DPS SPS 8 Operation Manual

DPS INC

"Your Partners in Telemetry Monitoring Systems"

8 Port Serial Switch

Fig. 1 - SPS 8 expands ASCII Ports up to Eight Times

Operation Guide

Table Of Contents

Overview ....................................1

Functional Schematic ..........................2

Typical MUX Applications .....................2

Shipping List .................................2

Installation...................................2

Configuration ................................2

Modem Tuning ...............................4

LED Display Status............................5

ACK Button..................................5

Hardware Connections.........................5

Connectorized Model Layouts...................6

Operation....................................7

Specifications.................................8

Options & Model Numbers .....................8

Overview

DPS’s 8 Port Serial Switch allows you to connect up to eight
data sources to one port on a collection device , such as the Net
Dog 82IP. Commands from an interrogating ASCII terminal
control the switch to route data to the appropriate port. Each
channel has a 16K buffer that allows data to be moved between
ports at different data rates.

The 8 Port Serial Switch is available with wire-wrap pins for

external connection or with DB9 connectors.

The Switch consists of nine interface ports interconnected
and controlled by a processor. Associated with each port is a
“docking module” socket that allows the physical interface to
the outsideworldto be configured to match the associated com­munications channel or device. This model of the 8 Port Serial
Switch is equipped with RS 232 interfaces on each port.

The 8 Port Serial Switch is housed on a plug-in board that fits
in a 1-3/4" rack-mount housing. The back of the housing pro­vides DB9 connectors for connecting the associated devices.
The P.C. board can be changed rapidly without removing any
of the connections.

The front panel of the 8 PortSerial Switch provides LEDs for
monitoring unit activity and a craft port for configuration.
There is a fuse alarm indicator on the front panel and a fuse
alarm output relay that activates when the fuse blows.

The 8 Port Serial Switch operates on either -24 or -48 Volts
DC, depending on the option. (Options are described in the Op­tions and Model Numbers section on page 8.)

Variable Data Rates

In addition to switching between multiple ports, the 8 Port
Serial Switch will select a preset data rate for each port. Avail­able data rates are 300, 1200, 2400 and 9600 Baud.

T/MUX Software

The MUX is programmed for various parameters with
T/ASCMUX software, running under T/Config software on a
personal computer. The craft port on the front panel is easily
accessed any time the configuration needs changing.

Downloadable Firmware

Future product upgrades will be easy to install with the
downloadable firmware. Simply connect a P.C to the craft port
and load the new firmware from a diskette.

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T/ASCMUX

T/kda

Fig.2-8Port Serial Switch Configures at the Front Panel

Craft Port

CTS
GND
TX

RX
DSR
RTS

RS232

-BATT.

GND

Fuse

Alarm

Common

Port

Craft

Port

LED's

ProcessorBuffer

Power

Regulator

Port

Port

Port

Port

CTS
GND
TX

RS232

RX

1

DSR
RTS

Port

2

CTS
GND
TX

RX

3

DSR
RTS

Port

4

Port

5

CTS
GND
TX

RX

6

DSR
RTS

Port

7

CTS
GND
TX

RX

8

DSR
RTS

Fig.3-8Port Serial Switch Routes Data by

Microprocessor

Functional Schematic

The illustration in Fig. 3 shows a functional schematic of the

8 Port Serial Switch.

Connect power wires to the wire wrap J2 or to the

¤

connectors in back of the Switch. See Hardware
Connections elsewhere in this guide for wire wrap or

CTS
GND
TX

RX
DSR
RTS

CTS
GND
TX

RX
DSR
RTS

CTS
GND
TX

RX
DSR
RTS

connector pin layouts.
Connect communications lines to other devices to

¤

the Switch.
Verify that the power is correct for the option (-24 or

¤

-48 VDC). See Options and Model Number section
at the end of this Operation Guide.

Insert the fuse in the fuse holder on the front panel.

¤

Connect the Switch Craft Port to a a dumb terminal

¤

or a P.C. with terminal emulation software. Refer to
the Configuration Section below for more
information.

Configuration

CTS
GND
TX

RX
DSR
RTS

The 8 Port Serial Switch is configured with a program called
T/ASCMUX. T/ASCMUX runs under a host program called
T/Config, which can host configuration software for a variety
of DPS products.

NOTE: T/ASC MUX also works with ASCII MUX product.

T/Config is included on the disk supplied with the Switch
unit. If T/ASCMUX is being run on a computerthat already has
T/Config installed, we recommend that you re-install the
T/Config on the T/ASCMUX disk to be sure the latest version
is running.

T/Config and T/ASC MUX Install

Place the T/ASCMUX disk in the A drive and type
a:<ENTER>.

Type TINSTALL <ENTER>. Follow the directions on the
screen.

Typical MUX Applications

The illustration in Fig. 4 shows the 8 Port Serial Switch inter­facing 8 ASCII sources to a DPS Net Dog 82IP equipped with
an ASCII interrogating port.

Shipping List

Verify the following items were included in the shipment:

¤

8 Port Serial Switch in a 1 rack unit case

¤

2 Mounting Brackets

¤

1 Real Fuse; 1 Dummy Fuse (for shipping)

¤

T/ASCMUX Software

¤

Configuration Cable

¤

ASCII MUX Operation Guide

Installation

¤

Unpack the 8 Port Serial Switch and all accessories.

¤

Attach the mounting brackets for the required rack
width.

¤

Mount the 8 Port Serial Switch case to the Rack.

¤

Remove fuse.

8 Port Serial Switch

Common

Port

Port

Port

Port

Port

Port

Port

Port

Port

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Serial Port

Netdog 82IP

To ASCII

Terminal via

LAN or Dial Line

Fig. 4 - ASCII MUX Gathers Alarm Data from

Distributed data Sources into one Port

Data Sources

Source #1

Source #2

Source #3

Source #4

Source #5

Source #6

Source #7

Source #8

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Start T/ASC MUX

Select the hard drive and the T/Config directory.
Type T/CONFIG <ENTER>.
Highlight T/ASCMUX <ENTER>.
The first screen will request initials. Enter your initials and

press <ENTER>.

Fig. 5 - Main Menu Lists the Functions Available in

T/ASCMUX

Main Menu

The Main Menu (Fig. 5) lists the functions available in
T/ASCMUX. Each of these Main Menu items is explained in
the following paragraphs. Most fields will have an associated
“default box” that appears. To select from the default box press
Tab and use the Tab key or cursor arrows to highlight the de­sired value, then press <ENTER>.

Fig. 6 - Enter a New Name in the Open ASCII window or

Select from Default Box

Open ASCMUX

This selection is used to open an existing configuration or to
name a new one. When this function is selected a box will ap­pear with three fields. See Fig. 6 and Table A.

Table A - Field Descriptions in the Open ASCII MUX

Screen

Field Description

NAME Enter a new name or select an existing one from the de-

fault box. The name will appear in the Title Bar at the
top of the screen at all times. The name should be exclu­sive to this configuration.

SITE NAME Enter a name that describes the location of the unit.

(Mandatory field)

COMMENT Optional field for additional identifying information,

such as date or initials of preparer.

Fig. 7 - Set ASCII Port Parameters in the Edit

Configurations Screen

Edit MUX Configuration

This selection presents the Edit MUX Configuration screen.
See Fig. 7. Set parameters for each of the eight ports and the
MUX (common) Port in this screen. Parameters and their val­ues are explained in Table B.

Table B - Field Descriptions for the Edit Configuration

Screen

Field Description

Msg Timeout Time to delay before aborting incomplete message. En-

ter in tenths of seconds (10-255). Default is 100.

Baud Off, 300, 1200, 2400 and 9600. Select from default box.

Default 1200 Baud.

Parity EVEN, NONE, ODD. Select from default box. Default

NONE.

Word Length 7 BITS, 8 BITS. Select from default box. Default is 8.

Stop Bits 1 BIT, 2 BITS. Select from default box. Default is 1.
Interface TTL, RS232, RS422, RS485, 202. Select from default

box. Default is RS232.

Several “Hot Keys” are available in the Edit MUX Configu­ration screen. The line at the bottom of the screen lists them.

Table C - Hot Keys in the Edit Configurations Screen

Key Description

Tab Select default box.

Up Arrow Go to previous field.

F1 Go to previous port.
F2 Go to next port.
F8 Save.
F9 Help.

F10/Esc Go to first field or exit.

Craft Connect

Use this menu item when connecting to the craft port on the
front of the MUX for downloading or other functions.

NOTE: When using thisfunction, the MUX port is not active.

Fig. 8 - Select from Several Craft Port Functions in the

Craft Connect Menu

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