Ets Ss8-rc User manual

SS8-RC RS232 Controllable Speaker Switcher / Driver Instructions

The SS8-RC is a RS232 controllable speaker switcher / driver for use with commonly available 70v speakers or

ETS speakers. The SS8-RC is primarily designed to be used in conjunction with DVRs / video gateways in one

way (or two-way: using the companion SM8-RC speaker switcher) to expand versatility in audio zone handling.

Note- the DVR manufacturer must write custom software to “talk” to the –RC series switchers via an available

RS232 port on the DVR using a simple ASCII protocol described later in this document. Contact ETS technical

support for a list of DVR manufacturers who have integrated the use of the –RC switchers into their platforms.

Note-If your application requires more than 8 audio zones, you must add (loop or cascade) additional SS8-RCs for 8 more

zones and up to a maximum of 32 zones total (4 SS8-RCs). Each SS8-RC is assigned an ID number for its range of

zones as described later in this document.

Front panel controls and indicators

When powered up, the SS8-RC is in remote control mode (the front switches do not work.)

If you want to control the switcher manually, press and hold the Zone 1 button until the “Recorder” indicator light goes out.

You can now select and deselect Zones by pressing their respective channel buttons. You can also set the volume of a

zone by adjusting the corresponding Level control.

To go back to RS-232 control mode, press and hold the Zone 1 until the “Recorder” light illuminates.

Setting the zone range ( ID ) for looped SS8-RCs

Unplug the SS8-RC from its AC power Source. Press and HOLD DOWN the corresponding zone number which translates

to ID channel number. CH1=ID1….CH4=ID4. Power up the SS8-RC until the corresponding channel light illuminates.

Then release the switch and the CH lamp will extinguish shortly thereafter.

ID 1= zones 1-8 ID 2= zones 9-16 ID 3= zones 17-24 ID 3= zones 25-32

Note-On a power down / up cycle of the SS8-RC, the ID of the unit will be shown on the corresponding zone lamp (1-4)

for 2 seconds.

Rear panel connections

PWR: The SS8/16-RC uses a 16.5 vac 40va transformer. Note- the SS8-RC and SM8-RC use different types of AC adapters.

Audio In Connector: Connect this to the Audio output of the remote monitoring equipment.

Audio Out Connector: When using 16 zones of audio, connect the Audio output of the SS8-RC to the input of the SS16-RC using the

supplied RCA patch cable.

RS-232 Connectors: This is a looping RS-232 input and output. You only need one RS-232 port on your remote monitoring equipment

to control up to 4 SS8/16-RC and SM8/16-RC devices. Plug the RS-232 DB9/3.5mm cable into either RS-232 jack on the SS8-RC.

Connect the other end of this cable to your remote monitoring equipment. Plug the supplied 3.5mm/3.5mm patch cord into the other

jack if using a 16 zone system (see connection diagram).

Speaker outputs. Use a single pair shielded #22 wire for speaker cable runs. Connect the Shield of the supplied cable to the S

terminal. Connect the red wire to the + terminal. Connect the black wire to the – terminal. If using ETS speakers, connect the other end

of this cable to the speakers in the exact same way. Speakers must be 70V line types.

ETS microphone speaker switcher command protocol version 2.0

Note- all selected channel settings are lost during a power outage of an SS8-RC. The –RC series switchers are

also, RS232, listen only devices and currently do not communicate back any information to the host controller.

Therefore, it is recommended that the host control software periodically update the switchers via RS232 with the

current settings as a precaution so as to not lose track of channel settings during a power loss.

Command formats

• AllcommandsreceivedmustbeRS232,2400Baud,8N1(8databits,Noparityand1stopbit).

• AllcommandsmustbeASCIIcharactersandalllettersmustbeuppercase.

• Eachcommandstringmustbeimmediatelyfollowedwitha<CR>(0Dhex)charactertomarktheendoftransmission.

DONOTadda<LF>(0Ahex)after<CR>.

• AllsingledigitchanneladdressesmusthaveanASCII0zeroprecedingthem.00isnotavalidchannelnumber.

Example:01,02,03

• Allchannelsaddressedinthe“multichannelformat”describedbelowmusthavecommasasseparatorsbetweenchannel

numbers.01‐99isthevalidrange.Example:MI,01,50,99<CR>

• Commandsmaybecombinedwiththeasterisk*(2Ahex)commandseparatorcharactertoformasinglecommand

transmissionstringasinthefollowingformatExample:MI01*SO01,99*MI02*BO16,32<CR>.

• Eachcommandmustbe5charactersminimuminlengthincludingthe<CR>character.Singlecombinedcommandstrings

cannotexceed48charstotal.

• Becausethereisnoreportbackofswitcherchannelstatustothehostcomputerfromtheswitchers,itishighly

recommendedthataglobalcommandsuchasBN<CR>prefaceallswitchingcommands.Thiswayyouwillalwaysknowall

channelsareoffbeforeturninganychannelson.Otherapproachesarevalid,butrequirekeepingtrackofenabledchannels

inthehostsoftware.



MICROPHONES (M=Microphone)

Function Command

MICROPHONE“IN”MIxx<CR> (xx=01‐99)01=1,02=2,etc.Multichannelformat:MI01,99 <CR>

MICROPHONE“OUT”MOxx<CR> (xx=01‐99)01=1,02=2,etc.Multichannelformat:MO01,99<CR>

MICROPHONE“ALL”MA<CR>

MICROPHONE“NONE”MN<CR>

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

SPEAKERS (S=Speaker)

Function Command

SPEAKER“IN”SIxx<CR> (xx=01‐99)01=1,02=2,etc.Multichannelformat:SI01,99<CR>

SPEAKER“OUT”SOxx<CR> (xx=01‐99)01=1,02=2,etc.Multichannelformat:SO01,099<CR>

SPEAKER“ALL”SA<CR>

SPEAKER“NONE”SN<CR>

BOTH MICROPHONES and SPEAKERS (B=both)

Function Command

MICANDSPEAKER“IN”BIxx<CR> (xx=01‐99)01=1,02=2,etc.Multichannelformat:BI01,99<CR>

MICANDSPEAKER“OUT”BOxx<CR> (xx=01‐99)01=1,02=2,etc.Multichannelformat:BO01,99<CR>

MICANDSPEAKER“ALL”BA<CR>

MICANDSPEAKER“NONE”BN<CR>

Warranty

All ETS products carry a one year parts and labor warranty. This warranty does not cover damages as a result of misuse, improper handling of the unit

or exposure to extreme temperatures or moisture. At its discretion, ETS reserves the right to repair or replace this unit under the conditions of the

warranty. If you experience problems with your equipment call ETS at: 505-888-3923 to obtain a return authorization number. Equipment requiring repair