[slinkelist] CM-17A (alias "X-10Firecracker")
Colby Boles
cboles@nirvis.com
Mon, 24 Jan 2000 15:26:09 -0800
No hacking necessary. Here's the complete spec.
Colby
FireCracker (CM17A) Communications Specification
EscapeCommFunction
1. Communication Format.
The transmission of data to the FireCracker is not time critical
as the FireCracker interface will determine the data rate from the
speed at which the signals change. A minimum signal rate of 0.5ms
is recommended.
1.1 Power Supply.
The FireCracker derives its power supply from either the RTS or
DTR signals from the serial port. At least one of these signals
must be high at all times to ensure that power is not lost from
the FireCracker.
1.2 Bit Signaling.
The following table defines the states of the RTS and DTR signals
required to send a logical '1' and logical '0' to the interface:
Signal RTS DTR
Reset 0 0
Logical '1' 1 0
Logical '0' 0 1
Standby 1 1
1.3 Transmission Format.
While transmitting data to the FireCracker, it is important to
ensure that at least one of the signals (RTS or DTR) is high
at all times to supply power to the device. Should both of the
signals drop to 0 at any time, the FireCracker will be reset and
will require the entire signal to be transmitted again. The
recommended signal stream is as follows:
Standby | '1' | Wait | '0' | Wait | '1' | Wait...
_____________________ _____________________
RTS _| |_____|
________ ___________________ ________
DTR _| |_____| |_____|
The recommended time for the '1', '0' and 'Wait' states is at
least 0.5ms.
Each transmission consists of 40 bits. This is made up of
the following:
Header 16 bits
Data 16 bits
Footer 8 bits
The header and footer never change and are defined as follows:
Header 11010101 10101010
Footer 10101101
1.4 Bright and Dim transmissions.
To brighten or dim a lamp, it is necessary to send consecutive
signals (each equivalent to a 5% dim or brighten) until the desired
level is attained.
2. Data Table
A1 ON 01100000 00000000
A1 OFF 01100000 00100000
A2 ON 01100000 00010000
A2 OFF 01100000 00110000
A3 ON 01100000 00001000
A3 OFF 01100000 00101000
A4 ON 01100000 00011000
A4 OFF 01100000 00111000
A5 ON 01100000 01000000
A5 OFF 01100000 01100000
A6 ON 01100000 01010000
A6 OFF 01100000 01110000
A7 ON 01100000 01001000
A7 OFF 01100000 01101000
A8 ON 01100000 01011000
A8 OFF 01100000 01111000
A9 ON 01100100 00000000
A9 OFF 01100100 00100000
A10 ON 01100100 00010000
A10 OFF 01100100 00110000
A11 ON 01100100 00001000
A11 OFF 01100100 00101000
A12 ON 01100100 00011000
A12 OFF 01100100 00111000
A13 ON 01100100 01000000
A13 OFF 01100100 01100000
A14 ON 01100100 01010000
A14 OFF 01100100 01110000
A15 ON 01100100 01001000
A15 OFF 01100100 01101000
A16 ON 01100100 01011000
A16 OFF 01100100 01111000
A BRIGHT 005 01100000 10001000
A DIM 005 01100000 10011000
B1 ON 01110000 00000000
B1 OFF 01110000 00100000
B2 ON 01110000 00010000
B2 OFF 01110000 00110000
B3 ON 01110000 00001000
B3 OFF 01110000 00101000
B4 ON 01110000 00011000
B4 OFF 01110000 00111000
B5 ON 01110000 01000000
B5 OFF 01110000 01100000
B6 ON 01110000 01010000
B6 OFF 01110000 01110000
B7 ON 01110000 01001000
B7 OFF 01110000 01101000
B8 ON 01110000 01011000
B8 OFF 01110000 01111000
B9 ON 01110100 00000000
B9 OFF 01110100 00100000
B10 ON 01110100 00010000
B10 OFF 01110100 00110000
B11 ON 01110100 00001000
B11 OFF 01110100 00101000
B12 ON 01110100 00011000
B12 OFF 01110100 00111000
B13 ON 01110100 01000000
B13 OFF 01110100 01100000
B14 ON 01110100 01010000
B14 OFF 01110100 01110000
B15 ON 01110100 01001000
B15 OFF 01110100 01101000
B16 ON 01110100 01011000
B16 OFF 01110100 01111000
B BRIGHT 005 01110000 10001000
B DIM 005 01110000 10011000
C1 ON 01000000 00000000
C1 OFF 01000000 00100000
C2 ON 01000000 00010000
C2 OFF 01000000 00110000
C3 ON 01000000 00001000
C3 OFF 01000000 00101000
C4 ON 01000000 00011000
C4 OFF 01000000 00111000
C5 ON 01000000 01000000
C5 OFF 01000000 01100000
C6 ON 01000000 01010000
C6 OFF 01000000 01110000
C7 ON 01000000 01001000
C7 OFF 01000000 01101000
C8 ON 01000000 01011000
C8 OFF 01000000 01111000
C9 ON 01000100 00000000
C9 OFF 01000100 00100000
C10 ON 01000100 00010000
C10 OFF 01000100 00110000
C11 ON 01000100 00001000
C11 OFF 01000100 00101000
C12 ON 01000100 00011000
C12 OFF 01000100 00111000
C13 ON 01000100 01000000
C13 OFF 01000100 01100000
C14 ON 01000100 01010000
C14 OFF 01000100 01110000
C15 ON 01000100 01001000
C15 OFF 01000100 01101000
C16 ON 01000100 01011000
C16 OFF 01000100 01111000
C BRIGHT 005 01000000 10001000
C DIM 005 01000000 10011000
D1 ON 01010000 00000000
D1 OFF 01010000 00100000
D2 ON 01010000 00010000
D2 OFF 01010000 00110000
D3 ON 01010000 00001000
D3 OFF 01010000 00101000
D4 ON 01010000 00011000
D4 OFF 01010000 00111000
D5 ON 01010000 01000000
D5 OFF 01010000 01100000
D6 ON 01010000 01010000
D6 OFF 01010000 01110000
D7 ON 01010000 01001000
D7 OFF 01010000 01101000
D8 ON 01010000 01011000
D8 OFF 01010000 01111000
D9 ON 01010100 00000000
D9 OFF 01010100 00100000
D10 ON 01010100 00010000
D10 OFF 01010100 00110000
D11 ON 01010100 00001000
D11 OFF 01010100 00101000
D12 ON 01010100 00011000
D12 OFF 01010100 00111000
D13 ON 01010100 01000000
D13 OFF 01010100 01100000
D14 ON 01010100 01010000
D14 OFF 01010100 01110000
D15 ON 01010100 01001000
D15 OFF 01010100 01101000
D16 ON 01010100 01011000
D16 OFF 01010100 01111000
D BRIGHT 005 01010000 10001000
D DIM 005 01010000 10011000
E1 ON 10000000 00000000
E1 OFF 10000000 00100000
E2 ON 10000000 00010000
E2 OFF 10000000 00110000
E3 ON 10000000 00001000
E3 OFF 10000000 00101000
E4 ON 10000000 00011000
E4 OFF 10000000 00111000
E5 ON 10000000 01000000
E5 OFF 10000000 01100000
E6 ON 10000000 01010000
E6 OFF 10000000 01110000
E7 ON 10000000 01001000
E7 OFF 10000000 01101000
E8 ON 10000000 01011000
E8 OFF 10000000 01111000
E9 ON 10000100 00000000
E9 OFF 10000100 00100000
E10 ON 10000100 00010000
E10 OFF 10000100 00110000
E11 ON 10000100 00001000
E11 OFF 10000100 00101000
E12 ON 10000100 00011000
E12 OFF 10000100 00111000
E13 ON 10000100 01000000
E13 OFF 10000100 01100000
E14 ON 10000100 01010000
E14 OFF 10000100 01110000
E15 ON 10000100 01001000
E15 OFF 10000100 01101000
E16 ON 10000100 01011000
E16 OFF 10000100 01111000
E BRIGHT 005 10000000 10001000
E DIM 005 10000000 10011000
F1 ON 10010000 00000000
F1 OFF 10010000 00100000
F2 ON 10010000 00010000
F2 OFF 10010000 00110000
F3 ON 10010000 00001000
F3 OFF 10010000 00101000
F4 ON 10010000 00011000
F4 OFF 10010000 00111000
F5 ON 10010000 01000000
F5 OFF 10010000 01100000
F6 ON 10010000 01010000
F6 OFF 10010000 01110000
F7 ON 10010000 01001000
F7 OFF 10010000 01101000
F8 ON 10010000 01011000
F8 OFF 10010000 01111000
F9 ON 10010100 00000000
F9 OFF 10010100 00100000
F10 ON 10010100 00010000
F10 OFF 10010100 00110000
F11 ON 10010100 00001000
F11 OFF 10010100 00101000
F12 ON 10010100 00011000
F12 OFF 10010100 00111000
F13 ON 10010100 01000000
F13 OFF 10010100 01100000
F14 ON 10010100 01010000
F14 OFF 10010100 01110000
F15 ON 10010100 01001000
F15 OFF 10010100 01101000
F16 ON 10010100 01011000
F16 OFF 10010100 01111000
F BRIGHT 005 10010000 10001000
F DIM 005 10010000 10011000
G1 ON 10100000 00000000
G1 OFF 10100000 00100000
G2 ON 10100000 00010000
G2 OFF 10100000 00110000
G3 ON 10100000 00001000
G3 OFF 10100000 00101000
G4 ON 10100000 00011000
G4 OFF 10100000 00111000
G5 ON 10100000 01000000
G5 OFF 10100000 01100000
G6 ON 10100000 01010000
G6 OFF 10100000 01110000
G7 ON 10100000 01001000
G7 OFF 10100000 01101000
G8 ON 10100000 01011000
G8 OFF 10100000 01111000
G9 ON 10100100 00000000
G9 OFF 10100100 00100000
G10 ON 10100100 00010000
G10 OFF 10100100 00110000
G11 ON 10100100 00001000
G11 OFF 10100100 00101000
G12 ON 10100100 00011000
G12 OFF 10100100 00111000
G13 ON 10100100 01000000
G13 OFF 10100100 01100000
G14 ON 10100100 01010000
G14 OFF 10100100 01110000
G15 ON 10100100 01001000
G15 OFF 10100100 01101000
G16 ON 10100100 01011000
G16 OFF 10100100 01111000
G BRIGHT 005 10100000 10001000
G DIM 005 10100000 10011000
H1 ON 10110000 00000000
H1 OFF 10110000 00100000
H2 ON 10110000 00010000
H2 OFF 10110000 00110000
H3 ON 10110000 00001000
H3 OFF 10110000 00101000
H4 ON 10110000 00011000
H4 OFF 10110000 00111000
H5 ON 10110000 01000000
H5 OFF 10110000 01100000
H6 ON 10110000 01010000
H6 OFF 10110000 01110000
H7 ON 10110000 01001000
H7 OFF 10110000 01101000
H8 ON 10110000 01011000
H8 OFF 10110000 01111000
H9 ON 10110100 00000000
H9 OFF 10110100 00100000
H10 ON 10110100 00010000
H10 OFF 10110100 00110000
H11 ON 10110100 00001000
H11 OFF 10110100 00101000
H12 ON 10110100 00011000
H12 OFF 10110100 00111000
H13 ON 10110100 01000000
H13 OFF 10110100 01100000
H14 ON 10110100 01010000
H14 OFF 10110100 01110000
H15 ON 10110100 01001000
H15 OFF 10110100 01101000
H16 ON 10110100 01011000
H16 OFF 10110100 01111000
H BRIGHT 005 10110000 10001000
H DIM 005 10110000 10011000
I1 ON 11100000 00000000
I1 OFF 11100000 00100000
I2 ON 11100000 00010000
I2 OFF 11100000 00110000
I3 ON 11100000 00001000
I3 OFF 11100000 00101000
I4 ON 11100000 00011000
I4 OFF 11100000 00111000
I5 ON 11100000 01000000
I5 OFF 11100000 01100000
I6 ON 11100000 01010000
I6 OFF 11100000 01110000
I7 ON 11100000 01001000
I7 OFF 11100000 01101000
I8 ON 11100000 01011000
I8 OFF 11100000 01111000
I9 ON 11100100 00000000
I9 OFF 11100100 00100000
I10 ON 11100100 00010000
I10 OFF 11100100 00110000
I11 ON 11100100 00001000
I11 OFF 11100100 00101000
I12 ON 11100100 00011000
I12 OFF 11100100 00111000
I13 ON 11100100 01000000
I13 OFF 11100100 01100000
I14 ON 11100100 01010000
I14 OFF 11100100 01110000
I15 ON 11100100 01001000
I15 OFF 11100100 01101000
I16 ON 11100100 01011000
I16 OFF 11100100 01111000
I BRIGHT 005 11100000 10001000
I DIM 005 11100000 10011000
J1 ON 11110000 00000000
J1 OFF 11110000 00100000
J2 ON 11110000 00010000
J2 OFF 11110000 00110000
J3 ON 11110000 00001000
J3 OFF 11110000 00101000
J4 ON 11110000 00011000
J4 OFF 11110000 00111000
J5 ON 11110000 01000000
J5 OFF 11110000 01100000
J6 ON 11110000 01010000
J6 OFF 11110000 01110000
J7 ON 11110000 01001000
J7 OFF 11110000 01101000
J8 ON 11110000 01011000
J8 OFF 11110000 01111000
J9 ON 11110100 00000000
J9 OFF 11110100 00100000
J10 ON 11110100 00010000
J10 OFF 11110100 00110000
J11 ON 11110100 00001000
J11 OFF 11110100 00101000
J12 ON 11110100 00011000
J12 OFF 11110100 00111000
J13 ON 11110100 01000000
J13 OFF 11110100 01100000
J14 ON 11110100 01010000
J14 OFF 11110100 01110000
J15 ON 11110100 01001000
J15 OFF 11110100 01101000
J16 ON 11110100 01011000
J16 OFF 11110100 01111000
J BRIGHT 005 11110000 10001000
J DIM 005 11110000 10011000
K1 ON 11000000 00000000
K1 OFF 11000000 00100000
K2 ON 11000000 00010000
K2 OFF 11000000 00110000
K3 ON 11000000 00001000
K3 OFF 11000000 00101000
K4 ON 11000000 00011000
K4 OFF 11000000 00111000
K5 ON 11000000 01000000
K5 OFF 11000000 01100000
K6 ON 11000000 01010000
K6 OFF 11000000 01110000
K7 ON 11000000 01001000
K7 OFF 11000000 01101000
K8 ON 11000000 01011000
K8 OFF 11000000 01111000
K9 ON 11000100 00000000
K9 OFF 11000100 00100000
K10 ON 11000100 00010000
K10 OFF 11000100 00110000
K11 ON 11000100 00001000
K11 OFF 11000100 00101000
K12 ON 11000100 00011000
K12 OFF 11000100 00111000
K13 ON 11000100 01000000
K13 OFF 11000100 01100000
K14 ON 11000100 01010000
K14 OFF 11000100 01110000
K15 ON 11000100 01001000
K15 OFF 11000100 01101000
K16 ON 11000100 01011000
K16 OFF 11000100 01111000
K BRIGHT 005 11000000 10001000
K DIM 005 11000000 10011000
L1 ON 11010000 00000000
L1 OFF 11010000 00100000
L2 ON 11010000 00010000
L2 OFF 11010000 00110000
L3 ON 11010000 00001000
L3 OFF 11010000 00101000
L4 ON 11010000 00011000
L4 OFF 11010000 00111000
L5 ON 11010000 01000000
L5 OFF 11010000 01100000
L6 ON 11010000 01010000
L6 OFF 11010000 01110000
L7 ON 11010000 01001000
L7 OFF 11010000 01101000
L8 ON 11010000 01011000
L8 OFF 11010000 01111000
L9 ON 11010100 00000000
L9 OFF 11010100 00100000
L10 ON 11010100 00010000
L10 OFF 11010100 00110000
L11 ON 11010100 00001000
L11 OFF 11010100 00101000
L12 ON 11010100 00011000
L12 OFF 11010100 00111000
L13 ON 11010100 01000000
L13 OFF 11010100 01100000
L14 ON 11010100 01010000
L14 OFF 11010100 01110000
L15 ON 11010100 01001000
L15 OFF 11010100 01101000
L16 ON 11010100 01011000
L16 OFF 11010100 01111000
L BRIGHT 005 11010000 10001000
L DIM 005 11010000 10011000
M1 ON 00000000 00000000
M1 OFF 00000000 00100000
M2 ON 00000000 00010000
M2 OFF 00000000 00110000
M3 ON 00000000 00001000
M3 OFF 00000000 00101000
M4 ON 00000000 00011000
M4 OFF 00000000 00111000
M5 ON 00000000 01000000
M5 OFF 00000000 01100000
M6 ON 00000000 01010000
M6 OFF 00000000 01110000
M7 ON 00000000 01001000
M7 OFF 00000000 01101000
M8 ON 00000000 01011000
M8 OFF 00000000 01111000
M9 ON 00000100 00000000
M9 OFF 00000100 00100000
M10 ON 00000100 00010000
M10 OFF 00000100 00110000
M11 ON 00000100 00001000
M11 OFF 00000100 00101000
M12 ON 00000100 00011000
M12 OFF 00000100 00111000
M13 ON 00000100 01000000
M13 OFF 00000100 01100000
M14 ON 00000100 01010000
M14 OFF 00000100 01110000
M15 ON 00000100 01001000
M15 OFF 00000100 01101000
M16 ON 00000100 01011000
M16 OFF 00000100 01111000
M BRIGHT 005 00000000 10001000
M DIM 005 00000000 10011000
N1 ON 00010000 00000000
N1 OFF 00010000 00100000
N2 ON 00010000 00010000
N2 OFF 00010000 00110000
N3 ON 00010000 00001000
N3 OFF 00010000 00101000
N4 ON 00010000 00011000
N4 OFF 00010000 00111000
N5 ON 00010000 01000000
N5 OFF 00010000 01100000
N6 ON 00010000 01010000
N6 OFF 00010000 01110000
N7 ON 00010000 01001000
N7 OFF 00010000 01101000
N8 ON 00010000 01011000
N8 OFF 00010000 01111000
N9 ON 00010100 00000000
N9 OFF 00010100 00100000
N10 ON 00010100 00010000
N10 OFF 00010100 00110000
N11 ON 00010100 00001000
N11 OFF 00010100 00101000
N12 ON 00010100 00011000
N12 OFF 00010100 00111000
N13 ON 00010100 01000000
N13 OFF 00010100 01100000
N14 ON 00010100 01010000
N14 OFF 00010100 01110000
N15 ON 00010100 01001000
N15 OFF 00010100 01101000
N16 ON 00010100 01011000
N16 OFF 00010100 01111000
N BRIGHT 005 00010000 10001000
N DIM 005 00010000 10011000
O1 ON 00100000 00000000
O1 OFF 00100000 00100000
O2 ON 00100000 00010000
O2 OFF 00100000 00110000
O3 ON 00100000 00001000
O3 OFF 00100000 00101000
O4 ON 00100000 00011000
O4 OFF 00100000 00111000
O5 ON 00100000 01000000
O5 OFF 00100000 01100000
O6 ON 00100000 01010000
O6 OFF 00100000 01110000
O7 ON 00100000 01001000
O7 OFF 00100000 01101000
O8 ON 00100000 01011000
O8 OFF 00100000 01111000
O9 ON 00100100 00000000
O9 OFF 00100100 00100000
O10 ON 00100100 00010000
O10 OFF 00100100 00110000
O11 ON 00100100 00001000
O11 OFF 00100100 00101000
O12 ON 00100100 00011000
O12 OFF 00100100 00111000
O13 ON 00100100 01000000
O13 OFF 00100100 01100000
O14 ON 00100100 01010000
O14 OFF 00100100 01110000
O15 ON 00100100 01001000
O15 OFF 00100100 01101000
O16 ON 00100100 01011000
O16 OFF 00100100 01111000
O BRIGHT 005 00100000 10001000
O DIM 005 00100000 10011000
P1 ON 00110000 00000000
P1 OFF 00110000 00100000
P2 ON 00110000 00010000
P2 OFF 00110000 00110000
P3 ON 00110000 00001000
P3 OFF 00110000 00101000
P4 ON 00110000 00011000
P4 OFF 00110000 00111000
P5 ON 00110000 01000000
P5 OFF 00110000 01100000
P6 ON 00110000 01010000
P6 OFF 00110000 01110000
P7 ON 00110000 01001000
P7 OFF 00110000 01101000
P8 ON 00110000 01011000
P8 OFF 00110000 01111000
P9 ON 00110100 00000000
P9 OFF 00110100 00100000
P10 ON 00110100 00010000
P10 OFF 00110100 00110000
P11 ON 00110100 00001000
P11 OFF 00110100 00101000
P12 ON 00110100 00011000
P12 OFF 00110100 00111000
P13 ON 00110100 01000000
P13 OFF 00110100 01100000
P14 ON 00110100 01010000
P14 OFF 00110100 01110000
P15 ON 00110100 01001000
P15 OFF 00110100 01101000
P16 ON 00110100 01011000
P16 OFF 00110100 01111000
P BRIGHT 005 00110000 10001000
P DIM 005 00110000 10011000
-----Original Message-----
From: slinkelist-admin@nirvis.com [mailto:slinkelist-admin@nirvis.com]On
Behalf Of Alan Freeman
Sent: Monday, January 24, 2000 1:58 PM
To: Slinkelist@nirvis.com
Subject: [slinkelist] CM-17A (alias "X-10Firecracker")
FYI, Regarding the Firecracker: (This is FUNNY!)
I called X10.COM requesting to use the "Firecracker" protocol in our
software. They were adamant about it; almost rude. No, they were rude!
They said they didn't provide the protocol to 3rd parties. I asked for a
supervisor, at which time my head got bit off. The woman said, "he's going
tell you the same thing". She then went on to say, that if I "wanted to
interface to it, I would have to hack it." And she further said, "there are
many places on the web to find information about it, as it had been hacked
already. You can use that source."
I told her we'd rather work with them. She said in a not too
round-about-way, they'd rather we didn't.
So... taking her lead, I went searching.
The CM-17A (aka. Firecracker) uses (as Colby suggested), a hack to the
serial lines. It doesn't use a standard RS232 serial protocol method at
all, nor does it receive data from the power line, of course. The
communications is achieved by toggling a serial line much like an IR signal,
using a single data bit stream on a single serial port line.
Having said that, and knowing that Colby or my company can hack it, I'm not
sure I'd want to, just because of their attitude. I can't speak for Colby.
I can only guess that the CM17A will be short lived if they won't cooperate
with other vendors to get some halfway decent software for it. Isn't that
how SONY killed the BETA machine, and how SONY 'almost' killed the
Mini-Disc!?! (rhetorical)
Haven't we seen this movie before!?! X-10's biggest problem to date has
been their "proprietary" hold on their X-10 power-line protocol. Other
companies could have made it SCREAM, but X-10 USA has forced it to ''crawl".
Sorry to editorialize. I'm off the soap box now. Next...
>(©¿©)<
Best regards, Alan Freeman
E-Mail: alan@cdcontrol.com
Web-URL: www.cdcontrol.com
Genealogy: www.ifreeman.com
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