SystemBase WCS-232 v4.0 - Wireless/Serial(RS232) Converter Manual

Introduction

WCS-232 v4.0 converts RS-232 serial signals to Bluetooth RF signals.

Product box contains

• Bluetooth to Serial Converter 2EA
• User Manual
• A/C Power Supply (9V DC) 2EA
• USB Power Cable 2EA

Specifications

Architecture

External View

Mode Switch

SETUP ACTIVE: Active Mode
SETUP ACTIVE: Setup Mode

LED

• LINK: Turns red when power is supplied
  Turns green when remotely linked with the other party
• TxD: Turns green when data is transmitting (turns on faintly only if linked)
• RxD: Turns red when data is receiving

Connector

DB-9 Connector Pin-Layout

Installation Procedures

Connection

There is no need to install additional programs in your computer or communication devices to use the WCS-232 v4.0. Connect the WCS-232 v4.0 to a serial port at your computer or communication device and supply it with power. Then you can easily access it as if you were using the existing serial port.
WCS-232 v4.0 can be powered by the following methods: DC power supply, PC USB port through USB cable or DB9 pin connector (available only if special serial ports are used).
A Bluetooth connection between two devices using the WCS232 v4.0 is automatically established when both WCS-232 v4.0 are powered on. After that, LINK LED turns red and you are free to use the WCS-232 v4.0.

Environment Setting

Since WCS-232 v4.0 are connected onto the serial port of your PC or communication device, you should specify the serial port environment information (Baud rate, data bits, parity bit, stop bit, flow control, etc.) and the RF connection (device name, operating mode, target address, etc.) for mutual communication.
RF connection setting is required only if you communicate with other manufacturer's Bluetooth devices instead of the WCS-232 v4.0 or change the initial setting.
For environment setting, please use "Hyper terminal" included in your Windows' operating system.

Operating Environment Setting

Procedures

WCS-232 v4.0 can set baud rate, parity, stop bit, device name, target adapter and operating mode using Hyper Terminal.

1. Connect one WCS-232 v4.0 to the PC serial port and power it on.
2. Run Windows' Hyper Terminal program.
3. Whenever you change environment setting, you must Set baud rate, data bits, parity and stop bit to 9600-8-NONE-1 (Initial Factory Setting) at Hyper Terminal.
4. Select setup mode at the WCS-232 v4.0 mode switch. Then software version information will be displayed
   
5. Set up serial port. < Refer to 2)Serial Settings >
6. Setup RF connection. < Refer to 3)RF Connection Setting >
7. After completing the setting, be sure to execute 'X' command and save, and then the Mode Switch to 'Active.'
   

Reference

If you enter '?,' the list for all commands is displayed, and if '?<command>', how to use the requested command is displayed. All commands should be typed with capital letter. All commands and setting values are case-sensitive.

Serial Settings

Example of Baud Rate Setting (9600 bps → 19200 bps)

1. Type 'B.'
   
2. Type '4' to select 19200 bps.
   
3. The set value is shown on the screen again. (All the same in the next procedures)

Example of Flow Control Setting (None → Hardware)

1. Type 'F.'
   
2. Type '1' to use hardware flow control.

Example of Stop Bit Setting (1 bit → 2 bits)

1. Type 'S.'
   
2. Type '1' to change a stop bit to 2 bits.

Example of Parity Bit Setting (None → Even)

1. Type 'P.'
   
2. Type '2' to change to even parity.

RF Connection Settings

This is necessary only if you communicate with other manufacturer's Bluetooth devices instead of the WCS-232 v4.0 or change the initial settings.

Example of Target Address Setting (00:00:00:00:00:00 → 00:02:78:01:EF:BC)

1. Type 'A.'
   
2. Type the target address to be changed. You have to enter the 12-digit hexadecimal address. After typing "00027801EFBC", press 'Enter' key.

Example of Connection Mode Setting (WAIT COMMAND → WAIT)

1. First, enter 'M' to display the way to use the requested command. To set the connection mode at Wait mode, the input value shall be '1.'
2. Type 'M.'
   
3. Type '1.'

Example of Device Name Setting (WCS-232 v4.0 → WCS-232)

1. Type 'N.'
   
2. Enter the desired device name (In this example, WCS-232) and press 'Enter' key (however, up to 30 alphanumeric characters possible).

Example of Setting PIN

1. Type 'E.'
   
2. Enter the desired PIN value and press 'Enter' key. (However, up to 16 alphanumeric characters possible)

Example of Setting Low Power Mode

1. Enter 'K.' If you want to set up a low power mode, enter 'E,' or if not, enter 'D.'
   

Display Device Information

1. Type 'V.'
   
2. All current information is displayed. At this time, verify that the values are identical to the ones you have once set.

WCS-232 v4.0 Pair Setting

The following example showing how to set up the destination WCS-232 v4.0 address.

1. Set baud rate, data bits, parity and stop bit to 9600-8NONE-1 at Hyper Terminal.
2. Connect one of WCS-232 v4.0 to your PC serial port and put 'Mode Switch' to Setup Mode. and Record displayed BD_ADDR.
   
3. Remove WCS-232 v4.0(Used at stage 2) from your PC serial port, and connect the target WCS-232 v4.0 and then set the registered BD_ADDR using 'A' command.
   
4. Save the setting using 'X' command and then put the 'Mode Switch' to 'Active.'
5. Apply stage 2~4 procedures to the target WCS-232 v4.0, and set the opposite BD_ADDR of two WCS-232 v4.0 devices to TARGET_ADDR.

Multiple Connection mode (1:N) Communication

Overview

Although the WCS-232 is RS232, WCS-232 supports multiple connections up to 4 slave units. There are two types of multiple connection modes: Multi-Drop mode and Node-Switching mode.

In Multi-Drop mode, the master can connect to maximum 4 slaves. At the same time, they transfer the data interactively as below figure.

In Node-Switching mode, the master can connect to maximum 4 slaves. But, only one connection with one slave is active and the data is transferred as below figure.

Multi-Drop mode setting

You don't have to use software program separately.

1. Set baud rate, data bits, parity and stop bit to 9600-8-NONE-1 at Hyper Terminal.
2. Connect WCS-232 v4.0 used a master to your PC serial port and put 'Mode Switch' to Setup Mode.
3. To use by Multiple Connection mode, change the 1:1 mode with Multi-Drop mode.
   (Type 'M' and type '4' to select Multi-Drop mode.)
   
4. Save the setting using 'X' command and then put the 'Mode Switch' to 'Active".
   
5. Record displayed Local BD_ADDR of the master.
   
6. Connect WCS-232 v4.0 used slaves to your PC serial port and put 'Mode Switch' to Setup Mode.
7. Record displayed Local BD_ADDR of the slaves. (Note: Maintain the status that master's Hyper Terminal page opened.)
   
8. Change the slaves' Remote BD_ADDR with the master's Local BD_ADDR. (Set the master's registered BD_ADDR using 'A' command.)
   
9. Change the master's Remote BD_ADDR with the slaves' Local BD_ADDR. (Set the each slaves' registered BD_ ADDR using 'A' command.)
   
10. Set the slaves' mode not Multi-Drop mode but wait mode.(Type 'M' and type '1' to select wait mode)
    

Node-Switching mode setting

All processes are equal to Multi-Drop mode setting. But, the difference is not 'Multi-Drop mode' but 'Node-Switching mode.' For example, in Multi-Drop mode, type 'M' and type '4' to select Multi-Drop mode. But, in Node-Switching mode, type 'M' and type '5' to select Node Switching mode.

In Node-Switching mode, the master unit maintains multiple connections with maximum 4 slave units but only one connection with one slave unit is active and data is transferred. Active slave is selected by AT commands. (Need for software program)

Note

When large data exchange occurs in Multi-Drop mode without flow-control enabled, the master unit may experience data loss. It may also experience occasional disconnections and/or system rebooting especially when bi-directional communication happens. It is strongly recommended extensive performance test before any real world field applications.

Node-switching mode provides nearly equivalent performance as single connection mode. It is always recommended to use flow-control for both of Multi-Drop mode and Node Switching Mode.

Wait for user command mode

The Wait Mode that waits for a command by a user performs search and connection of accessories. The correspondent adapter shall be set up in Wait Mode.

Search

It searches Bluetooth devices connected and serviced in the same coverage.

After execution of the command, the adapter address searched is displayed

Connect

Connection to a specific device

After execution of the command, the ready of communication is ended and the communication is enabled in Active Mode.

Command

※ User should change hyper terminal setting value as like Baud rate, Parity bit, Stop bit to assigned factory default value in the Set-up mode, If user has changed factory default's setting value.

Trouble Shooting

No Data Transmission

COM Port Settings
Check whether the Baud rate of WCS-232 v4.0 matches that of its host equipment.

Check whether the host equipment has a Data bit setting of 8. WCS-232 v4.0 supports only 8 Data bit settings. If your host equipment uses 7 Data bit and even or odd parity, it may work with a 8 Data bit and No parity setting. This is valid only when both DCE devices are the WCS-232 v4.0. In this case, set both WCS-232 v4.0] to 8 Data bit and No parity. If one of DCE devices is another Bluetooth device such as Bluetooth USB dongle, 7 bit data configurations will not work.

Check whether the Parity and Stop bit of WCS-232 v4.0 match those of your host equipment. WCS-232 v4.0 supports No parity, Even parity and Odd parity, 1 and 2 Stop bit configurations.

Check whether the host equipment of WCS-232 v4.0 uses Hardware Flow Control. WCS-232 v4.0 is initially set to Use of Hardware Flow Control. If your host equipment does not use Hardware Flow Control, please disable the Hardware flow control option by referring to '5.Operating environment setting.' WCS-232 v4.0 does not support RS-232 break signal.

Pin Assignment
WCS-232 v4.0 is a DCE device. If your host equipment is DTE, plug WCS-232 v4.0 directly to the host equipment or use straight RS-232 cable. If your host equipment is DCE, use will need to use a cross over RS-232 cable (Null modem cable) or a Male to Male DB9 Null Modem adapter.

Data Loss or Malfunctioning

Hardware Flow Control
When transmitting large amounts of data with No Hardware Flow Control, WCS-232 v4.0 may clear the data buffer unexpectedly. The possibility becomes greater as the RF transmission environment becomes worse.

Response Message
AT response messages from the WCS-232 v4.0 may affect the host system unexpectedly. Do not use WCS-232 v4.0 If your applications cannot allow for this wireless time delay.

Transmission Delay

RF Processing Delay
It takes 30msec approximately for a WCS-232 v4.0 to complete a data transmission to the other Bluetooth device. This time delay cannot be reduced and may enlarge as the RF transmission environment becomes worse. Do not use WCS232 v4.0 If your applications cannot allow for this time delay.

RF Transmission Environment
If there are many Bluetooth devices working in a small area and/or the RF communication distance is too great and/or there are some obstacles affecting RF performance, the WCS232 v4.0 repeats the transmission packet by packet due to interferences and/or low RF performance. This may lead to increased data transmission time delays.

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