samsung-exlink

Async Python library to control Samsung consumer TVs (Frame, Q-series, 8000-series, etc.) over their RS232 serial connection -- which Samsung markets as ExLink (also written EX-Link / EXT Link) -- built on serialx.

"ExLink" and "RS232" refer to the same thing here: the TV's serial control port. This library speaks that protocol; it does not use the network/WiFi APIs.

Installation

pip install samsung-exlink

Requires Python 3.12+.

Hardware

Samsung consumer TVs expose RS232 either via:

• A native 3.5 mm "ExLink" jack (Q70 and above) -- plug in and go.
  • 3.5 mm pin-out: tip = TV TX (RX into your controller), ring = TV RX, sleeve = GND.
• A USB port via the proprietary Samsung USB-to-ExLink dongle (8000 / Q60).
  • The TV's service menu (Mute -> 1 -> 8 -> 2 -> Power on the IR remote) must have EXT Link Support and USB Serial enabled.

The serial link is 9600 8N1.

Quick start

import asyncio
from samsung_exlink import SamsungTV, InputSource, Key, PictureMode

async def main():
    tv = SamsungTV("/dev/ttyUSB0")
    await tv.connect()
    try:
        await tv.power_on()
        await tv.set_volume(25)
        await tv.select_input_source(InputSource.HDMI1)
        await tv.set_picture_mode(PictureMode.MOVIE)
        await tv.send_key(Key.KEY_MENU)
    finally:
        await tv.disconnect()

asyncio.run(main())

The constructor also accepts an esphome://host/?port_name=NAME URL for use with an ESPHome UART proxy.

CLI

A built-in CLI lets you quickly test your connection:

python -m samsung_exlink /dev/ttyUSB0 power-on
python -m samsung_exlink /dev/ttyUSB0 power-off
python -m samsung_exlink /dev/ttyUSB0 volume 25
python -m samsung_exlink /dev/ttyUSB0 volume-up
python -m samsung_exlink /dev/ttyUSB0 volume-down
python -m samsung_exlink /dev/ttyUSB0 mute
python -m samsung_exlink /dev/ttyUSB0 channel-up
python -m samsung_exlink /dev/ttyUSB0 channel-down
python -m samsung_exlink /dev/ttyUSB0 source HDMI1
python -m samsung_exlink /dev/ttyUSB0 key KEY_MENU
python -m samsung_exlink /dev/ttyUSB0 raw 0d 00 00 1a   # MENU via raw command
python -m samsung_exlink /dev/ttyUSB0 status           # query power/volume/mute/source/channel
python -m samsung_exlink /dev/ttyUSB0 listen           # passively log frames

The status command queries the TV directly. To translate the raw source byte into a named input, pass a known generation with --model (one of frame_2022, h_series_2016):

python -m samsung_exlink --model frame_2022 /dev/ttyUSB0 status

Protocol

Samsung consumer TVs use a fixed 7-byte binary frame:

08 22 [cmd1] [cmd2] [cmd3] [value] [checksum]

• 08 22 is the fixed header.
• cmd1, cmd2, cmd3, value form the command (see the protocol PDF bundled with this repo).
• checksum = (256 - sum(bytes 0..5)) & 0xFF.

The TV replies with a 3-byte response: 03 0C F1 for ACK, 03 0C FF for NACK. Most commands are fire-and-forget, so the library also tracks state from what it sends. A subset of state (power, volume, mute, channel, source) can additionally be read back with a cmd1=0xF0 status query -- the TV answers with 03 0C F5 plus a 10-byte payload. See State tracking below.

Examples

Features

State tracking

state = tv.state
state.power          # bool | None  (None = unknown)
state.volume         # int | None   (0-100)
state.mute           # bool | None
state.input_source   # InputSource | None
state.picture_mode   # PictureMode | None
state.sound_mode     # SoundMode | None

Fields are populated as commands succeed, and also refreshed by the query_* methods below. Power state is unknown after connect; call power_on() / power_off(), or query_power() to read it from the TV.

Status queries

Some TVs answer a small set of status queries directly:

await tv.query_power()          # PowerState.ON / STANDBY / OFF
await tv.query_volume()         # 0-100
await tv.query_mute()           # bool
await tv.query_channel()        # (major, mid, minor)
await tv.query_source()         # raw source byte (generation-specific)
await tv.query_source_input()   # InputSource | None (needs a source map)

Each query updates tv.state and returns the value. The byte returned by query_source() differs by TV generation, so mapping it back to an InputSource needs a source map. Supply a known one via the constructor:

from samsung_exlink import SamsungTV, MODELS

tv = SamsungTV("/dev/ttyUSB0", model=MODELS["frame_2022"])

or discover it for your TV once with await tv.probe_sources() (which cycles every input and records the byte each reports) and pass the returned mapping back as source_map=... on future runs. Queries raise TimeoutError on TVs/firmwares that don't support them.

Event subscription

def on_state_change(state):
    if state is None:
        print("Disconnected")
        return
    print(f"Volume: {state.volume}, Source: {state.input_source}")

unsubscribe = tv.subscribe(on_state_change)

The callback is called with a TVState snapshot on each change, or None when the connection is torn down.

Raw access

response = await tv.send_raw(0x0d, 0x00, 0x00, 0x1A)  # KEY_MENU
# response is the 3-byte reply (e.g. b"\x03\x0c\xf1")

send_raw returns the reply without raising on NACK, for diagnostics.

Available commands

First-class helpers cover power (power_on/power_off/power_toggle), volume (set_volume/volume_up/volume_down), mute, channels (channel_up/channel_down), select_input_source, set_picture_mode, set_sound_mode, and the Frame/Anynet+ toggles set_art_mode, set_ambient_mode, and set_hdmi_cec.

The Key enum mirrors the Samsung remote-control key map and includes power, source, navigation, transport, color, and number keys. The InputSource enum covers TV, AV1-3, S-Video1-3, Component1-3, PC1-3, HDMI1-4, DVI1-3, and RVU.

For commands not yet wrapped (e.g. white-balance, color space, screen adjustments), use send_raw() with the values from the protocol PDF (docs/Samsung-RS232-Control.pdf).

License

MIT