into a iRobot Roomba’s serial port, so if Vera support the bluetooth serial profile, it could be used control and schedule a Roomba which would be pretty cool.

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Cool i just bought a Roomba :slight_smile:

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@guessed Are you still using WIZnet SR110? I’m thinking to order, just want to make sure you’re still recommending it for remote RS232…

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Yeap, and so is @strangely. The setup is still a little messy as you have to wander through the “manual” URLs to get the Serial Port registered with Vera, but it works.

You may also need:

[ul][li]a DB9F-F Gender changer, depending upon the device you’re plugging it into.
I show a picture of the Gender changer that I have in my config on the TV Plugin Wiki page.
[/li]
[li]a 5v power supply or a USB-5.5mm Barrel jack for Power.
I use the latter, as I’m powering off a Hub, off my ASUS 520g (just hijacking it for power :slight_smile:
[/li][/ul]

I have some HDMI-CEC experiments to do with my new Onkyo amp this weekend, which might reduce my need to control the TV “directly”, but the config is working correctly.

There is a bug in Vera’s “Action” handling that’s making the Panny TV Plugin not control Volume correctly, but Power On/Off are working just fine via this setup, via the WIZnet 110SR.

I will eventually push a “how to manually register Ethernet-Serial” Wiki page, but I’m waiting for the new Vera release to come out before I publish the screenshots.

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Just do it (the “how to manually register Ethernet-Serial” Wiki page) - it’s easy to replace screenshots later :slight_smile:
I’m wondering if there’s a clever way to automate the port creation flow… something platform-agnostic… may be a little java class

What do you control in TV besides on/off and input?
How comes those Scientific Atlanta HD cable boxes aren’t RS232 controllable…

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The Panasonic Plugin is a full implementation. It handles a long laundry list of the TV’s functions… mapping them all to the standard Vera-defined “Media” interfaces. Pull the source down and take a look at it and you’ll see what I mean.

It implements most of the Actions from the Media interfaces:

  • urn:micasaverde-com:service:DiscretePower:1
  • urn:micasaverde-com:service:InputSelection:1
  • urn:micasaverde-com:service:PIP:1
  • urn:micasaverde-com:service:Volume:1
  • urn:micasaverde-com:service:MenuNavigation:1

If there are commands it doesn’t implement, and folks can describe that part of Panny’s Protocol, then I’ll add them.

There’s currently a bug in Vera’s Action invocation impl which I’ll also need to get fixed up, since it’s bound to hit anyone that has both “Up” (Volume) and “Up” (Cursor-Up) within a single Remote device.

Just do it (the "how to manually register Ethernet-Serial" Wiki page) - it's easy to replace screenshots later

I could write it now, in text, but I can’t provide the screenshots until the new Vera release comes out.

Technically it’ll be easier for me to code a “Serial-IP” Plugin, that does all the required setup, than to write the instructions and provide screenshots, so I might go that route instead.

… time permitting.

That’s largely an effort of hacking the relevant components out of I_GC100.xml, since that’s what it’s doing for the GC100’s Serial Port… (hint, hint, should anyone get an interest)

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I meant something else - in common case channels, volume, PIP, etc are all handled outside of TV realm, i.e. in cable/sat box, receiver etc. So role of TV diminished to be a monitor, with just a few functions that really need to be controllable.

Too bad I didn’t take having RS232 into account when choosing my AV gear - cable box, DVD, and integrated amp are IR only.

BTW, what’s “Lime”?