AB SLC serial comms, laptop

[panelman]

Guys

We produce panels using AB SLC 505 cpus, the software gets written using our office IP address, when we go to site we change the IP address to match the client network using a serial cable.

It’s now time for a laptop upgrade but it seems that serial ports are not fitted to new laptops.

Anyone have any thoughts on solutions? USB to serial? PCMCIA to serial?

Cheers

 

[Electromechanical30]

I have an IBM T42... no serial port.

I use a socket serial comms adapter (PCMCIA)

I use this device to connect to PLC's and hyperterminal for a wide range of other serial communications. I haven't had a problem.

Regards,
jMk

 

[panelman]

Thanks jMk

Do you use the AB serial systems DF1/DH485?

 

[Electromechanical30]

I have in the past. Currently, I interface with Siemens through the serial adapter.

 

[simonfr]

Use a USB to serial adapter. In RSlinx, make sure you know what COM your computer has designated to it, generally not COM 1!!! Tell Linx where it is and there should be no problems.

Simon

 

[sdb830]

I have had good luck with a PCMCIA Serial converter with all the AB serial products. Another thought is we have changed laptops to Panasonic C51 Toughbooks they still have serial ports and are nice machines.

 

[MerlinKnight]

Hello,

I had the same problem. I found that dell has a laptop that has the rs232 port. I have the D800 series.
Also A/B makes a USB to DH485 interface converter. It has worked great on the computers we have that don't have the serial port.
Cat # 1747-UIC.