Serial port cable???

Is there any chance that we can interface my hardware via serial port cable without using the NI-DAQ card? I am currently doing my senior project, and so the DAQ card may be an expensive tool for us to use it. Please help!!!

I guess that depends on your hardware. If your hardware has a rs232 port then you can use your serial port on your computer to talk to your hardware. If you are trying to take a voltage measurement from your hardware then no you can not. Here are a few links to help explain what serial can and can't do.
http://zone.ni.com/devzone/conceptd.nsf/webmain/C553228FD78A7ADD862568F9006E9129?opendocument
http://zone.ni.com/devzone/conceptd.nsf/webmain/8DECBF3E0B714BF3862568F9006E7851?opendocument
In order to fully answer your question we need to know what you want to do. Do you need to send some serial characters, measure/output an analog voltage or read/write a digital value? Also, what kind of time frame are you working with and what university. I might be
able to help you out.
-Josh

Similar Messages

Using a PS/2 keyboard on a Sparc workstation through the serial port

We have recently migrated an application that used to run on a PC, to now run on a Sparc Workstation. This is a SunBlade 1500, running Solaris 8. The application is running in a dedicated console which has a fitted keyboard and trackerball that have PS/2 connectors and cannot be changed.
We need a way of connecting the PS/2 keyboards to the serial ports of the Sparc workstation. We already have a piece of software that will read ascii values from the serial port so we definately want to go through the serial ports.
Can someone please suggest what converters will be required to get the output of the keyboard and trackerball as ascii input to the serial port.

Actually, that's not a bit perverse, at all.
Jonathan's suggestion is a standard method of connecting to a server.
(null cable between the computer serial ports)
... see the Solaris man pages.
man tip
TeraTerm and Hyperterminal are customarily used on a PC running some dialect of Windows.
The 'tip' command is all that's necessary between Solaris systems.
PS/2 is not a serial connection, but is a keyboard/mouse interface 'invented' by IBM when they offered their XT-class PS/2 line of desktop systems, back in the 1980's.
I found this next link by using Google:
http://members.chello.at/theodor.lauppert/computer/ps2/
The smaller DIN ports were more compact than the AT-class keyboard ports and the mouse moved from a serial port to a dedicated mouse port.
Serial communication devices are not keyboards, per se,
and keyboards are not serial communication devices.
You need other hardware in between to translate what the human being sends, and another computer is a common method to accomplish that translation.
Having said all that ...
Since you cannot change the dedicated console hardware,
I suggest you go to the manufacturer of that console equipment
and have them suggest some sort of serial-to-serial interface lash-up.

"Example on reading combined signals from a serial port and separating them for display purposes". I am a beginner in Labview and would appreciate if anyone help with that

I am working on a wireless vital sign monitor. I have 3 signals; heart rate and temperature. I filter and amplify the signals before converting them into digital form. I then pass them via MAX232 before passing them to RS232 serial cable.
I am therefore working on a program to receive the combined signal and separate them.
I have come across serial read and write examples on ni.com but am looking for one where I can actually separate combined signals and display them separately.

Reading the serial port will give you a string. How you divide the channels depends on how the data was formatted before it was sent over the serial channel.
If you are designing the instrument, as it seems from your query, then you can set up any form you wish. If your data is always floating point numeric, you could use space or tab characters to separate data words. You could use and XML format. If the instrument is provided by a vendor, contact them for the protocol.
If tabs are used between words and returns between sets of readings, the resutlant string can be interpretted by the Spreadsheet String to Array function in LV.
Things to avoid are characters often used by serial communications systems as control characters. Carraige returns are
often used as command terminators by serial protocols, but may also be used by the port.
Lynn

How can I read a serial port using XCode?

Hello,
I'm using an iMac 2009 with Mac OS X 10.6.7. I have a USB to Serial cable and I want to connect a hardware I made using a microprocessor Microchip PIC to my mac. I'd like to read values from the serial port and also write values to it. I'm already able to do this using the Terminal with the following command:
screen /dev/tty.usbserial 9600
I'd like to build my own application now. Does anyone could send me any sample code?
I'm using XCode 3.2.5 and I'm a beginner on XCode.

I looked at Dev Center for sample code, and I found this link:
http://developer.apple.com/library/mac/#samplecode/SerialPortSample/Introduction /Intro.html%23//apple_ref/doc/uid/DTS10000454-Intro-DontLinkElementID_2
I downloaded the sample Xcode project and, when I click on "Build and Run" button, it generates an error with the following message:
"GCC 4.2 is not compatible with the Mac OS X 10.4 SDK (file SerialPortSample.c)"
Maybe, it occurs because the code is too old (2005). I didn't find any newer sample.
Could you help me?
Thank you.

Usb to serial port converter in lenova g560

hi this is madhan. i m using lenova g560 ideapad. there is no serial port in my laptop. For my project i need a serial port. i heard tat in market USB to serial port converters are available. Does Lenova g560 support this change?? If so is there any driver to make support to serial port?????????

If you buy a Serial-USB interface/cable you won't have any problem. Usually this accesory comes with drivers. If you have Windows 7, mayte it will detect all automaticaly.
Regards.
IPnaSh
First Spanish Community Guru - Colaborador ad honorem

Usb to Serial port adapter

I have a gilsson usb to serial port bi directional adapter cable which uses the Prolific pl-2303 chipset. I am attempting to use this cable to interface a Mac Mini with a Harsper PDP plasma television.
I am attempting to control the functions of the television via the serial port on the television. i.e. Turn on, input, volume, etc.
What I need is software, or source code that would allow me to send hexidecimal commands to the television and receive the task completed codes.

ZTerm will allow serial communications. Get it to ensure that throughput is happening as expected.
RealBasic will allow you to roll your own with a fair amount of ease.
A long time ago I used the above to communicate with my cellphone to send and receive text messages via the serial port, so I know it can work. Understanding the protocols is the difficult part...

Reading/writing to serial port w/ VISA in Labview

I'm writing a Labview program to control and to read data from a Varian vacuum pump controller. It is connected to the serial port in my computer, and I have been trying to open a VISA session to communicate with the instrument. So far, however, the computer cannot see the instrument--I get the same error messages reading and writing to the instrument as I do to an empty serial port. Does anyone have any suggestions on what the problem might be? Thank you.

There are a lot of possiblities. Is the cable correct? You probably need a crossover cable (TX and RX) swapped. You also need to check and make sure the serial ports on both ends are set the same (i.e. baud rate, handshaking, stop bits, etc.). Make sure that the port is enabled. I've seen people try to use a comm port only to find that a modem card installation caused the port to be disabled. You could also try using hyperterminal to talk to the instrument. If you can communicate there, you can eliminate any hardware problem.

USB to Serial port adapter - Mac thinks it's a modem

I’m trying to connect my Mac’s USB port to a Sony Beta SP recorder's Serial Port using a generic USB to Serial adapter which uses the Prolific PL-2303 chip.
I’m using the latest Prolific Universal driver, but when I plug in the USB cable I get a message that a ‘new network device has been detected’ and suggesting that I use System Preferences to set it up. But in System Preferences it seems to think the USB to Serial adapter is a modem and is looking for a phone number and other configuration data.
Does anyone know how to get it to work as just a serial communication device to my Sony’s serial port? If I get it working I'll be connecting it to an RS232 to RS422 adapter to talk to the Sony port.
Thanks.

Thanks Andy.
I'll have a go again. It was late last night when I was trying to set it up, so maybe a fresh brain will have more success. I did try to 'Cancel' the network preference window that opened, but got the impression that it would not work unless I did 'something'. Someone else told me I could cancel that message permanently within System Preferences, so I'll try that too. Yet another bit of advice I got was that I would have to install 'MacPorts' and run something called 'Minicom' to set up the serial parameters. Windows was so simple by comparison
As a non-techie (at least in all these software and protocol issues) I'm more than a little confused.
Regards
Message was edited by: esmonde

How to transfer file from PC to PC via serial port using labview

I need to transfer files(.txt, .doc, .xls) from PC to PC via serial port using LabVIEW. Is it possible to transfer files, if so how to transfer?
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Yes, it is possible to transfer files with the serial port using LabVIEW. Files are just collections of bytes and the serial port is pretty good at shipping bytes from one PC to another. You need to connect the serial ports together with a null modem cable.
First, take a look at the example for serial communication. In LabVIEW, go to the Help menu and select "Find Examples...". From there you can search for "serial" or navigate to Hardware Input and Output >> Serial. Select the "Basic Serial Write and Read.vi". Experiment with that example to gain confidence on the serial communication methods.
Next, it's time to learn about how to read and write files. For that, the examples could be somewhat confusing since they all deal with files that are presumed to have data of a specific type in them. I would recommend just getting familiar with the functions on the File I/O palette. Specifically, get to know the following functions.
Open/Create/Replace File - On your destination side, you'll need to create the copy of the file that you are trying to transfer
Close File - When you are finished reading from or writing to a file, you should close it. It cleans up the memory being used and finalizes any write operations that are still floating in the write buffer.
Read From Binary File - The best way to read from a file when you do not really care what type of file it is. In your case, you just want to get those bytes read and sent out so they can be written down at the destination.
Write to Binary File - At the destination side, this is what will store those bytes to the file you created with number 1.
Get File Size (under the Advanced File Functions sub-palette) - You need to know how big the file is so you know when you are finished.
OK, so once you are able to create files, write bytes to them, and read bytes from existing files you can move on to transferring.
The basic method I would suggest is to have the user specify a source file on the source PC and a destination folder on the destination PC. Then, find out the size of the source file using number 5. Divide that size number by the number of bytes you feel like transferring at once. The serial buffers are usually around 32k (if I remember correctly) so do not exceed that. Now begin sending data by reading some number of bytes and wiring that string output to the VISA Write function. On the destination side, you'll want to be monitoring the serial port for bytes and reading them when they arrive. Wire that string to the Write to Binary File function to add them to your destination file.
That is the basic outline of how to do it. You have to be careful not to overload the write and read buffers on the serial ports. Initially you can use delays on the sending side to make sure the reading side has enough time to digest. To get things moving faster, you can bring in some flow control.
If all that sounds a bit intimidating, there are Alliance Member companies out there (such as PrimeTest Automation) who can write such code for you and even provide a turnkey solution for you.
Happy wiring,
Dan Press
Certified LabVIEW Architect
PrimeTest Automation

The "VISA Configure Serial Port" VI will only run at 9600 Baud

I have written a Serial Port monitor "RS232 RW.vi" that works for the most part. The problem is that it will not respond to alternate port configuration settings.... For instance: the default RS232 Serial port configuration is:
(COM1,9600 baud,8 data bits,1 Stop bit, None no parity)
As a test, I am using a Null Modem Cable to connect From my LabView Com1 port to another PC running RealTerm Serial Port Monitor.. Using my newly designed "RS232 RW.vi" With port settings of (COM1,9600 baud,8 data bits,1 Stop bit, None no parity), I can send and receive data back and forth all day long no problems....
However, if I configure the "RS232 RW.vi" port to any other configuration, such as (COM1,2400 baud ,7 data bits,1 stop bit, Odd parity).. It will not take the expected chances and continues to operate @ 9600 baud etc.
I then changed the "RS232 RW.vi" default settings to (2400,7,1,Odd)
it still refuses to deviate from (COM1, 9600,8,1,None...)
I also went into the Win XP Device Manager on the LabView system and manually configured Com1 to 2400,7,1,Odd
and still,.... the "RS232 RW.vi" will only operate @ 9600,8,1,None
Can anyone else test drive my VI and see if they have the same problem of not being able to see new changes in the Port configuration settings ..other than (COM1, 9600,8,1,None...).... ?
FYI.. Unfortunately my LabView is running on Version 6.0 so you may need to up-convert the attached vi
Solved!
Go to Solution.
Attachments:
RS232 RW.vi ‏102 KB

Instead of just appreciating the comments, you need to implement them.
Having the VISA close inside the loop is definitely the problem. And Crossrulz is 100% correct about the problem being that the serial port gets reset to the default baud rate after closing the port. Here is the proof.
Note that while you may have set the port settings manually in device manager, those settings are revised by the VISA driver. If you look in Measurement and Automation Explorer under Devices and Interfaces >> Serial and Parallel, you'll see the default settings that the VISA driver uses. If you change the setting there, your program will work the way you want. But that is not the correct fix. The correct fix is to get the VISA close out of the while loop.
The port settings are established in this order.
1. By the Windows device drivers.
2. By the VISA driver as established in MAX. Since you are useing VISA, these settings will automatically override #1.
3. By the port settings you set programmatically in your LabVIEW program.
Attachments:
Example_VI.png ‏18 KB

After writing into serial port, the same message gets bounced back into the Inqueue also. If anyone know how to avoid this, please rpely.

Hi,
After writing into serial port, the same message gets bounced back into the Inqueue also. If anyone know how to avoid this, please reply.
Thanks,
Ganesh

If you disconnect the cable going to the serial device, do you still get the echo? If so you have something going on in the port setup. If disconnecting the cable stops the echo then the device you're talking to is doing it - which would be my bet. One thing to check is whether this might not be normal operation. I have seen devices that if a command was successful, it simply echo'd back the command string you had sent. Also many serial devices have setting for specifying whether they are to echo commands.
Mike...
Certified Professional Instructor
Certified LabVIEW Architect
LabVIEW Champion
"... after all, He's not a tame lion..."
Be thinking ahead and mark your dance card for NI Week 2015 now: TS 6139 - Object Oriented First Steps

NOKIA serial port

hi,
i want to connect to NOKIA cell phones from serial port (RS232) but i couldn't connect to my cell phone(NOKIA 7210) from my applications and HyperTerminal with data cable.i can connect from Oxygen Phone Manager II.And also with the same application,you can connect to sony ericsson modem from serial port and i can read the datas.How can i connect to NOKIA 7210 from serial port and HyperTerminal by the same way

What has this got to do with Java

How can i browse FP 2000 via serial port same use Ethernet port(RJ 45)?

I am a new user for labview.I develope my program with FP 2000 but I have some problem
1 How can i browse FP 2000 via serial port same use Ethernet port(RJ 45)? if it can Tell me please.
  2 If I use GSM/GPRS modem via FP 2000 rs 232 port (I under stand how to send AT command) and leave it stand alone
     Can I dial modem and browse file in FP 2000 same as use Ethernetport?
Someone please help me.Thank you very much.

Hi!
    First, I can say that your project involves many things, I cannot describe all features in the forum, and I'm not used with GPRS modems (my modems are base band serial modems...).
    Anyway, I would say that in your project you should proceed like this:
      1) Configure your FP 2000 module via MAX and ethernet connection;
      2) Download an embedded application to your module (build in LabView Real-Time)
      3) In your application, you should build a kind of serial port manager, and by the means of serial port you send/receive commands from PC.
    The commands from PC can include "Tell me the about the FP 2000 file system ", or "switch on line X", or anything you need.
   I think it would be difficult to use Internet exp, because you use IE with TCP/IP, and TCP/IP is over ethernet.
   I know that for Windows you can find some wrappers that make you "see" the serial port as an ethernet, but these wrapper do not exist under filed Point, and you shoul build one yourself!!!(and that's not easy).
    For example, to browse your files, you should build a VI that searches through your file system, and reports, via serial, the files present in a directory (it's an example....).
    About communication between GPRS modems and FP2000, I know nothing. I suppose that these modems accept serial inputs, so you'll have to configure your serial port on FP 2000 with the correct baud rate, parity, and so on..... and you send your data to the modem. The modem will transfer data in its way, no matter on how it does.
    To send data to your modem you shoud take a look to some Serial communication examples. What I suggest you, first, is to connect the serial port of FP2000 to a PC, and test communication between PC and FP2000, without modems. Just direct cable connection! If you're able to do this, insertion of modems is the next step, and should be quite easy. If you're not able to make the PC receive strings of data from FP2000, over RS232, adding modems is a further complication, and you won't come out of this mess!
   So, what I say, is just build, for now, a simple embedded application for FP2000, that, using RS232, sends data to a PC (you should see data sent with use of Hyper terminal).
    To build this application, use Instrument I/O --> VISA commands (VISA open, VISA write, and Property node should be enough, for now).
   Please, let me know if this helps......
    Have a nice (programming) day!
graziano

Strange init serial port issue

Hello:
My Labview application is reading data from the COM1..COM6 ports (I have
added a MOXA serial board to get 4 more ports). I am using RS232 reading
on each port (old legacy Vis, 9m long communication cables). The devices to which I am connected are weigh scale that continuously send weight readings to the Labview app through 3-wires RS232 (RD, TX and GND). Everything goes well for hours and hours. Then after a while (maybe after power is cut and restarted on the PC side?) I restart the PC and launch Labview. If I try to init the serial port that I use to connect to the weigh scale I get an error 37. I also tried to init thru HyperTerminal right after restarting the PC and could not. The only thing that works to unlock the port is
this:
- unplug the weigh scale communication cable from the Moxa connector
- restart the PC
- relaunch LV or HyperTerminal
Unplug then restart Labview or HyperTerminal is not sufficient.
To the same Moxa board I connect other devices such as PLC or PC through serial ports but never see any problems even after restarting the Host PC. So there is something strange with weigh scales (I tried two different brands) but what? I cannot use the built-in serial port as it is already in use by another application.
Does someone out there have an explanation and ways to avoid this very annoying problem?
Thank you very much, I am completely lost,
Christophe

Chris:
Thank you for your help. I investigated the problem further and this is what I found. I am still clueless so if you think of other tracks that I might explore I would be glad to hear them.
- Hard boot (power off, remove power cord, restart) does not release the port
- I change the port ie. I used the built-in COM1 PC port, got the communication, could read char, then restarted the PC and fell into the same trap: could not init the port (Labview). I did the same after restarting and could not open the port with HyperT. Hence it is not a Moxa issue.
- The question is: how can I resolve that, is it an HW or SW issue, a combination of the two, has it got something to deal with WIndows 2K, are there some tools that allow to diagnose whi
ch service or application grasps the serial port during the boot sequence? Or is it a problem during the shutdown sequence that the port is not released properly?
TIA,
Christophe

Multiple serial ports reading from a shared USB port

I have a program that reads from 4 flow controllers, which send data through RS232 serial ports. Because the computer is located pretty far away, the vendor suggested to use an Edgeport box to convert RS232 to USB, then convert to ethernet port using a SuperBooster converter. The signal travels long distance in ethernet cable to the computer and get converted back to USB, then to the computer. In MAX, I was able to see 8 com ports from the Edgeport box, and I was able to communicate with my flow controllers.
The problem is, it will give me some error message occasionally. Sometime it's a VISA Read error, sometime it's a VISA framing error. Could this be caused by the way the signal is transmitted?
In the program I have four parallel WHILE loops that constantly do READ and WRITE to the 4 flow controllers. Could this be causing the errors? If so, what is the best strategy to design this program?
Thanks

I agree with Mike, you will need an error handling strategy that accounts for these errors. And retries the communications. This can be a little tricky, but very doable. I believe some sort of statemachine approach will work best for this.
As for your heated probe. I would make some sort of hardware interlock that will shut it down in case of a coolant failure. NEVER, EVER trust the computer to be running where safety is concerned, either for personal or hardware. There are plenty of ICs that can monitor temperature, and have warning, and alarm outputs! Another option is some sort of watchdog on the communications bus for the coolant control, but I think this is a bit more tricky.
Paul <--Always Learning!!!
sense and simplicity.
Browse my sample VIs?

Serial port cable???

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