Settings for Serial Communication

On the Serial Communication tab, you define the settings for serial communication:

Field	Description
Serial Port	Indicates the name of the serial port on the computer on which PCo is running.
Baud Rate	Indicates the amount of transferred data in bits per second. You can select the most common baud rates from the dropdown box. You can also enter a baud rate of your choice. Caution The baud rate depends on the device that you want to connect to PCo. Not all baud rates are compatible with all serial ports.
Parity Check	Here you enter the method that you want to use for detecting errors in data transfer. (See also: Parity Check.) If you use the parity check, an additional parity bit is added to the data bits to be transferred. The following options are available: No Parity Check Do not perform a parity check. Odd In this setting, the number of 1 bits in each character string that is transferred, including the parity bit, must always be odd so that the recipient accepts the transferred information as error-free. Even In this setting, the number of 1 bits in each character string that is transferred, including the parity bit, must always be even so that the recipient accepts the transferred information as error-free. Example Transferred bits: 01101001 1 is the check bit Bit sum = 4 x 1 = 4 The bit sum is even. Therefore, if you have set the checking method Even, there are no errors. Caution The type of parity check depends on the device that you want to connect to PCo.
Handshake	Here you specify the serial port signals that are used for the handshake. The options are as follows: No Handshake Request to Send Caution The setting depends on the device that you want to connect to PCo.
Read Timeout	The read timeout indicates the maximum interval permitted within a message frame in milliseconds. This maximum interval between two sent characters of a message frame must not last longer than is required for sending 1.5 characters. If you enter `0`, the value permitted by PCo is calculated based on the baud rate. If the permitted value is exceeded when a message frame is sent, the message frame is faulty. (See also: General Form of Message Frames.)
Silent Interval	Interval between the end of a message frame and the start of the next message frame. The message frames are separated in the data stream by the silent interval. Here you can enter the permitted silent interval in milliseconds. If you enter `0`, the value permitted by PCo is calculated based on the baud rate. (See also: General Form of Message Frames.)
Use ASCII Protocol	With this indicator, you specify that you want the data to be sent in the ASCII mode. You should only use this setting for test purposes. If you do not set the indicator, the RTU mode is used.