Port Monitor and Test Terminal User Guide Windows Operating Systems
Trademark Notices Comtrol, DeviceMaster, RocketModem, and RocketPort are trademarks of Comtrol Corporation. Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Other product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Second Edition, April 15, 2013 Copyright © 2012-2013. Comtrol Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
Table of Contents Table of Contents ...................................................................................................................3 Overview...................................................................................................................................5 Test Terminal (WCom2)................................................................................................................................ 5 Port Monitor (PMon2) ............................................
Table of Contents 4 Port Monitor and Test Terminal User Guide: 2000485 Rev.
Overview Test Terminal (WCom2) The Test Terminal program enables you to open a port, send characters and commands to the port, and toggle the control signals. This application can be used to troubleshoot communications on a port-by-port basis. Using Test Terminal and a loop-back plug on a port will help test serial ports and verify port operation by allowing you to send data out the port on the transmit side, loop the data back to the receive side and view the received data on the screen.
Installing the Appropriate Utility Installing the Appropriate Utility Test Terminal and Port Monitor are available in several Comtrol tools. • RocketPort or RocketModem IV users will need to install the Comtrol Utility Package. See Comtrol Utility on Page 9 for information about locating and installing the Comtrol Utility.
Comtrol Contact Information Documentation RocketPort Universal PCI SMPTE Location ftp://ftp.comtrol.com/rport/hw_doc/ universal_pci/smpte/ RP_uPCI_SMPTE_UserGuide.pdf Comtrol Contact Information You can contact Comtrol Corporation using several methods. Download Page Make sure that you installed the latest software. If you have not done so, check the Comtrol web site. Customer Forum If you are connected to the internet, you can view any available FAQs for your product in the support forum.
RMA Information 8 - Overview Port Monitor and Test Terminal User Guide: 2000485 Rev.
Comtrol Utility The Comtrol Utility Package is innovative software for serial port communication, testing, monitoring and reporting for the RocketPort and RocketModem IV families. Note: The Comtrol Utility Package supports the DeviceMaster families but typically customers prefer installing PortVision DX, which includes Port Monitor and Test Terminal and is a powerful DeviceMaster configuration and monitoring application.
Installing the Comtrol Utility Installing the Comtrol Utility Use the following procedure to install the Comtrol Utility package. 1. Execute the Comtrol_Utility_Package_x.xx.msi file, where x_xx is the Comtrol Utility version number. 2. Click Next. 3. Click Next. 10 - Comtrol Utility Port Monitor and Test Terminal User Guide: 2000485 Rev.
Installing the Comtrol Utility 4. Click Install. 5. Click Finish. It is not necessary to reboot the PC after installation. 6. Go to Using Port Monitor (PMon2) on Page 19 or Using Test Terminal on Page 23 for procedures on using these applications. Port Monitor and Test Terminal User Guide: 2000485 Rev.
Installing the Comtrol Utility 12 - Comtrol Utility Port Monitor and Test Terminal User Guide: 2000485 Rev.
PortVision DX PortVision DX is Comtrol Corporation’s break-through software for efficiently locating, configuring and managing DeviceMaster over the network.
Configuring Security Settings and PortVision DX Configuring Security Settings and PortVision DX The following list provides basic PortVision DX operations that are affected how the DeviceMaster interacts with PortVision DX when security is enabled using the web interface (SocketServer/NS-Link). • PortVision DX must scan the DeviceMaster before configuring security. • PortVision DX locates the DeviceMaster before setting either Secure Data Mode or Secure Config Mode.
Installing PortVision DX 3. Click I accept the terms in the License Agreement and Next. 4. Click Next or optionally, browse to a different location and then click Next. 5. Click Next to configure the shortcuts. Port Monitor and Test Terminal User Guide: 2000485 Rev.
Installing PortVision DX 6. Click Install. 7. Depending on the operating system, you may need to click Yes to the Do you want to allow the following program to install software on this computer? query. 8. Click Launch PortVision DX and Finish in the last installation screen. 16 - PortVision DX Port Monitor and Test Terminal User Guide: 2000485 Rev.
Installing PortVision DX 9. Click Launch PortVision DX and Finish in the last installation screen. 10. Depending on the operating system, you may need to click Yes to the Do you want to allow the following program to make changes to this computer? query. 11. Select the Comtrol Ethernet-attached products that you want to locate and then click Scan. You can save time if you only scan for DeviceMasters.
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Using Port Monitor (PMon2) You can use this subsection to test the RocketPort, RocketModem IV, or DeviceMaster driver installation. If you need to install the device driver, go to ftp://ftp.comtrol.com/html/default.htm to locate the latest driver and driver installation documentation.
Testing Comtrol COM Ports 3. Click Driver, the appropriate product (or products), and click Ok. • RocketPort EXPRESS, RocketPort EXPRESS SMPTE, and INFINITY: click ROCKETPORT INFINITY • DeviceMaster: click RPSHSI/NSLINK • RocketPort Universal PCI (all models) and RocketModem IV: click ROCKETPORT 4. If the RocketPort, RocketModem IV, or DeviceMaster is communicating with the device driver for Windows, Port Monitor should display CLOSED status.
Testing Comtrol COM Ports 5. You can view additional statistics to Port Monitor by adding columns. Click Tools and Add Columns. 6. Highlight or shift-click to add multiple statistics and click Ok. Note: See the Port Monitor help system if you need an explanation of a column. 7. Scroll to the right to view the new columns. 8. If you want to capture this session, you can save a current session as a report.
Testing Comtrol COM Ports Reports can be opened, viewed and re-used when needed. To open and view a report: a. Select File > Open or the Open Existing Session Session dialog appears. button. The Open b. Locate the session (table), you want to open and click the Open button. Optionally, if you want to continue monitoring for an existing session, you need to activate the Polling Interval.
Using Test Terminal You can use the following procedure to test COM ports. If you need to install the RocketPort, RocketModem IV, or DeviceMaster device driver, go to ftp://ftp.comtrol.com/html/default.htm to locate the latest driver and driver installation documentation. The following procedures require a loopback plug to be placed on the port or ports that you want to test. A loopback plug was shipped with your product.
Opening Ports Opening Ports The following procedure shows how to use Test Terminal to send and receive test data to the serial ports. If necessary, use Comtrol Utility on Page 9 or PortVision DX on Page 13 to install Test Terminal. 1. Stop all applications that may be accessing the ports such as RRAS or any faxing, or production software. See the appropriate help systems or manuals for instructions on stopping these services or applications.
Sending and Receiving Test Data (RS-232/422/485: 4-Wire) Sending and Receiving Test Data (RS-232/422/485: 4-Wire) You can use this procedure to send and receive test data through the RS-232/422/ 485 (4-wire, full-duplex) port or ports that you want to test. 1. If you have not done so, perform Steps 1 and2 on Page 24. 2. Install the loopback plug onto the port (or ports) that you want to test. See Locating Comtrol Tools and Product Documentation on Page 6 if you need to build loopback plugs. 3.
Loopback Test (RS-232) Loopback Test (RS-232) The Loopback Test tests the modem control (hardware handshaking) signals. It only has meaning in RS-232 mode on serial connector interfaces with full RS-232 signals. If performed under the following conditions, the test will always fail because full modem control signals are not present: • RS-422 • RS-485 • RJ11 connectors Use the following steps to run the Loopback Test. 1. If necessary, start Test Terminal (Page 24, Steps 1 and 2). 2.
Sending and Receiving Data (RS-485: 2-Wire) Test Terminal will open two windows, note that both ports show Receiving on the status bar. 3. Right-click in both COM windows and remove the check mark for Receive. Port Monitor and Test Terminal User Guide: 2000485 Rev.
Sending and Receiving Data (RS-485: 2-Wire) Both COM ports show Ready on the status bar. 4. Right-click in ONE window and select the Receive option from the pop up. 5. Right-click the OPPOSITE window and click Send. The Status line shows Sending or Receiving. In this case, COM40 is sending data and COM41 is receiving the data which is visually confirmed by the data scrolling across the COM41 window.
Sending and Receiving Data (RS-485: 2-Wire) 7. Right-click and remove the check mark on the Receiving COM port. Neither COM port is sending or receiving data but shows Ready on the Status bar. 8. Reverse the sending/receiving windows one at a time. Set the Receive option first, then in the opposite window, select the Send option. The Status line shows Sending or Receiving in the reverse windows. Data is now scrolling in the COM40 window. COM41 is static as it is not receiving data but transmitting data.
Sending and Receiving Data (RS-485: 2-Wire) 30 - Using Test Terminal Port Monitor and Test Terminal User Guide: 2000485 Rev.
