Appendix C - Rs-422 Serial Interface - RESEARCH CONCEPTS RC2000A DUAL AXIS Instructions Manual

64 RC2000A Dual Axis Antenna Controller Appendix C RS-422 Serial Interface

Appendix C - RS-422 Serial Interface

The RC1000A, RC2000A, RC2000C, and RC2500 antenna controllers support an RS-422 serial
interface. The communications protocol employed by RCI is compatible with the SABUS standard
originally developed by the Scientific Atlanta Corporation. The protocol is described in appendix D -
RS-422 Communications Protocol. The aspects of the communications interface which are unique to
the RC2500 antenna controller are described in Appendix E RC2500-RS-4-22 Command Set.
RS-232 to RS-422 Protocol Converter
The RS-422 signal levels are not directly compatible with the RS-232 serial ports available on personal
computers. RS-232 is a point to point protocol - a PC can only communicate with one peripheral
connected to the PC via an RS-232 interface. The RS-422 interface employed by the RC2000 allows a
single PC to communicate with up 63 devices. An RS-232 to RS-422 protocol converter (designated
RC1KADP) is available from Research Concepts, Inc. The diagrams and schematics at the end of this
appendix document the connection of a PC to an RC2500 via an RC1KADP protocol converter.
Software
Software to control the RC2000 is available from a number of sources. The diskette included with the
manual includes a program which allow a PC to control an RC2000 (a protocol converter is required).
The RC2KA.EXE program is designed primarily for use by software developers or by integrators during
installation. This program features a crude user interface which displays each byte of data sent to the
controller and each byte received from the controller in an ASCII format and hex format. We
recommend that this program be used to verify the operation of the system during initial installation and
checkout of the RC1KADP and the associated cabling. A second program, called RC2KDEMO.EXE
has a more user-friendly interface and may be used for day-to-day operations with the controller.
The Autopilot 2/16 and 4/16 software packages are produced by Broadcast Automation Systems ( (905)
822-7935) and are available from Research Concepts. This program can control theRC2500, RC2000
and the RC1000A antenna controllers as well as the Standard Agile Omni model 830BR or the DX657
satellite receivers. This program runs under Windows 95 and NT and gives the user the ability to
schedule antenna and receiver events. Contact Research Concepts For more information on these
products.
Here are other suppliers of software products which are compatible with the RC1000/RC2000/RC2500.
Alamar Electronics: (408) 866-9373
Broadcast Automation Systems: (905) 822-7935
Crystal Computer Corporation: (404) 263-0555
Drake Automation:
Florical Systems: (904) 372-8326
Image Communications: (408) 335-2141
Industrial Logic Controls (ILC): (404) 504-7400
Link Research: 01923 244233 (England)
Louth Automation: (415) 329-9498
M & C Systems: (408) 454-0396
Research Concepts, Inc. • 5420 Martindale Road • Shawnee, Kansas • 66218-9680 • USA www.researchconcepts.com