DOLBY DSS200 RS232 Serial Automation Code Help !

[Volkan Sezer]

Hello, there is a simple 2-port relay that works with RS232 serial connection. It works with hex code, but I cannot send a trigger. I checked all the settings

This is how I configured my RS232 relay
data rate 9600
data bits 8
parity even
stop bits 1

relay open hex code 55 56 00 00 00 01 01 03 AD

Is it possible to run it?

[Leo Enticknap]

I'm not sure if you can't figure out how to set this up in the DSS200, or can but it isn't working. In case it's the former, you need to do the following. Firstly, you need to ensure that "This auditorium uses serial automation" is checked: if it isn't, the serial automation tab won't be there.

image.png

Then, within the serial automation tab, create a new entry for your cue:

image.png

You can then add your cue to playlists.

If you've done all this but the cue doesn't work, the only two possibilities I can think of is that your device needs an end-of-message string (carriage return, line feed, or both) that is missing, or that the DSS200 can't handle hex strings at all (I've never tried), in which case I'm afraid you're snookered.

If you want to troubleshoot further, you could hook the DSS200's serial port to your laptop using a USB to RS232 adapter, and then run a terminal app, e.g. PuTTY or Hype!Terminal, fire the cue, and see what it sends.

[Volkan Sezer]

The command works when I connect it to the PC via RS232.

[Steve Guttag]

If you are sending actual hex then each byte is escaped with a backslash. \55 \56 \00 \00 \00 \01 \01 \03 \AD

[Leo Enticknap]

In that case I would suggest trying Steve's suggestion and then the three end-of-message possibilities (CR, LF, and CRLF). If you still have no luck, contact the manufacturer of the relay interface device for support. From what you write, it appears that there is no problem with the DSS200.

[Harold Hallikainen]

Hello, there is a simple 2-port relay that works with RS232 serial connection. It works with hex code, but I cannot send a trigger. I checked all the settings

This is how I configured my RS232 relay
data rate 9600
data bits 8
parity even
stop bits 1

relay open hex code 55 56 00 00 00 01 01 03 AD

Is it possible to run it?

Do you have the manufacturer and model number of the relay box? A link to the manual? Since these are not ASCII, I assume you used RealTerm or similar instead of Putty (where sending non-ASCII can be a pain).

[Ioannis Syrogiannis]

Hello, there is a simple 2-port relay that works with RS232 serial connection. It works with hex code, but I cannot send a trigger. I checked all the settings
[...]
relay open hex code 55 56 00 00 00 01 01 03 AD
[...]

A google search lead me to a "DC 12V 8 Channel RS232 Relay Board PC USB UART DB9 Remote Control Switch" on Ali Xpress.
If that is the relay in case, there the hex code should be \55 \56 \00 \00 \00 \01 \01 \AD
(Notice that there is no \03)
The 8th character is checksum, so, the \03 will probably not cut it. (Read this: skytronic.lk/TRONIC/MD0297/UART%20relay%20cmd.pdf)
Also, you possibly need an escape character, as Leo mentioned, but this is a "maybe".

A friendly advice: If you want to have manual control of the specific command (to issue it without the need of a playlist), mark it as "lights" and it will appear in the list of the lights' commands on the bottom right of the main player interface.

Having another look, you write about a 2-port relay. All such relays I found have only eight bytes' hex codes. So, the advice remains.

[Tony Bandiera Jr]

Just some thoughts here...with the time since I last worked with a DSS200 this may help...or it may not.

It has been over a decade since I wrote the AMX code to talk to a DSS 200, and set up a DSS 200 to talk back to the AMX. IIRC you will need to convert your hex command to ASCII characters to enter it into the DSS200's Serial command on the output list.

Here's a snippet of the AMX code to talk to the server from the touchpanel (The AMX code converted the text to ASCII to talk back to the server, the reverse of what you want to do.)

ACTIVE (PUSH_CHANNEL = TP_DCPlay_b):
{
SEND_STRING SERVER, "'play',13"
}
ACTIVE (PUSH_CHANNEL = TP_DCStop_b):
{
SEND_STRING SERVER, "'stop',13"
}
ACTIVE (PUSH_CHANNEL = TP_DCPause_b):
{
SEND_STRING SERVER, "'pause',13"

The ANX software takes the text between the single ' marks and translates it to ASCII.

Since it has been so long, I can't recall if the DSS in the serial command box will let you enter a hex string, or if it had to be converted to ASCII..

Just spitballing here, but I think you will need some sort of terminal between the DSS200 and the relay board to make them play nice with each other. I think some sort of Arduino or Raspberry Pie (are those still a thing?) might be the cheapest solution.

[Volkan Sezer]

If you are sending actual hex then each byte is escaped with a backslash. \55 \56 \00 \00 \00 \01 \01 \03 \AD

Hello Steve, I wrote the code but it did not react. When you type the code, the beginning is converted to ASCII character

[Volkan Sezer]

A google search lead me to a "DC 12V 8 Channel RS232 Relay Board PC USB UART DB9 Remote Control Switch" on Ali Xpress.
If that is the relay in case, there the hex code should be \55 \56 \00 \00 \00 \01 \01 \AD
(Notice that there is no \03)
The 8th character is checksum, so, the \03 will probably not cut it. (Read this: skytronic.lk/TRONIC/MD0297/UART%20relay%20cmd.pdf)
Also, you possibly need an escape character, as Leo mentioned, but this is a "maybe".

A friendly advice: If you want to have manual control of the specific command (to issue it without the need of a playlist), mark it as "lights" and it will appear in the list of the lights' commands on the bottom right of the main player interface.

Having another look, you write about a 2-port relay. All such relays I found have only eight bytes' hex codes. So, the advice remains.

I tried all the procedures, the relay turned on once and did not react again.

[Volkan Sezer]

When I wrote the editing code like this, it worked without any problems. UV\00\00\00\01\01\AD

[Ioannis Syrogiannis]

That's great, that you figured it out. U and V being the corresponding ASCII characters for \55 and \56 respectively.
Not fearing that I might derail the thread, I would write that my preferable way to control a small number of relays from Dolby DSS machines was the GPOs (general purpose out) of the GPI/O DB37 they offer.
Nowadays, I was even told that one of the few stores that bring such sockets/plugs in Iceland won't care to order more, because they scarcely get sold.
I was using a two channel relay for the door magnets and the emergency lights (before those last get controlled by the general DMX controller). I was keeping the magnets on NO (normal open), in order for the doors to close if the power was cut, in case of a fire alarm going off. The downside of that is that the magnets release the doors upon server reboot.
For lights' automation and microphones not being controlled by the Dolby CP, I started at some point using a cheap serial to ethernet (s2e) adapter, which would need 5V feed, so I was using the USB port at the back of the server to power it. It was a combination of a HLK-RM04 UART WiFi module with an adaptor that would provide the power, Ethernet and DB9 ports. That worked with no problems for what it was, and there are posts here that discuss what people prefer for S2E solutions.
There were two issues, though, with the specific solution. Firstly, it could be set to transmit or receive, but not both. Secondly, it could be set to transmit to one and only IP. So, I would either have to send commands to the lights automation or the microphones' system. Not both. I used the microphones' system to relay text commands from one to another and it worked, but that is not a reliable solution.
At that period of trying to find a solution that wouldn't ask for "expertise" to keep things working as needed, I tried to use the ethernet automation system of the server, that was implemented lately on its development years. For some reason that even Dolby couldn't figure out, the ports that were necessary for this to work would be kept closed from within the server system. So, "ethernet, labor lost".

On the cinema that I was working for, researching all those, the final solution was to use a Q-SYS Core 110f to do the controlling I/O via its integraded serial connection.
That way, I had a reliable system to forward all the necessary commands/cues to the lights system and the microphones and all necessary server/projector commands at the Q-SYS user interface, for making most of the server's commands available to any user.

It goes without saying that the final solution was circumstantial. You can't have a 110f for automation, a JNIOR controller would have been ideal and much more cheap. Yet, if you already have it working there...

[Dave Macaulay]

"a JNIOR controller would have been ideal"

Ok, it's in Turkey. Maybe less easy to get a Jnior there?

But using a Jnior, with a solid company behind it (a company with amazing support, by the way), with techs here that could help you - very familiar with the Jniors, and many familiar with interfacing one to a DSS - is the better choice I think.

The AliExpress unit, made by (unknown) using (unknown) components with (unknown) reliability that will maybe be available if a replacement is needed (no warranty of course) seems a poor idea. If you're an electronic hobbyist running your own hobby cinema, go at 'er.

A cinema run as a business should not make that choice.

[Volkan Sezer]

"a JNIOR controller would have been ideal"

Ok, it's in Turkey. Maybe less easy to get a Jnior there?

But using a Jnior, with a solid company behind it (a company with amazing support, by the way), with techs here that could help you - very familiar with the Jniors, and many familiar with interfacing one to a DSS - is the better choice I think.

The AliExpress unit, made by (unknown) using (unknown) components with (unknown) reliability that will maybe be available if a replacement is needed (no warranty of course) seems a poor idea. If you're an electronic hobbyist running your own hobby cinema, go at 'er.

A cinema run as a business should not make that choice.

Hi, I am a certified barco and christie technician, I provide technical service to cinemas in Turkey, I am looking for an alternative solution due to customs problems in Turkey.

finally the code worked and saved me

[Dave Macaulay]

Fair enough. Just keep documentation in case someone else has to take over servicing the place.
I've had to try and service a site where the local computer store guy made his own automation interface box with no documentation and no support - he had closed up and left for points unknown. I put in a Junior and got them running the same day, happened to have one with me. Yes it cost a few dollars but techs here all understand Juniors as they are used at almost every cinema so problems can be handled easily.
You can use network automation for a Junior on a DSS. Dolby makes it difficult but it can be done, if you need the serial port for something else.