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Quick Start Guide
VNET USB RS232 INTERFACE
Com Port
The PodWare application uses a COM port to communicate with the connected devices.
When you use the RS232 connection from your computer to the VNET™ Interface, the COM port
will be the one which your computer normally uses for the Serial (RS232) port; usually COM1.
When you use USB to connect from your computer to the VNET™ Interface, the Driver software
causes a “Virtual COM Port” (VCP) to be created. This will appear to PodWare as just another
COM port, and can be selected using Network > Com Port. To find out the COM port which
the VNET™ Interface is using, select Start > Control Panel > System > Hardware > Device
Manager > Ports. Here, you should see an entry in the tree for an item called “USB VNET™ Port.
Against this will be the COM port number (e.g. COM5).
If you wish to change this to a different COM port number, right-click on the existing COM
port tree node, select Properties > Port Settings > Advanced. There, you will see a COM port
selector. Do not change it to a COM port which is already in use.
External Power Supply
Provision is made to power the unit from an external VNET™ Accessory Power Supply.
An external supply is required in either of these two circumstances:
• •
If it is desired to use an RS232 (serial) connection to the PC
• •
If there are VNET™ network cable powered devices anywhere on the network
If USB is being used and there are no such VNET™ cable powered devices, no external supply
is required and the interface will be powered from the computer’s USB port.
Connecting a Computer
You can connect your computer to the
VNET
Interface in one of two ways:
RS232
If your computer has a native Serial (RS-232) port, just connect this to the RS232 socket on the
VNET™ Interface using an RS-232 extension cable (a straight-through female-to-male), as in
diagram 1. When using RS232, it is necessary to supply DC power to the VNET™ Interface from
the companion Accessory Power Supply product via the 3.5 mm jack cable provided with the
power supply. This can power either one or two compatible accessories. Either the A or the B
output on the Power supply may be used since these are identical.
Devices
Computer
Diagram 1
VNET
In Link
VNET
In Link
