Using Fieldpoint with Digi Portserver TS2

[ARobinson]

I am attempting to use a DIGI portserver TS2 to make my Fieldpoint FP1000 accessible over the LAN. Unfortunately the cable they sent me had a female connection DB9 connector. So, I located a straight-through DB9 cable but I can't even get a network light when connected (By the way I know the DIGI hardware itself works). The next thing I tried was pinning out an RJ45 to DB9 adapter. I thought I had it right and the network light came on... but I can't connect from MAX. I know the FP hardware works b/c I've been using a standard serial cable with a normal connectionf or a while now.

Help!

Thanks,
Andy Robinson

[ARobinson]

Here are the pin assignments on the DIGI side.

1 - RI
2 - DSR
3 - RTS
4 - Safety GND
5 - TXD
6 - RXD
7 - Signal GND
8 - CTS
9 - DTR
10 - DCD

Please help.

Thanks,
Andy Robinson

[ARobinson]

I have a little more information now. After trying a handful of different cables I finally found a combination that does this for me.

When using Hyperterminal I can connect and the network light comes on and stays on the FP1000. when i disconnect it goes off. This tells me I've got some kind of connection, but NIMAX still won't find any of the devices.

Thanks,
Andy

[Ames]

Andy,

I am not sure that this setup will work. I know that it hasn't been tested and is not supported. However, if it is going to work you will probably have to add it manually into MAX. To add the FieldPoint "Ethernet" controller manually right click on the Remote Systems in MAX and select Create New. Then choose FieldPoint Ethernet and select Next. It will then ask you for the IP address of the remote device. Use the IP address of the DIGI portserver here. Automatically find devices should be selected and then press Finish. If this setup is going to work then it should find your controller.

You should look into purchasing the FP-1601 or FP-20xx. All of these controllers use Ethernet instead of serial for communication. You can always call our int
ernal sales department at 1-800-433-3488 to discuss what hardware will work best for your application.

Ames
Applications Engineering
National Instruments

[Aaron_G]

There is no possibility that the technique you are describing here will work. By adding a FieldPoint Ethernet controller in MAX, you are telling the FieldPoint Server to utilize the National Instruments Logos protocol to communicate with the FieldPoint modules. The serial modules use the Optomux protocol which is not compatible in any way shape or form with the Logos protocol.

Aaron

[Aaron_G]

Andy,

Based upon your description of the pin-out on the RJ45 adapter, you will need to connect the following lines from the DIGI TS2 to the FP-1000's serial port.

RJ-45 FP-1000
5 (Tx) (Rx) 3
6 (Rx) (Tx) 2
7 (Signal Gnd) (Gnd) 5

Regards,
Aaron

[ARobinson]

I figured that so that's why I'm returning the FP1000 and Digi Portserver and instead just purchasing an FP1601, the cost is about a wash.

Thanks for the help,
Andy

[ARobinson]

Thanks,
I'll try this and see if I can make it work.

- Andy

[Ames]

Andy,

I didn't realize that the way the DIGI box actually works is that it creates a virtual serial port. In theory all you should have to do then is setup the FP-1000 in MAX like you normally would using your virtual serial port. This should certainly work, but as I mentioned earlier it makes more sense to just use the FP-1601 or FP-20xx that natively supports Ethernet.

Ames
Applications Engineering
National Instruments