SNAP Link User Guide
Contents
1. sesessesessecessecessecesoscessesesesoesesoesesoecoesseceeee 1 2 Setting Up Your SNAP Link Wireless Adapters scscscsccscscecsccscsceccccscsceccccecscescecess 3 Modes orgperO resa a 3 SNAP EINK State ING COLON ioner E S N 3 Chiang its SNAP LINK Stale searre N weaeecesnaid ie wanuestaeasaeaeuioioans 4 3 SNAP Link EasySet SoftWare sciatic oie ae 7 installing EASVSCL diccicel cco F los li aeon es Serra ead heel ee eee deed coed ee ae 7 ISIN EAS Vo Ceea a nanan 8 CONNECT aS NAPILINK DEVICE toshac226 felsic N N es 8 Selecting Basic COMMUNICATIONS Seting sos csccusssctss ARS 9 4 Configuring your Adaptor using the DIP Switches csscscscsecscscecsccscsceccccecscsseececs 15 DIP SWIC Li siscccct A ect acte a untae aster ink oeiaas 15 DIP SW ICC test cd ters atated tipast chine cts dtua dh odin aad a aed at aaGava Nea a aah aacd aaa 16 5 Application Usage Scenarios sessesessesessecessscecsssesescesesoecescecesoeceseeoesescesesoesesoecseseo 17 Scenaro E Cira SCAM MOK aaar anaa R E a E 17 Scenario 2 File Transfer Continuous StreamM ssssssssesssssessesserseresrssrssrerrsrrerrereereereeresrteresseesee 17 Scenario 3 Lowest Latency at Highest Baud Rate sessssessseenssrresesrrresrrereserresrreresrrresrrereserresene 18 6 TVOUDICSHOOUING neiseina E E A 19 7 Frequently Asked Questions sesessesessecessecessscecoscesessecescecesoscessscecsscecescessscesessesseseo 21 Appendix A Mounting Options es2. The number of seconds between pings The device will periodically ping its partner to confirm connectivity Fie Network Options Help Advanced Settings P lt ar R5232 00 66 36 COM4 The Advanced tab contains a single checkbox labelled Button Lockout When iiiki checked the MODE button on the front of the SNAP Link adapter will be disabled However the MODE button can still be used to perform a reset putting the SNAP Link device back into broadcast state SNAP Link 4 Configuring your Adaptor using the DIP Switches You use the MODE button on the front panel of your SNAP Link adapter to define which SNAP Link adapters communicate with each other as discussed in earlier sections of this manual You use the EasySet software to modify the entire range of parameters also as discussed in earlier sections of this manual However if you do not have access to a computer running EasySet you can configure some communication parameters using the DIP switches located inside the unit Changing DIP switch settings will override the default parameters or parameters previously configured using the EasySet software However EasySet can also override the DIP switch settings SNAP Link adaptors have built in intelligence to determine if EasySet or the DIP switches were last used to change the configuration The general rule is the last method used to change the settings is the one that takes precedence SL232 has a set of 8 internal switches t
3. 5 25 VDC Standard micro B USB Universal Connector Max Power Consumption RS 232 0 6WRS 485 0 825W Physical Properties Enclosure Type Extruded aluminum black anodized wall mount brackets included Direct Sequence DSSS Network Topology Enclosure Size 1 18H x 2 5W x 3 15L in 3 x 6 4 x 8 cm SNAP Link 25 PEP RS 2326 1202 174 g RS 485 6 25 oz 177 8 Ce gi er 20 t0 425 C included wall plug 0 to 45 C Wireless Link Failure Integrated Wireless Link Failure LED indicator RF Wireless Properties Up to 1000 feet indoors Line of Sight LoS RF interference can reduce range tor tne te eee rmo oc Receiver Sensitivity 102 dBm at 1 packet error rate Real time RSSI signal strength indicator AT Command Terminal Emulation Modem emulation Antenna O e Ge o w w Certifications SNAP Link RS 232 Connector DB9F DCE Data bit Parity Stop bit 7 8 no parity even odd 1 RS 485 422 Terminal block 2 or 4 wire ITX TX RX RX GND selectable Terminal block 2 or 4 wire ITX TX RX RX GND selectable Data bit Parity Stop bit 7 8 no parity even odd 1 Software OS Support Microsoft Windows XP SP2 or Windows 7 Connector Configuration EasySet Configuration Tool Included SNAP Link Regulatory Information and Certifications RF exposure statement This equipment complies with FCC radiation exposure limits set forth for an unc
4. 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 While LED A is rapidly flashing red hold down the MODE button for at least 5 seconds LED A should go dark Release the MODE button and the unit is now back in broadcast state Hold down the MODE button for at least 5 seconds When LED A turns red release the MODE button The unit drop any current pairing and will then begin looking for another SNAP Link unit with which to pair While in broadcast state press the MODE button 4 times in rapid succession within 3 seconds LED A will rapidly flash amber The unit is now in multipoint 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 transmitted SNAP Link Set up a unit asa multipoint master Back out of multipoint mode when previously set up as a master Back out of multipoint mode altogether Pin Outs While in multipoint mode again press the MODE button 4 times in rapid succession LED A will then blink slowly alternating between green and amber indicating the unit is the master in a multipoint network Any slave units on the same channel and with the same network ID which were previously set to multipoint mode will then begin pairing w
5. follow the on screen installation instructions First specify where EasySet should be installed the default being the Synapse folder within Program Files Then press Install and the software will be installed to the specified location This dialog gives you the option to exclude certain components SNAP Link Choose Install Location PB EasySet 1 2 5 Setup Welcome to the EasySet 1 2 5 Setup Wizard This wizard will guide you through the installation of EasySet LLS Itis recommended that you dose all other applications before starting Setup This will make it possible to update relevant system files without having to reboot your computer Click Next to continue i eae Choose the Folder in which to install EasySet 1 1 7 Setup will install EasySet 1 1 7 in the Following Folder To install in a different Folder click Browse and select another Folder Click Next to continue Destination Folder Browse C Program Files Synapse Easy Set Space required 71 5MB Space available 16 166 Choose Components Choose which features of EasySet 1 1 7 you want to install Check the components vou want to install and uncheck the components you don t want to install Click Install to start the installation Select components to install 7 l Pea Synapse USB Driver Desktop Icon Space required 21 5MB During installation you re asked to disconnect any Installing Synapse USB devices T
6. is to reset the device thereby setting it back to its default settings Data UART Set the SNAP Link baud rate to match that of your serial device The baud rate for all devices can range from 0 to 115 200 While K series adapters can send chunks of data in bursts up to 115 200 they safely sustain a maximum of 19 200 baud M series adapter can sustain large Baud Rate data transfers at speeds up to 115 200 baud Data Bits Set the number of data bits to 7 or 8 Parity Set the parity to none odd or even Stop Bits Stop bits is always 1 for K series adapters and can be 1 or 2 for the M series adapters If your device uses flow control then this setting should be enabled Otherwise this setting Flow Control should be disabled M esh Setti ngs Cu sto m Synapse SNAP Link EasySet 00 6e 0b File Network Options Help P AS Lg RS232 00 6e 0b COM27 Basic Mesh UART Pairing Modbus Advanced Mesh Routing Settings Custom Mesh Routing Maximum Timeout 0 Mesh Override Off On Multi cast Forwarded Groups Off On Mesh Routing Initial Hop Limit Zero One Mesh Reject Link Quality Below dBm 100 70 move left to allow weaker signals x Multicast TTL Master Setting Synapse nodes on the same channel and same network communicate with each other using mesh routing This means any device can communicate with any Mesh Routing Setting other device they are all logical peers within the mes
7. term UART Parameter refers to SNAP Link configuration settings that indicate how quickly data is wirelessly transmitted based on serial data that is received from the serial device e The term Modbus Firmware refers to a Modbus protocol reliability script that can be uploaded to a SNAP Link model using EasySet software V1 2 2 or higher Download Supporting Materials Documentation pertaining to SNAP Link devices can be downloaded from the Synapse Wireless website at synapse wireless com index php mainID 3 amp subID 11 amp type product amp 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 configuration software can be downloaded at synapse wireless com documents apps EasySet setup exe 2 SNAP Link 2 Setting Up Your SNAP Link Wireless Adapters Refer to your SNAP Link Quick Start Guide accompanying your SNAP Link wireless adapter for illustrations showing you how to set it up quickly This chapter gives you more detail about the various modes of operation and the three indicator lights Modes of Operation SNAP Link units are powered via a USB cable through their micro B USB connector They can be powered by connecting 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 u
8. 4 7398 fax www synapse wireless com License governing any code samples presented in this Manual Redistribution of code and use in source and binary forms with or without modification are permitted provided that it retains the copyright notice operates only on SNAP networks and the paragraphs below in the documentation and or other materials are provided with the distribution Copyright 2008 2014 Synapse Wireless Inc All rights Reserved Neither the name of Synapse nor the names of contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software without specific prior written permission This software is provided AS IS without a warranty of any kind ALL EXPRESS OR IMPLIED CONDITIONS REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR NON INFRINGEMENT ARE HEREBY EXCLUDED SYNAPSE AND ITS LICENSORS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES SUFFERED BY LICENSEE AS A RESULT OF USING MODIFYING OR DISTRIBUTING THIS SOFTWARE OR ITS DERIVATIVES IN NO EVENT WILL SYNAPSE OR ITS LICENSORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY LOST REVENUE PROFIT OR DATA OR FOR DIRECT INDIRECT SPECIAL CONSEQUENTIAL INCIDENTAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES HOWEVER CAUSED AND REGARDLESS OF THE THEORY OF LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THIS SOFTWARE EVEN IF SYNAPSE HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES Table of Contents r About Your SNAP Link Wireless Adapters
9. ED 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 matter what the color the LED will flicker while wireless transmission is occurring e When the unit is in multipoint mode and is seeking a master the LED will rapidly flash amber e When the unit is set up as a master the LED will slowly alternate between green and amber e fa 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 attached 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 SNAP Link 3 device is attached to the terminal bock of the SL485 adapter the LED will not glow but will flicker as data is being transferred Changing SNAP Link States When a SNAP Link device is initially powered on its serial communications parameters are set to factory defaults This initial 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 comm
10. Link 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 iM GND ry Ei A terminal block is provided to which the transmit TX receive RX and ground GND wires can be attached 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 setting the DIP switches To wire a connection in two wire mode pick a pair of TX RX pins either 1 and 2 or 3 and 4 If your application requires a ground wire sometimes referred to as 3 wire or 5 wire then also include pin 5 6 SNAP Link 3 SNAP Link EasySet Software Synapse has developed an intuitive software application to help you configure your SNAP Link adapter This software known as SNAP EasySet provides a graphical interface to access settings such as baud rate flow control and parity bits EasySet is currently available for Microsoft Windows XP SP2 or newer and Windows 7 operating systems and can be downloaded from the Synapse Wireless website at synapse wireless com documents apps EasySet setup exe After downloading the software launch the installer to guide you through the installation process Installing EasySet Upon launching the installer this dialog is presented Click Next to continue and
11. RS 422 is always 4 wire full duplex Switch 2 Wire Half Duplex 1 1 0 1 1 0 4 Wire Half Duplex 0 0 1 1 1 0 4 Wire Full Duplex 0 0 1 1 0 1 RS 422 0 O O 1 0 1 Some device manufacturers might refer to these as 3 wire or 5 wire This is referring to the same settings described above but are including the ground wire in their specification SNAP Link 5 Application Usage Scenarios The UART parameter settings in EasySet can affect end to end data communications performance between the SNAP Link adapters and your RS 485 422 232 devices This section provides several scenarios to illustrate setting the UART parameters for optimal performance Your application or device may require a few trial and error adjustments before performing as desired These scenarios provide recommended rule of thumb starting points to begin this trial and error process Refer to the UART discussion in the EasySet chapter for a description of the UART parameters but in summary the three parameters are e Buffering Timeout the total length of time to wait before buffered data is transmitted The unit of measure is milliseconds and the default is 0 O effectively turns the buffering timer off e Buffering Threshold the minimum number of characters to enqueue before the buffer is transmitted SNAP Link contains a 123 byte buffer but that must include a 12 byte header when in multipoint mode and a 15 byte header when in p
12. USER GUIDE Synapse SNAP Link Serial Wireless Adapter RS 232 and RS 485 Devices 2008 2014 Synapse All Rights Reserved All Synapse products are patent pending Synapse the Synapse logo SNAP and Portal are all registered trademarks of Synapse Wireless Inc Doc 600038 01D 6723 Odyssey Drive Huntsville AL 35806 877 982 7888 Synapse Wireless com Disclaimers Information contained in this Manual is provided in connection with Synapse products and services and is intended solely to assist its customers Synapse reserves the right to make changes at any time and without notice Synapse assumes no liability whatsoever for the contents of this Manual or the redistribution as permitted by the foregoing Limited License The terms and conditions governing the sale or use of Synapse products is expressly contained in the Synapse s Terms and Condition for the sale of those respective products Synapse retains the right to make changes to any product specification at any time without notice or liability to prior users contributors or recipients of redistributed versions of this Manual Errata should be checked on any product referenced Synapse and the Synapse logo are registered trademarks of Synapse All other trademarks are the property of their owners For further information on any Synapse product or service contact us at Synapse Wireless Inc 6723 Odyssey Drive Huntsville Alabama 35806 256 852 7888 877 982 7888 256 92
13. another without being directly above or below each other try to position the antennas of all your SNAP Link devices in the same orientation e There could be other interference problems in your vicinity such as large metal objects dense foliage and other objects that prevent signal transmission or attenuation signal loss Microwave ovens can cause interference problems Try moving the units physically to another usable location to see if signal strength improves e Try changing the channel of each device There are 16 separate channels 0 15 spread within the 2 4GHz frequency Various other 2 4GHz devices such as cordless phones and WiFi routers may be flooding one channel but not another one e Refer to the Advanced Management section for reference to the Synapse Portal software This software contains a Channel Analyzer tool that can help you determine which channel has the least traffic interference Multiple Masters In a multipoint network if SNAP Link devices are unable to pair with a master check for the presence of multiple masters There can be only one master in a multipoint network If you wish to operate multiple masters within the same vicinity then be sure to set each master to a different channel and or network ID using either EasySet or the DIP switches To reduce crosstalk set the network channels as far apart as possible When operating normally a SNAP Link master will slowly blink the A LED alternating betwee
14. etries The delay between retries is a millisecond timer that counts down after the Master adapter transmits a modbus command Once the transmission occurs the Master adapter will count down the assign number in milliseconds If a reply is not received before the timer reaches zero the Master unit will retransmit the original Modbus command up to the number of Retry count assigned Retry count The number of times the Master will re transmit the original broadcast if no response is received within the Delay between retries setting 24 SNAP Link AppendixC Advanced Management The SNAP Link EasySet software was designed to set up SNAP Link adapters quickly and easily However if you should encounter situations where a more powerful tool is needed Synapse Wireless offers Portal an advanced SNAP network Administration tool as a free download from the web site To access the download you will need to register on the Synapse forum site at forums synapse wireless com register php Once registered download Portal and its related documentation from forums synapse wireless com showthread php t 9 Specifications General Radio Frequency 2 4 GHz 2 4000 2 4835 GHz Spreading Spectrum Type Frequency Control Offset Quadrature Phase Shift Keying O QPSK Point to Point Paired Point Multipoint Master Slave Transparent Mesh Networking Max Sustainable 19 200 bps Throughput Power Requirements Supply Voltage 4
15. h even though in some cases units that are out of radio range with each other might have to pass messages through intermediate nodes SNAP Link Mesh Routing Maximum Timeout Mesh Override Multi Cast Forwarded Group Mesh Routing Initial Hop Limit Mesh Reject Link Quality From dBm Multicast TTL Master Setting SNAP Link Mesh routing can be enabled disabled or set to custom Enable mesh routing to allow a SNAP Link device to participate as a node in a wider SNAP mesh network If you set Mesh Routing to custom then the maximum age in milliseconds can be specified here The default value should cover most network topologies and should be changed only under the direction of technical support Be careful when changing these values on remote nodes as you could make it impossible to communicate with the node remotely If you set Mesh Routing to custom then check this box to indicate mesh override This means to use mesh routing but not to route for other nodes in the network Select On to have the connected SNAP Link adapter re transmit or re broadcast any communications it receives from the Master This is typically enabled on a SNAP Link client mode adapter located approximately halfway between the Master unit and the SNAP Link adapter client that exhibits poor transmission signal strength behavior as documented in the chapter called Troubleshooting Select One to have the connected SNAP Link adapter li
16. hat set Flow Control Baud Rate and SNAP Channel SL484 has the same set of 8 switches plus a second set of 6 switches that configure the device for either 2 wire or 4 wire operation To access the DIP switches remove the four screws on the antenna end of the device and slide out the enclosed PC board to expose the switches DIP Switch 2 SL485 Only snap ee ay as d F o i H ko E 7 i DIP Switch 1 DIP Switch 1 DIP switch 1 consists of 8 individual switches which are applicable to all SNAP Link devices All possible switch settings are shown in the tables below This example indicates flow control off 2400 BAUD and SNAP channel 9 Switch Flow Switch Setting Switch Setting SNAP Setting Control Channel O off Disabled O 0 0 9600 0 0 0 0 0 1 on Enabled O 0 1 19 200 O 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 38 400 O 0 1 0 2 0 1 1 57 600 0 0 1 1 3 SNAP Link 1 0 0 115 200 O 1 0 0 4 1 0 1 300 0 1 0 1 5 1 1 0 1200 0 1 1 0 6 1 1 1 2400 0 1 1 1 7 1 0 0 0 8 1 0 0 1 9 1 0 1 0 10 1 0 1 1 11 1 1 0 0 12 1 1 0 1 13 1 1 1 0 14 1 1 1 1 15 DIP Switch 2 DIP switch 2 consists of 6 individual switches and is present only in SL485 devices It is used to configure the device for 2 wire or 4 wire operation Note that 2 wire is always half duplex and 4 wire can be switched between half or full duplex
17. his is so the installer can load new a a a iniadi drivers Disconnect any Synapse USB devices and press Ok to complete the installation ERRERBERREEEEEEEEEEE EERE Extract wabessceh vedi 100 ma Extract enp EA we 100 Extract aurnmeerid s Extract cece EasySet T 1 7 Setup x Extract anes Bo Extract woonpeice Please desconmect any Synapse USE devices than press OK bo continue Create Folder C i Creste chortout 0 OK Extract SMAP Lii Crame folder cM PEETA 2 DEE Output folder C Program FiesiSynageeiEasyset sresgerr ineeye Extract SP Link IUD 49 op Extract SMAP _Line RF 2 4 9 spy Using EasySet Launch EasySet by selecting EasySet from the Windows Start menu inona EasySet will start up and present this window File Network Options Help a RD EE SNAP Link EasySet Basic Mesh UART Pairing Advanced Firmware Network ID You will see four icons in the tool bar across the top of the window Most ose of these are inactive grayed out until EasySet is connected with a SNAP s Link adapter There are also four tabs in a tab bar below the tool bar Baud Rate Data Bits Parity Stop Bits Flow Control Toolbar The four toolbar commands are Connect Disconnect Serial Port used to connect and disconnect from the attached SNAP Link device Because this icon changes when you connect or disconnect it also serves as a quick status indicator P
18. ich might be more efficient depending upon your application it also increases latency Note that other events controlled by Buffering Threshold and Inter character Timeout can also trigger the buffer of data to be sent Buffering Threshold This setting indicates the maximum packet size used when sending data The default is 100 bytes and the maximum is 123 bytes Values over 100 are not recommended as they could result in buffer overrun Buffering Threshold causes buffered data to be sent whenever the threshold is reached However triggering the Buffering Timeout or Inter character Timeout settings could cause data to be sent before the threshold is reached Each packet of data includes a header which comprises 12 bytes for multipoint packets and 15 bytes for point to point packets So the actual number of data bytes sent will be either 12 or 15 bytes fewer If you set Buffering Threshold to a large number then larger more efficient packets will be sent but with greater latency At higher baud rates setting this value too high can result in dropped characters Inter character Timeout This setting allows you to tune the inter character serial data timeout This value is in milliseconds and defaults to 10 Inter character Timeout is the maximum elapsed time that should pass before sending the enqueued packet after receiving a character It restarts with every received character This parameter or Buffering Timeout can trigger tran
19. imal value from 0x0001 through OxFFFE Devices in a SNAP network must share both the same channel and same network ID to communicate This allows multiple SNAP networks to share the same channel if required although it is preferred to place independent networks on separate physical channels to reduce collisions SNAP Link defaults to network ID Ox1C2C Network ID The channel number can range from 0 to 15 All SNAP Link devices that you wish to include in the same network must be set to identical channel numbers Due to FCC regulations channel 15 provides slightly less output power than channels 0 to 14 Hence in most cases it is recommended to avoid using channel 15 Channel SNAP Link 9 SNAP Link adapters contain two UARTs Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter one for the USB port and one for the serial communications RS 232 or RS 485 422 port This setting indicates which port is connected to your serial device therefore defining where the serial data should be transmitted The factory default is to send all serial data through either the RS 232 DB9 or RS 485 422 terminal block and NOT through the USB cable The default setting of the USB port is to communicate only with EasySet You can change this arrangement but doing so will make your device unreachable via the USB port for further programming by EasySet If you choose USB using this Data UART setting in EasySet and later need to reprogram the device the easiest method
20. in the following specifications e Part 15 Subpart B for Class B equipment e FCC 96 208 as it applies to Class B personal computers and peripherals The products listed above have been tested at an External Test Laboratory certified per FCC rules and has been found to meet the FCC Part 15 Emission Limits Documentation is on file and available from Synapse Wireless Inc Industry Canada IC certifications This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class B limits for radio noise emissions from digital apparatus set out in the Radio Interference Regulations of the Canadian Department of Communications Le present appareil numerique n emet pas de bruits radioelectriques depassant les limites applicables aux appareils numeriques de la class B prescrites dans le R glement sur le brouillage radioelectrique edicte par le minist re des Communications du Canada SNAP Link 29
21. ing causes EasySet to make a quick connectivity test to the attached SNAP Link device Refresh Node Information causes EasySet to poll the attached SNAP Link device for configuration information Upload SNAPpy Image prompts EasySet to upload the SNAP Link operating software into the attached SNAP Link device It will be necessary to do this only upon release of new SNAP Link software or upon instruction by technical support Connect a SNAP Link Device Connect a SNAP Link device to your computer using the supplied USB cable The micro B side of the cable fits into the back of the SNAP Link device and the USB end fits into any standard USB port on your PC This connection supplies power to the SNAP Link and also allows EasySet to communicate with it Next tell EasySet to scan the computer s communications ports for a Synapse device Press the Connect Serial Port button and EasySet will scan all serial ports and will stop when it believes it has found a SNAP Link device 8 SNAP Link When EasySet finds a Synapse device press the Connect button If it failed to find the correct Port COM device type press the Scan button to the right of the port identifier This will cause EasySet to Progress Found SMAP Link Device on Port COM4 continue the scan L cancel If EasySet finds an attached device but it s not a SNAP Link then you will see this error message Press Ok and then Scan again ead Connection Failed Unknow
22. ith the master If LED A should begin alternating between red and amber that indicates another master is already on the same channel and with the same network ID If the unit was previously set up as a master press and hold the MODE button for at least 5 seconds until LED A rapidly flashes The unit is no longer a master but is still in multipoint mode and is now looking for a master with which to pair If the unit was previously set up as a master first back out by following the procedure above Then press and hold the MODE button again for at least 5 seconds until 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 multipoint mode 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 direction The SL232 adapter uses a standard DB9 female connector configured as a DCE Data Communications 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 communications 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
23. lable with wireless data rates up to 2 Mbps e Supports wireless RS 232 RS 422 and RS 485 transparent serial data transfers e Hardened Modbus wireless protocol included for 99 5 reliable transport e Enables simple one button pairing for fast easy installation e Supports one to one point to point and one to many multipoint relationships e Performs mesh hopping which can extend distances across many miles e Includes SNAP Link EasySet software for advanced configurations e Requires no changes to existing equipment and software Document Conventions Please note the following terminology while reading this document e The term SNAP Link is used to refer to any of the SNAP Link models listed above e The RS 232 models are referred to by their model number which is SL232 This pertains to both models unless otherwise noted e The RS 485 422 models are referred to by their model number which is SL485 This pertains to both models unless otherwise noted e The term K series refers to the SL232K and SL485K adapters e The term serial port refers to the data communications port either the RS 232 port DB9F connector of an SL232 device or the RS 485 422 terminal block of an SL485 device SNAP Link e The micro B USB port of the SNAP Link adapter may be referred to as simply the USB port e The term RS 485 422 device or RS 232 device refers to the data communications device you are attaching to the SNAP Link adapter e The
24. large continuous block of data is transmitted such as what would take place during a file transfer In this case latency is not an issue but maximizing the transfer rate is Suggested parameters are e Buffering Timeout This should be set to a fairly large number to ensure the transmit buffer is filled before being transmitted At 19 200 baud an appropriate number would be 50 to 60 milliseconds e Buffering Threshold This should be set to as large a number as possible The maximum would be 108 bytes in point to point mode and 111 bytes in multipoint mode however as stated above numbers above 100 are not recommended e Inter character Timeout This should be set to O to turn this parameter off We don t want the buffer transmitted if the serial device should hesitate for a few milliseconds Instead we want the buffer to be filled to capacity so we ll let the other two parameters control when the buffer is transmitted SNAP Link Scenario 3 Lowest Latency at Highest Baud Rate In this example we have bursts of up to 75 bytes that we want transmitted with the least amount of latency Suggested parameters are e Buffering Timeout This should be set to a small number to keep the smaller packets flowing and allow the buffer to fill when a larger packet arrives At 19 200 baud around 35 milliseconds should work and at 115 200 baud around 5 milliseconds should suffice e Buffering Threshold Set this value to 90 to allow the la
25. mit Hops to 1 A hop limit of 1 directs a SNAP Link unit to request routing paths from other SNAP devices one hop away It will automatically attempt to discover a routing path up to five hops away if this initial one hop discovery fails By setting this parameter to zero O you are telling the SNAP Link attached adapter to attempt sending a packet directly to the address first before seeing if there is a route path to get to him This setting is most useful when fast timing is required and you are pretty sure they are within one hop distance The Mesh Reject Link Quality slider allows you to require the minimum signal strength as measured in dBm strength that the connected SNAP Link adapter is allowed to use for transmitting to a neighboring node even if the neighboring node is the Master device WARNING setting this slider to the far right could result in an oddly behaving mesh network including no connection success at all dBm is a logarithmic setting from 0 to 127 and the slide allows you to require the minimum signal strength to be between 100 weak to 50 very strong Sliding it to the left may allow more packets to become lost never arriving at its destination Sliding it to the right will decrease the number of these dropped packets but may result in no communication at all if set too far to the right Multicast Time To Live parameter only needs to be set on the SNAP Link adapter designated as the Master As discu
26. n the EasySet chapter and also review the Application Usage Scenarios chapter Paired but not Communicating If a unit appears to be paired in multipoint mode but still doesn t work check the communications parameters using EasySet If you don t see an occasion blink of the green A LED then you might have an incorrect setting in baud rate flow control stop bits parity or flow control If you have more than two SNAP Link units confirm that each unit is paired to the desired unit Each unit s address is printed on a label located on the bottom The unit it is paired with can be confirmed using EasySet 20 SNAP Link 7 Frequently Asked Questions Does the SL485 product provide power to an attached device off the terminal block In other words if my RS 485 device requires power can it obtain that power from the SNAP Link product No The SNAP Link family requires only a tiny fraction of the power specified by the RS 485 standard and does not have the capability of driving an RS 485 device from the SNAP Link provided power source If power off and power back on a SNAP Link product does it forget the configuration changes have previously applied such as baud rate parity flow control UART parameters channel or network ID No SNAP Link units store those parameters into non volatile NV RAM maintaining your settings when power is cycled As shipped from the factory are the SL485 products configured to use 2 wire or 4
27. n device When successfully connected to a SNAP Link device EasySet populates the communication fields with the data currently set in the SNAP Link device When the SNAP Link device is powered up for the first time you will see the factory default settings set internally by the DIP switches Once the configuration is changed by EasySet the SNAP Link device will retain the new configuration in flash memory Tab Bar There are four tabs across the top of the window Basic UART Pairing and Advanced which allow you to match the communications settings of your SNAP Link adapter to that of the serial communications device to which you are connecting Selecting Basic Communications Settings Below the icons and immediately above the tab bar is the SNAP Link BM synapse SNAP Link EasySet O3 de28 erm adapter type either RS 232 or RS 485 422 To the right of that is the aeee adapter s MAC media access control address The same address is also seh a aaa printed on a label on the bottom of the device a Set the items under the Basic tab to match those of the serial a O a communications device you are connecting to your SNAP Link adapter In i Data Bits 8 this example we are attaching a device running at 9600 baud with 8 data wa bits no parity 1 stop bit and with flow control enabled Flow Control enabled The network ID can be thought of as a logical channel This 16 bit integer may be assigned any hexadec
28. n green and amber If it detects the presence of another master on the same channel it will then alternate the colors between red and amber Can t Find a Master If a SNAP Link device is unable to pair with a master there may be several possible problems e Ensure there are not multiple masters on the network by observing LED A as described above e Ensure all units on the multipoint network are using the same channel number and network ID SNAP Link e Ensure the unit is within broadcast range of the master If in doubt try to pair the units within the same room Once paired move the slave unit farther away while observing LED A It should start off green but if the unit is moved to the fringe of its broadcast range the LED will turn amber indicating weak signal strength If the LED turns red then it has lost its connection with the master e Try adjusting the antennas as described above Poor Performance If you believe your SNAP Link adapter are not performing adequately this could be caused by a number of factors such as e Poor signal strength try adjusting the antennas as described above e Incorrect data communications parameters confirm your serial communication settings in EasySet with those of your serial device e Premature sending of packets holding on to packets for too long or just dropped packets try optimizing the UART parameters for your particular application Revisit the UART parameter settings i
29. nits using the EasySet software 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 multipoint mode also known as multicast In point to point mode two SNAP Link units are paired thereby providing a wireless connection between two external serial devices In multipoint mode one of the SNAP Link devices is designated the master and multiple other devices can be configured as slaves This section provides more detail on how these modes can be set manually by pressing the MODE button on the SNAP Link device SNAP Link State Indicators You can change the state of your adapter either by holding down the MODE button 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 button 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 configuration settings or traffic status events as documented next unless the Modbus firmware script has been uploaded to the SNAP Link adapter 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 operation e When the unit is seeking a pair the LED will rapidly flash red e When the unit is paired either in unicast mode or as a slave in multicast mode the L
30. oint to point mode The default value is 100 Values over 100 are not recommended especially at high baud rates because the buffer could be overrun resulting in dropped characters e Inter character Timeout the length of time to wait between the arrival of characters before the buffer is transmitted The unit of measure is in milliseconds and the default is 10 Scenario 1 Card Scanner In this example a card scanner is sending small but continuous packets of data One of its requirements is fast turnaround hence a small buffer needs to be emptied frequently to reduce latency Suggested parameters are e Buffering Timeout O turns this timer off In this case we ll let the threshold and inter character timer take care of flushing the buffer e Buffering Threshold This should be set to the size of the card scanner packets plus an additional 12 or 15 bytes of header So if the packet size of the payload is 16 bytes then this buffer could be set to 28 if using multicast or 31 bytes if using unicast SNAP Link adapters configured as masters in a multipoint configuration always use multicast Slaves and paired adapters always use unicast communications e Inter character Timeout This should be a low number such as 3 to 10 milliseconds to prevent data from being buffered too long Higher baud rates should use a lower value and lower baud rates need a higher value Scenario 2 File Transfer Continuous Stream In this example a
31. only each SNAP Link device will be married to or paired with another SNAP Link The factory default serial port settings 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 Ox1C2C 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 Resetting 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 Pair a unit in point to point Back out of searching for a pair Remove pairing Set a unit to multipoint mode Broadcast state is the initial SNAP Link state as set by the factory To return to broadcast state remove power hold down the MODE button then reapply power After 5 seconds when all LEDs are rapidly flashing green amber red release the MODE button The B LED will be green signifying power The C LED will be green only if an RS 232 device is attached The A LED which signifies broadcast state will be off While in broadcast state hold down the MODE button for at least 5 seconds When LED A turns red release the MODE button The unit will then look for another SNAP Link to pair with as indicated by the
32. ontrolled environment This equipment should be installed and operated with minimum distance of 20cm between the radiator and your body This transmitter must not be co located or operating in conjunction with any other antenna or transmitter FCC certifications and regulatory information USA only FCC PART 15 CLASS B These devices comply with part 15 of the FCC rules Operation is subject to the following two conditions 1 These devices may not cause harmful interference and 2 These devices must accept any interference received including interference that may cause harmful operation RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE RFI FCC 15 105 This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation This equipment generates uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions may cause harmful interference to radio communications However there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures e Reorient or relocate the recei
33. r has had the script uploaded by displaying Modbus rat along with a new Modbus tab The Modbus script enables a new hardened wireless Modbus protocol that provides the highest reliability transport along with the ability to fine tune the retransmissions and lag or latency introduced by those retries Please review the Modbus appendix later in this document for more information SNAP Link UART Settings The UART tab contains three parameters allowing you to fine tune data Ble Network Options Help er Pia transmission These can be set according to the needs of the serial device eee esis Com j i ER ART i raa You may have to adjust these depending upon transmission speed and the nu comm n size of data packets See the chapter on Application Usage Scenarios for More suffering Threshold 40 help in setting these parameters Inker character Timeout 10 Buffering Timeout This setting controls the overall serial data timeout The value is in milliseconds with the default being 0 or no timeout The Buffering Timeout controls the elapsed time between an initial character being received and a packet of serial data being enqueued for processing When the timeout passes regardless of the number of characters buffered or the rate at which they are received the buffered data will be sent The larger this value the more buffering that will take place However while this allows for more data to be sent per packet wh
34. rger packets to buffer 75 bytes plus 15 bytes for the unicast header The Buffering Timeout will force the smaller packets to be sent preventing them from sitting in the transmit buffer for too long e Inter character Timeout This parameter should be smaller than the Buffering Timeout to force transmission of very small payloads with pauses between them In this scenario set this parameter at about half of the Buffering Timeout setting SNAP Link 6 Troubleshooting In the realm of wireless communications many factors can affect reliable data communications This section lists a number of known factors and possible remedies If your question is not adequately answered here visit the SNAP Link support forum on the Synapse Wireless website where you can post a question and interact with other SNAP Link users The SNAP Link Support forum can be accessed at forums synapse wireless com forumdisplay php f 11 Signal Strength Problems SNAP Link adapters should communicate well when placed in near proximity of one another as indicated by a mostly green LED A why might they not communicate well when moved futher apart as indicated by LED A turning amber indicating weak signal strength or red indicating loss of signal You can make several adjustments to remedy this situation e Try orienting the external antenna into different positions Since antennas work best when they are in the same spacial plane essentially parallel to one
35. sesessesessecessecesoscessecesescecescecesoecsecesesoecesoeoesoecesseseseeceeee 23 Appendix B M dbu s FirmWare ocos a a aa 24 Appendix C Advanced Management sesessesessecessscesoscecsscecssoesssoesesoesesoeoesoecessecsessececee 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 e L232K 001 RS 232 with 250 Kbps wireless data rate e SL232K 002 Adds DC power option to 001 version e SL485K 001 RS 485 422 with 250 Kbps wireless data rate e SL485K 002 Adds DC power option to 001 version Each SNAP Link adapter comes with SNAP EasySet an intuitive application program that runs on Microsoft Windows based computers that allows you to configure the device quickly and easily Please refer to software specifications in the appendix of this document for exact operating 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 e Features SNAP the Synapse Network Application Protocol instant on self healing mesh network operating system e Avai
36. smission of buffered data before Buffering Threshold is reached Conversely if the timeouts are high or disabled altogether then data will be transmitted when the Buffering Threshold is reached Setting a large Inter character Timeout can give better multicast transparent mode reliability but with greater latency SNAP Link Pairing Settings File Network Options Help The Pairing tab indicates whether the SNAP Link adapter is paired with BAS ik R 00 6e 36 COM4 another adapter which is denoted by displaying the other pair s SNAP Basic UART cy am ii address State lt Address of Pair 00 6E 55 St ate Time Between Status Messages 3 This is the paired state The value can be e Simple Broadcast Unit is in a reset state and is waiting to be set up e Searching for Master Unit is in multipoint mode and is searching for a master unit with which to pair e Master Unit is in multipoint mode and is the master It is now willing to accept slave units e Slave Unit is in multipoint mode is a slave and has paired with a master e Ready to Pair Unit is in point to point mode and is looking for another unit with which to pair e Paired Unit is in point to point mode and has been paired with another Address of Pair When paired this will be the device address the unit is paired with If a slave this will be the address of the master If a master this field will be blank Time Between Status Messages
37. ssed in other sections Master transmissions use the Multicast protocol in order for multiple clients to all receive the Master transmissions By default Multicast TTL has been set to 1 which means that even if a Client adapter s Mesh Routing Initial Hop Limit is set to On they will not retransmit or rebroadcast the Master s transmissions Example There are four SNAP Link adapters in a long linear line Master Client1 Client2 and Client3 Master node transmissions do not get to the farthest Client 3 but it appears Client1 could get it to Client2 and Client2 could get it to Client3 since each Client is about 1 3 of the distance away from its neighbors In this example setting the Master TTL to 4 on the Master adapter and setting Client 1 and Client 2 to On for the Mesh Routing Initial Hop Limit should make sure all transmissions are received m Synapse SNAP Link EasySet 00 6e 0b File Network Options Help RD ls Mesh No Mesh RS232 00 6e 0b COM27 Basic Mesh UART Pairing Modbus Advanced Mesh Routing Settings No Mesh Mesh Routing Settings No Mesh Mesh Routing Maximurn Timeout Setting the Mesh Routing Settings parameter to No Mesh keeps transmissions to a minimum reducing interference and collisions that may add lag or delays in the smooth timing operation of your SNAP Link adapters sometimes referred to as a broadcast storm Only enable mesh routing if you have de
38. termined that you need some of your Client mode adapters to help retransmit or rebroadcast transmissions in order for all Clients to receive and transmit their information Mesh Mesh Defaults Synapse SNAP Link EasySet 00 6e 0b File Network Options Help i 4 P D D Le RS232 00 6e 0b COM27 Basic Mesh UART Pairing Modbus Advanced Mesh Routing Settings Mesh Mesh Routing Maximum Timeout Mesh Routing Settings Mesh Mesh Override Multicast Forwarded Groups These are the default parameters when you select Mesh from the Mesh Routing Settings pull down menu Selecting Mesh indicates that you want the connected SNAP Link adapter to assume an additional role of transmission repeater router As long as the Master adapter has the Multicast TTL Master Setting assigned to a number larger than 1 all nodes with this Mesh_ pull down menu selection will repeat unicast and multicast transmissions they receive Mesh Routing Initial Hop Limit Synapse SNAP Link EasySet 03 de 38 Modbus Firmware If Script has been loaded P aS is Modbus Firmware ry e Femware Modbus Network Options Help Network ID ox 102C A new tab called Modbus_ has been added in the release of EasySet ere V1 2 3 once a SNAP Link adapter has Uploaded the Modbus script and Data UART reset to factory default The new Firmware field denotes this connected Baud Rate Data Bits SNAP Link adapte
39. ving antenna e Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver e Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected e Consult the dealer or an experienced radio TV technician for help LABELING REQUIREMENTS FCC 15 19 This device complies with Part 15 of FCC rules Operation is subject to the following two conditions 1 this device may not cause harmful interference and 2 this device must accept any interference received including interference that may cause undesired operation If the FCC ID for the module inside this product enclosure is not visible when installed inside another device then the outside of the device into which this product is installed must also display a label referring to the enclosed module FCC ID Modifications FCC 15 21 Changes or modifications to this equipment not expressly approved by Synapse Wireless Inc may void the user s authority to operate this equipment Declaration of Conformity In accordance with FCC 96 208 and 95 19 Manufacturer s Name Synapse Wireless Inc Headquarters 6723 Odyssey Drive Huntsville Al 35806 Synapse Wireless Inc declares that the products 28 SNAP Link Product Name Model Numbers SNAP Link RS232 SL232K 001 and SL232K 002 SNAP Link RS485 422 SL485K 001 and SL485K 002 To which this declaration relates meet the requirements specified by the Federal Communications Commission as detailed
40. w master You will need to perform a simple one button process at each slave This is by design since you wouldn t want slave devices to automatically switch to a new master if one were one to be powered up for a different purpose This is documented in the setup chapter but the process is as follows 1 Hold down the MODE button for 5 seconds until LED A begins to flash red Release the MODE button LED A will no longer be lit 2 Click the MODE button four times in rapid succession LED A will rapidly flash amber to indicate it is seeking a master and upon finding one will change to green Is the SNAP Link RS 232 product a DTE data terminal equipment or a DCE data communications equipment When do I need to use a null modem cable or adapter SNAP Link The SNAP Link RS 232 devices use a standard DB9 female connector configured as a DCE It can be connected to a DTE using a straight through cable If you need to connect an SL232 to another DCE device then a null modem adapter or cross over cable will be required See the discussion of RS 232 pin outs for further information SNAP Link Appendix A Mounting Options SNAP Link devices can sit on a table top or be wall mounted using the included mounting brackets To install the brackets one of the end panels must be removed and the brackets slid into place There are two mounting brackets one for each side of the SNAP Link box Remove an end panel by unscrewing the 4 scre
41. wire RS 485 cabling Factory default settings are to assume an RS 485 2 wire cable To support a 4 wire configuration the unit must be opened and some settings on the six DIP switch box must be changed as shown in the chapter on DIP switch settings have a 3 wire or 5 wire RS 485 Do you support those as well X Yes Some documentation does not count the ground wire when discussing an RS 485 cable Therefore a 2 wire isn t counting the ground wire while saying 3 wire does count it They are both the same A 4 wire is also the same as saying 5 wire for the same reason In a multipoint configuration my master device shows an amber flicker periodically Does this mean it has a weak signal strength Can determine the signal strength on the master unit No A master s A LED displays a mostly green color with a regular amber flash This display simply indicates that the unit is the master node in a multipoint network The master does not indicate signal strength when communicating with its slaves However by looking at LED C you can determine when the master unit has data transmission activity with its attached serial device The only way to determine signal strength in a multipoint network is by looking at LED A on the slave units to see if they have a good connection with the master need to replace the master SNAP Link unit in a multipoint setup that has been working Must I reset each device or can merely set up the ne
42. ws and removing the panel Slide the brackets into place as shown Reattach the end panel using the 4 screws The end panels will securely hold the brackets in place The completed assembly is now ready to be hung on a ceiling or wall SNAP Link 23 Appendix B Modbus Firmware With the release of EasySet V1 2 3 SNAP Link adapters can load a new version of script firmware to increase the reliability of wireless transmissions by allowing an automatic number of retransmissions by the Master adapter This multicast retry feature ensures the master continues to retransmit a command if no response is received due to the original transmission By adjusting two parameters you can balance the number of retries attempted by the Master adapter However lag or latency is introduced by each retry Synapse SNAP Link EasySet 03 de 38 Select Modbus script as shown for uploading the Modbus firmware to the connected SNAP Link adapter a Network Options Help 03dea8 SNAPpy Image oom Piease select the SNAPpy image you would like to upload This operation is service a Modbus RF 100 2 4 9 39 SNAP _Link RF 100 2 4 9 spy The Modbus tab enables retransmission by the Master adapter based on retry EE Sjopse SNAP Link Eat Oa count and the waiting period between them e oer RS485 03 de a8 COM 1 Basic Mesh UART Pairing Modbus Advanced Delay between retries so Retry count Delay between r
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