Communication Test; Communication Testing - Ioline SmarTrac I/S Series User Manual

There are three communication diagnostic tests available in the
Control Center. These tests are designed to help determine if a
communication problem exists and to isolate where the problem is
occurring.
A diagnostic module is required to run two of these tests. It will
work on both the computer and cutter serial (COM) ports. It is avail-
able from Ioline or an authorized dealer.

Communication Test

This test will determine if communication is working between the
computer and the plotter on the parallel (LPT) or serial (COM) ports.
Run this test from the Control Center, Test Menu. The diagnostic
module is not required to run this test.
1. Turn the plotter off. Connect the plotter to the computer with
either a serial or parallel port cable. See the section Connect
the Cutter to the Computer in the Installation chapter for more
details.
2. Start the Ioline Control Center. Select Test, Communication
Test from the menu bar at the top of the window.
3. Turn on the cutter while holding down the Test Cut key on the
keypad. Hold down the Test Cut key until the cutter beeps and
the light flashes three times. The cutter is now in Test Mode.
4. If testing the serial (COM) port, press the START / STOP key
on the cutter and verify that the handshake line (CTS) status
displayed on the computer screen toggles ON/OFF. Leave the
handshake line ON. This is not necessary for the parallel (LPT)
port.
5. Press the Repeat key to switch the cutter into Echo Mode. The
Green light will come on.
6. Press a key on the computer and verify that the character trans-
mitted equals the character received. If the characters match
then the connection between the cutter and computer is work-
ing properly.
7. Select Exit after the communication test is complete.
8. Turn off the cutter at the end of the test to exit Test Mode.
9. The next two tests are not necessary if serial (COM) port testing
is successful.
Chapter 3
Communication T esting