IP / Serial Plugin for HS3 (by "drule") - Discussion Thread

[Guest]

Just installed and configured and sent the text that you suggested (x0F0...) and I can confirm that my Russound is reacting to that: the red light of zone1 turns green. Quite happy to see that my port is working and my Russound is...

[drule]

Just installed and configured and sent the text that you suggested (x0F0...) and I can confirm that my Russound is reacting to that: the red light of zone1 turns green. Quite happy to see that my port is working and my Russound is...

OK, that's good. Cheeryfool is correct, the connection should be a client. Do you get any error messages in the log when you set it to that mode?

On the main Plugins page, can you check the "Developer mode" box? This will cause the plugin to open up a command window where you should see a lot of output. Can you c&p any messages you see there when the connection is in client mode?

[cheeryfool]

OK, that's good. Cheeryfool is correct, the connection should be a client. Do you get any error messages in the log when you set it to that mode?

On the main Plugins page, can you check the "Developer mode" box? This will cause the plugin to open up a command window where you should see a lot of output. Can you c&p any messages you see there when the connection is in client mode?

David
It's been a long time since I had a native serial connection in my setup. Which box does the Comport go in for the Serial connection? Is it the address field or the port field? And should the value just be the number e.g. "4", or "COM4".

I just tried setting up a new connection for the single Com port that I have, and I can't get it to enable either, using any combo of the above. I guess if it won't enable, then it won't send.

Is it feasible to make this more intuitive, such that when you choose a serial connection type it gives you a drop down of your available com ports to choose from?

Cheers

[Guest]

Tried that (in developer mode).
The log doesn't show anything as I'm unable to enable the client connection. When I switch to host mode I'm able to enable. After that I disabled host mode again (that's showing up in the log). But when I choose client, the red cross doesn't change. I also tried to delete all connections/disabling the plugin and enabling, but I still can't change the enabling button in client mode.

[drule]

I just tried setting up a new connection for the single Com port that I have, and I can't get it to enable either, using any combo of the above. I guess if it won't enable, then it won't send.

That's not good! Likewise, I haven't used a native COM port in ages. It's possible that I accidently broke something in that part of the code when I ported from HS2 to HS3 and didn't test it properly.

I will setup a test rig to see if I can track this error down. It may take me a little while. In the meantime, if you feel like having a play, you could use VSPE to create a virtual serial server for your COM port and have the plugin connect to it as a tcp client.

-David

[Guest]

Thanks David for delving deeper into the code. I'll await this and for now do without multi-room audio. I'm going to read the suggested route (but I have to admit this is already a steep learning curve to me ;-) )

[cheeryfool]

Thanks David for delving deeper into the code. I'll await this and for now do without multi-room audio. I'm going to read the suggested route (but I have to admit this is already a steep learning curve to me ;-) )

VSPE is definitely worth exploring when you have a few minutes. It enables you to do all sorts of clever things with COM ports and TCP connections, including splitting and combining and is good for troubleshooting as well as production solutions. Amongst others have used it to split a COM port and display in Realterm what is being sent by the plugin to another device e.g. your Russound.

[Guest]

Just spotted an open child window with some debugging code from your plugin; this might help :-)

6/2/2015 2:45:46 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Starting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:45:46 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->PostBackControlArray(0)=jq_Connection
6/2/2015 2:45:46 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->ConnectionDiv: ff5bacd1bf78465cb7f9700abd5f8
461_stopped
6/2/2015 2:45:46 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->(1)Should never get here!
6/2/2015 2:45:46 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Exiting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:45:50 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Starting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:45:50 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->PostBackControlArray(0)=jq_Connection
6/2/2015 2:45:50 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->ConnectionDiv: ff5bacd1bf78465cb7f9700abd5f8
461_delete
6/2/2015 2:45:50 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->(1)Should never get here!
6/2/2015 2:45:50 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Exiting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:46:22 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Starting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:46:22 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->PostBackControlArray(0)=oTabConnections
6/2/2015 2:46:22 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Exiting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:46:24 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Starting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:46:24 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Exiting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:46:29 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Starting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:46:29 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->PostBackControlArray(0)=jq_Connection
6/2/2015 2:46:29 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->ConnectionDiv: 40c32f40760f4024adfcc37a1259a
0a5_port
6/2/2015 2:46:29 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Connection: Russound, port was com4, now
6/2/2015 2:46:29 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->ConnectionIndex=0
6/2/2015 2:46:29 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Exiting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:46:30 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Starting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:46:30 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->PostBackControlArray(0)=jq_Connection
6/2/2015 2:46:30 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->ConnectionDiv: 40c32f40760f4024adfcc37a1259a
0a5_stopped
6/2/2015 2:46:30 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Exiting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:46:36 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Starting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:46:36 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->PostBackControlArray(0)=jq_Connection
6/2/2015 2:46:36 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->ConnectionDiv: 40c32f40760f4024adfcc37a1259a
0a5_stopped
6/2/2015 2:46:36 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Exiting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:46:39 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Starting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:46:39 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->PostBackControlArray(0)=oTabSerialPorts
6/2/2015 2:46:39 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Exiting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:46:40 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Starting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:46:40 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Exiting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:46:42 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Starting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:46:42 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Exiting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:47:28 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Starting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:47:28 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->PostBackControlArray(0)=jq_Connection
6/2/2015 2:47:28 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->ConnectionDiv: ff5bacd1bf78465cb7f9700abd5f8
461_delete
6/2/2015 2:47:28 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->(1)Should never get here!
6/2/2015 2:47:28 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Exiting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:47:33 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Starting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:47:33 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Exiting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:47:35 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Starting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:47:35 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Exiting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:47:36 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Starting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:47:36 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->PostBackControlArray(0)=jq_Connection
6/2/2015 2:47:36 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->ConnectionDiv: ff5bacd1bf78465cb7f9700abd5f8
461_delete
6/2/2015 2:47:36 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->(1)Should never get here!
6/2/2015 2:47:36 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Exiting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:47:38 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Starting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:47:38 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->PostBackControlArray(0)=jq_Connection
6/2/2015 2:47:38 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->ConnectionDiv: ff5bacd1bf78465cb7f9700abd5f8
461_delete
6/2/2015 2:47:38 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->(1)Should never get here!
6/2/2015 2:47:38 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Exiting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:47:38 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Starting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:47:38 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->PostBackControlArray(0)=jq_Connection
6/2/2015 2:47:38 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->ConnectionDiv: ff5bacd1bf78465cb7f9700abd5f8
461_delete
6/2/2015 2:47:38 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->(1)Should never get here!
6/2/2015 2:47:38 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Exiting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:47:39 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Starting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:47:39 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->PostBackControlArray(0)=jq_Connection
6/2/2015 2:47:39 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->ConnectionDiv: ff5bacd1bf78465cb7f9700abd5f8
461_delete
6/2/2015 2:47:39 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->(1)Should never get here!
6/2/2015 2:47:39 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Exiting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:47:39 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Starting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:47:39 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->PostBackControlArray(0)=jq_Connection
6/2/2015 2:47:39 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->ConnectionDiv: ff5bacd1bf78465cb7f9700abd5f8
461_delete
6/2/2015 2:47:39 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->(1)Should never get here!
6/2/2015 2:47:39 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Exiting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:47:45 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Starting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:47:45 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Exiting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:47:47 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Starting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:47:47 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->PostBackControlArray(0)=oTabConnections
6/2/2015 2:47:47 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Exiting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:47:48 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Starting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:47:48 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Exiting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:47:49 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Starting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:47:49 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Exiting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:47:51 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Starting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:47:51 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Exiting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:47:52 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Starting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:47:52 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->PostBackControlArray(0)=jq_Connection
6/2/2015 2:47:52 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->ConnectionDiv: 40c32f40760f4024adfcc37a1259a
0a5_delete
6/2/2015 2:47:52 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Delete connection: Russound - 40c32f40760f40
24adfcc37a1259a0a5_delete
6/2/2015 2:47:52 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Exiting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:47:54 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Starting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:47:54 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->PostBackControlArray(0)=jq_Connection
6/2/2015 2:47:54 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->ConnectionDiv: 0_add
6/2/2015 2:47:54 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->NewConnection.Name=New connection-a3e9
6/2/2015 2:47:54 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->ConnectionAdd: New connection-a3e9 , GUID=a8
8c3ea634d14a698259f3ebcad9a3e9
6/2/2015 2:47:54 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->ConnectionIndex=0
6/2/2015 2:47:54 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Exiting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:48:08 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Starting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:48:08 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->PostBackControlArray(0)=jq_Connection
6/2/2015 2:48:08 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->ConnectionDiv: a88c3ea634d14a698259f3ebcad9a
3e9_name
6/2/2015 2:48:08 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Connection: New connection-a3e9, name change
d to Russoundserial
6/2/2015 2:48:08 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->ConnectionIndex=0
6/2/2015 2:48:08 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Exiting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:48:11 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Starting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:48:11 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->PostBackControlArray(0)=jq_Connection
6/2/2015 2:48:11 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->ConnectionDiv: a88c3ea634d14a698259f3ebcad9a
3e9_type
6/2/2015 2:48:11 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Connection: Russoundserial, type was TCP, no
w Serial
6/2/2015 2:48:11 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->ConnectionIndex=0
6/2/2015 2:48:11 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Exiting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:48:15 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Starting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:48:15 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->PostBackControlArray(0)=jq_Connection
6/2/2015 2:48:15 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->ConnectionDiv: a88c3ea634d14a698259f3ebcad9a
3e9_address
6/2/2015 2:48:15 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Connection: Russoundserial, address was , no
w 4
6/2/2015 2:48:15 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->ConnectionIndex=0
6/2/2015 2:48:15 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Exiting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:48:16 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Starting postBackProc...
6/2/2015 2:48:16 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->PostBackControlArray(0)=jq_Connection
6/2/2015 2:48:16 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->ConnectionDiv: a88c3ea634d14a698259f3ebcad9a
3e9_stopped
6/2/2015 2:48:17 PM:[drhsIpPlugIn]->Exiting postBackProc...

[drule]

Thanks. I'll go though that and let you know.

[drule]

OK, turned out to be a simple bug. I've implemented a quick fix to get this going for now. I will work on improving the logic of configuring COM ports in the plugin for the next release.

Cheeryfool - please can you update the main thread when you get a moment?

Cheers
-David

[cheeryfool]

OK, turned out to be a simple bug. I've implemented a quick fix to get this going for now. I will work on improving the logic of configuring COM ports in the plugin for the next release.

Cheeryfool - please can you update the main thread when you get a moment?

Cheers
-David

New version posted here

I just tested this and it is now allowing the serial connection to be enabled.

[Guest]

Works like a charm now!
Thanks for your quick help and solution...
You made me a happy man (now up to entering a lot of commands) and being able to use my multiroom audio again within HS3!

[cheeryfool]

Works like a charm now!
Thanks for your quick help and solution...
You made me a happy man (now up to entering a lot of commands) and being able to use my multiroom audio again within HS3!

Good news. For the "lot of commands" I would highly recommend editing them in Excel / text editor from whatever source file you have then cut/paste into a copy of the plugin ini file. Disable the plugin, overwrite the ini and re-enable the plugin.

I have added hundreds of commands this way and it sure beats the clumsy GUI framework that HS provides and David has to work with.

[drule]

I have added hundreds of commands this way and it sure beats the clumsy GUI framework that HS provides and David has to work with.

Replacing the horrid sliding tabs with a better interface is on my to do list. I used them first time round because they matched the look and feel on the rest of HS3 but I've come to loathe them and if you have more than a few commands, they are terribly slow. I see other plugin authors have implemented "non-standard" UIs and I am going to follow suit.

[cheeryfool]

Replacing the horrid sliding tabs with a better interface is on my to do list. I used them first time round because they matched the look and feel on the rest of HS3 but I've come to loathe them and if you have more than a few commands, they are terribly slow. I see other plugin authors have implemented "non-standard" UIs and I am going to follow suit.

Yes, my Commands tab is terribly slow to load and the pop-ups to enter a value in a text box are totally pointless. (I know they save immediately, but that is way overvalued compared with the nuisance and slowness of using them).

Beers from me (overdue anyway) for going a better route with this.