RGBlink mini Control Software BETA

Controls the RGBlink mini family — mini, mini+, mini-pro, mini-ISO, mini-edge SDI, mini-mx SDI — over the RGBlink open API on UDP port 1000. The handler keeps its own socket, reads the unit back at a configurable interval and publishes program, preview, transition, PIP and audio state as variables.

Setup: enter the IP of the unit, leave the port on 1000 and leave Connection is Persistent unchecked. USB control is not part of the protocol.

Variables written (prefix = sanitized device name):
{prefix}pgm_source / {prefix}pvw_source — active sources (1-5)
{prefix}switch_mode_name, {prefix}effect_name, {prefix}tbar_percent
{prefix}pip_mode_name, {prefix}pip_layer_name, {prefix}scene
{prefix}model_name, {prefix}connected

The RGBlink mini family speaks a compact ASCII protocol over UDP, published by RGBlink as the open API. This handler implements it natively: it holds its own socket, keeps a send window of five frames as the specification asks, matches every answer to its request and mirrors the unit state into Fantago variables.

Connection

• Protocol UDP, port 1000. Only network control is supported — the USB port of the unit does not carry this protocol.
• Leave Connection is Persistent unchecked: the handler manages the socket itself.
• Status polling interval decides how often the unit is read back. Set it to 0 to stop polling entirely; feedback then only follows the commands sent from Fantago.
• Read audio, scene and input channel state adds a heavier readback cycle. Only the newer units (mini-pro, mini-ISO, mini-edge SDI, mini-mx SDI) answer it — leave it off on a plain mini.
• The readback is not written to the log: only the commands sent from Fantago are, and only when Enable Logging is on for the device. Log every protocol frame adds the full trace for troubleshooting — several entries per second, so turn it off again afterwards.
• Settings changed while the session is running are picked up within a few seconds; disabling or deleting the device closes the session on its own.

Wire format

Each request is 19 ASCII characters, each field two hex digits:

Field	Size	Meaning
Header	2 chars	<T request, <F answer
ADDR	2 chars	00 for a directly addressed unit
SN	2 chars	sequence number, echoed in the answer
CMD	2 chars	command group
DAT1 – DAT4	8 chars	function and payload — even DAT1 writes, odd reads
CHK	2 chars	sum of the seven preceding bytes, modulo 256
Footer	1 char	>

Four DAT bytes of FF mean the unit refused the command. The program and preview status request is the one exception to the layout: it is answered with a 22 byte binary datagram carrying the preview source in the first byte and the program source in the third.

Examples of the underlying frames

Action	CMD / DAT sent
Source 2 to preview	75 02 00 01 00
Source 2 to program	75 02 00 01 01
Switch mode T-BAR	78 12 01 00 00
TAKE	78 00 00 00 00
Effect FADE	78 06 01 00 00
T-BAR to the end	78 08 FF FF 00
PIP centered	75 1E 00 01 00
Read program / preview	F1 40 01 00 00

Feedback variables (use in Panel Builder labels)

• {{devicename_pgm_source}} / {{devicename_pvw_source}} — active source, 1 – 5
• {{devicename_switch_mode_name}} — Auto or T-BAR
• {{devicename_effect_name}} — CUT, FADE, L->R, …
• {{devicename_tbar_percent}} — T-BAR travel, 0 – 100
• {{devicename_pip_mode_name}}, {{devicename_pip_layer_name}}
• {{devicename_scene}} — last scene loaded, 1 – 16
• {{devicename_model_name}}, {{devicename_connected}}
• With extended polling on: {{devicename_input1_channel_name}}, {{devicename_afv_1}}, {{devicename_volume_input1}}, {{devicename_volume_output}}, {{devicename_line_in_volume}}, {{devicename_mic_in_volume}}

Integration via HTTP GET (assuming device name "MINI"):

http://<Fantago_IP>:3001/sendTo/MINI?cmd=set_pgm_source&source=2

http://<Fantago_IP>:3001/sendTo/MINI?cmd=transition&type=0

http://<Fantago_IP>:3001/sendTo/MINI?cmd=set_effect&effect=1

Integration via TCP/UDP Listener:

MINI:set_pvw_source&source=3

MINI:set_tbar&position=100

MINI:load_scene&scene=4

Notes

• Which commands a unit accepts depends on the model and on the firmware. Source switching, switch mode, effect and PIP are common to the whole family; scenes, T-BAR position, AFV, the input channel selector and the audio block belong to the newer units.
• The fifth source only exists on the units that carry a fifth input button.
• PIP on mini-edge SDI behaves differently from the original mini — check the result on the program output before building a show around it.
• Audio mixing is a single bit field on the unit. The handler merges the chosen channel into the mask it last read back, so switch extended polling on when using it, otherwise the other channels of the same bus fall back to off.
• Send Raw Command reaches any command of the open API that has no dedicated action.