Synapse SNAP Link User manual

USER GUIDE
SNAP Link
Serial Wireless Adapter
RS-232 and RS-485 Devices
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Synapse logo, SNAP, and Portal are all registered trademarks of Synapse Wireless, Inc.
Doc# 600038-01D
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Table of Contents
1. About Your SNAP Link Wireless Adapters ................................................................... 1
2. Setting Up Your SNAP Link Wireless Adapters............................................................. 3
Modes of Operaon......................................................................................................................... 3
SNAP Link State Indicators............................................................................................................... 3
Changing SNAP Link States .............................................................................................................. 4
3. SNAP Link EasySet Software ....................................................................................... 7
Installing EasySet.............................................................................................................................. 7
Using EasySet ................................................................................................................................... 8
Connect a SNAP Link Device ............................................................................................................ 8
Selecng Basic Communicaons Sengs........................................................................................ 9
4. Configuring your Adaptor using the DIP Switches...................................................... 15
DIP Switch 1 ................................................................................................................................... 15
DIP Switch 2 ................................................................................................................................... 16
5. Application Usage Scenarios..................................................................................... 17
Scenario 1: Card Scanner ............................................................................................................... 17
Scenario 2: File Transfer, Connuous Stream................................................................................ 17
Scenario 3: Lowest Latency at Highest Baud Rate......................................................................... 18
6. Troubleshooting....................................................................................................... 19
7. Frequently Asked Questions ..................................................................................... 21
Appendix A Mounting Options ....................................................................................... 23
Appendix B Modbus Firmware ....................................................................................... 24
Appendix C Advanced Management ............................................................................... 25

1. About Your SNAP Link Wireless Adapters
SNAP Link Adapters
The SNAP Link family of industrial-class, mesh networking, wireless serial adapters allows you to connect RS-232
and RS-485/422 devices to each other without using cables. SNAP Link adapters provide the highest data-rates,
longest distance, and most reliable signal in the industry.
SNAP Link devices are available in two models:
•SL232K-001 –RS-232 with 250 Kbps wireless data rate
•SL232K-002 – Adds DC power opon to 001 version
•SL485K-001 –RS-485/422 with 250 Kbps wireless data rate
•SL485K-002 – Adds DC power opon to 001 version
Each SNAP Link adapter comes with SNAP EasySet, an intuive applicaon program that runs on Microso®
Windows®-based computers that allows you to configure the device quickly and easily. Please refer to soware
specificaons in the appendix of this document for exact operang system requirements.
You can also configure your SNAP Link adapters using internal DIP switches in the event a computer running
EasySet is not available.
Key Features of SNAP Link
•Features SNAP® — the Synapse Network Applicaon Protocol — instant-on, self-healing, mesh network
operang system.
•Available with wireless data rates up to 2 Mbps.
•Supports wireless RS-232, RS-422, and RS-485 transparent serial data transfers.
•Hardened Modbus wireless protocol included for 99.5% reliable transport.
•Enables simple, one buon pairing for fast, easy installaon.
•Supports one-to-one (point-to-point) and one-to-many (mulpoint) relaonships.
•Performs mesh hopping, which can extend distances across many miles.
•Includes SNAP Link EasySet soware for advanced configuraons.
•Requires no changes to exisng equipment and soware.
Document Convenons
Please note the following terminology while reading this document:
•The term SNAP Link is used to refer to any of the SNAP Link models listed above.
•The RS-232 models are referred to by their model number, which is SL232. This pertains to both models
unless otherwise noted.
•The RS-485/422 models are referred to by their model number, which is SL485. This pertains to both
models unless otherwise noted.
•The term K-series refers to the SL232K and SL485K adapters.
•The term serial port refers to the data communicaons port – either the RS-232 port (DB9F connector)
of an SL232 device or the RS-485/422 terminal block of an SL485 device.
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•The micro-B USB port of the SNAP Link adapter may be referred to as simply the USB port.
•The term RS-485/422 device or RS-232 device refers to the data communicaons device you are
aaching to the SNAP Link adapter.
•The term UART Parameter refers to SNAP Link configuraon sengs that indicate how quickly data is
wirelessly transmied based on serial data that is received from the serial device.
•The term, Modbus Firmware, refers to a Modbus protocol reliability script that can be uploaded to a
SNAP Link model using EasySet soware V1.2.2 or higher.
Download Supporng Materials
Documentaon pertaining to SNAP Link devices can be downloaded from the Synapse Wireless website at:
synapse-wireless.com/index.php?mainID=3&subID=11&type=product&prodID=11
The SNAP Link User Guide (the document you are reading now) can be downloaded at:
synapse-wireless.com/documents/products/SNAP_Link_User_Guide.pdf
The Synapse SNAP EasySet configuraon soware can be downloaded at:
synapse-wireless.com/documents/apps/EasySet-setup.exe
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2. Seng Up Your SNAP Link Wireless Adapters
Refer to your SNAP Link Quick Start Guide accompanying your SNAP Link wireless adapter for illustraons
showing you how to set it up quickly. This chapter gives you more detail about the various modes of operaon
and the three indicator lights.
Modes of Operaon
SNAP Link units are powered via a USB cable through their micro-B USB connector. They can be powered by
connecng a USB cable to the supplied AC adapter, or by plugging the cable into the USB port of a computer. It
will be necessary to use a computer’s USB port if you wish to configure your SNAP Link units using the EasySet
soware, which is described in the next chapter.
All models of SNAP Link can operate in either point-to-point mode, also known as unicast, or in mulpoint mode,
also known as mulcast. In point-to-point mode two SNAP Link units are paired, thereby providing a wireless
connecon between two external serial devices. In mulpoint mode, one of the SNAP Link devices is designated
the master and mulple other devices can be configured as slaves. This secon provides more detail on how
these modes can be set manually by pressing the MODE buon on the SNAP Link device.
SNAP Link State Indicators
You can change the state of your adapter either by holding down the MODE buon or by pressing it in rapid
succession.
There are three LEDs on a SNAP Link device. LED A is located on the front next to the MODE buon. LEDs B and C
are located on the back panel between the micro-B USB and serial connectors.
Set from the factory, these three LEDs communicate various configuraon sengs or traffic status events as
documented next, unless the Modbus firmware script has been uploaded to the SNAP Link adapter.
Note: The three LEDs perform differently when the Modbus hardened reliability firmware has been
installed, as documented in the Modbus Firmware Appendix
The A LED indicates the wireless broadcast state. It can be off, green, amber or red, and can be steady or flashing
depending upon the current status or mode of operaon:
•When the unit is seeking a pair the LED will rapidly flash red.
•When the unit is paired, either in unicast mode or as a slave in mulcast mode, the LED will glow
steadily. Green indicates a strong wireless signal, amber indicates a weak signal, and red indicates no
signal or loss of signal from its partner. No maer what the color, the LED will flicker while wireless
transmission is occurring.
•When the unit is in mulpoint mode and is seeking a master, the LED will rapidly flash amber.
•When the unit is set up as a master, the LED will slowly alternate between green and amber.
•If a master detects another master on the same channel and network, the LED will slowly alternate
between red and amber.
The B LED indicates the USB state. Green indicates the unit is being supplied with power. It will glow steadily in
idle and will flicker when data is being transferred via the USB port.
The C LED indicates the serial interface state. If an RS-232 device is aached to the DB9F connector of the SL232
adapter, the LED will glow steadily green in idle and will flicker as data is being transferred. If an RS- 484/422
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device is aached to the terminal bock of the SL485 adapter, the LED will not glow, but will flicker as data is
being transferred.
Note: It may be difficult to differenate an amber colored LED from one showing green or red, depending
upon your viewing angle. When viewed from above, an amber LED may look red and when viewed from
below it might look green. If in doubt, try viewing the LED at different angles.
Changing SNAP Link States
When a SNAP Link device is inially powered on, its serial communicaons parameters are set to factory
defaults. This inial state is called broadcast state, because at this point SNAP Link hasn’t been paired with
another unit. However, it will join and become a member of a greater SNAP mesh network. Most commonly,
each SNAP Link device will be married to, or paired with, another SNAP Link.
The factory default serial port sengs for all SNAP Link devices is 9600 baud, 8 data bits, no parity, and 1 stop
bit. For SL232 devices flow control is disabled, and for SL485 devices flow control is always enabled. The SNAP
network ID is set to 0x1C2C and the channel number is set to 4. Many of these can be altered using EasySet or
by using a bank of DIP switches located on the SNAP Link circuit board inside the unit, as shown in the chapter
Configuring your Adaptor using the DIP Switches.‖ Reseng a unit causes the SNAP Link device to read the DIP
switches and set itself accordingly.
Reset a unit, or
return it to
broadcast state
Broadcast state is the inial SNAP Link state as set by the factory. To return to broadcast
state, remove power, hold down the MODE buon, then reapply power. Aer 5 seconds,
when all LEDs are rapidly flashing green-amber-red, release the MODE buon. The B LED
will be green, signifying power. The C LED will be green only if an RS-232 device is aached.
The A LED, which signifies broadcast state, will be off.
Pair a unit in
point-to-point
While in broadcast state, hold down the MODE buon for at least 5 seconds. When LED A
turns red, release the MODE buon. The unit will then look for another SNAP Link to pair
with, as indicated by the LED rapidly flashing red. When it finds a partner, the A LED will
glow steadily. Green indicates a strong signal from the partner, amber indicates a weak
signal, and red indicates no signal (the partner is powered off or else is out of range).
Note: A SNAP Link adapter will only pair with another adapter that is also seeking a
pair. So you must perform the above procedure on two SNAP Link adapters
simultaneously to form a pairing.
Back out of
searching for a
pair
While LED A is rapidly flashing red, hold down the MODE buon for at least 5 seconds. LED
A should go dark. Release the MODE buon and the unit is now back in broadcast state.
Remove pairing Hold down the MODE buon for at least 5 seconds. When LED A turns red, release the
MODE buon. The unit drop any current pairing and will then begin looking for another
SNAP Link unit with which to pair.
Set a unit to
mulpoint mode
While in broadcast state, press the MODE buon 4 mes in rapid succession (within 3
seconds). LED A will rapidly flash amber. The unit is now in mulpoint mode and will begin
looking for a master to pair with. If it finds one, it will pair with it and the A LED will glow
steady, but will flicker as data is transmied.
4SNAP Link

Set up a unit as a
mulpoint master
While in mulpoint mode, again press the MODE buon 4 mes in rapid succession. LED A
will then blink slowly, alternang between green and amber, indicang the unit is the
master in a mulpoint network. Any slave units on the same channel and with the same
network ID, which were previously set to mulpoint mode, will then begin pairing with the
master. If LED A should begin alternang between red and amber, that indicates another
master is already on the same channel and with the same network ID.
Back out of
mulpoint mode
when previously
set up as a master
If the unit was previously set up as a master, press and hold the MODE buon (for at least
5 seconds) unl LED A rapidly flashes. The unit is no longer a master, but is sll in
mulpoint mode, and is now looking for a master with which to pair.
Back out of
mulpoint mode
altogether
If the unit was previously set up as a master, first back out by following the procedure
above. Then, press and hold the MODE buon again (for at least 5 seconds) unl LED A
glows steadily. Release and the unit is now back in broadcast state. It can now be set up in
point-to-point mode or in mulpoint mode.
Pin Outs
RS-232 (DB9F) Pin Outs
The SL232 adapter provides a DB9 female connector with the following pin outs:
RS-232 PIN OUTS
Arrows indicate signal direcon
The SL232 adapter uses a standard DB9 female connector configured as a DCE (Data Communicaons
Equipment) device. A DCE device can be connected to a DTE (Data Terminal Equipment) device using a straight
through serial cable. A computer is typically defined as a DTE and communicaons peripherals, such as the
SL232, are defined as a DCE. To connect a DCE with another DCE, or DTE to another DTE, a null modem adapter,
or crossover cable, is required. The null modem adapter swaps certain pins, typically pins 2 and 3, and 7 and 8,
to convert a DCE into a DTE and vice-versa.
SNAP Link 5

RS-485/422 Pin Outs
The SL485 adapter can operate in either 2-wire mode or 4-wire mode according to the following pin outs:
TWO-WIRE MODE FOUR-WIRE MODE
A terminal block is provided to which the transmit (TX), receive (RX), and ground (GND) wires can be aached.
The factory default is set to 2-wire, but can be changed using the DIP switches located on the circuit board inside
the adapter case. See the chapter ―Configuring your Adaptor using the DIP Switches‖ for details in seng the
DIP switches.
To wire a connecon in two-wire mode, pick a pair of TX/RX pins – either 1 and 2 or 3 and 4. If your applicaon
requires a ground wire, somemes referred to as 3-wire or 5-wire, then also include pin 5.
6SNAP Link