Deprecated Technologies

We originally designed our first Webrelay controllers using the Digi Connect ME.  This allowed us to use the .NET framework to build a tiny server for hosting a limited web page for relay control.  For the time, the Digi Connect ME was amazing, and it was truly unique in the marketplace, as it’s size was years ahead of any other solution on the market.  From a manufacturing standpoint, the Digi Connect ME had a tiny header on the bottom.  Soldering this component on the board was pretty much a permanent endeavor, as any attempt to remove the module from the circuit board would frequently damage the connector, despite using the best soldering tools available.  The Digi Connect ME had it’s share of failures, which meant we had to replace customer boards entirely, at extreme cost to our company.  The high cost of the Connect ME and Digi’s disinterest in accommodating pulls that were damaged left us on the lookout for a better solution.  We started looking into the Lantronix XPort Pro, as it allowed us much more memory, better web pages, a FTP server, lower-cost, less failures, and we could pull the module from the controller without damage.  The Web-i series controllers serve as our latest generation Webrelay controllers.  If you still have a working Digi Connect ME, you can download our original quick start guide here: Ethernet_ME_Quick_Start_Guide

Digi has put a ton of development into wireless technologies.  XSC was an amazing technology for the time, allowing a superior long-range wireless solution for our complete line of relay controllers.  XSC was a very capable wireless technology, but the firmware is primitive in comparison to what Digi offers today.  XSC was not particularly friendly in the area of communicating to multiple devices, for the most part, we used it for transmitter/receiver pair applications.  XSC was also limited in terms of communication speed.  The max baud rate of 57.6K baud make it a bit of an odd duck in comparison to other Digi wireless technologies.  XSC was a great protocol for the time, but when Digi released the 802.15.4 modules, it became tarnished as a wireless technology.  When Digi introduced Digimesh 900HP/S3B modules, XSC was left behind entirely.  Digi discontinued the XSC wireless and we chose to switch our customers over to the Digimesh 900HP/S3B communication modules.  The 900HP/S3B modules from Digi are second to none.  We favor them over traditional 802.15.4, as Digimesh is now a mature technology with incredibility self-healing wireless mesh networking technologies.  If you are using any of our older XSC devices, this quick start guide might be helpful: XSC_Quick_Start_Guide

First, I should qualify this entry by stating these technologies are not obsolete.  However, the way we have represented these technologies has not migrated sufficiently for the times.  We still plan to keep 802.15.4 around in our Mirror series controllers, but we will be discontinuing it in our other product offerings to simplify our product line.  We will support 900HP/S3B modules instead, as it will ease our support questions and reduce our stocking requirements.  If you are looking for our older ZigBee Wireless Quick Start Guide, you can download it here, but keep in mind, ZigBee has changed a lot, this article is really old, and likely not as valid as it once was.  Think of this guide as more obsolete than the technology behind it: ZigBee_Mesh_Quick_Start_Guide

We developed AVA Security to give our customers a pathway to marry the software they develop to a piece of hardware we manufacture.  This would prevent software owners from buying hardware from us and using it with customer software without licensing.  Instead, our customers had the option to resell our products with a specific key licensed and paired with their software.  Unfortunately, AVA security was not widely adopted by our customer base.  We decided to remove AVA from the firmware of many devices so we could use the firmware space for more useful product features.  AVA is still shipped with many products, but we no-longer intend to keep it.  In fact, we will be removing it from firmware in just about every planned future revision.  If you are interested in NCD AVA Security, you may download the quick start guide here: AVA_Security_Quick_Start_Guide

NCD Fusion Series controllers still maintain a active and popular role among our customers.  Fusion is also a pet project of NCD CEO Ryan Sheldon.  Unfortunately, due to memory limitations within the CPU, certain features could not be fully developed.  Since the Fusion CPU is essentially full, we are unable to fix any bugs.

Remote Access was a feature that allowed Fusion controllers to share hardware resources, such as sensors and relays via a Wireless connection.  This feature remained difficult to implement with users.  Though technically correct, it was also technically difficult, and could not be simplified.  Remote Access is known to be working, but became cumbersome when working with too many shared controllers.  We have abandoned support for Remote Access features due to configuration complexity.

Fusion I2C has also been deprecated as of 2/27/2019, as there are known bugs that could not be resolved due to space limitations within the CPU.  We are exploring other options to provide industrial grade I2C communications, please contact us if you have a urgent need as we do have a solution in the works, though currently unreleased.

Fusion, despite it’s complexity, has very few known bugs.   Fusion has so many options, that it’s impossible to test every possible combination.  Each feature had to be developed and tested as an independent module.  Once the firmware was completed, all modules were activated simultaneously, and Fusion seemed to take on a life of it’s own.

Certain Reactor features that would cause one event to trigger another event upon completion are also known to have limits.  While the firmware is technically correct, the memory limitations of the CPU prevented a full implementation of these features.  More specifically, the CPU is in need of some free memory to carry out these kinds of functions.

Due to changes in technology, Fusion covers a relatively niche market of customers.  As the popularity of embedded platforms continues to expand, programming complex features is getting easier, negating the need for the Fusion platform.

Fusion is based on the PIC18F46K22 CPU, an amazing CPU for it’s size.  Perhaps one day a larger memory variant will be available and we will be able to complete our work with Fusion.  We have also considered stripping some features out of Fusion, but have not yet determined the best direction.  Fusion series is here to stay, as we have a large customer base that love this controller, despite having a few quirks.

Technologies born out of the Fusion project include the BridgeX5, which also has a dual communications interface.  Also, many of our current monitoring controllers share the same Fusion CPU and dual communications interface.  Most importantly, Fusion was the birthplace platform for all of our work with I2C.  Fusion code was scaled down to a PIC12F1840, a 8-pin CPU, simply for the purposes of serial to I2C conversion (used in many NCD devices).  Had we not developed Fusion, the I2C products on our site would never have existed.  Because of this, Fusion remains the single most important project NCD has ever adopted.

The NCD Reactor series controllers were our first generation autonomous controllers, allowing relays to be controlled logically based on user inputs.  The NCD Reactor Key Fob replaced the 8-Channel Analog to Digital converter inputs with a 8-Button key fob input.  This would allow key fobs to control logical relay conditions.  We discontinued the Reactor Key Fob series when Linx requested that we use a newer/better key fob technology.  They planned to discontinue the Key Fob receiver chip we were using, and the new chipset proved to offer a superior advantage.  A new generation of Key Fob receivers was developed called the KFX series.  KFX offers superior range and much higher speed.  Rather than develop an entire new series of boards with on-board key fob, the KFX module fits into the XBee socket found on most of our relay controllers.  This allows existing users to integrate Key Fob technology as a communication option.  The Reactor series is still active, as it’s low cost is still attractive to our customers.  Reactor is not scheduled to be discontinued, but it was improved upon in the Fusion series controllers.  If you have a older Reactor Key Fob, the current Reactor manual explains how to use the Key Fob features.  Portions of this manual are obsolete, but the core of the manual is still valid.  You can download it here: Reactor_Quick_Start_Guide

NCD Hybrid Series Controllers were our first controllers to integrate Digital I/O and relay control within the same controller.  While a good product line, the CPU did not use interrupts, and was therefore replaced with ProXR Enhanced series controllers.  You can still download Hybrid Series resources here: IOADR8x Software: vb6IOADR8x

Much like the Hybrid Series, the Ultra Series aimed at offering lots of Digital I/O and Relay Control using a larger CPU.  Ultra Series controllers also supported a LCD display, a first for any of our relay controllers.  Due to lack of customer reception, limited product options, complex architecture, it was put on the chopping block rather quickly.  The lack of interrupts, as found in the today’s ProXR Enhanced and Fusion Series controllers, coupled with the integration of a obsolete wireless technology doomed the Ultra Series controllers.  Today we use Digi Wireless communication modules for superior performance.  Customers who need lots of Digital I/O end up with a Fusion series controller.  If you have a Ultra Series Controller, you can download all available resources here:  Manual: UltraES VB6 Software: UltraV2.0

NCD ProXR Standard did not support interrupt-based communications, and had a command for every user parameter, which was unnecessarily using precious firmware space.  ProXR Standard (using a PIC16F690 CPU) was replaced by ProXR Enhanced (using a PIC18F14K22 CPU), where a complex series of interrupts handle communications without flaws.  The Enhanced CPU runs at nearly 3x the speed of ProXR Standard.  We also added lots of new features in ProXR Enhanced, which remains the prevailing standard preferred by our customers.  You can download the original ProXR Standard Quick Start Guide Here: ProXR  Original ProXR Software: ProXR

Back in the early days of Wireless, there was not Maxstream or Digi for that matter.  If you wanted a wireless relay controller, you pretty much had to make it yourself.  The NCD LR Series controllers were designed to take on this challenge, though they were not without flaws.  We implemented a 1-Way wireless protocol, but it pales in comparison to the Digi wireless options we have today.  The LR Series lived a few years and put us on the map as a wireless relay manufacturer, but by no means were they anything like the wireless technologies we have today.  If you are looking for LR Series resources, you can find them here:

LR Series Transmitter: AirControlLR

LR Series Relay Controllers: AirRelayLR

LR Series VB6 Software: AirSwitchV1.0

Before Base Station, there was the NCD Configuration Utility.  This was used to configure Reactor and Taralist series controllers.  While it did a great job at configuration, it was limited to a subset of our product line.  We designed Base Station and integrated all of our NCD Configuration Utility code into the application.  This meant we did not need to re-write anything, giving us a platform to service the established products while we moved into the new products.  The NCD Configuration Utility is pretty much obsolete in every respect, and likely won’t even work properly with the latest Reactor or Taralist series controllers.  Nonetheless, you can download it here if you are looking for vintage software: NCDConfigurationUtility

Well, much has changed since we created SignalSwitch.com.  Our developers took on other priorities, leaving the old SignalSwitch.com server to die a slow painful death.  We finally put it out of its misery after about 7 years of use.  Today, we have so many alternatives, it makes no sense to continue this project.  We are expecting legislation to be enacted to tighten the security requirements around all IoT devices, so this server was going to die one way or another anyway.

Here are a few programs we developed over the years that are no-longer in development.  We included the NCD Component Library in this list, though we do work on it from time to time (we can supply a updated version upon request).  Most of the software below is handled entirely by using Base Station (ncd.io/start).  Hybrid, Ultra, and LR Series controllers are not supported by Base Station Software.  ProMOTE software was used as Bluetooth remote on older windows phones.  We do not have a replacement for this software as these phones are now completely obsolete.  We put these programs here just so you have the resources available to you, all are provided as-is with no further development possible.

Original ProXR Software: ProXR

Original NCD Configuration Utility: NCDConfigurationUtility

Web-I Discovery Utility: NCD-WebiDiscovery

WiFly Configuration Software: WiFly_Configuration_Software

LR Series Software: AirSwitchV1.0

R4xPro/R8xPro Software: vb6R4xR8xPro

Ultra Series Software: UltraV2.0

Hybrid Series Software: vb6IOADR8x

NCD Component Library: NCDComponentSetup

NCD Network Library: NCDNetworkComponentSetup

ProMOTE Software: ncdpromote20080423-2

ZigBee Mirror Software: ZigBeeMirror VB6 Source and .exe included in Bin folder.

ZBM_V2 Updated V2 ZigBee Mirror Software with a few bug fixes.

ZBM_V3 Updated V3 ZigBee Mirror Software – Must Install Previous Versions First then Move these Files to the Install Folder.

Some technologies are old, but still in very active production.  We will not be improving or changing the product line in the future, which also means we will only make the documentation available in the original PDF form.   Though we have no plans to discontinue any of these product lines, we want to make sure the content remains in its original form.  If you are concerned about products that remain in production but are not subjected to further enhancements, please contact us for potential replacements.

NCD Reactor Series Controllers

The NCD Reactor Series controllers are still in active production, maintaining high popularity with our customers.  Though we will not be making any further changes to the product line, our second generation Fusion series controllers now rule the Autonomous market.  You may download the last published quick start guide here: Reactor_Quick_Start_Guide

NCD Fiber Optic Series Controllers

The NCD Fiber Optic Series controllers are still in active production, though we will not be making any further changes to the product line. You may download the last published quick start guide here:  Fiber_Optic_Quick-Start_Guide

ZR1x/ZR2x ZigBee Series Controllers

Still popular with our customers, the ZR1x and ZR2x Series controllers will never be updated or modified.  These controllers enjoy a highly active status with our clients, but we will not be improving them further in favor of other technologies.  You may download the last published quick start guide here: ZR1xZR2x_Zigbee_Quick_Start_Guide

R1x/R2x Series Controllers

Still popular with our customers, the R1x and R2x Series controllers will never be updated or modified.  These controllers enjoy a highly active status with our clients, but we will not be improving them further in favor of other technologies.  You may download the last published quick start guide here:  R1xR2x_RS232-Serial_Quick_Start_Guide

R4x/R8x Series Controllers

This is our second generation relay controller from the late 1990s.  It’s still so popular, we could NEVER kill it off.  Our customers would hate us if we did, so it will never die.  Awesomely popular, the R4x and R8x Series controllers will never be updated or modified.  We will not be improving them further in favor of other technologies.  You may download the last published quick start guide here:  R4x-R8x_Quick_Start_Guide

Taralist Series Controllers

Still highly popular with our customers, the Taralist series time activated relay controllers will always be with us, though we have no plans to further this particular line.  Fusion series controllers now have Taralist features, with extensive improvements in architecture and features.  Taralist will continue on in the Fusion product line.  You may download the last published quick start guide here:  Taralist_Quick_Start_Guide

ProXR UXP Series

The UXP Series ProXR Controllers are a niche subset of ProXR products that includes a UXP expansion port.  We have migrated some of this content to the ncd.io web site, but we also wanted to share the original PDFs for these products.  We have big plans to offer controllers with more features than UXP would ever allow, but UXP has many loyal followers, so the product line will not likely be discontinued.  You may download the UXP Series expansion manuals here:

UXP AD1216: AD1216_Quick_Start_Guide

UXP Digital Potentiometers: Potentiometer_Quick_Start_Guide

UXP Contact Closure Inputs: SCAN_Quick_Start_Guide

Our original 16-Channel relay controller: Manual