Introduction; Procedures For Setup; Tips From Tech Support - GridConnect NET232 User Manual

Overview

2. Introduction

2.1 Procedures for setup

The NET232 is a device for connecting a serial device to the Ethernet. You will therefore have to know
some technical facts about the serial device you are trying to connect. You can generally find that
information in the manufacturer's technical manual or from a set of schematics for the product.
This section of the user manual has detailed information about the RS232 signals provided by the NET232
and how they should be connected to another RS232 serial device. See Table 1 - RS232 Signals.
You will have to provide an IP address for the NET232. Using DHCP protocol, the NET232 can get a
temporary IP address from your server but a fixed IP address is required for permanent installation. The port
used to transfer data is called the Local Port and has a default setting of 10001.
The software CD contains a program called Device Installer, which is used to locate the NET232 on your
network. You can use it to assign the IP address and port number, setup the serial port parameters, and view
all the configuration information for the device.
We highly suggest using the Quick Start Guide to get your unit quickly configured. The User Manual has
more detailed information about all the options available. Almost all the configuration settings are already
configured for best performance so all you need to do is supply the IP address and setup the serial port
parameters.
If you have problems, please review the steps in the Quick Start Guide, review the information in the User
Manual, or give our Technical Support team a call.

2.2 Tips from Tech Support

We would like to believe you can connect the NET232 to any RS232 device. We have a track record of
being able to connect to almost any RS232 device, however, there are some that just can't or won't work. So
here are some things to think about before you start trying to connect a NET232 to your device. If you are
not sure, give us a call.
What are the RS232 signals on the target device?
Typically you will have TXD for transmit, RXD for receive, and GND for ground. If you have a schematic
or a user manual, find the specifications for the serial port and note the signals being used. You will need to
know if the target device has a male or female connector, and which pins are used for each signal name.
Does the target device use Hardware Flow Control?
Hardware flow control requires the use of two signal pins, RTS and CTS. One unit sends a Request to Send
and the other sends a Clear to Send. These are old modem control signals that are now used to control the
flow of data between two devices that may not be able to maintain a fast data transfer. Most modern devices
can easily transfer high speed data but some still require the use of flow control. You will have to enable
these signals on the NET232 since they are turned off at the factory.
Does the target device require the use of a DTR signal?
Some devices need to see the DTR signal to indicate they are connected. DTR is not enabled on the NET232
but there are ways to provide the signal so you can make it work. Devices that use DTR may also have a
DSR signal that can be tied to the DTR line to simulate a DTR active signal.
NET232/NETUSB User Guide 2-3