NXC-ME Connectivity
jabramson
Posts: 106
in AMX Hardware
I inherited a MXC-ME/NXI combination and I'd like to play around with this on my test bench. I'd like to set it up as a M2M system to expand the number of ports, however there is no Ethernet port despite being the "ME" model. It's just a blank hole. I took a look inside and it appears that there was never a port on the unit (clean solder contacts on the main board).
So with that, I'm looking for creative ideas to try to add this to my existing system. The unit does have ICSNet/ICSHub ports. Is there a way that I can get full functionality of the NXI over ICS connected to my existing master?
My other, archaic, idea is to straight patch one of the RS232 ports from this unit on to a RS232 port on my existing unit and create some sort of protocol to pass data. Do-able, just not the cleanest.
Ideas?
So with that, I'm looking for creative ideas to try to add this to my existing system. The unit does have ICSNet/ICSHub ports. Is there a way that I can get full functionality of the NXI over ICS connected to my existing master?
My other, archaic, idea is to straight patch one of the RS232 ports from this unit on to a RS232 port on my existing unit and create some sort of protocol to pass data. Do-able, just not the cleanest.
Ideas?
0
Comments
For example, if you establish a telnet session to a master and send the following:
send_string 5001:1:0, "'this is a string to send',13,10"
the obvious occurs. You can do the exact same thing with a terminal session connecting to the program port of the master.
So, pick a serial port on the master that you want to program and connect it with a null cable (2,3, and 5 only) to the program port on the ME. make sure your baud rate etc matches. Send strings out the serial port to the program port to control the ports connected to the ME. For example, to pulse relay # 4 connected to the ME send the following through the controlling serial port:
"'pulse[5001:7:0,4]',13,10"
assuming that the ME has device 5001 and the relays are port 7.
Note the cr lf combo that the program port needs.
If you want to use Master to Master, use the ICSNet as you suggested. Keep in mind that ICSNet is much slower than IP, so I would be careful with hammering it too much in a M2M setup, but there's no reason not having the IP should stop you.