Installation and User Guide
Trademarks and Notices
Document Number: 2000412 Rev. D
Notice
Comtrol Corporation. SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS OF THIS PRODUCT FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Comtrol
Corporation shall not be liable for any errors contained in this manual or for any damages resulting from loss
of use, data, profits, or any incidental or consequential damages arising from the use of Comtrol Corporation
products or services. The information contained in this documentation is subject to change without notice.
Trademarks
Comtrol is a trademark of Comtrol Corporation. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
Ethernet is a trademark of Xerox Corporation. Other product names mentioned herein may be trademarks
and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
Fourth Edition, November 16, 2011
Copyright © 2008 - 2011. Comtrol Corporation.
All Rights Reserved.
Comtrol Corporation makes no representations or warranties with regard to the contents of this document or
to the suitability of the Comtrol product for any particular purpose. This publication is subject to change
without notice. Some software or features may not be available at the time of publication. Contact your
reseller for current product information.
Table of Contents
Product Overview .................................................................................................................5
DeviceMaster FreeWire Requirements .................................................................................................... 5
Installation Overview ................................................................................................................................... 5
Configuration Options.................................................................................................................................. 6
DeviceMaster FreeWire Downloads .......................................................................................................... 6
Hardware Installation...........................................................................................................7
Device Descriptions ...................................................................................................................................... 7
Installing the DeviceMaster FreeWire Hardware.................................................................................. 7
LED Indicators .............................................................................................................................................. 9
Reset Button Functions .............................................................................................................................. 9
Factory Default Settings ........................................................................................................................... 10
Port Parameters .......................................................................................................................................... 11
Configuring the DeviceMaster FreeWire........................................................................13
Installing the DeviceMaster FreeWire Installation Wizard .............................................................. 14
Using the DeviceMaster FreeWire Installation Wizard...................................................................... 17
Configuring Network and Wireless Settings......................................................................................... 24
Advanced Serial Port Configuration........................................................................................................ 24
Configuring Ad Hoc Mode ........................................................................................................................ 25
Web Browser and Console Configuration ......................................................................27
Configuration Options................................................................................................................................ 27
Using the Web Browser Interface ............................................................................................................ 27
Using the Command Console .................................................................................................................... 31
Telnet Connection..................................................................................................................................... 31
Serial Connection ..................................................................................................................................... 31
Operating in Bridged Network Mode ...................................................................................................... 32
Configuration...................................................................................................................................... 32
Disabling Bridging Network Mode.................................................................................................... 32
Limitations of Bridging Network Mode ............................................................................................33
Behavior in Ad-Hoc Mode .................................................................................................................. 33
Behavior in Infrastructure Mode ...................................................................................................... 33
DeviceMaster FreeWire Firmware...................................................................................35
Checking the Firmware Version .............................................................................................................. 35
DeviceMaster FreeWire Installation Wizard .......................................................................................... 35
FreeWire Manager.................................................................................................................................... 36
Web Page................................................................................................................................................... 37
Uploading the Latest Firmware ............................................................................................................... 38
Connecting the Serial Device ............................................................................................41
Serial Port Signals....................................................................................................................................... 41
DB9 Loopback Plugs ................................................................................................................................... 41
DB9 Null-Modem Cables............................................................................................................................. 42
DB9 Straight-Through Cables .................................................................................................................. 42
TCP Port Connections ................................................................................................................................ 43
Table of Contents DeviceMaster FreeWire Installation and User Guide: 2000412 Rev. D - iii
Table of Contents
Verifying the Installation...................................................................................................45
Troubleshooting ..................................................................................................................47
Troubleshooting Installation Problems ................................................................................................ 47
Troubleshooting Network Configuration Problems ........................................................................... 47
Troubleshooting Windows Problems ..................................................................................................... 48
Troubleshooting Wireless Configuration Problems ........................................................................... 48
Where to Get Help ...................................................................................................................................... 49
Safety and Regulatory Notices .........................................................................................51
Information for United States Users ...................................................................................................... 51
Declaration of Conformity (FCC) ........................................................................................................... 52
Information for Canadian Users (IC notice) ........................................................................................ 52
Information for European Users ............................................................................................................. 52
iv - DeviceMaster FreeWire Installation and User Guide: 2000412 Rev. D Table of Contents
Product Overview
The DeviceMaster FreeWire is a high-performance, standalone device designed to
connect a wide range of serial devices (i.e., security devices, telecommunications
equipment, modems, data display devices, industrial instrumentation, etc.) to an
Ethernet network. The DeviceMaster FreeWire supports RS-232 serial interfaces
at a variety of baud rates (data transmission speeds), automatically senses both
100baseTX Fast Ethernet and 10baseT Ethernet network connections, and the
wireless capability allows connections to 802.11g wireless networks as well.
DeviceMaster FreeWire Requirements
To use the wireless DeviceMaster FreeWire, you need an 802.11g compatible
wireless network consisting of either of the following:
• An 802.11b/g wireless-enabled PC connected directly to the DeviceMaster
FreeWire (Ad-Hoc or Peer-to-Peer mode).
• An 802.11b/g wireless access point that allows wireless and wired Ethernetenabled PCs to connect to the serial server.
To configure the wireless DeviceMaster FreeWire, you will need the following
information from your wireless network administrator:
• Wireless mode used (Infrastructure or Ad-Hoc)
• The SSID (service set identifier) for your wireless network.
• The Radio Frequency Channel of the wireless network.
• If you are using TCP/IP (recommended for Windows networks) and are not
connected to a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server (for
obtaining an IP Address automatically), you will need a unique IP Address for
the DeviceMaster FreeWire (for example: 192.168.1.14). If the DeviceMaster
FreeWire is not on the same IP subnet as the PCs you are using, you will also
need a subnet mask and a router (default gateway) address.
• Wireless Security Settings (WEP keys, 802.1x settings, etc.)
Installation Overview
The DeviceMaster FreeWire installation follows these steps:
1. Install the hardware (Hardware Installation
2. Configure the DeviceMaster FreeWire using Configuration Options
to locate configuration procedures for your environment.
3. If necessary, update the firmware (Checking the Firmware Version
35).
4. Connect your serial device to the DeviceMaster FreeWire (Connecting the
Serial Device on Page 41).
DeviceMaster FreeWire Installation and User Guide: 2000412 Rev. D Product Overview - 5
on Page 7).
on Page 6
on Page
Configuration Options
Configuration Options
After the hardware installation has been successfully completed, the
DeviceMaster FreeWire is ready for configuration. The easiest and fastest way to
configure the DeviceMaster FreeWire is to use the DeviceMaster FreeWire
Installation Wizard, which also installs the FreeWire Manager, a configuration
interface, and the port redirector.
Note: Comtrol Technical Support recommends using the FreeWire Installation
Use Configuring the DeviceMaster FreeWire
configuration procedures, such as:
• Easily configure DeviceMaster FreeWire network and wireless settings
• Check DeviceMaster FreeWire status information
• Change options such as the DeviceMaster FreeWire access protocol and time-
• Access the web page to update firmware
Basic COM port properties can be configured using the DeviceMaster FreeWire
Installation Wizard and advanced properties can be configured using the FreeWire
Manager.
Optionally, you could use one of the other DeviceMaster FreeWire configuration
and management methods.
• Embedded web server page (Page 27
• DeviceMaster FreeWire internal configuration console, which can be accessed
Wizard and FreeWire Manager for configuration. If you do not have access
to a Windows system, use one of the other methods discussed below.
on Page 13 for installation and
out values
browser (for example, Firefox or Internet Explorer), with no additional
software and on any system that supports web browser capabilities. Simply,
type the IP address into your web browser address bar to connect. The default
address is 192.168.250.250.
via a Telnet connection or directly through the DeviceMaster FreeWire serial
port (Page 31
Use the Command Console to configure Bridged Network Mode
).
) which is accessed with a standard web
.
DeviceMaster FreeWire Downloads
You can download the latest files using the CD that accompanies the
DeviceMaster FreeWire or by locating files on the Comtrol FTP Interface at:
ftp://ftp.comtrol.com/html/freewire_main.htm.
6 - Product Overview DeviceMaster FreeWire Installation and User Guide: 2000412 Rev. D
Device Descriptions
Hardware Installation
This section discusses the following hardware related topics in addition to the
hardware installation procedure:
• Device Descriptions (below)
• LED Indicators
• Reset Button Functions
• Factory Default Settings
• Port Parameters
The DeviceMaster FreeWire includes the
components that are discussed in the following
subsections:
• Power connector – The power supply cable plugs
into this connector.
• LED status indicators (Power, 10, and 100) –
Indicate the operational states of the
DeviceMaster FreeWire. See LED Indicators
Page 9 for detailed LED status light
descriptions.
• Reset button – Pressing the Reset button for less
than five seconds prints a test page (if the
device is connected to a serial printer). Pressing
and holding the Reset button for more than five
seconds resets the DeviceMaster FreeWire to
factory default settings (Reset Button Functions
on Page 9).
• 10/100 – The RJ45 Ethernet port is used for
connecting the DeviceMaster FreeWire to an Ethernet card, hub, router, or
other wired access point for network access.
• RS232 – The DB9 serial port can be configured to connect the DeviceMaster
FreeWire to a serial device that uses the RS-232 serial interface.
on Page 9
on Page 9
on Page 10
on Page 11
on
Installing the DeviceMaster FreeWire Hardware
The DeviceMaster FreeWire can be wall mounted, set on the desktop, or mounted
using the optional DIN rail kit available from Comtrol Corporation.
1. Write down the 12-digit MAC (Media Access Code) address printed on the
label located on the bottom of the DeviceMaster FreeWire (for example: 00 C0
4E 27 00 00). You may need this number in order to configure the DeviceMaster
FreeWire.
2. Plug the DeviceMaster FreeWire power supply adapter into a suitable AC
receptacle, and then plug the power supply cable into the DeviceMaster
FreeWire. The DeviceMaster FreeWire will run through a sequence of powerup diagnostics for a few seconds.
DeviceMaster FreeWire Installation and User Guide: 2000412 Rev. D Hardware Installation - 7
Installing the DeviceMaster FreeWire Hardware
• If the DeviceMaster FreeWire is operating properly, the LEDs will blink
momentarily and then go out, the yellow (10) and green (100) LEDs will
illuminate if the network is active, and the orange (Power) LED will
illuminate, indicating the device is receiving power.
• The unit powers up in the Normal mode, which provides for connection
from the network to the device connected to the serial port of the
DeviceMaster FreeWire.
•If the Power LED blinks continuously in a regular pattern, a problem exists.
If this is the case, try powering the unit off and then on again. If the
problem persists, refer to Troubleshooting
See LED Indicators
3. Connect the DeviceMaster FreeWire to your network through a switch or hub
using a category 5 (CAT5) Ethernet cable. The DeviceMaster FreeWire IP
address must be configured before a network connection is available.
• The DeviceMaster FreeWire is configured with a static (fixed) IP address of
192.168.250.250 (see your system administrator for assistance). In most
cases, a fixed IP address is preferred because a DHCP server may not
always assign the same IP address to the DeviceMaster FreeWire when the
DeviceMaster FreeWire is powered on.
• If you want to use DHCP, you must configure the DeviceMaster FreeWire
for DHCP during the network configuration process.
Note: If a wired connection is established to the unit, the wireless link will be
disabled. The IP address must be within a valid range, unique to your
network, and in the same subnet as your PC.
4. Go to Configuring the DeviceMaster FreeWire
FreeWire configuration procedures for Windows operating systems.
Optionally, you can go to Web Browser and Console Configuration
on Page 47.
on Page 9 for detailed information about the LEDs.
on Page 13 for DeviceMaster
on Page 27.
8 - Hardware Installation DeviceMaster FreeWire Installation and User Guide: 2000412 Rev. D
LED Indicators
LED Indicators
The DeviceMaster FreeWire provides three multifunction LED indicators (yellow,
green, and orange) for easy monitoring.
The following table defines the function of each LED.
Function State Status
POWER
(Orange)
NETWORK
STATUS
(Yellow/Green)
ON
OFF
Blinking
Yellow OFF
Green OFF
Yellow ON
Green OFF
Yellow Blinking
Green OFF
Yellow OFF
Green ON
Yellow OFF
Green Blinking
Yellow ON
Green ON
Yellow Blinking
Green Blinking
The DeviceMaster FreeWire is receiving
power
The DeviceMaster FreeWire is not
receiving power
The DeviceMaster FreeWire power supply
is malfunctioning
No network activity
10baseT network active
10baseT network data received
100baseTX network active
100baseTX network data received
Wireless network active
Wireless network data received
Reset Button Functions
Action Result
Generates configuration data that can be viewed using a
Depress for less
than 5 seconds
Depress for more
than 5 seconds
Depress for 3
seconds during
power up
DeviceMaster FreeWire Installation and User Guide: 2000412 Rev. D Hardware Installation - 9
terminal emulator (e.g., Windows Hyper Terminal) or other
serial device that can display ASCII characters, or it will
initiate a test page if the DeviceMaster FreeWire is connected
to a serial printer.
Resets the DeviceMaster FreeWire’s configuration to factory
defaults (cold reset). The unit will automatically re-initialize
after updating the configuration memory.
Places the device into console configuration mode, which can
be used to configure the device via the DeviceMaster
FreeWire’s serial port. See Using the Command Console
on
Page 31.
Factory Default Settings
Factory Default Settings
The DeviceMaster FreeWire is shipped with a default configuration that works
with the most common serial-to-Ethernet and wireless connections. The default
settings can be changed to suit specific installation requirements using the
FreeWire Manager, embedded web server page, or a Telnet connection to the
DeviceMaster FreeWire internal console.
The factory default settings can be easily restored at any time by performing a
cold reset (press and hold the Reset button on the device for more than five
seconds).
The following table lists the DeviceMaster FreeWire default settings.
Character bits per character 8
Flow flow control None
Parity parity None
Baud rate bits per second 115,200
Stop stop bits per character 1
Mode line mode (serial port protocol) 232
ECABLE E-Cable mode (for TCP connections) Disable
ECADDR E-Cable destination IP address (set by user)
ECONN E-Cable connection attempt time 20 seconds
ECPORT E-Cable destination IP port number 9100 (raw data)
Web browser password (not case-sensitive) access
Network
settings
Protocols DHCP, static addressing, arp, rasp, and BootP protocols
Parameter Description Settings
IP address
Subnet mask
Default Gateway
192.168.250.250
255.255.0.0
0.0.0.0
10 - Hardware Installation DeviceMaster FreeWire Installation and User Guide: 2000412 Rev. D
Port Parameters
Port Parameters
Parameter Description Settings
CHARACTER bits per character 7, 8 (default)
FLOW flow control NONE (default), Xon/Xoff, CTS/RTS
PARITY parity
SPEED
STOP
MODE
baud rate (bits per
second)
stop bits per
character
line mode (serial port
protocol)
E-Cable mode (for
ECABLE
TCP connections
similar to serial
tunneling)
ECADDR
ECONN
ECPORT
E-Cable destination
IP address
E-Cable connection
attempt time
E-Cable destination
IP port number
NONE (default), EVEN, ODD, MARK, or
SPACE
300, 600, 1200, 2400, 3600, 4800, 7200,
9600, 14400, 19200, 38400, 57600, 76800,
115200 (default), 230400, 460800
1 (default), 2
232 (default), Disabled
Enable, Disable (default)
(Originator; master only,
(set by user)
20 seconds
9100 (raw data), 9200 (telnet) or set by
user
Note: The default IP address is 192.168.250.250.
DeviceMaster FreeWire Installation and User Guide: 2000412 Rev. D Hardware Installation - 11
Port Parameters
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12 - Hardware Installation DeviceMaster FreeWire Installation and User Guide: 2000412 Rev. D
Configuring the DeviceMaster FreeWire
The easiest and fastest way to configure the DeviceMaster FreeWire is to use the
FreeWire Installation Wizard for Windows, which supports:
• Windows XP
• Windows Server 2003
• Windows Vista
• Windows Server 2008
• Windows 7
The FreeWire Installation Wizard also installs the FreeWire Manager and the port
redirector after setting up basic configuration settings.
The FreeWire Manager provides an alternate method to configure the network,
wireless serial settings. In addition, you can use the FreeWire Manager to:
• Check DeviceMaster FreeWire status information
• Change network and wireless settings, including access protocol
• Configure advanced serial settings
• Access the web page to update firmware
This section discusses the following topics:
• Installing the DeviceMaster FreeWire Installation Wizard
• Configuring Network and Wireless Settings
- Advanced Serial Port Configuration
- Configuring Ad Hoc Mode
Optionally, you can use the embedded web server page or Command Console for
configuration, see Web Browser and Console Configuration
on Page 25
on Page 24
on Page 24
(below)
on Page 27.
DeviceMaster FreeWire Installation and User Guide: 2000412 Rev. D Configuring the DeviceMaster FreeWire - 13
Installing the DeviceMaster FreeWire Installation Wizard
Installing the DeviceMaster FreeWire Installation Wizard
After the hardware installation has been successfully completed, you can
configure the DeviceMaster FreeWire.
1. If you have not done so, locate the DeviceMaster FreeWire Installation Wizard
on the CD that shipped with the DeviceMaster FreeWire or use the ftp site
The DeviceMaster FreeWire Installation Wizard installs the FreeWire
Manager and port redirector.
2. Execute the FreeWire Installation Wizard .msi file and click Next.
.
3. To use the default installation path, click Next.
14 - Configuring the DeviceMaster FreeWire DeviceMaster FreeWire Installation and User Guide: 2000412 Rev. D
Installing the DeviceMaster FreeWire Installation Wizard
4. Click Install to continue the installation.
Depending on the operating system, you may need to click Ye s to allow the
software installation.
5. Click Launch FreeWire Installation and Finish to complete the FreeWire
Installation Setup.
DeviceMaster FreeWire Installation and User Guide: 2000412 Rev. D Configuring the DeviceMaster FreeWire - 15
Installing the DeviceMaster FreeWire Installation Wizard
Depending on the operating system, click Install if prompted.
Go to Using the DeviceMaster FreeWire Installation Wizard
begin the DeviceMaster FreeWire configuration process.
on Page 17 to
16 - Configuring the DeviceMaster FreeWire DeviceMaster FreeWire Installation and User Guide: 2000412 Rev. D
Using the DeviceMaster FreeWire Installation Wizard
Using the DeviceMaster FreeWire Installation Wizard
The DeviceMaster FreeWire default address is 192.168.250.250. It may be
necessary to change the IP address on your host system temporarily to program
the IP address into the DeviceMaster FreeWire. For example: The network
segment must be 192.168.250.x to program the DeviceMaster FreeWire IP address
for your network.
Use this procedure to configure the DeviceMaster FreeWire.
1. If you have not so, install the DeviceMaster FreeWire Installation Setup (Page
14).
2. If necessary, start the DeviceMaster FreeWire Installation Wizard using the
desktop shortcut or Start/Programs/Comtrol/FreeWire/FreeWire Installation
Wizard.
3. Highlight the DeviceMaster FreeWire that you want to configure and click
Continue.
If the DeviceMaster FreeWire that you want to configure does not appear in
the list, click Rescan.
Note: If you have not done so, you must change the IP address on your host to
192.168.250.x so that the DeviceMaster FreeWire Installation Wizard
can communicate with the DeviceMaster FreeWire.
DeviceMaster FreeWire Installation and User Guide: 2000412 Rev. D Configuring the DeviceMaster FreeWire - 17
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