Re: translator question

[nobody@xxxxxxxxxxxx (Dave Houston)]

It has become apparent that Rosetta needs 2 TTL ports. One connects to a
controller (e.g. JDS, HAI, Ocelot) and another for an optional TW523
connected to the powerline.

While some of the PLC interfaces it will support have RTCs, others do not so
there will be an optional hardware RTC backed up with a super capacitor. The
ZX-24 software RTC gets reset to Day 1 whenever the processor is reset so
the hardware RTC will be used to reset the ZX-24 RTC. There will also be an
optional 10/100 Ethernet interface.

The additional TTL port and RTC chip use up all the surplus pins.

To summarize, Rosetta will have...

  1 highspeed full duplex RS232 port (5V) for connecting to a PC
  1 optional 10/100 auto-select Ethernet port
  2 TTL ports (X-10 PLC protocol)
  4 full duplex RS232 ports (12V, 9600 bps max)

and will have native support for...

  Any controller that uses a TW523
  TW523
  CM11A
  2414S
  UPB PIM
  MR26
  Any ASCII device that is 9600 bps or less and doesn't require handshaking

A replacement PIC for the MR26 adds handling of X-10 security RF and CR14
camera positioning codes.

Since the serial ports are full duplex they can be used with touchscreens,
etc.

The firmware can be field updated via the highspeed serial port. It may also
be possible to update it via TCP/IP but this still needs to be tested. User
programs can be updated via the serial port or TCP/IP. The highspeed serial
port and Ethernet interface cannot both be active at the same time so will
be jumper-selected. (The serial port will only be needed if the firmware
cannot be updated by TCP/IP.)

User programming will be very simple. Rosetta will just need to be told what
devices are on each port and then instructed what to do when data comes in
on any of the ports. Actions will be either to do nothing or to translate
the command as needed and send it out a specified port (or ports). In
effect, incoming data will trigger user defined macros directed to any of
the outputs. It will be possible to operate with no PC connection and will
include scheduling events by time of day, etc.

Thanks to Bruce Robin I should have a 2414S and UPB PIM along with a lamp
module for each in a couple of weeks and will have a prototype circuit board
a week or two after that. I was hoping I could avoid setting up and
maintaining another web page but I think this will require one.

Once I have all the above working I'll entertain adding support for other
devices depending on resources available.