I am attempting to upgrade my Elan Z-630 controlled system, replacing several of my older VIA! touch-panels with more current touch-screen technology (if possible). As part of this upgrade, I am attempting to determine if there is a way to control the Z-630 with a PC. I know that the Z-630 does not have a RS-232 port and thus does not directly permit serial control, but I was wondering if anyone may have a suggestion for a work-around.

The system does include a SC-4 to control a XM-R3 XM Radio and VIA!DJ. Although some of the Elan documentation would lead you to believe that the SC-4 could control a Z-630, I have been unable to figure out how. Is the SC-4 capable of controlling the Z-630 and if so, how?

Assuming that the SC-4 can not control the Z-630, my next direction would be to send each zone's commands from the computer to the Z-630 by six independent IR emmiters/receivers. Unfortunately however, I believe the commands from all the zones are identical (there are no seperate commands for operating zones 1 versus zone 2, etc.), and since the IR comands will be sent from one computer, it would be difficult to isolate the IR to operate one individual zone without commands 'bleeding-over' and controlling other zones and equipment.

Although I acknowledge that this is an over-simplistic approach and probably not possible, is it possible to forward instructions/codes from the computer by hard-wiring to the IR data and ground terminals of the Z•630 IR Input Jack, without using IR, similar to what happens when a button is pushed on an Elan keypad, the IR codes are sent to the Z-630 without IR?

Lastly if this were possible, what form of command would the the Z-630 expect to see and is it possible to provide that form from a computer?

Any further thoughts or suggestions for computer control of the Z-630 would be appreciated.

Thanks.

You need to get a IR router from Xantech like the RT-8. [Link: xantech.com]