Extron System 8+/10+

Make/Model	Device Version	Connection Type
Extron/System 8+/10+	N/A	Serial

Description:

This driver supports the Extron System 8+ and System 10+ audio/video matrices. These are quite widely used boxes that come in a number of variations with different numbers of inputs. The driver will sense the number of inputs supported by your particular model. This driver currently only supports the + models, so it supports the System 8+ but not the System 8, and the System10+ but not the System 10.
The Extron System 8+/10+ switchers are capable of switching up to 254 Video/Audio inputs (via chaining), with audio-follow or breakaway. Supported video types are RGB (with Sync on Green or Separate Sync), Composite or S-Video. In addition to being very flexible switchers, these units (which differ only in the number of available input on each unit) can control Projectors from various manufacturers.
This driver implements all functionality implemented for RS-232 control within the switcher (but see Gotchas below.) Any changes to the switcher either manually (via its front panel) or via other means (such as by a change from a connected projector or via RS-232) are managed and reported by the driver.
More details on the specification and operation of the Extron System 8+/10+ switchers can be found here.
This driver is CML based. The driver class for this device is in the MEng.System.CQC.Drivers.ExtronS8P scope. It was contributed by Andy Swingler.

Quirks and Limitations:

There are a couple of gotchas with this driver current.
Executive Mode is not supported. Since the switcher only reports its mode when it changes and the current mode cannot be queried it was decided not to include functionality for reporting the value of Executive Mode.
Changing InputNumber will change the Video Channel and also the Audio Channel, even if the switcher was previously in Audio breakaway. It was thought that using Audio-Follow as the standard channel-change mode would make normal operations easier. A future release of the driver may enhance this behavior.

Connection Details

The default serial-port settings are 9600, 8 data bits, one stop bits, and no parity, but the baud rate can be changed internally between 300 baud and 38,400 baud. Additionally the switcher can support odd parity via an internal change.
The default settings for this driver are set to the default settings of the switcher (9600 baud, 8 bits, one stop bit, no parity, no flow control), so be sure to change the driver's settings if your switcher's settings are different. If possible, crank your switcher up to the maximum rate and adjust the driver's settings during installation, to get maximum responsiveness.

Driver Fields

This section lists the fields that the driver makes available, their types, minimum and maximum values, etc...
Name Type R/W Description/Limits
AudioInputNumber Card R/W Set or read the current audio input number. The range is from 1 to the value in InputCount, i.e. the number of inputs your model has. To perform an Audio Breakaway set this value to the Breakaway channel.
AudioMute Bool R/W Set or read the audio mute state. Set to True to mute the audio output, false to unmute.
DisplayMute Bool R/W Set or read the projector's blanker state. Set to True to invoke the projector's blanker, or False to remove it.
DisplayPowerStatus Bool R/W Set or read the power state of a connected projector. Set to True to power on the connected projector, or False to power if off.
InputCount Card R Returns the number of inputs supported by this particular switcher, which is determined dynamically by the driver.
InputNumber Card R/W Set or read the current input number. The range is from 1 to the value in InputCount, i.e. the number of inputs your model has.
NextPrevInput Bool W A write only field to allow for moving to the next or previous input. It is mostly there to make it easier to set up IR or button actions that do this without having to write a macro.
PartName String R A read-only field that indicates the part name for your particular switcher. It should be 'System 8+' or 'System 10+' for the models supported by this driver.
PartNum String R A read-only field that indicates the part number for your particular switcher. It should be '60-107-01' or '60-108-01' for the two models supported by this driver.
ProjectorID String R A read-only field that indicates the type of projector for which your switcher's projector control system is configured.
ProjectorSWVer String R A read-only field that indicates the version of the projector control software in your particular switcher.
RGBMute Bool Set or read the switcher's blanker state. Set to True to invoke the switcher's blanker, or False to remove it.
SwitcherSWVer String R Indicates the software version that the switcher is currently running.
VideoType String R A read-only enumerated string that indicates the type of video signal currently active with values: Unknown, RGB (Separate Sync), RGB (Sync on Green), Composite Video, or S-Video

Name	Type	R/W	Description/Limits
AudioInputNumber	Card	R/W	Set or read the current audio input number. The range is from 1 to the value in InputCount, i.e. the number of inputs your model has. To perform an Audio Breakaway set this value to the Breakaway channel.
AudioMute	Bool	R/W	Set or read the audio mute state. Set to True to mute the audio output, false to unmute.
DisplayMute	Bool	R/W	Set or read the projector's blanker state. Set to True to invoke the projector's blanker, or False to remove it.
DisplayPowerStatus	Bool	R/W	Set or read the power state of a connected projector. Set to True to power on the connected projector, or False to power if off.
InputCount	Card	R	Returns the number of inputs supported by this particular switcher, which is determined dynamically by the driver.
InputNumber	Card	R/W	Set or read the current input number. The range is from 1 to the value in InputCount, i.e. the number of inputs your model has.
NextPrevInput	Bool	W	A write only field to allow for moving to the next or previous input. It is mostly there to make it easier to set up IR or button actions that do this without having to write a macro.
PartName	String	R	A read-only field that indicates the part name for your particular switcher. It should be 'System 8+' or 'System 10+' for the models supported by this driver.
PartNum	String	R	A read-only field that indicates the part number for your particular switcher. It should be '60-107-01' or '60-108-01' for the two models supported by this driver.
ProjectorID	String	R	A read-only field that indicates the type of projector for which your switcher's projector control system is configured.
ProjectorSWVer	String	R	A read-only field that indicates the version of the projector control software in your particular switcher.
RGBMute	Bool		Set or read the switcher's blanker state. Set to True to invoke the switcher's blanker, or False to remove it.
SwitcherSWVer	String	R	Indicates the software version that the switcher is currently running.
VideoType	String	R	A read-only enumerated string that indicates the type of video signal currently active with values: Unknown, RGB (Separate Sync), RGB (Sync on Green), Composite Video, or S-Video