CN8-SW™UserÕs Guide
4.4Recognizing Controllers with the CN8-SW Software
4.4.1 Introduction
Once you have assigned a unique network address to each controller, and set communication parameters in all controllers to their defaults, and set the CN8-SW to use the desired COM port, you are ready to enable the CN8-SW software to recognize the controllers.
∙If you intend for all operators to see all controllers, you can take advantage of the CN8-SW function that finds all the powered up controllers on the network by polling every address between 1 and 254, as described in 4.4.2. If you use this feature, the network will be set to operate at 9600 baud, regardless of the baud rate specified using Communications Setup window described in 4.3.
∙If you want some operators to be able to see only some of the controllers, you must use the manual process described in 4.4.3. The system will use the baud rate specified using Communications Setup window described in 4.3.
4.4.2Automatically Using the Find Controllers Option
The CN8-SW Òfind controllersÓ option polls each address, beginning at 1 and continuing until it has polled address 254, unless you stop the process using the Options menu. During the Òfind controllersÓ process, the CN8-SW software first polls every address at 9600 baud, the default rate used by some Omega Plus-compliant controllers. If the CN8- SW software is able to communicate with a controller at 9600 baud, the system adds the controller to the display. The CN8-SW system then polls the next address at the 9600 rate.
After the CN8-SW system has polled every address (1 to 254) at 9600 baud, the software temporarily switches itself to poll at 2400 baud, the other rate used by some Omega Plus controllers as the default. The CN8-SW software goes back to the lowest address at which it did not find a controller when polling at 9600 baud, and polls the address at 2400 baud. If the CN8-SW system can communicate with a controller at that address using 2400 baud, the CN8-SW system adds the controller to the display. The CN8-SW software also changes the baud rate of the Omega Plus controller to 9600.
After the system has changed the baud rate of the controller it found using 2400 baud (or if the system does not find a controller at the address), the CN8-SW system then uses 2400 to poll the next higher address at which it did not find a controller when polling at 9600, and the process continues.
At the conclusion of the polling process (or if you stop the Òfind controllersÓ operation as described in Step 6 below), the CN8-SW software switches itself back to 9600 baud.
∙The CN8-SW system polls address 1 at 9600 baud, establishes communication with the 16C controller, adds the controller to the main display, and moves on.
∙The CN8-SW system polls address 2 at 9600 baud, establishes communication with the 16C controller, adds it to the main display, and moves on.
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