Re: translator question

["BruceR" <bruceNO@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Let me know how soon you'll be ready to tackle it and I'll get one
ordered. I'll be placing another order next week anyway which will
arrive the following week. If you could send me your address via email
I'll send it out as soon as it arrives.  I expect I can have it to you 2
weeks from today.

"Dave Houston" <nobody@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:43d35228.61138546@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> No, you'll need a serial version. A microcontroller just doesn't have
> the
> horsepower to be a USB host.
>
> "BruceR" <br@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>>I should have clarified - it would be ambitious for ME ;).  I'll be
>>happy to loan you my 2414U and some modules. Note that I have the USB
>>rather than the Serial version of the 2414. Hope that will still fit
>>the
>>bill. If not, I'll get you one.
>>
>>From:Dave Houston
>>nobody@xxxxxxxxxxxx
>>
>>> Actually, it's not that ambitious. I already have BX-24 code (which
>>> only requires minor changes for the ZX-24) for most of the X-10
>>> stuff
>>> and the rest is just a matter of getting the serial protocols. It's
>>> basically just a few lookup tables. The BX24-AHT board is already
>>> setup for the PC link plus three 12V RS232 ports. A fourth can be
>>> added with a few jumpers in the location designed for the RS-485
>>> driver (which won't be used otherwise).
>>>
>>> When the time comes, you can loan me a 2414S and lamp module or two
>>> for testing. This one would be much simpler if they'd just change
>>> the
>>> terms of their license. ;)
>>>
>>> I can also include X-10 RF (and Bobby G's housecode switcheroo)
>>> rather
>>> easily. My brain was locked into a particular path as I was writing
>>> the first post. Some lunch unlocked it.
>>>
>>> I think the UPB and LynX-10 PLC protocols are published. Any other
>>> serial controller (9600 bps or less) for which I can get the
>>> protocol
>>> is a candidate. I'd rather not have to reverse engineer them.
>>>
>>> The firmware can be changed via a PC serial connection so it can be
>>> upgraded as new devices come along. I may get surprised but I think
>>> the ZX-24 has ample speed and memory to handle this and more.
>>>
>>> "BruceR" <br@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Sounds like an ambitious project well worth the effort. The TTL
>>>> interface would, IMO, be far superior to translating PLC signals.
>>>> I'd be willing to participate financially and otherwise. Let me
>>>> know
>>>> how I can help.
>>>>
>>>> From:Dave Houston
>>>> nobody@xxxxxxxxxxxx
>>>>
>>>>> I'm considering tackling the TW523 emulator translator.
>>>>>
>>>>> Which of the controllers which might make use of this send for all
>>>>> three phases and which only send for a single phase? I know ADI
>>>>> only
>>>>> sends for one and think HAI is the same. I'm not sure this is
>>>>> critical but would like to know, just in case.
>>>>>
>>>>> My thoughts are to make it with TTL input/output and with mutiple
>>>>> serial input/output ports. That way it could interface with any
>>>>> PLC
>>>>> (or other) system for which there is a serial interface and for
>>>>> which the translator knows the protocol.
>>>>>
>>>>> If I do this it will be a DIY project and will probably use a
>>>>> ZX-24
>>>>> processor so it won't be as cheap as a PIC based device. The ZX-24
>>>>> has one hardware UART and can support up to four interrupt driven
>>>>> full-duplex software UARTs (9600 bps or less) so it could deal
>>>>> with
>>>>> multiple protocols/devices and be programmable from a PC serial
>>>>> port. It's code execution speed is 10x as fast as the original
>>>>> BX-24 and has a more efficient compiler so there should be ample
>>>>> EEPROM available for user instructions.
>>>>>
>>>>> I'm willing to try to develop the code and to design a printed
>>>>> circuit board but I'm not willing to buy all of the various
>>>>> hardware
>>>>> needed to develop and test (and reverse engineer protocols) for
>>>>> the
>>>>> new PLC (and other) systems.
>>>>>
>>>>> I envision it as a "monkey see, monkey do" system that listens for
>>>>> inputs on any port and translates it to whatever action on
>>>>> whatever
>>>>> port the user specifies. In essence, it would just be a
>>>>> multilingual
>>>>> switchboard.
>>>>>
>>>>> I can probably do most of the development using a board I already
>>>>> have (BX24-AHT). That way the board design could come after the
>>>>> coding and list of devices supported is near completion or it
>>>>> might
>>>>> turn out that the existing board design will prove adequate with
>>>>> some simple surgery.
>>>>>
>>>>> I think it could support...
>>>>>
>>>>>     TW523
>>>>>     CM11A
>>>>>     CPU-XA, Ocelot, Leopard
>>>>>     2414S PowerLinc V2 Serial (if I can reverse engineer the
>>>>>     protocol) UPB Powerline Interface Module
>>>>>     LynX-10 PLC
>>>>>     Other serial interfaces (if the protocol is available)
>>>>>     X-10 RF (if all the above leave enough memory)
>>>>>
>>>>> I need to keep this as simple as possible so as not to put too
>>>>> much
>>>>> pressure on my health so would probably take on one protocol at a
>>>>> time.
>>>>>
>>>>> I've had some preliminary discussion with the ZX-24 developer
>>>>> about
>>>>> publishing this as an Application Note on the ZX-24 web site. I do
>>>>> not want to set up and maintain another web page.
>>
>