can i use can2usb devices to send and recieve data from PC to CANOpen devices?

[dumbmage]

hi,

before i buy the required hardware and start working on my project, something got into my mind. question is: is there any difference between small can2usb devices and the pciCan cards in means of functionality? i'm asking this because can2usb devices has prices around 300euro but pci cards are around 1000euros... somewhat wierd if they are both doing the same thing. 

also, can i send/recieve data to the nodes in my canOpen network using my PC? i mean how does it work? is my pc recognized as a node like any other device on the canbus or is it just a broadcast station that sends commands to the nodes and just reads the messages that are travelling in the bus?

thx for help

dumbmage 

[Eric_K]

dumbmage,

 Our PCI CAN devices have the advantage of supporting the Channel API driver, which makes for much easier programming, and the option of buying a card with software selectable speed.  Our PCI and PXI CAN cards can also be used in a realtime system if needed, while the USB CAN devices cannot.  Also, the PCI and PXI CAN devices can be purchased with 2 CAN ports, where our USB CAN interfaces have only 1 CAN port.

As far as how your CAN device will operate, are you asking if you have the option to just have your CAN interface listen to what is on the system?  You can program the CAN interface to act however you would like.  Whether it sends commands and receives responses or just sits on the CAN network and acts as a listener is up to you

Eric K

Applications Engineering

National Instruments