Eric Apperley

The scenario: - Host computer connected to the RS232 port on CPU (CJ series or similar). This is a direct one-to-one connection, not networked. Question: - Can FINS protocol be used on its own across the serial link without encapsulating within the Host Link protocol "text" area? (Sorry, found this aspect confusing in the W342 manual). Eric

Nibroc, Thanks for the response. Yes, I was aware of the fact that the FINS gateway wouldn't run on a pocketPC device, hence the questions. I do understand how to do the encapsulation for FINS and suspected I'd have to do that for the RS232 port for the reason you mentioned, but just wanted to confirm that was the case. One of the previous responses on this thread was a bit hazy. I can use FINS if required, and I have managed to successfully construct and send FINS messages via Host Link and obtain valid responses. However there's 32767 words of data to transfer with all the protocol overhead so as you say binary makes a lot of sense, especially being a battery powered device. Given that fact, what I would like now is a URL to a Toolbus Protocol manual. Is there in fact a Toolbus Protocol manual or protocol description available to industry (i.e. outside of OMRON themselves)? Eric

Nibroc, Does the FINS gateway actually ensapsulate the FINS command before sending it out on a serial port connection to the network (i.e. does it prefix the command/response block with "@" + Node No + "FA" + response delay) or does it send it as raw FINS ? I can't install the FINS gateway for this application as I'll be using a handheld pocketPC device. Eric

I am trying to write a program to communicate with an OMRON PLC (CJ1M series or similar) via the RS232 port using infrared (from a PDA). Questions: Has anyone done this and if so what RS232-infrared adapter was used? Can an iRDA RS232 adapter be used to emulate a serial cable connection (like the Serial Port Profile on bluetooth)? In programming this do I have to use Windows "Sockets" or will it look like a virtual COM port at the PDA application? Eric

Sorry to be a pain... I'm writing software to interface a host computer via the hostlink protocol to a CJ1M PLC RS232C port. To help with the development I have monitored the communications message from the CX-ONE programming software to the PLC and I have observed numerous command messages with the ASCII header code characters of "FA". I don't see a "FA" header code listed in the OMRON manual W342-E1-09 titled "SYSMAC CS/CJ Series - Communications Commands - Reference Manual" . Am I correct that this is an undocumented command, or have I missed something? What does the "FA" command do - is it referring to an embedded FINS command? If I have indeed missed this in the manual, then what page is it on,? Alternatively, if it sin't documented, what is the command and response message structure for the "FA" header code? (or is this not intended to be used by anyone except OMRON?) Eric

Thanks. Sorry, I jumped the gun a bit there and found the answer somewhat later on rescanning the manual. I've got the comms application working now - its a VB.Net application communicating via Bluetooth to a CJ1M PLC. I'm now proceeding to port the application to the pocket PC platform. I'll take a look at Multiway anyway since it might clarify a few things but I think I've now got a good understanding of the two protocols.

Greetings, I'm writing a custom PDA application to retrieve data and control a CJ1M PLC via Bluetooth. This is a 3rd year university project. Here's the scenario: 1) I have been loaned a CJ1M-CPU and Promi-SD Bluetooth RS232 Interface adapter plus the CX-One programming software and a CP-HOST2 $M cable. 2) I have finally figured out how to get the PLC on-line from the CX-ONE using the RS232 port and serial cable (without using auto on-line). This has allowed me to write a program and run it in the PLC. 3) I now need to set the RS232 communication port parameters in the CJ1M to match the parameters of the bluetooth adapter and retain those after power-off. 4) Two questions: a) what should the DIP switch settings be on the CJ1M to change the RS232 port communications parameters in the PLC? b) What menu/tabbed worksheet pages do I use in the CX-ONE software to do this? Sorry, I find the CJ1M DIP switch settings and CX-ONE "settings" pages a bit confusing! Any help gratefully accepted (I have an existing background in serial comms and electronics so a technical answer will be fine). Thanks, Eric

Thanks. I've already downloaded the protocol manuals for Hostlink and FINS (I need to read/write the card in the PLC also, hence the use of FINS). I'll go look for the VB example.