Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Dolby DSS220 Serial Automation/Lighting

This is topic Dolby DSS220 Serial Automation/Lighting in forum Digital Cinema Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Derek Heckler (Member # 9313) on 01-05-2017, 01:09 PM:

I have an interesting set up that I am attempting to make work - with so far, no luck. I have reached out to the manufacturers tech support and have gotten no where - Perhaps someone can help here.. so here it goes:

I am trying to trigger my house lights using serial automation cues via my DSS220. The server is connected to a Leviton IF501 interface box, which takes in the RS232 from the server, and converts it to DMX for my house light dimmers. The IF501 uses ASCII code (specific characters only, as mentioned in its manual), to take commands from the server.

Now, the issue here is that the IF501 requires a carriage return after each command, BUT, the serial command field in the show manager software doesn't seem to allow for these returns, its just the one line of text. For example, the IF501 wants:

F00:10.0 (fade rate, in mm:ss.tenth)
D1-5@50 (dimmers at level)
G (execute)

Is this just not going to work? Or are there any ASCII wizards around who know how to implement a carriage return into a single text string? Again I have searched high and low and read through every manual..! Below is a link to the IF501 manual. The config I am using is referenced on page 11.

I appreciate the input and feedback-
Thanks! Derek

IF501 Manual

Posted by Stephan Shelley (Member # 8587) on 01-05-2017, 01:19 PM:

Use "\0D" without the quotes for carriage return. Note that is a zero.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 01-05-2017, 01:51 PM:

Have you:

a) tried it with your PC and a suitable program like PuTTY to verify that the commands respond as you think before connecting the DSS200 up to it?

If so, you can put all of that one string as the DSS like will allow HEX numbers within a command using the backslash character.

So to do what you want you would:

F00:10.0\0DD001-005@50\0DG

I left the last carriage return off presuming you put a \0D in the termination line.

But before you connect the DSS200, I'd start with verifying that the commands will work.

Make sure you define the commands as lighting commands and you can use the dropdown box on the control screen to fire them without putting them into a show.

Posted by Kristo Nalo (Member # 9748) on 01-05-2017, 11:29 PM:

Wow, Steve! You are certified expert I don't know about the procedures you mentioned in your comment I will put that on my list looks very helpful to everyone.

Posted by Derek Heckler (Member # 9313) on 01-09-2017, 11:19 AM:

Thanks for the help everyone! It works! Turns out, of all things, was a bad RS232 cable..