Hi guys,

I own an XBR television (XBR52HX909) and have virtually everything I'd like working—except, embarrassingly, for the most basic procedure: turning the power on.

That is to say, once I've turned the TV on using the remote, I can then control all documented features using RS232 exclusively—but I have yet to get the television to actually turn on via RS232 command.

The only manual I was able to find (an updated version of the "KDL40XBR5" manual found on this site, which isn't quite the same model, but appears to have a similar API) states:

"When set is at standby mode, only receives Power ON command."

... and:

"To turn on the set, first set standby command as Enable. After this, the set can receive Power ON command."

OK, fair enough: I should be able to turn it on by sending the "standby command enable" followed by "power on" commands.

So, i've tried sending the standby command enable:

8C 00 01 02 01 90

... But I get no response code, successful or otherwise, back from the television, no matter how long I wait. I've also tried sending the power on command as well:

8C 00 00 02 01 8F

... After, and before, sending the standby command enable, but also get no response. Nothing I send via RS232 seems capable of waking the television up. I believe my commands and checksum are all correct because they are calculated automatically using the same function for all commands (and every other command works), but I will gladly admit to any error that gets me over this hump!

Someone in another thread ([Link: remotecentral.com]) mentioned using IR-over-RS232, which I thought might have meant using the SIRCS protocol; I found a document in an hours-long googling fog on the internet for an "MA2 RS232 Module" ([Link: protvsolutions.com]) that lists some additional RS232 commands, including discrete power on/power off commands using a different header address than the TV's doc. Again, the power-off command works great when the TV is already on, but the power-on command does nothing when the set is off. The SIRCS table in that document makes no mention of any power toggle, discrete power-on, or standby modes.

Is there some special setting that has to be enabled in the TV settings to power it on via RS232? Maybe I need to have the "fast power on" mode enabled during the timeslots I want to use RS232 control?

Any help from someone who has this working would be greatly appreciated; it would be very painful to have to use an "IR blaster" solely for the purpose of turning the television on and off when I can control everything else I want via RS232.

Thanks in advance! Happy New Year, everyone!

I've figured this out on my own. Feeling kind of silly, although I think I'll lay at least part of the blame on the quality of Sony's instructions.

1 - You must issue the "standby command enable" command while the set is already powered on. You can't do this when the set is powered off, as I discovered!

2 - After issuing "standby command enable" while the set is on, use the "power off" command to turn off the television (other methods of powering off may or may not allow you to power back on later; haven't tested yet).

3 - If you issued "standby command enable" before powering down, you should be able to "power on" now using the appropriate RS232 command.

A frustrating few hours to be sure, but thankfully met with a happy ending. I think it's time for a beer!