Custom Installation Notes: Serial programming interface for Arcam A/V surround sound receivers
Models covered: fmj AV8, AV9

Contents

Applicability... 2 Controlling Arcam A/V receivers via RS232.. 3 Serial cable specification.. 3 Serial programming interface. 3 Query commands.. 5 General Operation commands.. 6 Main menu Commands.. 7 Setup commands Basic.. 8 Basic General... 8 Basic Speakers... 8 Basic Delay... 8 Basic Levels.. 8 Basic Sub... 9 Basic THX... 9 Setup commands Advanced.. 10 Advanced Speaker.. 10 Advanced Video.. 10 Advanced Digital... 10 Advanced zone 2... 10 Advanced Analogue.. 10 Save Settings... 11 Engineering Settings... 11 Multi-button Presses... 11 Menu Access.. 11 Navigation.. 11 Simulated Button Presses.. 11

Applicability

Publication reference
This is Arcam technical publication SH79, issue 1 (March 2006).

Equipment covered

This publication describes the RS232 interface of the following Arcam A/V surround sound receivers: Model Arcam fmj AV8 Arcam fmj AV9 Software version 4.0 4.0
The latest version of this document is available on the Arcam Dealer extranet accessed via

www.arcam.co.uk/extranet

If you cannot yet access the Dealer extranet, please apply by email to nadinec@arcam.co.uk

AV8/9 (RS232) 2

Arcam, Pembroke Avenue, Waterbeach, CAMBRIDGE, CB5 9QR, England +44 (0)www.arcam.co.uk/extranet
Controlling Arcam A/V receivers via RS232
This document describes the remote control protocol for controlling the Arcam fmj A/V processors. via the serial (RS232) interface.
Serial cable specification
The cable is wired as a null modem, i.e. pin 2=RX, pin 3=TX, pin 5=RS232 ground.

Data transfer format

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Transfer rate: 38,400bps. 1 start bit, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity, no flow control.
Serial programming interface
Command lines must be terminated by an ASCII line feed (0X0A hexadecimal) and be no longer that 64 bytes (including the line feed terminator). For example: to turn zone 1on, send: Z1PWR1<lf> where <lf> is an ASCII line feed.

Setting values

As well as setting options directly to specific values, as described above, current values may be incremented or decremented by following the command with a + (increment) or (decrement). For example, to increment the decode mode in zone 1: Z1DEC+<lf> If a zone is not specified, the command is carried out in relation to zone 1. For example, to decrement the THX mode: Z1THX-<lf> would produce identical results to using: THX-<lf> Multiple commands may be placed on a single command line if separated by a semicolon. For example, to turn on zone 1 and switch to the tuner, use: Z1PWR1;Z1AUD2<lf>

Query commands

The current values of a small subset of settings may be queried, by preceding the command with a ?. For example, to query the mute status of zone 2, use: ?Z2MUT<lf> If zone 2 mute is ON, the unit responds with the message: Z2MUT1<lf> This response gives the zone it is reporting on (Z2 in this case), the setting (MUT), and the current value (a 1, showing it as ON). In order to keep the RS232 controller informed of the current state of the A/V receiver, certain changes in configuration/state will result in the unit automatically sending messages, just as if they had been queried using the method above. Changes in the following items will result in an RS232 response:

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Zone Status Zone 1 Audio Zone 1 Video Decode Mode Effect Mode
THX Mode Zone 1 Volume Audio Signal Type Current Preset Direct Mode

AV8/9 (RS232) 3

Command processing
Command processing begins when the first semicolon separator of line feed terminator is received. If there is an error in the command an error message FAIL is sent back. If the command is executed successfully, the command is echoed back to the sender. In the command tables below, one or more of the following parameters may be used: Param. ? z x y i Description Query Option. The value can be queried by putting a ? before the command. Zone selection. The zone can be selected by putting a z before the command. Values are Z1 (for zone 1) or Z2 (for zone 2). On/Off, Yes/No. The value can be set by putting an x after the command. Values are 1 (for On/Yes) or 0 (for Off/No). Value. The value can be set by putting a y after the command. Values have various ranges, as described in the tables below. Input Source. The source can be set by putting an i after the command. Values are in the range 0 to 9,A,B as follows: 0 = None/Not Connected, 1 = Source, 2 = AUX, 3 = CD, 4 = TUNER, 5 = DVD, 6 = SAT, 7 = AV, 8 = MULTICHANNEL, 9 = TAPE, A = VCR, B = Follow Zone 1. s Channel/Speaker Select. Values are in the range 0 to 8 as follows: 0 = Centre, 1 = Front Left, 2 = Front Right, 3 = Surr. Left, 4 = Surr. Right, 5 = Surr. Back Left, 6 = Surr. Back Right, 7 = Subwoofer, 8 = All/Master.

AV8/9 (RS232) 4

Command PWR MUT EFF THX DEC Parameters ?zPWR ?zMUT ?EFF ?THX ?DEC Description Query Power State Query Mute State Query Effect Mode Query THX Mode Query Decode/ Downmix Mode Response zPWRx, where z is the zone parameter you supply. zMUTx, where z is the zone parameter you supply. EFFy, where y may have the values: 0 = off, 1 = music, 2 = party, 3 = club, 4 = hall, 5 = sport, 6 = church, 7 = next effect. THXy, where y may have the values: 0 = Off, 1 = THX Cinema, 2 = THX Ultra2 Cinema, 3 = THX MusicMode, 4 = THX SurrEX. DECy If input source is Analogue or PCM, y may have the values: 0 = Mono, 1 = Stereo, 2 = Pro Logic II Movie, 3 = Pro Logic II Music, 4 = Pro Logic, 5 = Neo:6 Cinema, 6 = Neo:6 Music. If input source is Digital Surround (Dolby or DTS), y may have the values: 0 = Mono Downmix, 1 = Stereo Downmix, 2 = No Downmix. DIR VOL ?DIR ?zVOL Query Direct State Query Volume DIRx zVOLy, where z is the zone parameter you supply. y has a value in the range -63 to +19: -63 = 63dB +19 = +19dB AUD VID SIG ?zAUD ?zVID ?zSIG Query Audio Source Query Video Source Query Audio Signal Type zAUDi, where z is the zone parameter you supply. zVIDi, where z is the zone parameter you supply. zSIGy, where z is the zone parameter you supply. y may have the values: 0 = Analogue, 1 = PCM, 2 = Dolby Digital 1+1, 3 = Dolby Digital 1/0, 4 = Dolby Digital 2/0, 5 = Dolby Digital 3/0, 6 = Dolby Digital 2/1, 7 = Dolby Digital 3/1, 8 = Dolby Digital 2/2, 9 = Dolby Digital 3/2, 10 = Dolby Digital EX, 11 = DTS 1/0, 12 = DTS 1+1, 13 = DTS 2/0, 14 = DTS 3/0, 15 = DTS 2/1, 16 = DTS 3/1, 17 = DTS 2/2, 18 = DTS 3/2, 19 = DTSES Matrix, 20 = DTS-ES Discrete. Reports the current state of Audio, Video, Volume, Mute, Audio Signal Type, *Decode/ Downmix Mode, *Effect Mode, *THX Mode. * Zone 1 only PRE TRM ?PRE ?TRMs Query Current Preset Query Trims PREy, where y may have the values 1 to 5 for the current preset. TRMsy, where y has a value in the range -10 to +10 in 0.5dB steps: -10 = 10dB +10 = +10dB BSA ?BSA Query Bass Trim BSAy, where y has a value in the range -6 to +6: -6 = 6dB +6 = +6dB TBA ?TBA Query Treble Trim TBAy, where y has a value in the range -6 to +6: -6 = 6dB +6 = +6dB BAL ?BAL Query Balance BALy, where y has a value in the range -10 to +10: -10 = +10dB to Left +10 = +10dB to Right VDT RCT RCV COM LIP ?VDT ?RCT ?RCV ?COM ?LIP Query Video Type Query Record To Tape Query Record To VCR Query Compression Query Lip Sync VDTy, where y may have the values: 0 = 4:3, 1 = 16:9. RCTi RCVi COMy, where y may have the values: 0 = Off, 1 = Medium, 2 = High. LIPy, where y has a value in the range -1 to +44: -1 = 5ms +44 = +220ms HED ?HED Query Headphones Returns status for Zone 1 and Zone 2. Response is HEDz, where z may have the values: 0 = Zone 1, 1 = Zone 2.

Query Zone Status.

AV8/9 (RS232) 5
General Operation commands
Command PWR MUT FAN EFF Parameters ?zPWRx ?zMUTx zFANx ?EFFy Description Power on/off Mute on/off Force Analogue Effect Mode Selection y may have the values: 0 = off, 1 = music, 2 = party, 3 = club, 4 = hall, 5 = sport, 6 = church, 7 = next effect. THX ?THXy THX Mode Selection y may have the values: 0 = Off, 1 = THX Cinema, 2 = THX Ultra2 Cinema, 3 = THX MusicMode, 4 = THX SurrEX. DEC ?DECy Decode/Downmix Mode Selection If input source is Analogue or PCM, y may have the values: 0 = Mono, 1 = Stereo, 2 = Pro Logic II Movie, 3 = Pro Logic II Music, 4 = Pro Logic, 5 = Neo:6 Cinema, 6 = Neo:6 Music, 7 = Pro Logic IIx Movie, 8 = Pro Logic IIx Music. If input source is Digital Surround (Dolby or DTS), y may have the values: 0 = Mono Downmix, 1 = Stereo Downmix, 2 = No Downmix. If input source is Dolby Stereo, y may have the values: 2 = Pro Logic II Movie, 3 = Pro Logic II Music, 4 = Pro Logic IIx Movie, 5 = Pro Logic IIx Music. If input source is Dolby Multichannel or Digital Surround (Dolby or DTS), y may have the values: 4 = Pro Logic IIx Movie, 5 = Pro Logic IIx Movie, 6 = Dolby Digital Surround EX. DIS RES INF SIG STS ?zSIG ?zSTS VFD Display Restore Preset Current Source information (on OSD) Current Audio Signal Type Zone Status. Displays current state of Audio, Video, Volume, Mute, Audio Signal Type, *Decode/ Downmix Mode, *Effect Mode, *THX Mode. * Zone 1 only TRM TRMsy Trim Levels y has a value in the range -10 to +10 in 0.5dB steps: -10 = 10dB +10 = +10dB Parameter values

AV8/9 (RS232) 6

Main menu Commands
Command VOL Parameters ?zVOLy Description Volume Parameter values y has a value in the range -63 to +19: -63 = 53dB +19 = +19dB PRE AUD VID VDT DIR BAL PREy ?zAUDi ?zVIDi VDTy ?DIRix BALy Preset Select Audio source selection Video source selection Video Type Stereo Direct Balance y has a value in the range -10 to +10: -10 = +10dB to Left +10 = +10dB to Right RCT RCV COM LIP RCTi RCVi COMy LIPy Record To Tape Select Record To VCR Select Compression Lip Sync Control y may have the values: 0 = Off, 1 = Medium, 2 = High. y has a value in the range -1 to +44: -1 = 5ms +44 = +220ms DIM DIMy Pro Logic II MusicMode Dimension y is the Dimension setting for Pro Logic II and Pro Logic IIx and has a value in the range 0 to 6: 0 = += 3 CTW PAN HED CTWy PANx HEDz Pro Logic II Music Mode Centre Width Pro Logic II MusicMode Panorama Headphones Out y is the Centre Width setting for Pro Logic II and Pro Logic IIx and has a value in the range 0 to 7 x sets the Pro Logic II and Pro Logic IIx MusicMode Panorama 0 = Zone 1, 1 = Zone 2. y may have the values: 0 = 4:3, 1 = 16:9. y has a value in the range 1 to 5.

AV8/9 (RS232) 7

Setup commands Basic

Basic General

Command VDS MXV Parameters VDSy zMXVy Description Volume Display Max Volume Parameter values y may have the values: 0 = Normal, 1 = dB ref, 2 = Fine. For Zone 1, y has a value in the range -43 to +19: -43 = 43dB +19 = +19dB For Zone 2, y has a value in the range 20 to 82 MXO zMXOy Max On Volume For Zone 1, y has a value in the range -63 to +19: -63 = 63dB +19 = +19dB For Zone 2, y has a value in the range 0 to 82 DYU OMD VST HQV SYG DYUy OMDy VSTy HQVy SYGx Delay Units OSD Mode Video Status HQ Video Sync On Green y may have the values: 0 = Imperial, 1 = Metric, 2 = Time. y may have the values: 0 = Full Page, 1 = Mixed. y may have the values: 0 = Scart, 1 = Screen Control. y may have the values: 0 = RGB, 1 = Component.

Basic Speakers

Command AST Parameters ASTy Description Auto Setup Parameter values y may have the values: 0 = THX, 1 = THX SurrEX, 2 = Config. 1, 3 = Config. 2, 4 = Config. 3, 5 = Custom. SSZ 5P1 SSZsy 5P1y Speaker Size 5.1 Rears y may have the values: 0 = None, 1 = Small/Present, 2 = Large. y may have the values: 0 = SurrL/R, 1 = SurrBackL/R, 2 = Both.

Basic Delay

Command DLY Parameters DLYsy Description Speaker Delays Parameter values y has a value in the range below, depending on the chosen delay units: Imperial: 0 to 38 feet 8 inches in 4 inch steps Metric: 0 to 12.0 meters in 0.1m steps Time: 0 to 52.5 milliseconds in 0.5ms steps

Basic Levels

Command LVL Parameters LVLsy Description Speaker Level settings Parameter values y has a value in the range -10 to +10 in 0.5dB steps: -10 = 10dB +10 = +10dB

AV8/9 (RS232) 8

Basic Sub
Command CRF Parameters CRFy Description Crossover Frequency Parameter values y has a value in the range 0 to 22 in 5Hz steps: 0 = 40Hz 22 = 150Hz STM LFE STMy LFEy Stereo Mode LFE Level y may have the values: 0 = Large+Sub, 1 = Sat+Sub, 2 = Large. y has a value in the range -10 to 0: -10 = 10dB 0 = 0dB DLF SST DLFy SSTy DTS LFE Gain Sub Stereo y may have the values: 0 = 0dB Normal, 1 = 10dB. y has a value in the range -10 to 0: -10 = 10dB 0 = 0dB DAL NSW DALy NSWy DVD-A Sub Level No. of Subwoofers y may have the values: 0 = Flat (0dB), 1 = Normal (+10dB) y may have the values 1 to 3, for 1 to 3 subwoofers.

Basic THX

Command TEX U2S BGC ASA Parameters TEXx U2Sx BGCx ASAy Description THX Surround EX Flag detection THX Ultra 2 Sub Boundary Gain Compensation Advanced Speaker Array y may have the values: 0 = 012, 1 = 1248, 2 = 48+ Parameter values

AV8/9 (RS232) 9

Setup commands Advanced

Advanced Speaker

Command BAS Parameters BASsy Description Bass Levels Parameter values y has a value in the range -6 to +6: -6 = 6dB +6 = +6dB TRB TRBsy Treble Levels y has a value in the range -6 to +6: -6 = 6dB +6 = +6dB STB STBx Auto Stereo Tone Bypass

Advanced Video

Command OSD VIA VIC VIT VIM ANV HQS Parameters zOSDx VIAi VICi VITi VIMi ANVy HQSyi Description OSD Video Input AUX Video Input CD Video Input Tape Video Input Multichannel Audio and Video HQ Video Setting y may have the values: 0 = Tracked, 1 = Separate. y may have the values: 0 = HQ Vid 1, 1 = HQ Vid, 2 = HQ Vid 3. Parameter values

Advanced Digital

Command DIG Parameters DIGyi Description Digital Inputs Parameter values y may have the values: Coaxial: 0 =DVD input, 1 =AV input, 2 =Tape input, 3 =Tuner input, 4 =CD input Optical: 5 =VCR input, 6 =SAT input i is the button assigned to the input

Advanced zone 2

Command FVL SBY CZI ACC Parameters FVLx zSBYy CZIx ACCix Description Zone 2 Fix Volume Standby Zone 1 Control Zone 2 Access 0 =None, 1 = All. y may have the values: 0 =Local Only, 1 = All Off. Parameter values

Advanced Analogue

Command ANS Parameters ANSiy Description Analogue Settings Parameter values where i is the button assigned to the input, and y is the level setting: 0 = Low 1V, 1 = Reference 2V, 2 = Medium 4V, 3 = High 8V

AV8/9 (RS232) 10

Save Settings
Command SAV Parameters SAVy Description Save Preset Parameter values y may have the values: 0 = Current Preset, 1 = Preset 1, 2 = Preset 2, 3 = Preset 3, 4 = Preset 4, 5 = Preset 5. PNM PNMyn Preset Name y may have the values: 0 = Current Preset, 1 = Preset 1, 2 = Preset 2, 3 = Preset 3, 4 = Preset 4, 5 = Preset 5, n = up to 14 characters.

Engineering Settings

Command RC5 SCM SCT EPE DIA FPR DIAx FPRx Parameters zRC5y SCMx SCTyn Description RC5 System Code Scrolling Message Scrolling Text Select Eeprom Erase (Restore Defaults) Diagnostics Front Panel IR Receiver y has a value in the range 0 to 8. If y = 0, then n can be a string of your choice. If no string is given, the default is used. Parameter values y may have the values: 0 = RC5 System Code 16, 1= RC5 System Code 19.

Multi-button Presses

Command LOC TST PLL RCM Parameters Description Setup Menu Lock Test VFD and LEDs PLL Status RC5 Decode Mode Parameter values

Menu Access

Command M B A SM SS SV EM TM LS SW EMy Parameters My By Ay Description Display Main menus Display Basic Setup Menus Display Advanced Setup Menus Display Setup Menu Display Save Settings Menu Display Software Versions Menu Display Engineering Menu Display Trims Menu Display LipSync Shortcut Display Subwoofer Shortcut y has a value in the range 1 to 2 to display each of the Engineering menus. Parameter values y has a value in the range 1 to 3 to display each of the Main menus. y has a value in the range 1 to 6 to display each of the Basic Setup menus. y has a value in the range 1 to 5 to display each of the Advanced Setup menus.

Navigation

Command U D L R Parameters Description Up Down Left Right Parameter values

Simulated Button Presses

Command O M Parameters Description OK Menu Parameter values

AV8/9 (RS232) 11