Is there any benefit to using RS232 commands over IR when not designing a system that uses 2 way communications?

In other words, is there a benefit to setting up a Niles HT-MSU controller with RS232 control when I'm pretty sure it just sends messages and doesn't, say, retry if a ACK message is not received?

[Link: nilesaudio.com]

The other thought I had was that it seems like you would be more likely to have discrete commands with RS232 over IR.

Lastly, another semi-related question: when programming a URC MX-950 (that doesn't allow you to paste in HEX IR codes, how do you enter in discrete codes if they are not in the embedded IR library from URC?

Thanks!

Rob, there are many advantages to a system using RS-232. The most obvious is the source of an electrical signal vs. one comprised of light. The electrical signal is way more reliable since the device is connected like a right arm. The benefits of performance are there. With RS232 there is a very smooth and quick rhythm to the way the macro runs. You can cut valuable seconds off of Macros in most cases. Another factor is in most cases there are more commands and more features available with RS-232 than with IR. Instead of "Aspect Ratio" you may have a dozen different aspect ratio sizes. It is also cosmetically cleaner and more reliable than an emitter connection. Emitters fall off all the time; RS-232 is a plug. It provides a more professional look and feel. You should get into the habit of looking for RS-232 before IR.

With the MX-950 you will have to use another remote to learn the codes in that are discrete. Many people keep a cheap pronto on hand for this type of need.

Thank you very much for the comprehensive response! That makes perfect sense, and I like the idea of trimming off time off of Macros.

Which cheap pronto should I look into? Is the programming software readily available (for non-dealers)?

Thanks again!

I would just get an old TSU series pronto on Ebay for that purpose. I am sure the programming software is available. Expect to pay $100 - $150 for a TSU3000 which is perfect for this purpose.

Another RS232 question:

Is there a relatively inexpensive GUI based touch panel controller that I can easily configure to push RS-232 and IR commands? I looked at the BitWise setup and that may work but I'm not sure about the touchscreen interface and if it supports that.

A buddy offered to give me a 12" AMX Modeno touch panel display from a previous installation but shiver at the thought of having to get that programmed.

Bitwise can send RS232 IR and Ethernet IP commands.

The Pronto NG series of remotes (TSU3x00, TSU7x00) don't offer RS-232 control. They are IR remotes only and the extenders work over RF, not Wi-Fi. That being said, the Pronto Professional line of remotes (TSU9x00) offer control over IR, IP and RS-232. The RFX9600 extender is required for the RS-232 control. You are also not required to be a dealer to acquire the editor software and firmware for the remotes/extenders, all of which are available here in the files section. While Philips did just recently close down the Pronto division you may still find a few places with new inventory still in stock. I have purchased several additional TSU9600's and RFX9x00 extenders used on EBay over the past several months actually. Recently purchased a RFX9600 extender for under $200 and have purchased the TSU9600, lastest hardware revision for as low as $350. If you do go the Pronto route the Pronto Professional forum here, while not as active as it has been will certainly be a valuable resource. I would suggest you download the editor from the files section just to check out the programming end of things firsthand. There are many configuration files offered in the files section you could load up and check out in addition to the stock configuration files that come with the editor of course. My current configuration file is available for download as well, but I have yet to submit it to the files section. If you are interested in checking it out I have a thread in the Pronto Professional forum where it is available for download. Said thread can be found here. The thread also provides a quick run down of my configuration file and includes a number of screenshots.

I just recently started using RS-232 control for the first time after purchasing my first RFX9600 extender. In fact, today I just finished implementing the RS-232 control for my Polk XRt12 XM Reference Tuner. My XM Radio activity as a result now includes a Now Playing page that provides the current channel category, channel name, channel number, artist name, song title, signal strength and radio ID. I have a request being sent to the XRt12 for this information over RS-232 at 1 second intervals while my Now Playing page is being displayed on the remote. I'm then populating the data which gets returned on the page accordingly. Is pretty cool to not have to turn on my display device connected to the XRt12 or look at the display on the unit itself to see what's playing. Was suprisingly easy to implement as well. I'm definately loving the RS-232 control and as Total Control Remotes stated, RS-232 offers a number of advantages over IR control aside from the 2-way feedback. While IR control of the XRt12 has always been rock solid for me control over RS-232 is definately a step up. The XRt12 responds instantaneously to a given command that is sent and is able to response to repeated commands just as quickly. The XRt12 also allows for sending discrete channel selection commands over RS-232, so rather than sending the XRt12 an IR based macro to change to a given channel I'm now sending one simple command via RS-232 instead to select a given channel. The given channel is actually queued up before I can even take my finger off the channel logo button I had just touched on the remote. It's that fast. Gotta love it!

FYI, you can import hex codes via Universal Browser/Pronto CCF on an MX950. no need for a doner remote

[Link: remotecentral.com]

inexpensive Touch Panel is a I-Touch, I-Phone, I-Pad in conjunction with RTI XP6 and a I-Device license.

Greetings,

Total Control made good points about RS-232: it's fast and usually has a much richer command set, offering more 'discrete' commands.

IR emitters are a nightmare aesthetically, to install, and they definitely are prone to falling off. Cleaning ladies are my enemy when it comes to emitters on cable boxes.

For those reasons, I avoid using them whenever possible. I mostly use Yamaha A/V receivers, and even the $500-retail units have an IR jack on the back that works beautifully. Many AVRs have this support. Sadly, cable boxes have IR jacks, but I've not found any that actually work. Most cheap DVD/BD player lack this also, although Yamaha's BD-A1010 and the Sony ES models have it. You then just need a 2.5mm-2.5mm patch cable from your RF base station to the device: no light, no emitter, and the reliability of an electrical connection.

Impaqt made a very useful note: the Universal Browser in the URC editors allows you to directly enter Pronto commands. I am suspicious of those databases even when they're not learned from a Pronto into my URC remote, since they tend to be 'learned' commands in the first place. The Yamaha PAB website (worth joining for this tool, essential for Yamaha IR/RS-232/IP control doc) has an IR converter that takes Yamaha's published 2- or 4-digit IR codes and converts them into 'Pronto' format - that huge string of endless hex characters. You have to remove the '-' that separate the published IR codes, but it works if you replace them with spaces. Be sure to put the space where the hyphen was, since '7C 8B' generates a different Pronto string than '7 C8B', for whatever reason.

I find that between the 'standard' and 'extended' Yamaha codes, I can do almost anything that can be done with RS-232. Certainly for more than 90% of my installs, and the IR jack on the back makes it just as reliable and almost as fast, and lets me use the much-cheaper MRF-260 or MRF-350 instead of the MSC-400.

For two-way communication, I've never seen enough payback in functionality compared to the effort, especially now that units are FINALLY starting to make good use of their network (Ethernet) ports.

Good luck to all.