Scale
Serial Communication Test (RS232)
This test can be
used to confirm
the Viva scale is properly connected,
is communicating by serial RS232 to
your PC, and is transmitting the
proper weight value This test can determine
if the scale
is communicating with the PC thought
the given ports and cable.
1. Connect Scale to
the PC as shown in the Quick Start
Guide – Serial Option.
o Connect small
RS232 connector to the 9-hole port
under the scale. Connect the
other
RS232 connector to the PC. Note
the serial port that the cable
is connected to (IE: Com A or
Com 1) for step number 4.
o Connect the Power Supply to
the connector on the scale and
to an AC outlet.
o After Scale Powers up, enter
GeoCal value if “Geo in” is
displayed. See Quick Start Guide
for Geo Location Codes and how
to enter the value.
2. Check the scale’s
serial set up parameters.
Specifically you need the speed or
baud rate, the number of bits,
the parity, the number of stop bits
and the protocol the scale is set
for.
Write down the values for BAud,
ASCii, PAr, StoP, and Proto.
a) To check the
scale settings, press the Units
key and hold until “SETuP?” is
displayed (IE: Approximately 10
seconds).
b) Press the Units key
repeatedly until “BAud” is shown
on the display.
c) Press the Zero key to read
the Baud parameter value
(IE:9600). Write down this value
in the chart below.
Scale Description
|
Example |
Actual Value |
BAud rate |
9600 |
|
ASCii |
7 |
|
PArity |
Even |
|
StoP bits |
1 |
|
Protocol |
toLEdo |
|
d) Repeat steps b) and c)
to read the values of ASCii, PAr,
StoP, and Proto.
e) To exit the SetuP,
o Press the Units Key until “END”
is displayed.
o Press the Zero Key until “Abort”
is displayed.
o Press the Units key to accept
and exit program mode.
3. Access the HyperTerminal program
on your PC as shown below.
HyperTerminal is a legacy Windows
terminal emulation program last
included in Windows XP.
Alternatively you can use the
POSprint
utility from Beagle Hardware.
4. Once HyperTerminal is opened,
choose “File” than “New Connection”.
Name the connection “PS Scale” for
future reference and click “OK”.
Click on the drop down bar for
“Connect Using”. Select the
communication port that the scale
cable is connected to on the PC. COM
A would be equivalent to COM 1.
Click “OK” when completed.
5. Program the same
set up parameters in HyperTerminal
as per the Baud, ASCii, Par and Stop
settings in the scale.
Scale Description
=> HyperTerminal Description
BAud => Bits Per Second
ASCii => Data Bits
PAr => Parity
StoP => Stop Bits
(none) =>Flow Control - For the
Flow Control setting, input “None”.
Scale does not use this parameter.
Click Apply
after entering the data values. The
data will be accepted.
Click OK and a blank
HyperTerminal screen will appear.
6. Now that the
scale set up matches the
HyperTerminal set up, type in the
corresponding weight command per the
Proto setting in the scale.
Weight
Protocol |
Proto |
Type in: |
Mettler toledo
(see above) |
toLEdo |
W |
FedEx
|
Proto 1 |
W <CR> |
WT SC320
|
Proto 2 |
W <CR> |
WT SC3870
|
Proto 3 |
W <CR> |
UPS |
Proto 4 |
W <CR> |
Purolator
|
Proto 5 |
<CR> |
DHL
|
Proto 6 |
W <CR> |
MT SICS |
Proto 7 |
S <CR> |
<CR> is a carriage return (enter
button)
Note: To see the
character you typed (IE:W),
go to FILE – PROPERTIES – SETTING
tab – ASCII SETUP box,
and click “Echo typed characters
locally”.
For MT SIC Proto, also click “Send
line ends with line feeds”.
o Put some weight on
the scale. Note display value (IE:
1.58 lb).
o Go to the HyperTerminal screen and
click the curser on the blank
screen.
o Type the required entry per chart
to the right. Capital letters (“W”)
must be used, a lower case (“w”)
will not work. Note that the typed
“W” does not get displayed unless
the Echo setting is checked (see
note).
o A weight value should now be
displayed on the HyperTerminal
screen that matches the weight on
the scale display. If another
message appears, zero the scale
first by repeating this step with no
weight, than try again with a
weight.
If the correct
weight is displayed:
-
The scale is
communicating correctly to the
PC.
-
Otherwise,
Consult Shipping Software
provider for further assistance
Problems:
If you only see
your command being sent, and no
data...
-
Make sure
that the scale is switched
on and plugged into the PC's
com (RS232) port.
-
Check that
the communication settings
you entered in Hyperterm
match those currently in use
by the scale: COM port, baud
rate, parity, etc. The
default scale settings of 7
bits, Even parity, 1 stop
bit are not typical for most
common serial devices.
-
Check that
the Protocol on the scale is
set correctly. The Protocol
determines which command
will return the current
weight on the scale.
-
If using a
USB-RS232 converter, its
settings must also match
those used by the scale.
|