Linux Serial Port Projector Control

[superfly]

You could also try using Python. If I remember correctly, it has a serial library.

[wogster]

Originally Posted by jpetersen

Hi y'all,

Our church just got a NEC NP-P350W projector for the sanctuary. I set it up. Love it. Works great. The only problem is that the remote stinks. From where I sit in the first pew, it doesn't work. I'd like to control it with the included serial port control codes. I want a program that I can use from a Ubuntu terminal that will works like this.
Running it with a command like this

root(a)jeremy:~# projector on

will send the on command O2H 00H OOH OOH OOH 02H over serial port ttyUSB0 (which is were my usb to serial converter is located).

Likewise, I would like this to send the off command O2H 01H 00H 00H 00H 03H to the projector:

root(a)jeremy:~# projector off

Ideally, I'd like the code to be expandable to whatever other commands I would like to incorporate like freeze, picture mute on, picture mute off, etc.

My issue is that I have no idea how to write it. I'd like it to be a shell script, but anything will work.

Can anyone give me some (specific, beginner friendly) advice on how I should go about writing it? (a brief explanation as well would be nice )

Thanks a bunch,

Jeremy

ps why do I get an error saying that I can't post urls when I try and print root(at sign)jeremy? That is my user at my computer domain...

Before figuring a way around using the remote, try a few things.

1) If you have a volt meter, pull the battery from the remote, check the voltage, I've seen brand new gadgets come with a 3V battery that couldn't produce a volt and a half, let alone the 3V needed. If the battery isn't putting out the required voltage, get a new battery. It's not uncommon, a battery that lasts 2 years, sits in the factory for six months, the unit is built, the battery is packaged with it, the unit sits at the plant for 5 months, goes into a container for a 4 month long sea voyage, sits in the distributors warehouse for six months, then gets trucked to a retailer to sit on the shelf for another 4 months, you now have a battery that is good for 2 years that is 25 months old... If the battery isn't putting out enough voltage, invest in a new battery.

2) Check the manual for the angle and distance the remote is good for, some are better then others.

3) If the battery is good and the angle and distance are okay, then maybe you got a defective unit that needs repair.