Connecting to a Master Controller via Serial
- Select Settings > Workspace Communications Settings to open the Workspace Communication Settings dialog.
- Click System Settings to open the Communications Settings dialog, and open the Serial tab (FIG. 224):
FIG. 224 Communications Settings dialog - Serial tab
| Communications Settings Dialog - Serial Tab | |
|---|---|
| Port: | Select a COM port for serial communications from the drop-down list. |
| Baud Rate: | Click the down arrow to open a menu where you can choose the baud rate of your COM port from the list (suggested setting = 38400). |
| Data Bits : | Click the down arrow to open a menu where you can choose the Data Bits (suggested setting = 8). |
| Parity: | Click the down arrow to open a menu where you can choose the parity (suggested setting = none). |
| Stop bits: | Click the down arrow to open a menu where you can choose the Stop bit(s) (suggested setting = 1). |
| Flow Control: | Click the down arrow to open the flow control options menu. Click to select None, Hardware, or Xon/Xoff (suggested setting = none). |
| Authentication: | The Authentication options are only displayed if NetLinx Master is selected as the Platform Selection. If the target NetLinx Master requires authentication, then enter the User Name and Password that will in these fields. User Names and Passwords are case-sensitive. |
| DIP Switch Settings: | Click to graphically display the dip switch settings necessary to address NetLinx devices and configure communications settings. Clicking the button opens a dialog which displays the Master's DIP switch settings for 115200, 57600, 38400, and 9600 baud settings. |
- Set the Serial Settings as required by the target Master.
- Enter a User Name and Password if required by the target Master.
- Click OK to close this dialog and return to the Workspace Communication Settings dialog, now indicating Serial as the current connection configuration (FIG. 225).
FIG. 225 Workspace Communication Settings dialog - Serial Configuration
- Click OK to close the Workspace Communication Settings dialog.
- In the Online Tree, right-click and select Refresh System from the context menu to attempt to establish the specified connection.
- If the connection is successful, the connection information is indicated in the Status Bar.
- If the connection fails, the program will alert you and prompt you to revisit the current communication settings (note that if the connection fails, the Status Bar indicates no active connection).
If you receive this message, try the following:
- Click Retry to attempt the connection again, using the same settings.
- Click Change to re-visit the Workspace Communication Settings dialog to edit the current settings.
- Click Cancel to close the dialog without establishing a connection.