Hi guys, I am new to this, and think i might have made a typical newbie mistake.

I am an amateur home cinema fan and am looking to take the next step, but fear I have been a bit hasty. I am looking to learn RS232 control, and recently bought all the pc com cards and cables and am now plugging in various bits of kit to try and talk to, alas with no joys.. am using a pc application called Termite, as it seemed to be the only thing I could get my hands on to try and use as a terminal.

I don't seem to be able to get any feedback back at all. I am trying to speak to a sky digibox (Panasonic DSB20).

I wanted to see if I could at least get some feedback and basic control, before I upgraded my amp. I want to move to an onkyo 906 or 876 and use an AMX axcent3 to control it together with a pioneer 5080 screen. I bought the AMX kit on ebay, but the guy's not been able to supply the software or the PSU for it (I got the axcent 3, an rf gateway and the touchpanel). He said he'd get me the software, the PSU I guess I should have read the small print doh!

So my problem is, I have no amx software (will pay for it!) or the psu for the controller, and my PC is not exactly helping me with RS232 control.

Can someone please point me in the right direction ?? I'd love to be in a situation where I could actually get the serial codes for various bits of kit and then play around with them all through the AMX controller.

Have I bitten off more than I can chew ? *sigh*

go become an AMX dealer then come back

Sounds like.. Yes.

If you are not able to figure out RS232 through terminal I do not think you will be programing AMX any time soon. The AMX programming language is similar to and modeled after C. Also, whoever you bought the AMX equipment from should have told you that AMX software is only available to AMX dealers, the software is not for sale, giving the software to anyone who is not a dealer violates your dealer agreement and may be cause for the dealer to be dropped by AMX.

Send the AMX gear back and get yourself a URC remote with a MSC400 or a Phillips Pronto Pro 9400 or 9600 remote with a RFX9600.

I have the crestron software, and have taken various programming modules (C, VBA). I have always wanted to have a career in the custom install business, but as I am sure you guys are aware, it's like fort knox trying to get in. I wanted to get some kit to see how I got on with it before paying out for courses etc, and see if it was something I'd like doing on a day to day. I managed to get on with the crestron software ok, but it was the amx kit that seemed like a good deal at the time. Hence I took a gamble.

Re the serial programming, think it's a mixture of the fact that I need to improve the RS232 knowledge my end, and the fact that the sky digibox is particularly difficult (at least judging by other forum posts etc) to interact with. Can someone tell me if termite is at least a decent program to work with re the rs232, or can someone suggest a better suite / forum / blog etc to go to ?

CMA thanks for the advice, will have a look at the URC stuff. Would like to persevere with the AMX stuff for a bit more, feel like I've not even given it a fair stab yet.
Stereoman4 *yawn*

Any terminal program should work fine.. I just use hyperterminal that comes with windows when I need it.

Ok, using vista that never had it. Just been recommended putty so will try with that.
Maybe will try and interface with something else other than the sky digibox. Thanks again.

You can download hyperterminal for vista, for free. Its called "Hyper Terminal Private Edition". I typed that into google and found it a few months ago.

HIRE A PRO !

No seriously, there are Installers and Certified Independent Programmers out there that would be more than willing to consult you through your woes, for a fee. Look on the AMX website and find someone in your area and maybe one of them would be willing to come over and play.

What in the world is bits of kit? You mention kit in a later post also. Various kits of bit for some reason makes me smile.

By bits of kit am referring to sources, plasma, blu ray etc... would eventually like to have a look at drapes and lighting, but for now, a simple glorified remote control would suffice.

I like a challenge- just bought the psu I needed and been sent a copy of axcess and some manuals- time to clean the dust on the old vba/C++ notes and get learning again (figure of speech)!

@ Gonzo, It's funny, i would actually pay someone for their knowledge to take me through a few basic steps or an overview, yet the amount of people who get all defensive and start flaming people (on other forums) is quite eye opening. I am a geek at heart and looking to better myself, not to offend or provoke...

Will look in my local area for help if this is something I could get into. I actually have no probs paying for a course, but I wanted to get a feel for how this thing works. The courses ain't cheap, and I'd like to get a feel for exactly what I'd get taught and what possible avenues this could open were it something I'd like to "get good" at...

I have one question for you Baldfox...

Why oh why are you putting yourself thru all this for AMX?

Son.. havent you heard of Crestron?

ha ha, I have the crestron software and it looks ok to use. I was going to wait for a series 2 processor to come up on ebay, but then this AMX deal came up, got the axcent 3, touchpanel, wireless gateway, volume controller, stand, rackmounts and the guy's just made good on his software for 150gbp... it's new or so it says and is all boxed. Thought that was a good deal...

In any case the software turns up in the next day or so, as does the psu I was missing (15gbp on ebay!), so thought I'd try it.

Looking at the advice above, the pronto TSU9600 and the rs232 bit looks like it would have been an easier start, but again a lot more money. Besides I was always led to believe that amx / crestron were the best and most customisable, so I thought I'd take a look. Time will tell :)

Hi!

Regrettably the AMX kit you have is now quite old and no longer manufactured, and although the current AMX programming tools will still work with it, it is a different language from the newer NetLinx family.

As far as the Sky box is concerned, the RS232 port does not accept any useful commands but does output the current receiver status information. So most times programmers will use the IR control instead. There is a handy wired IR input adapter that avoids sticking IR emitters on the front available from pacelink.co.uk

AMX will work at least as good as AMX !