Kramer Electronics VP-81 K user manual VP-81K Kramer Protocol

NOTE 1 - When the master switcher is reset, (e.g. when it is turned on), the reset code is sent to the PC. If this code is sent to the switchers, it will reset according to the present power-down settings.

NOTE 2 - These are bi-directional definitions. That is, if the switcher receives the code, it will perform the instruction; and if the instruction is performed (due to a keystroke operation on the front panel), then these codes are sent. For example,

if the HEX code
01	85	88	83

was sent from the PC, then the switcher (machine 3) will switch input 5 to output 8. If the user switched input 1 to output

7 via the front panel keypad, then the switcher will send HEX codes:

41 81 87 83 to the PC.

When the PC sends one of the commands in this group to the switcher, then, if the instruction is valid, the switcher replies by sending to the PC the same four bytes that it was sent (except for the first byte, where the DESTINATION bit is set high).

NOTE 3 - SETUP # 0 is the present setting. SETUP # 1 and higher are the settings saved in the switcher's memory, (i.e. those used for Store and Recall).

NOTE 4 - The reply to a "REQUEST" instruction is as follows: the same instruction and INPUT codes as were sent are returned, and the OUTPUT is assigned the value of the requested parameter. The replies to instructions 10 and 11 are as per the definitions in instructions 7 and 8 respectively. For example, if the present status of machine number 5 is breakaway setting, then the reply to the HEX code

0B	80	80	85
would be HEX codes
4B	80	81	85

NOTE 6 – If INPUT is set to 127 for these instructions, then, if the function is defined on this machine, it replies with OUTPUT=1. If the function is not defined, then the machine replies with OUTPUT=0, or with an error (invalid instruction code).

If the INPUT is set to 126 for these instructions, then, if possible, the machine will return the current setting of this function, even for the case that the function is not defined. For example, for a video switcher which always switches during the VIS of input #1, (and its VIS setting cannot be programmed otherwise), the reply to the HEX code

0A	FE	80	81	(i.e. request VIS setting, with INPUT set as 126dec)
would be HEX codes
4A	FE	81	81	(i.e. VIS setting = 1, which is defined as VIS from input #1).

NOTE 8 - The reply is as in TYPE 3 above, except that here the OUTPUT is assigned with the value 0 if the setup is not defined / no valid input is detected; or 1 if it is defined / valid input is detected.

NOTE 9 - An error code is returned to the PC if an invalid instruction code was sent to the switcher, or if a parameter associated with the instruction is out of range (e.g. trying to save to a setup greater than the highest one, or trying to switch an input or output greater than the highest one defined). This code is also returned to the PC if an RS-232 instruction is sent while the machine is being programmed via the front panel. Reception of this code by the switcher is not valid.

NOTE 10 – This code is reserved for internal use.

NOTE 13 - This is a request to identify the switcher/s in the system. If the OUTPUT is set as 0, and the INPUT is set as 1, 2, 5 or 7, the machine will send its name. The reply is the decimal value of the INPUT and OUTPUT. For example, for a 2216, the reply to the request to send the audio machine name would be (HEX codes):

7D 96 90 81 (i.e. 128dec+ 22dec for 2nd byte, and 128dec+ 16dec for 3rd byte).

If the request for identification is sent with the INPUT set as 3 or 4, the appropriate machine will send its software version number. Again, the reply would be the decimal value of the INPUT and OUTPUT - the INPUT representing the number in front of the decimal point, and the OUTPUT representing the number after it. For example, for version 3.5, the reply to the request to send the version number would be (HEX codes):

7D 83 85 81 (i.e. 128dec+ 3dec for 2nd byte, 128dec+ 5dec for 3rd byte).

If the OUTPUT is set as 1, then the ASCII coding of the lettering following the machine’s name is sent. For example, for the VS-7588YC, the reply to the request to send the first suffix would be (HEX codes):

7D D9 C3 81 (i.e. 128dec+ ASCII for “Y”; 128dec+ ASCII for “C”).

NOTE 14 - The number of inputs and outputs refers to the specific machine which is being addressed, not to the system. For example, if six 16X16 matrices are configured to make a 48X32 system (48 inputs, 32 outputs), the reply to the HEX

code
3E	82	81	82	(i.e. request the number of outputs)
would be HEX codes
7E	82	90	82	(i.e. 16 outputs)

NOTE 16 - The reply to the “REQUEST WHETHER PANEL IS LOCKED” is as in NOTE 4 above, except that here the OUTPUT is assigned with the value 0 if the panel is unlocked, or 1 if it is locked.

NOTE 19 – After this instruction is sent, the unit will respond to the ASCII command set defined by the OUTPUT byte. The ASCII command to operate with the HEX command set must be sent in order to return to working with HEX codes.

38 VP-81K - Kramer Protocol