FSR Flex-IO16 Installation guide

Flex-IO Builder
Installation and Operating Guide
Based on firmware revision 1.22
244 Bergen Blvd. Woodland Park NJ 07424 973-785-4347
43088 LIT1547B

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PROPRIETARY INFORMATION
All information in this manual is proprietary to and the property of FSR Inc. This publication is
protected by the Federal Copyright Law, with all rights reserved. No part of this document may
be reproduced, transcribed, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without prior explicit
written permission from FSR Inc.
Specifications may be changed without any notice in order to improve
the function of the product.

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LIMITED WARRANTY
The FLEX-IO16 module is warranted against failures due to defective parts or faulty
workmanship for a period of three years after delivery to the original owner. During this period,
FSR will make any necessary repairs or replace the unit without charge for parts or labor.
Shipping charges to the factory or repair station must be prepaid by the owner, return-shipping
charges (via UPS Ground) will be paid by FSR.
This warranty applies only to the original owner and is not transferable. In addition, it does not
apply to repairs done by other than the FSR factory or Authorized Repair Stations.
This warranty shall be cancelable by FSR at its sole discretion if the unit has been subjected to
physical abuse or has been modified in any way without written authorization from FSR. FSR’s
liability under this warranty is limited to repair or replacement of the defective unit.
FSR will not be responsible for incidental or consequential damages resulting from the use or
misuse of its products. Some states do not allow the exclusion of incidental or consequential
damages, so the above limitations may not apply to you. This warranty gives you specific legal
rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state.
Warranty claims should be accompanied by a copy of the original purchase invoice showing the
purchase date (if a Warranty Registration Card was mailed in at the time of purchase, this is not
necessary). Before returning any equipment for repair, please read the important information on
service below.
SERVICE
Before returning any equipment for repair, please be sure that it is adequately packed and
cushioned against damage in shipment, and that it is insured. We suggest that you save the
original packaging and use it to ship the product for servicing.Also, please enclose a note giving
your name, address, phone number and a description of the problem.
NOTE: all equipment being returned for repair must have a Return authorization (RMA) Number.
To get a RMA Number, please call the FSR Service Department (1-800-332-FSR1). Please
display your RMA Number prominently on the front of all packages.
CONTACT INFORMATION
FSR INC.
244 Bergen Blvd.
Woodland Park, NJ 07424
Phone: [phone]
Order Desk Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site: www.fsrinc.com

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SURGE PROTECTION DEVICE RECOMMENDED
This product contains sensitive electrical components that may be damaged by
electrical spikes, surges, electric shock, lightning strikes, etc. Use of surge protection
systems is highly recommended in order to protect and extend the life of your
equipment.
SAFETY
All the safety and user manual should be read before the appliance is operated.
The safety and operating instructions should be retained for future reference.
Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Do not use liquid
cleaners or aerosol cleaners. Use a damp cloth for cleaning.
Do not use this equipment near wet place.
This product should be operated only from the type of power sources indicated
on the marking label. If you are not sure of the type of power supplied to your
home, consult your local power company.
This equipment may be equipped with a 3 wire grounding-type plug, a plug
having a third (grounding) pin. This pin will only fit in to a grounding type power
outlet. This is a safety feature. If you are unable to insert the plug in to the outlet,
contact your electrician to replace your obsolete outlet. Do not defeat the safety
purpose of the grounding-type plug.
Openings on the case are provided for ventilation and to ensure reliable
operation of the equipment and to protect it from overheating. The openings
should never be blocked.
Do not use any damaged power cords or plugs, or loosed outlets, this may cause
electrical shock or fire.
Do not put heavy articles such as other equipment on this product. Keep it away
from liquid, magnetic and flammable substances.

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CONTENTS
PROPRIETARY INFORMATION..................................................................................................2
LIMITED WARRANTY..................................................................................................................3
SAFETY........................................................................................................................................4
DESCRIPTION .............................................................................................................................6
FEATURES...................................................................................................................................7
APPLICATIONS............................................................................................................................7
INSTALLATION CHECKLIST.......................................................................................................8
SERIAL CONNECTION DETAILS ..........................................................................................10
ETHERNET CONNECTION DETAILS....................................................................................10
USAGE AND TROUBLE SHOOTING.........................................................................................11
PING TEST FOR ETHERNET ................................................................................................13
EXAMPLE OF SUCCESSFUL CONNECTION VIA TCP/IP....................................................15
FIRMWARE VERSION AND BOOTCODE VERSION STRINGS ...........................................16
FIRMWARE UPGRADE PROCEDURE..................................................................................17
FLEX-IO BUILDER .....................................................................................................................22
NEW PROJECT......................................................................................................................22
ENTERING CHANNEL COMMANDS .....................................................................................25
SAVE PROJECT.....................................................................................................................27
OPEN AN EXISTING PROJECT.............................................................................................28
DOWNLOADING PROJECT TO FLEX-IO..............................................................................30
UPLOADING PROJECT FROM FLEX-IO...............................................................................35
FLEX-IO ACTION COMMANDS.................................................................................................36
GPI..........................................................................................................................................36
GPO ........................................................................................................................................37
WAIT .......................................................................................................................................37
SER COMMAND.....................................................................................................................38
IP INLINE ACTION..................................................................................................................38
IP COMMAND.........................................................................................................................38
DIMENSIONS.............................................................................................................................39
SPECIFICATIONS......................................................................................................................41

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DESCRIPTION
The Flex-IO16 is a fully programmable control system component that provides an interface
between virtually any equipment having an RS-232 or Ethernet port and an external control
panel with up to 16 switches and lamps. This extremely versatile unit can be used to expand the
IO capabilities of the FSR Flex-LT control products or any 3rd party control system. It can also
be used to add IP connectivity to equipment that only has an RS- 232 port.
Configuration of the Flex-IO16 is accomplished through the use of the Flex-IO Builder GUI. The
Flex-IO builder can create, edit, debug, upload and download projects, and can also be used to
verify wiring and control in installed systems. The Flex-IO builder connects to the Flex-IO16 via
the second dedicated RS-232 “Program” port, or Ethernet.
Each of the 16 switch inputs can be configured to execute command strings up to 250
characters in length upon the press, hold, or release of the switch, or they can alternate
between two different strings when set to alternate action mode. The 16 lamp outputs can be
independently configured to turn on, off, blink or toggle state in response any of the switch input
events, or they can be remotely commanded via serial or IP. The short circuit
protection and automatic reset feature of the lamp outputs makes the Flex-IO16 very robust and
prevents damage due to typical field wiring errors. High output drive capability allows direct
control of external 12 volt relays.
The unit can be powered locally with an external IT-PS1 12 volt supply, or remotely via POE
from a POE network switch or midspan injector.
More complex control requirements can be satisfied by combining the Flex-IO16 with any of the
Flex-LT control products using virtual switch commands to the Flex-LT.
The FLEX-IO16 I/O Expansion Unit can be used with the FSR HuddleVU HV-T6 and HV-T3
Table Box models to convert button presses into serial or IP commands. This allows control of
various devices within a FLEX Controlled environment, while also providing LED feedback.
When used in conjunction with FSR’s line of T3-MJ Table Mic Boxes, you can easily connect up
to 16 boxes and have LED feedback when the mute circuits are activated on a 3rd Party DSP
Controller.

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FEATURES
• 16 switch inputs
• Accommodates momentary or maintained N.O.
or N.C. switches
• 16 Lamp/Relay drive outputs with short circuit
protection/auto-reset feature
• Power locally or via POE Ethernet
• Configure via Serial or IP
• Full featured GUI supports system configuration & debug
• Independent serial ports for Program and Control
• Indicators for serial/IP activity, power and status
• Fully programmable
APPLICATIONS
• Add IP capability to legacy RS-232 equipment
• General purpose interface between hardwired
control panels and AV equipment
• I/O expansion for Flex-LT controllers
• Expansion unit for HuddleVU collaboration system
• Contact closure to RS-232 interface
• Contact closure to IP interface

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INSTALLATION CHECKLIST
The following steps are a loose outline to install the software and connect the Flex-IO hardware:
1) Install Flex-IO Builder software.
This is the GUI program for the Flex-IO 16.
2) Install Flex Control Builder software.
This is required if you want to have access to the Control Libraries for Serial and IP
Devices within the Flex-IO Builder.
3) Connect Flex-IO 16 via Program Port to PC
It is recommended that you initially communicate with the Flex-IO through a Serial Cable
to its “Program Port”. It is easier to initially connect and configure the device via Serial
(rather than IP).
Figure 1 – Example of connecting the Flex-IO 16 to the serial cable and serial cable adapter
of the “FLEX-PRGM FLEX PROGRAM KIT”. (Power adapter is also shown.)

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If you are trying to connect the Flex-IO via IP first, you will need enough understanding
and system privileges on the PC to change the PC’s “Local Area Connection” settings to
allow the PC to communicate with Flex-IO’s factory default IP settings (shown below):
IP address: 192.168.5.80
Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
Gateway: 192.168.5.48
4) Verify the Firmware version and possible Upgrade of Firmware
5) Program, Download, and Test the various Actions required for the various Flex-IO
Channels.
Sample commands are shown below:
GPI 1 LOW
GPO 1 ON
WAIT 1000
SER ‘passed serial string <0D>’
IP 200.30.4.5:345 "ACTION = VPRESS DESKTOP 1 BUTTON 1<0D>"
IP 200.30.4.5:345 "<01 57 7F 03 4D 55 54 30 08 20 09 21 0A 20 10 21 1F 2C 02>"

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SERIAL CONNECTION DETAILS
The Flex-IO Builder program has the serial control settings programmed in to communicate via
the “Program Port”.
If you would like to use your choice of terminal software (e.g. HyperTerminal, PuTTY, etc.) to
communicate with the Flex-IO hardware directly through the “Program Port”, these are the
serial settings:
Baud rate: 115200
Data bits: 8
Parity: None
Stop bits: 1
Handshake: None
The serial settings for the “Control Port” are potentially changed on each “Download Project”
based on the settings for the “Control Port” in the Project.
If no Project has been downloaded, the default serial settings of the “Control Port” are:
Baud rate: 115200
Data bits: 8
Parity: None
Stop bits: 1
Handshake: None
ETHERNET CONNECTION DETAILS
The Flex-IO Builder program has the Ethernet (or IP) control settings programmed in to
communicate via the “Ethernet Port” provided the IO 16’s IP Address is configured.
If you would like to use another program (such as TELNET) to communicate with the Flex-IO
over Ethernet, use Port 16001 (not 23).
When connecting to the IO16 via IP, the IO16 will terminate the session after 5 seconds of
inactivity. Inactivity is defined as no data of any kind, typically ASCII characters when typing at
a telnet terminal. (Each operation performed by the Flex-IO Builder program on the “Connect”
dialog opens a connection, sends commands, and closes the connection within 5 seconds.)

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USAGE AND TROUBLE SHOOTING
EXAMPLE OF SUCCESSFUL CONNECTION VIA SERIAL CABLE
Use the “Flex-IO Connect” dialog in the Flex-IO Builder software to verify you can connect to the
Flex-IO 16 unit.
Select the Serial port from the drop down control in the “Service Serial Port” tab.
Click the “Connect” button

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The following sample shows connecting by Serial cable:
Note: The existing Serial Ports on the PC are shown in the drop down control.
If you have multiple Serial Ports on your PC, you may test each. (The limited number of ports
makes it easier to connect to a Flex-IO 16 than using TCP/IP (which requires you to enter the
correct IP Address).

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PING TEST FOR ETHERNET
Connecting the Flex-IO hardware via Ethernet requires knowledge of the network being
connected.
Complete details of Ethernet Network Trouble Shooting is beyond the scope of this guide.
Setting the IP Address, Subnet, and Gateway for the Flex-IO hardware is easier to do via a
Serial connection.
However the Flex-IO Builder does provide a built in Ping Test to assist in determining if the
hardware is connected and configured correctly.
To run a Ping Test after the system has been connected and configured, the following must be
done in the Flex-IO Builder:
Click the “Ethernet” tab
Enter the IP Address of the Flex-IO unit
Click the “Ping” button

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If the hardware and configuration is correctly configured, you will see results that look like the
following
If configured incorrectly, you will see results as shown below:
Note that the difference between these 2 tests was the last number of the IP Address was
different by 1.

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EXAMPLE OF SUCCESSFUL CONNECTION VIA TCP/IP
To connect to the Flex-IO via TCP/IP, the following must be done:
Click the “Ethernet” tab
Enter the IP Address of the Flex-IO unit
Click the “Connect” button

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FIRMWARE VERSION AND BOOTCODE VERSION STRINGS
The Firmware Version is always displayed after a successful Connect and appears here in the
Connect dialog. The following screen shows how the Bootcode & Firmware Version strings look
at Connect when both are loaded on the Flex-IO hardware:
This is how the strings appear when the Firmware is no longer present:
This is the typical result of turning off the Flex-IO hardware in the middle of a Firmware
Download before it completes. It can be fixed by performing the Firmware Upgrade Procedure
and letting it run until completion.

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FIRMWARE UPGRADE PROCEDURE
The following screens shows the procedure for upgrading the Firmware.
The procedure requires that a Serial or Ethernet connection already be established. (Either one
is fine.)
Then, select click the “Select Firmware…” button

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Select the Firmware version file. (Typically the latest file which appears at the top of the file
selection list as shown below.)
Click the “OK” button to select the File and close the dialog.

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Click the “Download Firmware” button.
Click the “Download Firmware” button and a progress bar will appear to show the download’s
progress.
Provided the firmware successfully downloads, the following dialog will appear. (If it does not
appear, restart the procedure. The Flex-IO hardware may require a reboot and “Connect” may
need to be closed and re-opened.)

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Click “OK” to close this dialog.
The Flex-IO hardware will reboot.
Wait for the timer displayed in the “Connect” dialog has counted off 10 seconds.