Control AMX Netlinx 3100 RS-232 Control System

[NovussDei]

Hi, I’m sorry if I don’t have enough information but I don’t fully understand this system.

Essentially we had a system installed with an AMX Modero MVP-8400 Touchpanel that controls the NI-3100 system. The AMX touchscreen when buttons are pressed then sends info to the 3100 system that then sends out to our cameras via RS-232 (pan, tilt, zoom, presets etc).

The problem is the AMX system is clunky and has programming issues which we have to keep calling an external technician to keep coming and reprogramming and we would rather be able to control it all simply using a Streamdeck.

I’m wondering if a module already exists or could be built to control this and send commands to it to then control the cameras.

The cameras are 1 x Lumens VC-A50P and 2 x Marshall CV350-10X

Here’s as much info as I could find on the Netlinx 3100: https://www.conferenceroomav.com/pdf/ni-3100-256-installation.pdf

Happy to try and send as much info as I can.

[jrviz]

Is the AMX only controlling the cameras? It looks like the Lumens has an Ethernet connection and the Marshall could be controlled using an RS-485 converter and the TCP to serial module on the a PC (search for RS-485 in slack, you will see some discussion on the Marshall cameras). Using the Visca modules on Companion might be a better way of doing this than trying to get a solution which drives the AMX

[NovussDei]

Is the AMX only controlling the cameras? It looks like the Lumens has an Ethernet connection and the Marshall could be controlled using an RS-485 converter and the TCP to serial module on the a PC (search for RS-485 in slack, you will see some discussion on the Marshall cameras). Using the Visca modules on Companion might be a better way of doing this than trying to get a solution which drives the AMX

It controls both the aux outputs of the screens, switching between the sources and operating the camera presets and zoom/ptz controls. It also powers on our entire system (computers, tv, sound, lighting etc)

ideally I wanted to try and repurpose it rather than just completely cut it out. I’ll look into the converters - the other problem is the netlinx has like 8 RS connections plugged in and I have no clue what’s what 😂

[mark-epstein]

there is no "external control" available for the AMX system. It has its own sandboxed OS and programming language and only reacts to stimuli it's been programmed to react to.

That said, an AMX system could be programmed to open a TCP socket and communicate using any set of commands/responses you can dream up. But if your challenge is your AMX programmer and/or integration documentation (and it sounds like it is) this is probably not the ideal solution.

[AngasT]

I have been controlling AMX Netlinx and DVX devices using telnet control and custom software. I would love to see it integrated with companion! The AMX devices that I have used have been reset and have no programming, but most of the functions can still be controlled via telnet.

Devices: • NI-700/900 • NI-2100/3100/4100 • NI-3101-SIG • DVX-21XXHD • DVX-315XHD (tested and confirmed using DVX-3156HD)

I believe this will also work on • NX-1200 • NX-2200 • NX-3200 • NX-4200 • DVX-22xxHD • DVX-325xHD

Documents: NetLinx Programming Guide PDF (NI and DVX Models) Terminal (Program Port/Telnet) Commands pg 86 Critical commands (for me): • ON D:P:S,CH pg89 • OFF D:P:S,CH pg89 • SEND_COMMAND D:P:S,COMMAND pg91 Potentially useful commands • SEND_LEVEL D:P:S,LEVELID,LEVELVALUE pg91 • SEND_STRING D:P:S,STRING pg91 Netlinx Programming pg74 List of Port numbers for each device in table “Port Assignments by NetLinx Master” pg74 I think the SEND_COMMANDS in this section require programming of the device (which only certified installers can do). Not much use for basic telnet control.

DVX Commands PDF (for DVX devices only) Programming pg71 Audio SEND_COMMANDS (pg 76) • AIO

Video SEND_COMMANDS (pg 96) • CIO

• CL<sI>IO

• VIO

• VIDOUT_BLANK • VIDOUT_FREEZE SEND_LEVELS (pg 72) Feedback • I can’t get feedback to work Note: examples use device name, which may not be programmed. Use device number (eg 5002) instead.

Port assignments for NX and DVX22/DVX32 models PDF o Pg 82 for port assignments for NX and DVX22xxHD and DVX325xHD

Notes: • D:P:S in the documentation refers to Device Number : Port Number : System Number o Device Number and System Number can be found on the web console of the device o Port Numbers differ between models and can be found in documentation above

Tested Commands (using generic TCP module, port 23 with CRLF) NetLinx commands • Turn on IO CH4: ON 5001:17:1,4 • Turn off IO CH4: OFF 5001:17:1,4 • Turn on Relay CH3: ON 5001:8:1,3 • Turn off Relay CH3: OFF 5001:8:1,3

Vision Switcher commands • Send video input 1 to output 2: SEND_COMMAND 5002,"'VI1O2'" • Send video input 1 to outputs 2 and 4: SEND_COMMAND 5002,"'VI1O2,4'" • Freeze output 1: SEND_COMMAND 5002:1,"'VIDOUT_FREEZE-ENABLE'"

Test device: DVX3156HD Netlinx Device:5001 Switcher Device:5002 System: 1 IO Port: 17 Relay Port: 8 Also tested on DVX3155HD

Please let me know if you have any questions. I am more than happy to test and help debug :) Thanks for all the time and effort working on these modules, it is much appreciated!