RS232 - RS485 / RS422, Port-Powered WITH LED INDICATION LIGHTS

Now in stock, our new RS232 - RS485 / RS422 Port-Powered converter with LED indication lights for Power, TX and RX. This is usually only seen with externally powered converters. 

 Our skillful engineer has carefully re-designed the standard RS232 to RS485 / RS422 circuitry and been able to optimize the conversion circuitry and add indication lights powered by the internal communication lines using an amplifier. 

 Overall, this re-design makes the data conversion much more reliable and error-free, and makes the converter more user friendly due to the indication lights. The user can easily see when the converter has power and data is on the TX and RX lines. Very useful when troubleshooting or simply just to make sure everything is running smoothly.

Check it out on our website here:

https://www.usconverters.com/rs232-rs485-422-converter-adapter
 

How to connect a Blutronium serial to Bluetooth adapter to Raspberry Pi (or any other Linux distribution)

The following actions are performed in a console window on Raspberry Pi. The Blutronium serial to Bluetooth adapter is not attached physically to the Raspberry Pi, it is only connected to the Raspberry Pi over Bluetooth.

1. Edit the file /etc/systemd/system/dbus-org.bluez.service to configure the serial port profile. Issue the command:
   sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/dbus-org.bluez.service
   and add -C to the line ExecStart=/usr/lib/bluetooth/bluetoothd, and add the line ExecStartPost=/usr/bin/sdptool add SP, so that we end up with:
   ExecStart=/usr/lib/bluetooth/bluetoothd -C
   ExecStartPost=/usr/bin/sdptool add SP
   in the file. Write the file out (CTRL-O) and exit the editor (CTRL-X). Reboot the computer.
   
   
2. Using the bluetoothctl utility, pair and trust the Blutronium device. Note that the device is seen as one device, not two. Take note of the Bluetooth address of the Blutronium, which will be needed in the next step.
   
   
3. Perform the following command, and leave it running it its own console window:
   sudo rfcomm connect 0 <bdaddr>
   where <bdaddr> must be replaced by the Bluetooth address of the Blutronium seen in step 2 above.
   
   
4. At this point, any terminal emulator or other serial-port-capable program that can be configured to talk with /dev/rfcomm0 will be able to communicate with the Blutronium device attached to the other computer.
   You can use Putty or Minicom on the Raspberry Pi to talk to the computer attached to the Blutronium device.

Check it out on our website:

http://www.usconverters.com/connect-blutronium-serial-Bluetooth-adapter-to-linux-raspberry-pi

New Serial WiFi Adapter with lots of features.

When communicating wireless with a serial device (RS232, RS485 or RS422), using Wi-Fi is a popular and easy way of doing it. The reason it has gained in popularity is that it is reliable, easy to set up and often the infrastructure is already existing at most locations. The days with pulling cables for serial devices are over :-)

Years ago the serial to WiFi adapters that were available had limited functions, limited communication range and were kind of unreliable in general. Most of the new serial Wi-Fi adapters available on the market today have so many functions and features that they will work with most serial devices and applications. The Wi-Fi part of the adapter is in many cases as good, or better, as any other Wi-Fi device such as a WiFi router.

Here at U.S. Converters LLC we can now offer a new generation of serial Wi-Fi adapter, the USCHF2211:

It is an ideal solution for most devices and applications such as CNC program transfers and control (due to it's software flow control (XON/XOFF) feature), general industrial automation systems and most other communication needs.

Check it out at our website:

http://www.usconverters.com/rs232-serial-wifi-adapter

Connecting a CNC to a PC wireless over WiFi

This guide describes how to wireless connect a CNC machine to a PC using WiFi, thereby being able to send programs from the PC to the CNC machine.

To be able to send programs to your CNC machine over WiFi you will need to connect a Serial to WiFi Converter such as the WF5000B from U.S. Converters LLC to your CNC machine. This will allow you to communicate with your CNC from a PC for up to 300 feet. As in any regular WiFi network you can use signal repeaters/boosters or Access Points to extend the range.

Many CNC machines (Fadal, Mazak, Okuma, Haas, Mori Seiki and more) have a serial RS232 port connector; this is usually a female 25-pin connector or a female 9-pin connector (some CNC’s have male connectors instead of female connectors) as shown below:

If your CNC machine has a 9-pin female serial connector then you can connect the WF5000B directly to your CNC with a null modem 9-pin serial cable (included with the WF5000B).
If your CNC has a 25-pin female connector then you will need a 25-pin male to 9-pin female adapter to be able to connect it to the WF5000B:

If the 25-pin connector on the CNC is a male version then you will need a 25-pin female to 9-pin female adapter.

Here is an example of how to connect and mount the Serial WiFi adapter to a CNC lathe:

 

The Setup step by step

Start by connecting the WF5000B to your CNC’s serial port and also turn on the 5VDC power supply to the WF5000B (120VAC/5VDC power adapter is included with the WF5000B).

Once the WF5000B is connected to your CNC’s serial port you can check the CNC’s serial port settings on the user panel. Here is an example screenshot of the settings from a Haas CNC:

Write down the settings, you will need them later. In this example the settings are: 115200, none, 1, 8.

Now turn on the PC. We recommend that you use a PC which has its own WiFi card; if your PC does not have this then you can use a simple USB WiFi dongle to WiFi enable it:

We highly recommend a good quality USB WiFi dongle such as Cisco, Linksys, Asus, Belkin or similar.
Alternatively it is possible to communicate with the WF5000B through a wireless router. Please refer to the section called “How to connect the WF5000B using a wireless router”.

Now your PC needs to find the WF5000B on the wireless network and then you need to configure the WF5000B’s serial port parameters so they match the CNC’s port parameters. This is described below.

Connecting and accessing the parameters over WiFi

First connect to the WF5000B over WiFi using your operating system’s default wireless network manager. In this example we use Windows 7’s wireless manager:

Once your computer is connected successfully to the WF5000B you can open a web browser and enter the WF5000B’s IP address which by default is 10.10.100.254.

A login window will open. Enter the user name and password.
User: admin
Password: admin

The main menu will open from where you can access all the parameters:



In most cases you can keep all default settings except the serial port parameters.
Navigate to the “WiFi-Uart Setting” page and change the baud rate, data bits, parity and stop bits so they match your CNC’s port settings. Click the “Apply” button and reset the WF5000B on the “Device Management” page once you have changed the parameters:

How to create a virtual COM port

To create a virtual COM port in Windows which your CNC software can use to send programs through, you need to use a virtual COM port software. This software can be downloaded for free from www.usconverters.com. The software is called USR-VCOM.

Start the VCOM software and click the “Add COM” button:

Select which COM port number you want to create and set WF5000B’s IP address and port number:

The port will now be created:

Check in Windows Device Manager to see if the COM port has been successfully created:

Now you need to point your CNC software on your computer to the created virtual COM port and select the correct serial port parameters. The port parameters window looks different depending on which CNC software you use. Here is a screenshot of what it could look like (SurfCAM software):

You should now be ready to send programs wireless from your PC to your CNC machine over WiFi.
If for any reason you are unable to communicate or send programs at this point, we recommend troubleshooting by making a loop-back test as described below.

Connecting multiple CNC’s to one PC

The setup procedure for connecting multiple CNC machines to one PC is the same as for connecting one CNC machine to a PC.
One WF5000B must be connected to each CNC. Your PC’s WiFi will search and find each WF5000B. The virtual COM port software for the WF5000B will create a COM port for each WF5000B which your CNC software on the PC can use to send programs through.
Once each WF5000B is connected and setup the user would need to select the correct COM port in the CNC software on the PC to send a program to a specific CNC. Very easy and convenient.

 

How to connect the WF5000B using a wireless router

The setup looks like this:

First set the IP of your wireless connection to the same sub-net as the WF5000B, which is 10.10.100.xxx:

Connect to the WF5000B using an access point. In this example we use a wireless USB network adapter from TP-Link:

Open a web-browser and go to 10.10.100.254, and enter the credentials which is “admin” for both the user name and password:

Go to the “STA Interface Setting” page and click the “Search” button:

In this example the SSID is “Buffalo” and the encryption is AES with WPA2PSK authentication. Select the wireless router and click the “Apply” button:

Check that the wireless router settings are correct, enter the password and click the “Apply” button.

Do not go to the Device Management page and reset the unit yet.

Go to the Mode Selection page, select STA mode and click the “Apply” button.

Now go to the Device Management page and reset the unit.

Click the “Restart” button for the changes to take effect.

After the reboot is complete the “Ready” light will be steady on. If you have entered the correct network settings and password then the converter will now automatically join the network, and the “Link” light will be on.

To check/verify if the adapter has joined the network successfully you may be able to login to your wireless routers admin status page and see the converter:

Troubleshoot by making a loop-back test

To become familiar with the WF5000B or to troubleshoot if something is not working as expected, we recommend making a loop-back test. This will confirm if the WF5000B is working properly and the COM port has been successfully created in Windows.
Disconnect the WF5000B from the CNC’s serial port and carefully use a paper clip or similar to jump the RX (pin 2) and TX (pin 3) pins at the end of the included null modem cable and connect the cable to the WF5000B module’s DB9 connector.
Open AccessPort (can be downloaded for free from http://www.usconverters.com).

Configure AccessPort’s parameters to match the virtually created COM port (the COM port created by the VCOM software), in this example COM 2, and click the OK button:

The port will now open.

Enter a text string in the lower (send) window in AccessPort and click the AutoSend button. The characters should now be sent via virtual COM 2, over WiFi to the WF5000B module, out on the TX pin, back into the RX pin, back over WiFi, back into virtual COM port 2 and should appear in AccessPorts upper (receive) window.

If you remove the jumper at the end of the serial cable connected to the WF5000B the data flow should stop.

The WF5000B obviously should be connected over WiFi to your computer when performing this test.
Making this loopback test will confirm that the COM port has been successfully created and that the WF5000B can send and receive data, ensuring that the module has been setup correctly.

If you try to open the port but it is already in use or otherwise occupied by the operating system you will get the following error message from AccessPort. Using a different port is the easiest solution.

Connecting a CNC to a Computer wireless over WiFi

Windows 10 USB to Serial Adapter | U.S. Converters®

Windows 10 has already been announced by Microsoft, however rumors are that it won't be out until late 2015. Even it will take a while before Windows 10 hits the stores we at U.S. Converters are already working on a new USB to Serial adapter which will be fully compatible with Windows 10. The first adapter will be with a RS232 interface, which later will be followed by a USB to Serial adapter with a combined RS485 / RS422 interface. The adapters will be designed around the FT232RL processor chip from FTDI Semiconductors which is one of the most stable and high performance USB / UART processors on the market. The drivers for this chip are updated frequently to ensure compatibility and reliable performance at all times. Our current adapters are also designed around this chip so our customers can expect the new Windows 10 USB to Serial adapter to also work with all previous versions of Windows. So, one adapter for all versions of Windows! Nice..! Not to mention that it will also work with Linux and Mac. Ok, well that's all we can reveal for now. Until Windows 10 hits the stores we recommend one of our current USB to Serial adapters:

Windows Premium Grade adapter	Windows Professional Grade adapter

Controlling a Telescope from a PC over Bluetooth Using ASCOM

This guide describes how to connect a Celestron telescope mount to your computer over Bluetooth using ASCOM drivers which will allow you to control the telescope mount using standard astronomy software. Our test setup is based on a Celestron telescope GT Mount with NexStar+ hand control and the operating system is Windows 7 64-bit. This setup has been tested and confirmed working with the following: Software: Cartes du Ciel (ASCOM drivers) Starry Night Orion Special Edition astronomy software (ASCOM drivers) PHD2 astronomy software (ASCOM drivers) Stellarium astronomy software (not ASCOM drivers) Note: this setup will NOT work with Celestron NexRemote software Mounts: Celestron CGE Mount Celestron GT Mount Celestron SLT Mount Since most Celestron mounts mainly works the same way we expect that this setup will work with most (possibly all) Celestron mounts variations. Controller: NexStar+ hand control Celestron StarSense Auto Telescope Alignment Accessory

The Setup

The setup looks like this:

Read the full article here:
http://www.usconverters.com/controlling-telescope-PC-Bluetooth-ASCOM

What is a serial to Ethernet converter and how does it work?

A serial to Ethernet converter is a small electronic device which can convert Ethernet IP/TCP packets to either RS232, RS485 or RS422 serial data signals and vice versa. It is also sometimes called a serial device server and it comes in several different shapes and sizes; here are a few examples of what it can look like:

Standard	DIN mount	Multi-port	Wireless

As you can see from above images a serial Ethernet converter can have one serial port or it can have multiple serial ports, up to 25 ports or more. The standard panel mount serial Ethernet converter is most common but it is also available with DIN mounts so it can easily be installed on a standard DIN rail. It is also available as a wireless converter in which case the IP/TCP packets are transmitted over a IEEE 802.11a/b/g network link.
Some serial Ethernet converters only has a RS232 interface and some has a RS232 and a RS485 interface, yet others has all 3 interfaces (RS232, RS485 and RS422) built in.
Here you can see a selection of serial Ethernet converters from U.S. Converters LLC.

So what is a serial Ethernet converter used for?

Most commonly it is used for connecting a serial RS232, RS485 or RS422 device such as a serial printer, barcode scanner, scale, GPS, sensor or any other consumer or industrial device with a serial interface, to a computer over a standard LAN network. The advantage of this is obvious; you will be able to control, monitor and communicate with your serial device remotely from a central computer. No need to walk all the way down to the other end of the factory to check your serial device.

How does a serial Ethernet converter work?

The circuitry inside the converter can convert IP/TCP packets to serial data and also convert serial data to IP/TCP packets, so it works in both directions.
Before you can start using the converter you need to install driver software on your computer. This driver software is also called virtual COM software because it creates a virtual COM port in your computer's Device Manager when the converter is connected to your computer. Virtual COM software is usually included with the converter, at least if you buy from a reputable seller.
Below is an example of what the virtual COM port software looks like.


Once the virtual COM port has been created by the Serial to Ethernet converter's driver software the COM port will show up in your computer's Device Manager as if it was a standard built-in COM port, however it actually is the COM port in the converter at the other end of the Ethernet.



Most virtual COM software will also let you change the settings of the created COM port such as baud rate, flow control, parity bits and stop bits so it will match the settings of your serial device. The IP address of the serial Ethernet converter itself can also be changed to your preference. Changing these settings is usually done by logging in to the converter by using a standard web browser.
Below is an example of some of the settings which can be configured in most serial Ethernet converters: