Command examples CTX35 / DAIX12

Post by **poegje** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 1:23 pm

Hi!
I am considering to buy a CTX35 to replace my fried CM11a together with a DAIX12 to start experimenting.
Because i want to program my own home automation software i was looking for examples of A10 commands. I found and examined different manuals but did not find many examples (of extended commands).

For instance , i would like to know how to switch on a DAIX12 at a preset dim setting? So ,what would be the command to accomplish this?

Also, is it possible to preset a dim value without actually switching the light on. So the next time the light is switched on it will start at the preset dim value?

Post by **MindBender** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 1:41 pm

If you are considering to buy a CTX35, I would strongly recommend you to go for the extra mile and get yourself a PMIX35 instead; It can do all the CTX35 does, using the same protocol, but it's got a lot of extra nifty little features that make diagnostics a lot easier.

The protocol is fully human-readable, so connecting it to your computer and running TeraTerm (of Hyperterm, if you have to) will get you a long way. Commands are formatted like this:
&>2800payloadCS#
Where 28 and 00 are the device type and address, CS is a hexadecimal representation of the checksum and payload is the actual message. The actual message is something like A1ON to switch node A1 on. Hard to digest, hu? Xanuara modules send somthing like A1A1ONON for extra redundancy, but it's basically the same.

I don't have any information on the DAIX12 extended frame at hand, but I have a couple of those too, and I too am planning to write my own software so I will need to figure it out anyway.

I don't think it is possible to set the preset value without switching it on; I've been looking for that too, but I couldn't find any quickly.

Post by **poegje** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 2:20 pm

Thanks so far!

I see the PMIX35 creates an extra tty-port in linux, so it should be easy to communicate with it from my program. Was a bit worried that that would be more difficult than with a CTX35.

Hope we find out about the preset dimming...

Post by **MindBender** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 2:56 pm

Yes, the PMIX35 has a USB-to-Serial convertor on board. I don't know why they replaced the serial port with a USB port; The seial port may becoming obsolete, but it allows MUCH longer cables than USB does, giving you much more freedom on placing your device. A simple conversion cable could make it compatible with both.

Anyway, I'm using Linux as a platform too and I already have written a serial-port engine for the PMIX/CTX35 to test a couple of things.

Post by **poegje** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 3:31 pm

Yes, i also prefer serial. However, i already have 3 serial devices connected, i'm running out of ports again [:D]
So, USB could be handy for this one. To bad about the cable length indeed, although i will probably place it near my server anyway.

Maybe i can contact you for your engine when i have the units.

I'm using php to script a program. Not as fast as C but programming php is what i do all day

And php works great with MySQL in which i want to store macros, timed commands etc.

I love the way linux allows to link everything by scripting etc.

Post by **Pieterpaul** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 4:04 pm

The extended code syntax for the CTX35 is pretty simple. The format is: "Letter Code + "[N]" + Unit Data + Data + Command +Type" (e.g. www.bwired.nl/images/how/ctx35.pdf), where 'N' is always '1' (extended command set 1), 'Letter Code' and 'Unit Data' together give the device code (e.g. A01 is Letter Code 'A' and Unit Data '01'). 'Command' and 'Type' give the actual extended command (see http://home.comcast.net/~ncherry/common/xtc798.txt). For a DIM preset this is '3' and '1' respectively. 'Data' finally gives the data for the command, which in case of the DIM preset indicates the amount of DIM to be applied (0x00 is completely off and 0x3F indicates completely on).

Regards, PP

Post by **poegje** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 4:50 pm

Thanks! I gets clearer already. Can't wait to order the CTX35 and start fiddling with it. [8D]

Post by **MindBender** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 9:27 pm

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by poegje
 Maybe i can contact you for your engine when i have the units.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Sure; I have sent you a PM with my email address.
<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">
I'm using php to script a program. Not as fast as C but programming php is what i do all day

And php works great with MySQL in which i want to store macros, timed commands etc.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Interesting! Perhaps we could combine efforts; I'm an embedded software engineer, I do Linux kernel work, bootloaders and board support all day, all in plain C.

Post by **poegje** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:33 am

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by MindBender
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by poegje
 Maybe i can contact you for your engine when i have the units.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Sure; I have sent you a PM with my email address.
<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">
I'm using php to script a program. Not as fast as C but programming php is what i do all day

And php works great with MySQL in which i want to store macros, timed commands etc.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Interesting! Perhaps we could combine efforts; I'm an embedded software engineer, I do Linux kernel work, bootloaders and board support all day, all in plain C.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Thanks! I will let you know when i start working on it. Right now i am in the process of moving to a new home so it may take some time.

RobTdeBoer · Post by **RobTdeBoer** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 7:31 pm

Hallo,
ik wil mijn cm11 vervangen door de pmix35 maar welke plugin (interface) moet ik gebruiken in HomeSeer om de opdrachten te verwerken.

R.T. de Boer

Post by **Willem4ever** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 7:44 pm

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by RobTdeBoer
 Hallo,
ik wil mijn cm11 vervangen door de pmix35 maar welke plugin (interface) moet ik gebruiken in HomeSeer om de opdrachten te verwerken.

R.T. de Boer
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

de ACT TI103

Post by **l0rien** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 9:44 am

I don't think the 'true preset' dimming is possible. True preset as in, The light is off -> send 50% preset (light stays off) -> switch on locally and it will come up on 50%.

Preset with the xanura and marmitec modules is: It will come upto this 'preset' value no matter what the previous setting. So if it was 100%, you set dim to 50%, it will come on to 50% and not first go to 100 and then back to 50.

So there are basically two options if you want your lights to be dimmed during the night and bright during the day:
1) Check for darkness(sundown+30 or something). Send Dim 30% to the light, delay 5 second and send off. Now the next time you touch the switch locally it will go to 30%.
2) Maybe nicer, but only possible with 2way modules: Setup event to wait for "on" event on light switch (so someone pressed locally), the action, depending on time etc would be to immediately dim/bright to the required level.

Both work fine. The first will have your lights go quickly on and off twice a day, which could be annoying. The second requires you to adjust to the light coming on at say 30% and then go up to 100% with a small delay(1sec in my env.)

Post by **poegje** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 10:02 am

Thank you!
I think with some scripting option 2 might indeed be nicer. Hopefully the system is fast enough so the delay isn't to big. Maybe i need to make a dedicated HA-server

Now it also works as HTPC, download box, mailserver and webserver. It can be quite busy at times

Post by **l0rien** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 10:18 pm

That's why we have VMWare

My HTPC is the host running two VM's one dedicated downloader and one HA-VM.

Post by **poegje** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 11:27 am

I don't think that will make the load of the HTPC less. [:D]