I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction. First some background: I'm a computer programmer/electronics hobbyist. I installed speakers/manual volume controls in most of the rooms when I built the house and have been driving the speakers with an assortment of no-longer-used amps. I wrote a web app to allow me to create playlists and play them over one of four audio outputs from my server. The system currently uses Extron Matrix switches for the zone routing and I've been buying Speakercraft amps off eBay to replace the assortment of old amps.

This is all working fine but I'd like to replace my old, half burned-up 8ohm volume controls with something I can control remotely. I saw a Phast PLB-AS16 cheap on eBay and figured that would be a workable solution. As a computer programmer, I always figure that if a device is machine controllable, I can write software to control it.

Since the PLB-AS16 only has PHASTlink/ICSNET ports and I didn't want to try to figure out the encoding done over the RS486 serial link, I looked into something to interface serial or IP to PHASTlink. I found an AMX NI-2000 dirt cheap on eBay and figured that would be the easiest/cheapest solution. The first NI-2000 I got had a password set up on the security section of the terminal interface (even when directly connected to the program port) so I was unable to do anything with it. AMX says it needs to be RMAed. I found another NI-2000 cheap on eBay and this one I can access.

At this point, the NI-2000 sees the PLB-AS16 as a device but I can't find any information on how to talk it. I'd think there would be a reference manual around that would detail the commands used to tie outputs to inputs, change the output levels, etc. but I can't find anything. I'm also assuming that once I find out what those commands are, I'll be able to send them from my server to the PLB-AS16 via the NI-2000 (hopefully over ICSP).

Can someone point me in the right direction? I imagine there will be plenty of you who will say I should sell these units on eBay and start over with something newer & better. I'm a cheap tinkerer though and enjoy poking around at this stuff.

AMX has a precompiled codeblock for the Phast switchers. Its available for download to authorized dealers on the website. even if you got your hands on it, you still have a long way to go before you can make it work.

The Hardware is programmed via "Netlinx Studio" which is loosely based on C++

the reason you can get this stuff so cheap is because its HIGHLY proprietary and you simply cant do anything with them unless you have the licensed AMX software.

I did AMX programming for the better part of 20 years. I assure you, its more trouble than its worth for you. get something that has a published control protocol and write something you can run on something thats NOT proprietary.

That chicklet keypad is nothing more than a gun target these days.
How about a ipad and global cache?

Any suggestions for a 8x16 or 16x16 audio matrix switch that I can control via RS232 or Ethernet and allows output level adjustments? As you can tell from my eBay buying, I'm not looking to spend major $ on this.

+1000

In the past, I programmed these systems. It isn't something that you are just going to "figure out". Highly proprietary.

My nickle, RR

For Audio switches that size, you're looking at VideoStorm, or Zektor. But you'll also be spending some $$$.

Do you really need that many ins and outs? What exactly are you trying to do? an PLB-AS16 isnt really a replacement(By itself) for in-wall volume controls to begin with.

Rave or Nexus audio sell zoned music systems that can replace volume controls and are controlled via RS232.
RTI has the AD4 and AD8 matrix amp that can be controlled RS232 and are not considered expensive for what they do.

Depending on how many zones, there are even some good AV receivers with zone 2 and 3 outputs and again picking carefully you can find older models being sold cheap that are still good for what you want to do.

The AMX / Phast piece was probably really cheap, and is a good door stop.

This is for zoned audio in the house. I have eight speaker zones plus three TV/theater-type zones that have their own amps. The server actually has four outputs so, theoretically, I could create four different mixes/playlists with the web app and send each to any of the zones. The TV/theater-type zones are also inputs to the switcher so I can, for example, play a movie and route the audio to zones outside the theater. Realistically, I can only imagine playing two different audio programs at a time but those two programs will be routed differently depending and what age groups are where.

I have a videostorm 16x16 audio matrix make me an offer if your interested.

Here you go controlled by RS232 (and cheap)

[Link: ebay.com]

If you really want one of those switchers, you can have it for $1. + Shipping.
I was going to give some old parts to my kids to strip apart.

@GotGame: One of which switchers?

Yea. I think I have some of that stuff in the back of the warehouse still.

I wound up getting an Extron MAV Plus 16x16 switcher off eBay for just under $200. I was using an Extron Matrix switcher before but they did not have output level control. The MAV Plus Series has output level control and Ethernet/IP connectivity. It was a drop-in replacement for the Extron switcher I was usiing before and does what I need.