Ex-Link Cable for C/D/E Series and BD players


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On most C-Series the Ex-Link port is located at the VGA connector of the TV.

This page explains how to access the serial console on C-Series TVs with no 3.5mm Ex-Link jack.

If you don't feel capable of soldering such a cable, you can find and buy a cheap (under $5) USB to TTL adapter at eBay.

Step 1: Enable Debug mode in service menu

Prerequisite: Set the RS232 Jack to "Debug" in the Service_Menu.


Step 2: Cabling

As the TV has TTL level serial output (3.3V) a TTL-level to RS232-level adaptor is needed, normal RS232 Level is up to 15V which can cause seriously damage at your TV! MAX232 is such an adaptor.


  • Pin 4 at the VGA connector is RX (from the TV's point of view)
  • Pin 11 at the VGA connector is TX (from the TV's point of view)
  • Pin 5,6,7,8 and the case at the VGA connector are GND

MAX232 adaptor circuit V1

Here is a simple circuit using a MAX232 chip to convert the signal from TTL to RS232 level. The Pinout of the connectors is shown at the circuit:


Circuit.jpg


And a picture of the completely assembled board:


Board.jpg

MAX232 adaptor circuit V2

See here [1]

Warning

As written before, do never connect your TV directly to the serial port of your PC, as the TV has TTL-level (3.3V) and the PC has normal RS232-level your TV could seriously get damaged by dircet connection!

Connection chain over USB

Recent PCs do not have a RS232 port anymore, but there are USB adaptors available. Most of them use a PL2303 chip for converting the RS232 signal to USB.


The following figure shows the connection chain: Samsung tv serial console connections.jpg


This could look like:

Picture of cabling.jpg

Step 3: Start the terminal

On a Linux PC, install 'cu' (call up) tool from the uucp package and run

cu -l /dev/ttyUSB0 -s 115200

On a Windows PC, use Hyper Terminal or Putty.

Settings are: Speed 115200, 8N1, no flow control.

Step 4: Turn on TV

Step 5: Read output

Output should be human readable, like in the following listing. If you get nothing, then your cabling/settings are incorrect. If you get garbage, then you have problems with the MAX232 circuit.

================================================================================
 SAMSUNG: v2.6.24_SELP_4.3.x_GA(P20)
         (Detailed Information: /sys/selp/vd/lspinfo/summary)
================================================================================
        2.0 : 0 : 256
init started: SELP-BusyBox v1.6.0-VD Linux SELP.4.2.1.x (2010-01-21 19:31:50 KST                                                                                                                               ) multi-call binary
starting pid 29, tty '/dev/ttyS1': '/etc/rcS'
/etc/rcS start!!!!
=====================================================
  ROOTFS VERSION : 65-1G-65
=====================================================
        it's not dev!
starting pid 43, tty '/dev/ttyS1': '/bin/sh'
-sh: id: not found
1st partition!!
/dtv/PART_FLAG_0  is detected...
1st Partition is selected....

Step 6: Enabling serial input

  • Turn on your TV set, if everything is connected like described at the steps before the serial log should be shown at the serial terminal.
  • Enter 10041004 (when typing the digits No Imput is shown at the serial terminal) and confirm with Enter.

after that you should see:

[SERIAL INPUT MANAGE] serial input ENABLE!!!!!
  • So far there is no info on how to enable the Debug Menue at the serial console from the C-Series. The only thing which can be done/executed so far is switching the channels from the serial input.
  • Just type a digit like 2 and confirm with Enter. The TV should switch to channel #2.