1
HDS4x2 User Guide, Rev 1.1, 08-31-07
The RS-232 Port
RS-232 protocol (overview)
The communications protocol used is Zektor’s exclusive K.I.S.S.™ (Keep It Simple Serial™) protocol.
Zektor’s exclusive K.I.S.S.™ (Keep It Simple Serial™) protocol was designed by engineers who have been
controlling RS-232 devices for most of their careers and understand the pitfalls of a badly designed protocol.
A few features of the K.I.S.S.™ protocol are:
A simple and logically consistent command structure.
Fully bi-directional operations and can be operated in both a Master/Slave mode (only responds when
spoken to), or in an Asynchronous mode (state changes are sent as they occur).
All commands and responses can optionally use a checksum or a CRC-8 checkcode to insure reliable
communications.
A command will always generate a response! There are no “timeout” states as part of the protocol. A
timeout will always indicate some type of physical connection error (loose cable, extreme noise, etc.).
Commands and responses have been designed for simple parsing in any language.
Easy to test using a terminal, or terminal emulation software. (Hyperterm, SecureCRT, etc.)
A few features of the HDS4x2 command set are:
A full featured command set that goes far beyond simple front panel control operations! Allows full con-
trol over all features of the HDS4x2.
All front panel functions supported.
Full notification of state changes.
The ability to disable the front panel, and still have front panel button presses sent to the serial port.
High resolution control over all timing settings.
The ability to read all IR codes sent to the HDS4x2 by any remote, even IR codes not used by the
HDS4x2.
Many more features, too numerous to list here...
For a full description of K.I.S.S.™ and a list of the commands supported by the HDS4x2, download the
HDS4x2 supplemental manual at:
www.zektor.com/hds4x2/downloads.htm
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
