VISCA Camera Protocol



Use

The VISCA protocol is a general protocol used for pan/tilt/zoom cameras of different manufacturers. It was originally designed by Sony.



Protocol

Visca is based on the RS232 Serial communication. It uses 9600 bit/s, 8N1, no flow control. In Visca up to seven devices can be controlled with one controller. The devices are connected in daisy chain configuration. All connected devices build one ring, all data information from the individual devices goes back through every connected device via the ring structure to the controller.
Information is sent in packets. Each packet consists of a header, the message itself and the terminator as the last part of the packet.



8-pin mini DIN Connector   +   9-pin Sub-D Connector

The round mini DIN connector for Visca control connection has the following pinup:

- 2 - DSR
- 1 - DTR
- 5 - RXD
- 4 - GND
- 8 - n.c.
- 3 - TXD
- 6 - GND
- 7 - IR out
- shell: shielding


The 9-pin Sub-D connector for Visca control connection has the following pinup:

- 4 - DTR
- 1 - CD
- 6 - DSR
- 9 - RI
- 3 - TXD
- 5 - GND
- 7 - RTS
- 8 - CTS
- 2 - RXD - shell: shielding