ECP - External Control Protocol
ECP (External Control Protocol) is deprecated with the release of firmware version 10.2 and not recommended to be implemented for new integrations with 3rd generation core devices (XC3/XD3/XS3). It will still be available within the next major firmware versions as legacy protocol, but with a reduced featureset. Use Control API instead for new integrations.
Planned commands for imminent removal:
- Set Output Routing - 0x01F5xxxx- 16bit
- Set Arbitration - 0x01F90000
- Set Display or Channel Label - 0x11140000
- Load Save Setups - 0x111C0000
- Set IO Gain - 0x112D0000 - 16bit
- Set IO Gain - 0x112D0000 - 32bit
- Get / Set Parameter - 0x11810000 - CleanFeed Input
- Get / Set Parameter - 0x11810000 - CleanFeed Out
This document describes the DHD External Control Protocol, including the communication interface and the commands for monitoring and control. You can use the DHD External Control Protocol via a serial connection or TCP/IP on the following DHD devices:
- RM4200D DSP Frame with RM420-850 Communication Controller
- RM4200D DSP Frame with RM420-852 or RM420-853 Communication Controller
- 52/XR Router DSP Frame with 52-6850 or 52-6851 Communication Controller
- 52/XS Core
- 52/XC Core
- 52/XD Core with 52-7450 Controller
- 52/XS2 Core
- 52/XC2 Core
- 52/XD2 Core with 52-7456 Controller
In the following table, you can find an overview of the supported devices, their corresponding firmware versions, and the corresponding Toolbox (configuration software) versions:
| Frame type | Controller type | Toolbox Version | Version 5.x.xx | Version 6.x.xx | Version 7.0.xx | Version 7.1.xx | Version 7.2.xx or higher | Version 8.0.xx | Version 8.1.xx |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RM4200D DSP Frame | RM420-850 | FW 05.xx.xx latest 05.06.06 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| RM4200D DSP Frame | RM420-852 | - | MX-XR_ 06.xx.xx.fw6 | - | MX-XR_ 07.01.xx.fw6 | MX-XR_ 07.02.xx.fw6 or higher | - | - | - |
| RM420-853 | - | MX-XR_ 06.xx.xx.fw6 | - | MX-XR_ 07.01.xx.fw6 | MX-XR_ 07.02.xx.fw6 or higher | - | - | - | |
| XR Router | 52-6850 | - | MX-XR_ 06.xx.xx.fw6 | - | MX-XR_ 07.01.xx.fw6 | MX-XR_ 07.02.xx.fw6 or higher | - | - | - |
| 52-6851 | - | MX-XR_ 06.xx.xx.fw6 | - | MX-XR_ 07.01.xx.fw6 | MX-XR_ 07.02.xx.fw6 or higher | - | - | - | |
| XS Core | 52-1801 | - | - | XS-XC_ 07.00.xx.fw6 | XS-XC_ 07.01.xx.fw6 | XS-XC-XD_ 07.02.xx.fw6 or higher | XS-XC-XD_ 08.00.xx.fw8 | XS-XC-XD_ 08.01.xx.fw8 | XS-XC-XD_ 08.01.xx.fw8 |
| 52-1804 | - | - | XS-XC_ 07.00.xx.fw6 | XS-XC_ 07.01.xx.fw6 | XS-XC-XD_ 07.02.xx.fw6 or higher | XS-XC-XD_ 08.00.xx.fw8 | XS-XC-XD_ 08.01.xx.fw8 | XS-XC-XD_ 08.01.xx.fw8 | |
| XC Core | 52-7400 | - | - | XS-XC_ 07.00.xx.fw6 | XS-XC_ 07.01.xx.fw6 | XS-XC-XD_ 07.02.xx.fw6 or higher | XS-XC-XD_ 08.00.xx.fw8 | XS-XC-XD_ 08.01.xx.fw8 | XS-XC-XD_ 08.01.xx.fw8 |
| 52-7402 | - | - | XS-XC_ 07.00.xx.fw6 | XS-XC_ 07.01.xx.fw6 | XS-XC-XD_ 07.02.xx.fw6 or higher | XS-XC-XD_ 08.00.xx.fw8 | XS-XC-XD_ 08.01.xx.fw8 | XS-XC-XD_ 08.01.xx.fw8 | |
| 52-7403 | - | - | XS-XC_ 07.00.xx.fw6 | XS-XC_ 07.01.xx.fw6 | XS-XC-XD_ 07.02.xx.fw6 or higher | XS-XC-XD_ 08.00.xx.fw8 | XS-XC-XD_ 08.01.xx.fw8 | XS-XC-XD_ 08.01.xx.fw8 | |
| XD Core | 52-7440/7450 | - | - | - | - | XS-XC-XD_ 07.02.xx.fw6 or higher | XS-XC-XD_ 08.00.xx.fw8 | XS-XC-XD_ 08.01.xx.fw8 | XS-XC-XD_ 08.01.xx.fw8 |
| 52-7441/7450 | - | - | - | - | XS-XC-XD_ 07.02.xx.fw6 or higher | XS-XC-XD_ 08.00.xx.fw8 | XS-XC-XD_ 08.01.xx.fw8 | XS-XC-XD_ 08.01.xx.fw8 | |
| 52-7442/7450 | - | - | - | - | XS-XC-XD_ 07.02.xx.fw6 or higher | XS-XC-XD_ 08.00.xx.fw8 | XS-XC-XD_ 08.01.xx.fw8 | XS-XC-XD_ 08.01.xx.fw8 | |
| XS2 Core | 52-1810 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | XS2-XC2-XD2_ 08.01.xx.fw8 |
| 52-1830 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | XS2-XC2-XD2_ 08.01.xx.fw8 | |
| XC2 Core | 52-7423 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | XS2-XC2-XD2_ 08.01.xx.fw8 |
| 52-7420 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | XS2-XC2-XD2_ 08.01.xx.fw8 | |
| 52-7410 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | XS2-XC2-XD2_ 08.01.xx.fw8 | |
| XD2 Core | 52-7440/7456 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | XS2-XC2-XD2_ 08.01.xx.fw8 |
| 52-7441/7456 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | XS2-XC2-XD2_ 08.01.xx.fw8 | |
| 52-7442/7456 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | XS2-XC2-XD2_ 08.01.xx.fw8 |
History
The protocol described here is based on parts of a CAN-bus (Controller Area Network) instruction set, which was used for the control of previous DHD products, the RM3200D and the RM4200D. The CAN-bus is an asynchronous, serial bus system.
In the RM3200D and RM4200D devices, the CAN-bus was used for the complete internal system communication.
In later products, for example, the RM420-852 controller or the 52/XR Router, the CAN-bus is still a central part of the internal communication, but it is supplemented by IP-based protocols. The control modules 52/MX or 52/RX are connected via Ethernet to the controller and no longer via CAN-bus.
The products 52/XC/XD/XS and 52/XC2/XD2/XS2 do not use the CAN-bus; they only use Ethernet for internal communication.
Compatibility
The DHD External Control Protocol is integrated also into the current products independent of their internal controller structure. Programs that already support the DHD External Control Protocol (known as: "Protocol Description RM4200-D" prot_eng_4200.pdf) are able to communicate with current DHD products via the same commands.
The features of some commands are different depending on the firmware version.
Please note the complete overview of commands and their compatibility.