This guide describes how to setup a Crestron controller and virtual touch panel to communicate with a Halogen/HAL Control Server. It is designed to be used in conjunction with the files found in the Crestron Support Package. The contents of this support package include:
The Crestron Support Package is installed with the Halogen software and can be accessed from the Windows Start Menu under Halogen -> Guides. If you want to access the files directly they are available on the product DVD or from the Halogen install directory:
You can also download the most up-to-date version of this support package from the Rane website (http://rane.com/hal).
note: You do not need to connect your controller to an actual HAL in order to test your control system. A PC running Halogen can simulate all the feedback your controller would get from a HAL running the same configuration.
This guide walks you through the configuration of a Crestron TCP/IP client, e-Control and XPanel. It then describes how to wire logic symbols for serial communications with a Halogen/HAL Control Server using a Serial Buffer and Serial I/O. After explaining our general communications strategy, we then turn our attention to the HAL’s specific control types.
The HAL system has four types of controls: toggles, commands, levels and selectors. All four are accessible to external TCP/IP clients like a Crestron controller. This guide covers each of these control types in depth one-by-one. First we dive into the logic symbols and signal flow for the control type. Then we use the control type in some touch panel applications. The applications are:
The guide concludes with a troubleshooting section that covers the most common problems encountered when configuring a target system for the examples.