This is my first thread in years, so forgive me for being a bit outdated.

I have a Philips TSU-9400 with a RFX-9600 and Pioneer VSX-53.

I am trying to the system to play nice. Then I want to work on 2-way. Right now I am unable to get a response from the AVR when it's hooked up via RS-232.

I am using port 4, since I don't have a two female RS-232 cable. I tested each wire. Pin 2 is going to RXD on the RFX-9600, Pin 3 to TXD and Pin 5 to GND. The problem that I am having is that when it's hooked up, the AVR is un-responsive via remote. Even when it's via IR, since I only made a few test buttons of RS-232. So I swapped pins 2 and 3, and no change. Removed the GND and it works with IR, but still no RS-232.

No comm speed, charter length, or what not was changed, because they all matched up in PEP3 with what Pioneer says. Picked up the data from Pioneer's website, [Link: pioneerelectronics.com].

So could someone help me here with why my AVR stops working with an IR remote when the RS-232 is hooked up. And why isn't the RS-232 working at all? Am I using the correct "codes"? Example Power Toggle A51C, Power On A51A and Power Off A51B. PEP3 accepts them as valid codes, when I press the button the RFX-9600 lights up the corresponding LED and what not.

Thanks

KOT

A little update. I was able to find another female RS-232.

However, I am still having the same problem. Added pin 7 RTS. Did a straight through Pin 2 to Pin 2, P3 to P3. Then tried the cross P2 to P3 and P3 to P2. Still won't allow IR control.

KOT

I'm not sure where you got the serial commands you are using. They look more like IR commands. The correct serial command for "Power On" is:
PO
The is a carriage return, of which I am not sure how in the pronto script that would be written.

By sending the A51A and such commands, it may be locking up the unit to cause the IR to stop working.

Ok, thank you for the information. I found the codes for RS-232 now.

However, it's still locking up and not working with the RS-232. I even tested it with the IR codes first. So basically as soon as the RS-232 cable is hooked up, that's when the IR codes won't be accepted.

KOT

Try hooking it up to a PC serial port using hyperterminal or comparable to see if commands can be executed without causing the lock up. This will take the RFX out of the equation. The pioneer does not need the other pins beyond 2,3, and 5. It sounds like something may be connected to the RTS or CTS pins causing it to wait for a command.

Ok, but there's a problem or two with that.

First I am on a Mac, but I also run Windows XP and 7 via VMware.

Second I'll be using an USB to RS-232.

Will either the above be a problem?

KOT

I'm pc but have used USB to serial for years with no problems. Not sure if realterm runs on Mac natively but should run through vm.

Ok, I got the VSX not to freeze by using an USB to RS-232. However, I still can't get it to work via RS-232.

I am using 232Analyzer on Windows 7 via VMware. It's able to open the port, port 5 in this case and it doesn't give me any "failed" commands.

I tried both straight through and cross. I used PO, PO< c r > and < c r >PO< c r > (w/o spaces) for Power On code and it still wouldn't work. Below is a C&P of what I am using and it's settings.

KOT

It should be a crossed(null modem) cable and it may be the way you are sending the carriage return. Try sending it in hex format. The following is the hex characters but your program may require them entered differently, with or without spaces, 0x50, \0x50, \\x50, \x50, 50 in a hex mode, etc.

0x50 0x4F 0x4E 0x0D