Harris:
No problem. It is extremely confusing, and I only understood it after a lot of experimentation.

I'll try a short explanation and, when I get home, will shoot you a file with the commands translated into hex.

A key tool is a hex to decimal convertor, like this one:

http://www.ronshardwebapps.com/Numbers.asp#marker

Each command is written in hex and consists of three parts: (1) the system ID; (2) the command; and (3) a checksum.

The system ID is always 83 45 in hex. (Hex is always two digits and usually written as "0x83" or "83h").

The commands are in the protocol document; the command for PowerOn is 01 in hex.

The checksum must be calculated by converting each hex value into its decimal equivalent, adding them, and then expressing the result as a hex value.

To do this, use the online tool (or a lookup table) and convert each hex value to decimal. For example:

83 = 141 in decimal
45 = 69
01 = 1
The sum is 201.
Converting 201 from decimal to hex gives you C9 in hex.

So the resulting command is written as 834501C9.

Sending this command to the Outlaw will turn it on.

- Ken

Here are some of the most common commands:

834501C9 = Power On
834502CA = Standby On
834503CB = Tuner select
834504CC = CD select
834505CD = Aux select
834506CE = Phono select
834507CF = DVD select
834508D0 = Video 1 select

83450fD7 = Master volume up
834510D8 = Master volume down
834511D9 = Mute

- Ken

Ken, very interesting indeed.

I will try to follow these instructions later, and appreciate your sending them (as well as the codes for many of the commands).

One interesting thought:

I wonder if there are other codes for the P965 Newcastle, and if any of those would work on the 990.....

Harris

The Sherwood protocol looks virtually identical to the Outlaw protocol document, with the exception that the Sherwood document contains additional codes for controlling the surround modes. I have no idea what effect, if any, sending these codes to the Outlaw would have! My guess is that the Outlaw software is sufficiently different from the Sherwood that the codes would have no effect.

I can email you a copy of the the Sherwood document if you're interested.

- Ken

Thanks Ken...
Controlling the individual surround modes seems to be a valuable addition to the code set. This would seem to be far better than having to toggle through the different surround modes to get to one in particular.

One would hope that the 990 would be the same in that regard; if you can email the 965 codes, I would appreciate it.

hrbstereo@verizon.net

You are probably correct in not trying them on your own unit; perhaps there is a risk of causing some unforseen changes in the 990 (although I would doubt it, but it wouldn't be worth the risk IMO).

Harris

Ken, just a followup re the code instructions:

so, volume low would be: 83455411C
volume mid would be: 85455511D
and, volume high would be: 85455611E

Seems to be a simple process with your instructions!!

Thanks,
Haris

Yes -- that's exactly it. Although it would blow my ears off to send a "volume high" command!

BTW -- playing with serial control can be a dangerous thing -- I once blew my midranges on a pair of ACI Sapphires with an errant max volume code.

Be careful out there!

Has anyone else attempted 232 control???

I tried using hyperterminal to send some of the commands noted above, but got no response from the 990.

I used a straight through db9 cable, and also tried a null modem cable, but still didn't get any response by the 990.

HOWEVER, it may be a problem with not knowing how to send these commands to the 990 from hyperterminal. I am not well versed in this program unfortunately.

Has anyone used hyperterminal for this purpose??

As a minimum... I would suggest killing the power to any and all amps before attempting to send codes (as you explore what they do). At least in this way you could see how the 990 is interpreting the commands without risk to amps, speakers, or pocketbook.

Let us know...

Good Suggestion...

But at this point, I still don't know how to send these codes from hyperterminal.

Anyone have a suggestion as to precisely how to use this program for this?