Zektor CVS4 User Manual - The Rs-232 Port
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CVS4 Component Video Switch
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CVS4 Component Video Switch
K.I.S.S.™ (Keep It Simple Serial!™)
Zektor ’s exclusive K .I.S.S.™ (Keep I t Simple Serial™) protocol was de -
signed by engineers who have been controlling RS-22 devices for
most of their careers and understand the pitfalls of a badly designed
protocol.
A few features of the K.I.S.S.™ protocol are:
A simple and logically consistent command structure.
Fully bi- directional operations and can operated in both
a Master Slave mode (only responds when spoken to), or
in an Asynchronous mode (state changes are sent as they
occur).
All commands and responses can optionally use a checksum
or a CRC- checkcode to insure reliable communications.
A command will always generate a response! There are no
“timeout ” states as par t of the protocol. A timeout will al-
ways indicate some type of physical connection error (loose
cable, extreme noise, etc.).
Commands and responses have been designed for simple
parsing in any language.
Easy to test using a terminal, or terminal emulation soft-
ware. (Hyper term, SecureCRT, etc.)
A few features of the CVS4 command set are:
A full featured command set that goes far beyond simple
front panel control operations! Allows full control over all
features of the CVS4.
Full notification of any state changes. Did the user just
change the front panel LED intensities? The controller can
be notified of this.
The ability to disable the front panel, and still have front
panel button presses sent to the serial por t.
The ability to read all IR codes sent to the CVS4 by any
remote, even those not used by the CVS4. Use the CVS4 to
add IR control to any project!
Many more features, too numerous to list here...
For a full description of K .I.S.S.™ and a list of the commands sup -
por ted by the CVS4, download the CVS4 supplemental manual at:
www.zektor.com/c vs4/downloads.htm
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The RS-22 on the CVS4 is the same format as a PC-modem, and uses
the same type cable as a serial modem would, which is a standard
straight through cable. Do not use a cable that is marked as a “Null
Modem” cable.
The CVS4 can also be used with any USB to RS-22 conversion cable,
these are all typically straight through cables.
The RS-22 por t is a female type DE- connector (sometimes mistak-
enly referred to as a DB- connector) with the following pinout:
5 4 3 2 1
9 8 7 6
Pin definitions:
1 - No Connect
6 - No Connect
2 - TX
7 - No Connect
3 - RX
8 - No Connect
4 - No Connect
9 - No Connect
5 - GND
The por t settings used by the CVS4 are:
Baudrate:
9600
Data Bits:
8
Stop Bits:
1
Parity:
NONE
The communications protocol used is Zektor ’s exclusive K .I.S.S.™
(Keep I t Simple Serial™) protocol.