Power for the Digital Revolution.

AVR 4550 AVR 5550

RS-232 PORT INSTRUCTIONS AND CODE LISTING

RS-232 PORT INSTRUCTIONS

What It Does
Harman Kardons AVR 4550 and AVR 5550 are designed for operation in conjunction with remote keypad, computer or other control devices capable of sending compatible hexadecimal data through an RS-232 connection. The commands issued by the control system or computer will mimic the operation of the standard remote control, and the AVR will respond accordingly. The operation of the system is one-way, so it is important to provide some means of observing the AVRs operation through the front-panel display, the on-screen messages generated by the AVR, or the visual/aural observation of the commands impact on the system. As the system is one-way only, no acknowledgments are provided back to the control system or computer by the AVR. and then precede each byte with a start bit (0) and follow it with a stop bit (1). Make certain that the time for the transmission of all four bytes does not exceed 107 ms; the AVR will interpret a time gap greater than 108 ms as the start of a new command. For example, to send the 80, 70, C1, 3E hex code sequence to issue a Mute command, the sequence would be as follows, including the start and stop bit after each hex code: To avoid problems that might occur when using a controller other than the units own remote, we do not recommend using the RS-232 commands with the OSD menus. Instead, it is easier to use the direct command sequences available for most major AVR options. The use of the direct commands increases the accuracy of the transmission, as the system will not need to guess the position of the cursor within a menu structure. Remember that some commands require multiple button presses, regardless of whether the command is being sent from the remote, or via the RS-232 link. Be certain that you include all needed commands, and that the spacing between each command is at least 108 ms. Also remember that the command structure for the RS-232 link does not accommodate repeat commands. These must be issued by duplicating the command as many times as needed, or by instructing the user to tap and release the RS-232 remote or touchscreen, rather than pressing it once and holding it. In constructing commands for the Surround Select, Multiroom, Speaker Configuration, Digital Input and Delay functions, please note that the direct access setup controls for those options require that you first send the code that accesses that control sequence, just as you would press the individual button on the remote to enter that command. To adjust the setting or scroll through the menus, you must then issue the specific Up or Down commands that are associated with the item being controlled. Note that each of these commands has its own set of these shift codes, and the codes are not interchangeable. For example, the Up command used to change surround modes is different from the Up command used to trim the channel levels. When changing the surround mode using the Dolby,* DTS Surround, DTS Neo:6, Logic 7 or Stereo buttons/commands, note that the first press of the button selects the mode, and the command should then be issued again to scroll through the available mode choices.

1100 1

BYTE 1 BYTE 2 BYTE 3 BYTE 4
TOTAL STRUCTURE FOR THE FOUR-BYTE COMMAND When building a sequence with multiple commands, remember to insert a sufficient time delay so that the total time from the start of one four-byte command to the start of the next four-byte command is at least 108 ms. When sending multiple commands, the transmission sequence will be as follows:

Connection

The connection between the control device or computer and the AVR is via a two-wire connection using standard DB-9 connections. The AVRs are not compatible with USB-type connections. The connections should be made directly (straight through) from pin 3 (TxD) to pin 3, and from pin 5 (GND) to pin 5. No other connections are needed, although a standard serial connection cable with all pins connected may be used. IMPORTANT NOTE: It is essential that a standard straight through connection cable be used. DO NOT use a null modem cable. Since the AVRs cross over the pin connections internally, the use of a null modem cable will render the RS-232 control system inoperable.

COMMAND 1

108 ms

COMMAND 2

COMMAND 3
The protocol for code transmission does not allow for repeat or continuous code. Thus, for commands (such as Volume) for which the button would be held down when using the actual remote, the specific command (e.g., Volume Up or Volume Down) must be sent individually as many times as necessary to achieve the desired effect. The commands being sent through the RS-232 link are direct mirror images of the commands and command sequences that would be used if you were pressing the remote control buttons for the specific product. In cases where a main command is issued first, followed by up/down or left/right navigation to select a choice, you will need to use the specific directional command codes for the command in use. The up/down and left/right navigation commands are NOT universal for the RS-232 link; it is critical that you use the correct navigation command control.

RS-232 Settings

The following settings should be made to the host (transmitting) device: Baud Rate: 4800 bps Data Bits: 8 Parity: No Stop Bit: 1 Flow Control: No (off) Command Acceptance Time: 108 ms

Using the Code Table

The following code table contains the IR codes that may be used to program IR-based systems, as well as the binary and hex commands used to program an RS-232 system. The far left column shows the actual name of the button as it appears on the remote control. The column next to it is the actual command for that button. The RS-232 Command column lists the full hexadecimal codes used for RS-232 programming or for use in programming IR-based systems.
Constructing Command Sequences
To construct command set sequences for RS-232 control, you must create a structure that duplicates the buttons that you would push on the remote control to issue the desired command. To do that efficiently, it is always a good idea to familiarize yourself with the products owners manual and method of operation.

Command Transmission Sequence
Each command consists of a four-byte hex code from the table at the end of this document. To send a command, first find the hex code listed in the chart for the specific function. Convert each byte to binary,

RS-232 CODES

Remote Button Power On Power Off Mute AVR DVD CD TAPE VID1 (VCR) VID2 (TV) VID3 (CBL/SAT) VID4 AM/FM 6CH/8CH Sleep/CH+ Test Tone Vol Up Surr/CH AVR Function Power On Power Off Mute AVR Power On INPUT SEL INPUT SEL INPUT SEL VID1 VID2 VID3 VID4 AM/FM 6CH/8CH Sleep Test Tone Vol Up Surr Surr Surr Night Multiroom Night Multiroom MR MR Vol Down CH./Guide Level/Down Level+/Up Speaker/Menu Vol Down Channel Level/Down Level+/Up Speaker Speaker Speaker Down Left SET Right Up Down Left SET Right Up RS-232 Command: HEX C0 3F 9F 70 C1 3E C0 3F D0 2F C4 3B CC 70 CA 70 CB 70 CE 70 D1 2E 81 7E DB 70 DB 72 8C 70 C58 A7A DF 72 5F A72 5E A70 C5D A72 9A AC 8F 72 8E 72 9A 72 C1 3E 84 7B C2 3D Right directional movement when navigating through OSD menus Upward directional movement when navigating through OSD menus Accesses the Channel Trim Settings menu Decreases the channel trim level Increases the channel trim level Accesses the Speaker Configuration menu Scrolls down through the speaker configuration choices Scrolls up through the speaker configuration choices Downward directional movement when navigating through OSD menus Left directional movement when navigating through OSD menus Accesses the Multiroom menu and displays current status Scroll down through multiroom choices (down arrow) Scroll up through multiroom choices (up arrow) Initiates surround mode choice and displays current mode Scroll down through surround choices (down arrow) Scroll up through surround choices (up arrow) The first transmission of this code shows the current mode. Subsequent transmissions step through the available modes. COMMENTS
Remote Button Digital/Exit AVR Function Digital Digital Digital Delay/Prev. CH Delay Delay Delay TUN-M Memory Tuning Up Direct Clear Preset Up Tuning Down OSD D. Skip Preset Down Dolby DTS Surround DTS NEO:6 Logic 7 Stereo TUN-M Memory Tuning Up Direct Clear Preset Up Tuning Down OSD D. Skip Preset Down Dolby DTS Surround DTS NEO:6 Logic 7 Stereo RS-232 Command: HEX 54 AB 56 AAAD 8B 72 8A 70 8A 70 8B 70 8C 70 8D 70 8E 70 9D 70 9E 6C 84 7B 9B 72 DD0 2F 85 7A 5C A72 DD 72 D1 2E 50 AF A0 5F A1 5E A2 5D 9B 64 To access a Surround Mode group, first use one of these commands to select the desired mode group. Issue the command again, as needed, to scroll through the list of available modes. COMMENTS Accesses Digital Input menu and displays input for current source Scrolls down through the list of digital inputs Scrolls up through the list of digital inputs Accesses delay settings Scrolls down through delay settings Scrolls up through delay settings

Harman Kardon, Power for the Digital Revolution and Logic 7 are registered trademarks of Harman International Industries, Incorporated. * Trademark of Dolby Laboratories. DTS Surround and DTS Neo:6 are registered trademarks of Digital Theater Systems, Inc.
250 Crossways Park Drive, Woodbury, New York 11797 2, Route de Tours, 72500 Chteau-du-Loir, France www.harmankardon.com 2003 Harman International Industries, Incorporated Part No. HKRS232LITEU5/03