BB Electronics Switch 232BSS4 User Manual

Buffered Smart Switch  
Model 232BSS4  
Documentation Number: 232BSS4-2907  
This product designed and manufactured in Ottawa, Illinois USA  
of domestic and imported parts by  
707 Dayton Road -- P.O. Box 1040 -- Ottawa, IL 61350 USA  
Phone (815) 433-5100 -- General Fax (815) 433-5105  
Phone (815) 433-5100 -- General Fax (815) 433-5105  
Sales e-mail: [email protected] -- Fax (815) 433-5109  
Technical Support e-mail: [email protected] -- Fax (815) 433-5104  
European Headquarters  
B&B Electronics  
Westlink Commercial Park -- Oranmore, Co. Galway, Ireland  
Phone +353 91-792444 -- Fax +353 91-792445  
Sales e-mail: [email protected]  
Technical Support e-mail: [email protected]  
B&B Electronics Mfg. Co. Inc. -- July 2007  
Manual Documentation Number: 232BSS4-2907  
B&B Electronics Mfg Co Inc – 707 Dayton Rd - PO Box 1040 - Ottawa IL 61350 - Ph 815-433-5100 - Fax 815-433-5104 – www.bb-elec.com  
B&B Electronics – Westlink Commercial Park – Oranmore, Galway, Ireland – Ph +353 91-792444 – Fax +353 91-792445 – www.bb-europe.com  
 
Table of Contents  
CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION............................................................1  
SPECIFICATIONS ........................................................................................2  
DEFAULT PARAMETERS ............................................................................2  
CHECKLIST................................................................................................3  
CHAPTER 2: OPERATION....................................................................5  
SYMBOLS AND CONVENTIONS...................................................................5  
LED INDICATORS......................................................................................5  
PORT CONFIGURATIONS............................................................................6  
SMART SWITCH ONLY MODE....................................................................7  
AUTO SELECT/SMART SWITCH MODE.....................................................14  
USING THE 232BSS4 AS A BUFFERED SPLITTER/COMBINER ...................16  
BACK TO BACK OPERATION (MUX/DEMUX) ............................................17  
CASCADING MULTIPLE SWITCHES ..........................................................18  
CHAPTER 3: PORT CONNECTIONS ................................................21  
DTE/DCE EXPLANATION .......................................................................21  
CHAPTER 4: SETUP SOFTWARE.....................................................23  
INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................23  
CONNECTION...........................................................................................23  
SOFTWARE INSTALLATION ......................................................................24  
SOFTWARE UNINSTALL...........................................................................24  
SETUP TUTORIAL ....................................................................................25  
APPENDIX A: ASCII CHARACTER CODES.....................................1  
APPENDIX B: CABLE CHARTS...........................................................1  
CHART B.1. DTE (PC) DB25 CONNECTOR TO MASTER PORT..................1  
CHART B.2. DTE (PC) DB9 CONNECTOR TO MASTER PORT....................1  
CHART B.3. DCE (MODEM) DB25 CONNECTOR TO MASTER PORT .........3  
CHART B.4. DCE (MODEM) DB9 CONNECTOR TO MASTER PORT ...........3  
CHART B.5. PORTS A - D (DTE) TO DTE (PC) DB25 CONNECTOR..........4  
CHART B.6. PORTS A - D (DTE) TO DTE (PC) DB9 CONNECTOR............4  
CHART B.7. PORTS A - D (DTE) TO DCE (MODEM) DB25 CONNECTOR .4  
CHART B.8. PORTS A - D (DTE) TO DCE (MODEM) DB9 CONNECTOR ...5  
APPENDIX C: BLOCK DIAGRAM.......................................................1  
APPENDIX D: DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY.........................1  
Manual Documentation Number: 232BSS4-2907  
Table of Contents  
i
B&B Electronics Mfg Co Inc – 707 Dayton Rd - PO Box 1040 - Ottawa IL 61350 - Ph 815-433-5100 - Fax 815-433-5104 – www.bb-elec.com  
B&B Electronics – Westlink Commercial Park – Oranmore, Galway, Ireland – Ph +353 91-792444 – Fax +353 91-792445 – www.bb-europe.com  
 
ii  
Documentation Number 232BSS4-2907m  
B&B Electronics Mfg Co Inc – 707 Dayton Rd - PO Box 1040 - Ottawa IL 61350 - Ph 815-433-5100 - Fax 815-433-5104 – www.bb-elec.com  
B&B Electronics – Westlink Commercial Park – Oranmore, Galway, Ireland – Ph +353 91-792444 – Fax +353 91-792445 – www.bb-europe.com  
 
Chapter 1 – Introduction  
The 232BSS4 provides communications to four devices from one serial  
port. Each port uses a dedicated UART and includes an 8K byte transmit  
buffer and an 8K byte receive buffer (16K bytes total). Each port can be  
independently configured for data rate, data format, and protocol. The  
Master port can send and receive data from one of the Slave ports while the  
other Slave ports continue to buffer data. The Master device can also  
broadcast the same message to two or more Slave ports at once.  
The 232BSS4 can be configured to send data automatically to the  
Master port from each of the Slave ports when data is present with an  
optional preamble identifying the port. It can also provide two-way  
communications between the Master port and one Slave port at a time.  
Switching and control is done through user-defined three or four character  
command strings. All control sequences are removed from the data stream,  
making the switch transparent to the Slave devices. The PC setup software  
provided walks the user through all possible parameters.  
Switches can be cascaded to expand the 232BSS4 to more than four  
ports. Two units can also be used back-to-back to provide automatic  
connection between devices over a single data channel. LEDs on the  
232BSS4 indicate when the unit is powered up and which port is selected to  
send data to the Master port.  
Documentation Number 232BSS4-2907m  
1
&B Electronics Mfg Co Inc – 707 Dayton Rd - PO Box 1040 - Ottawa IL 61350 - Ph 815-433-5100 - Fax 815-433-5104 – www.bb-elec.com  
B&B Electronics – Westlink Commercial Park – Oranmore, Galway, Ireland – Ph +353 91-792444 – Fax +353 91-792445 – www.bb-europe.com  
 
Specifications  
Model:  
232BSS4  
Interface:  
Data Format:  
RS-232 asynchronous  
7 or 8 data bits, even, odd, or no parity  
(Master does not support 7 data bits with no  
parity)  
1 stop bit (fixed)  
Data Rate:  
1200 to 115.2 kbps  
Flow Control:  
Hardware(RTS/CTS) or None  
Power Requirements: +10 to +15 VDC @ 60 mA max.  
Power Connector: 2.5 mm phone jack (+ tip)  
Recommended Supply: B&B Model 232PS (Sold separately)  
Operating Temperature:0º to 70º C  
Data Connectors:  
Master DB25 female (DCE)  
Slaves DB9 male x 4 (DTE)  
7.5 x 4.6 x 1.2 in. (19.0 x 11.7 x 3.0 cm)  
PC compatible,  
Dimensions:  
Setup Software:  
Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP/Vista  
CDROM with Setup Program  
Instruction Manual  
Supplied Accessories:  
Default Parameters  
When shipped, the 232BSS4 comes set up for the following  
parameters:  
Auto Select mode OFF  
DTR NOT required to accept commands  
THREE character command  
Char1 = ESC (Decimal 27)  
Char2 = STX (Decimal 2)  
Char3 = “0” (Not Used)  
Port Time = 1,000mS (not used)  
Inactivity Time = 500mS (not used)  
All ports 9600 Baud  
All ports 8 Data Bits  
All ports No Parity  
All ports No Hardware Handshake required  
Ports A-D No preamble  
Port A selected to Transmit & Receive on Power-up  
Refer to the following sections of the manual for what each of these  
parameters means and how they can be changed.  
2
Documentation Number 232BSS4-2907m  
B&B Electronics Mfg Co Inc – 707 Dayton Rd - PO Box 1040 - Ottawa IL 61350 - Ph 815-433-5100 - Fax 815-433-5104 – www.bb-elec.com  
B&B Electronics – Westlink Commercial Park – Oranmore, Galway, Ireland – Ph +353 91-792444 – Fax +353 91-792445 – www.bb-europe.com  
 
Checklist  
Examine the shipping carton and contents for physical damage. If  
damage is found, file a claim with the shipper immediately.  
The following equipment should be in the shipping carton:  
1. RS-232 Buffered Smart Switch model 232BSS4  
2. Instruction Manual  
3. (2) 3.5" floppy disks  
If any of the items above are not in the shipping carton contact the  
shipper immediately.  
Documentation Number 232BSS4-2907m  
3
&B Electronics Mfg Co Inc – 707 Dayton Rd - PO Box 1040 - Ottawa IL 61350 - Ph 815-433-5100 - Fax 815-433-5104 – www.bb-elec.com  
B&B Electronics – Westlink Commercial Park – Oranmore, Galway, Ireland – Ph +353 91-792444 – Fax +353 91-792445 – www.bb-europe.com  
 
4
Documentation Number 232BSS4-2907m  
B&B Electronics Mfg Co Inc – 707 Dayton Rd - PO Box 1040 - Ottawa IL 61350 - Ph 815-433-5100 - Fax 815-433-5104 – www.bb-elec.com  
B&B Electronics – Westlink Commercial Park – Oranmore, Galway, Ireland – Ph +353 91-792444 – Fax +353 91-792445 – www.bb-europe.com  
 
Chapter 2: OPERATION  
Symbols and Conventions  
Throughout this chapter of the manual, the following symbols and  
conventions will be used to clarify what type of data we are addressing.  
Items enclosed in {brackets} will denote one byte.  
A character in “quotes” will normally denote a printable ASCII  
character. A byte described in ALL CAPS is the ASCII description  
of a non-printable character. The abbreviation dec will denote a  
decimal value. The lower case letter h will be used to show a Hex  
value.  
Items in italics are optional items only used in certain  
configurations. The instances when these items are required will be  
explained in the text.  
LED Indicators  
The 232BSS4 has five LED indicators. The first, labeled “+12 VDC  
POWER” indicates that power is applied to the switch. The other four,  
labeled “PORT A” to “PORT D” indicate which Slave port is currently  
selected to transmit to the Master.  
In Smart Switch Only mode, the port LEDs indicate which port was  
selected through the Select Port command. In Auto Select mode, the port  
LEDs indicate which port is currently sending to the Master. No indication  
is provided to display which Slave port is currently receiving from the  
Master.  
Documentation Number 232BSS4-2907m  
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&B Electronics Mfg Co Inc – 707 Dayton Rd - PO Box 1040 - Ottawa IL 61350 - Ph 815-433-5100 - Fax 815-433-5104 – www.bb-elec.com  
B&B Electronics – Westlink Commercial Park – Oranmore, Galway, Ireland – Ph +353 91-792444 – Fax +353 91-792445 – www.bb-europe.com  
 
Port Configurations  
The 232BSS4 provides a dedicated UART to all five ports. This allows  
any port to be individually configured for baud rate, number of data bits,  
parity, and hardware (RTS/CTS) handshaking. Configuration of all the  
ports is done through the setup software.  
Baud Rate:  
Each port is configurable for the following baud rates:  
1200  
2400  
4800  
9600  
19.2K  
38.4K  
57.6K  
or 115.2 kbps  
Data Bits:  
Each port can be configured for Seven or Eight data bits.  
Note: If the Master and Slaves are set up differently, the port set for  
Seven data bits cannot transmit the eighth bit.  
Parity:  
Each port can be configured for Even, Odd, or No parity. Because  
the Master port uses a slightly different UART, it is not capable of  
receiving only seven bits, thus seven data bits with no parity is not  
allowed on the Master port. All other configurations are possible.  
Stop bits:  
Each port uses 1 stop bit. This value is currently fixed and can not  
be changed in the setup software.  
Hardware(RTS/CTS) Handshaking:  
Each port can be configured to hold data until its input handshake  
line goes high. On the Master port, pin four (RTS) would have to be  
held high by the host device in order for the 232BSS4 to send data. On  
the Slaves, pin eight (CTS) needs to be held high by the Slave device  
for the 232BSS4 to send data. The connected devices can prevent data  
from being sent from the 232BSS4 by holding their corresponding  
handshake lines low.  
6
Documentation Number 232BSS4-2907m  
B&B Electronics Mfg Co Inc – 707 Dayton Rd - PO Box 1040 - Ottawa IL 61350 - Ph 815-433-5100 - Fax 815-433-5104 – www.bb-elec.com  
B&B Electronics – Westlink Commercial Park – Oranmore, Galway, Ireland – Ph +353 91-792444 – Fax +353 91-792445 – www.bb-europe.com  
 
Smart Switch Only Mode  
Description:  
Smart Switch Only mode is used when the host device connected  
to the Master port initiates all communications with the Slave devices. To  
use the 232BSS4 as a Smart Switch Only, Auto Select is left unchecked in  
the setup software.  
In Smart Switch Only mode, the 232BSS4 is constantly looking for a  
command sequence by monitoring the data that is being received on the  
Master port from the host device. This command can tell the 232BSS4 to  
connect the Master port to a single Slave port, send data to one or more  
Slave ports at once, discontinue communications with all Slave ports, or  
ignore commands for a specific length of time.  
All command characters are buffered until the full command sequence  
is received. If the 232BSS4 recognizes the data stream as a command  
sequence, the sequence is not passed through the switch.  
Options:  
Initial Connections:  
Upon power-up, the 232BSS4 can be initialized to allow the Master  
access to any of the Slave ports without any commands sent. The  
Master to Slave and Slave to Master initialization are each  
independently configurable through the setup software. The Master can  
also be set to broadcast to any or all of the Slave ports on power-up. If  
no ports are selected to be initialized on power-up, the 232BSS4 will  
wait for a switching command before allowing the Master access to any  
of the Slaves.  
3 or 4 Character Command:  
The 232BSS4 commands can be set to be either three or four  
characters long. The first two or three characters can be programmed to  
any value through the setup software. The third or fourth character is  
the actual command.  
Thus the command sequence would look like:  
{Char1}{Char2}{Char3}{Command Character}  
Char1-3 would be defined by the user through the setup software.  
Char3 would only be sent if the 232BSS4 was set up for a four character  
command.  
Documentation Number 232BSS4-2907m  
7
&B Electronics Mfg Co Inc – 707 Dayton Rd - PO Box 1040 - Ottawa IL 61350 - Ph 815-433-5100 - Fax 815-433-5104 – www.bb-elec.com  
B&B Electronics – Westlink Commercial Park – Oranmore, Galway, Ireland – Ph +353 91-792444 – Fax +353 91-792445 – www.bb-europe.com  
 
Command Summary:  
Three Character Command Format:  
Char1  
Char2  
Command Char  
Control Char  
Control Char is only needed for Tx Only, Clear Buffer, and Ignore  
Commands  
Four Character Command Format:  
Char1  
Char2  
Char3  
Command Char  
Control Char  
Control Char is only needed for Tx Only, Clear Buffer, and Ignore  
Commands  
Table 2.1 - 232BSS4 Command Summary  
Function  
Command  
Char.  
Control  
Char.  
Comments  
Select Port A Tx & Rx  
Select Port B Tx & Rx  
Select Port C Tx & Rx  
Select Port D Tx & Rx  
Deselect All Ports  
Tx Only to Specific Ports  
Clear Buffer on Specific  
Ports  
“A”  
“B”  
“C”  
“D”  
EOT  
“S”  
None  
None  
None  
None  
None  
Switching Command  
Switching Command  
Switching Command  
Switching Command  
Switching Command  
Use to Broadcast  
Clear the Receive  
Buffer  
Dec 0 to 15  
Dec 0 to 15  
“X”  
Ignore Commands  
“T”  
“0” to “9”  
Sets Timer Value  
Values in quotes “” are ASCII characters.  
Dec. is an abbreviation for decimal value.  
Command Explanation:  
Where applicable, this section will provide an example of how to  
create the command strings in Visual Basic. Other programming languages  
may require a slightly different syntax, but the examples given should  
provide enough information to port to other languages. For our examples,  
we will use the default settings of the switch:  
3 Character Command Sequence  
Character 1 set to ASCII ESC character (Decimal 27)  
Character 2 set to ASCII STX character (Decimal 2)  
If you choose to use a four character command sequence, just add  
another character between the second programmable character and the  
command character in the command string.  
8
Documentation Number 232BSS4-2907m  
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B&B Electronics – Westlink Commercial Park – Oranmore, Galway, Ireland – Ph +353 91-792444 – Fax +353 91-792445 – www.bb-europe.com  
 
Commands:  
Select Port A to transmit and receive – “A”  
Select Port B to transmit and receive – “B”  
Select Port C to transmit and receive – “C”  
Select Port D to transmit and receive – “D”  
The Select Port commands turn on the selected port for both  
transmit and receive operations. Once the command is received by the  
switch, any data that had been buffered from the selected Slave device  
will be sent to the Master. Any data received on the Master port that is  
not a valid command sequence will be passed to the selected Slave port  
until another command is received.  
For instance, to send and receive data from port B, send:  
{Char1}{Char2}{Char3}”B”  
VB Example:  
SwitchB$ = CHR$(27) & CHR$(2) & “B”  
Turn Off all selected ports – ASCII EOT character (decimal 4)  
The Turn Off command deselects all ports. No ports will transmit  
or receive to/from the Master port until another command is received by  
the Master port.  
The full command sequence to disable all ports is:  
{Char1}{Char2}{Char3}EOT  
VB Example:  
OFF$ = CHR$(27) & CHR$(2) & CHR$(4)  
Send Only to specific ports – “S” + one control byte specifying which ports  
to send.  
The Send Only command will tell the 232BSS4 which Slave ports  
to send the following data to. This command can be used to broadcast  
data to more than one port at a time. The Slave port that is sending to  
the Master is not affected.  
The lowest four bits of the control byte tell the 232BSS4 which  
ports should receive the following data. Bit 0 represents port A, Bit 1  
represents port B, Bit 2 represents port C, and Bit 3 represents port D.  
In decimal, this is represents a value of 1, 2, 4, and 8 respectively. To  
turn on more than one port, the decimal equivalents of each port are  
added together to give the final byte.  
Documentation Number 232BSS4-2907m  
9
&B Electronics Mfg Co Inc – 707 Dayton Rd - PO Box 1040 - Ottawa IL 61350 - Ph 815-433-5100 - Fax 815-433-5104 – www.bb-elec.com  
B&B Electronics – Westlink Commercial Park – Oranmore, Galway, Ireland – Ph +353 91-792444 – Fax +353 91-792445 – www.bb-europe.com  
 
A summary of the control characters for each combination of ports  
is given in Table 2.2.  
For instance, to broadcast to ports B & C, send:  
{Char1}{Char2}{Char3}”S”{Decimal 6}  
(B = 2, C = 4, 2 + 4 = 6)  
VB Example:  
BroadcastBC$ = CHR$(27) & CHR$(2) & “S” & CHR$(6)  
Clear Receive Buffer – “X” + one control byte specifying which ports’  
buffers to clear.  
The Clear Buffer command will tell the 232BSS4 which Slave  
ports’ receive buffers to purge. If the Master device is only interested in  
the most recent data from the Slaves, this command can be used to  
delete old data from one or more of the Slave port buffers before it is  
sent to the Master.  
The lowest four bits of the control byte tell the 232BSS4 which  
ports’ buffers to purge. Bit 0 represents port A, Bit 1 represents port B,  
Bit 2 represents port C, and Bit 3 represents port D. In decimal, this is  
represents a value of 1, 2, 4, and 8 respectively. To clear more than one  
buffer with a single command, the decimal equivalents of each port  
would be added together to give the final byte.  
A summary of the control characters for each combination of ports  
is given in Table 2.2.  
For instance, to clear the receive buffer on ports A & D, send:  
{Char1}{Char2}{Char3}”S”{Decimal 9}  
(A = 1, D = 8, 1 + 8 = 9)  
VB Example:  
ClearAD$ = CHR$(27) & CHR$(2) & “X” & CHR$(9)  
10  
Documentation Number 232BSS4-2907m  
B&B Electronics Mfg Co Inc – 707 Dayton Rd - PO Box 1040 - Ottawa IL 61350 - Ph 815-433-5100 - Fax 815-433-5104 – www.bb-elec.com  
B&B Electronics – Westlink Commercial Park – Oranmore, Galway, Ireland – Ph +353 91-792444 – Fax +353 91-792445 – www.bb-europe.com  
 
Table 2.2: Send Only and Clear Buffer Control Characters  
Ports to Transmit or  
Clear Receive Buffer  
None  
Binary Value  
Decimal  
Value  
ASCII  
Character  
“@”  
“A”  
(x = Don’t Care)  
xxxx0000  
xxxx0001  
xxxx0010  
xxxx0011  
xxxx0100  
xxxx0101  
xxxx0110  
xxxx0111  
xxxx1000  
xxxx1001  
xxxx1010  
xxxx1011  
xxxx1100  
xxxx1101  
xxxx1110  
xxxx1111  
0 or 64  
1 or 65  
2 or 66  
3 or 67  
4 or 68  
5 or 69  
6 or 70  
7 or 71  
8 or 72  
9 or 73  
10 or 74  
11 or 75  
12 or 76  
13 or 77  
14 or 78  
15 or 79  
A Only  
B Only  
A & B  
C Only  
A & C  
B & C  
A, B, & C  
D Only  
A & D  
B & D  
A, B, & D  
C & D  
A, C, & D  
B, C, & D  
A, B, C, & D  
“B”  
“C”  
“D”  
“E”  
“F”  
“G”  
“H”  
“I”  
“J”  
“K”  
“L”  
“M”  
“N”  
“O”  
Note: The 232BSS4 ignores the upper 4 bits of the control byte. If the  
Master device is incapable of sending characters outside the printable  
ASCII range, decimal 64 can be added to each of the control bytes and the  
switch will operate properly.  
Ignore Commands – “T” + one control byte specifying the length of time to  
ignore commands.  
The Ignore Commands command tells the 232BSS4 to ignore all  
commands from the Master device for a specific amount of time. This  
command is useful if the data coming from the Master device may  
contain switching commands. By switching to a port, then sending the  
Ignore Commands command, all data received on the Master port of the  
232BSS4 will be passed directly to the selected Slave port without  
checking for a command sequence until the programmed time has  
elapsed. The control byte at the end of the command tells the 232BSS4  
how long to ignore commands from the Master device. This byte is  
ASCII “0” – “9” (48 – 57 Decimal). Timer values for each Control byte  
are given in Table 2.3.  
Documentation Number 232BSS4-2907m  
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B&B Electronics – Westlink Commercial Park – Oranmore, Galway, Ireland – Ph +353 91-792444 – Fax +353 91-792445 – www.bb-europe.com  
 
For instance, to ignore switching commands for 30 Seconds, send:  
{Char1}{Char2}{Char3}”T””7”  
VB Example:  
Ignore30s$ = CHR$(27) & CHR$(2) & “T” & “7”  
Table 2.3 - Timer Values  
Control Byte  
Control Byte  
Timer Setting  
(ASCII)  
(Decimal)  
“0”  
“1”  
“2”  
“3”  
“4”  
“5”  
“6”  
“7”  
“8”  
“9”  
48  
49  
50  
51  
52  
53  
54  
55  
56  
57  
Timer disabled  
10ms  
25ms  
100ms  
500ms  
1 s  
5 s  
30 s  
1 min.  
5 min.  
Binary file transfer:  
Two methods are provided in the 232BSS4 to prevent inadvertent  
switching during a transfer of raw data bytes from the Master device to one  
or more Slaves. Because the user doesn’t know if a command sequence is  
imbedded in the raw data, the switch must be set to ignore commands.  
Note that these procedures are not needed if the binary file will be  
transferred from the Slave devices to the Master device. No switching  
commands are used in the 232BSS4 with data from this direction, so no  
inadvertent switching can occur.  
Method1 – Ignore Commands For a Specific Length of Time  
The first method is to ignore commands for a specific length of  
time. This method is useful if the user knows how long the transfer will  
take. The Master would first send the command to connect it to the  
Slave port(s) that are to receive the data. Then the Master device would  
send the “T” command along with the byte telling the 232BSS4 how  
long to ignore commands. Once this is sent, data can be transferred to  
the Slave(s) without the 232BSS4 looking for command sequences.  
Once the timeout has been reached, the switch will continue looking for  
12  
Documentation Number 232BSS4-2907m  
B&B Electronics Mfg Co Inc – 707 Dayton Rd - PO Box 1040 - Ottawa IL 61350 - Ph 815-433-5100 - Fax 815-433-5104 – www.bb-elec.com  
B&B Electronics – Westlink Commercial Park – Oranmore, Galway, Ireland – Ph +353 91-792444 – Fax +353 91-792445 – www.bb-europe.com  
 
commands and the Master can initiate the next communications  
sequence.  
Example:  
For a binary transfer from the Master to the device on Port A that  
will take less than one second to complete  
Send Select Port A Command: {Char1}{Char2}{Char3}”A”  
Send Ignore Commands Command:  
{Char1}{Char2}{Char3}”T””5”  
Send the Binary File  
Wait for the timeout period  
Repeat for the next file/port  
Method2 – Ignore Commands Using DTR  
The second method of ignoring command sequences is to set the  
232BSS4 to ignore commands if DTR is low from the Master device.  
This option is enabled through the setup software. This method is useful  
if the length of the binary file transfers are not known. The user would  
first raise DTR on the Master device, then send the command to connect  
it to the Slave port(s) that are to receive the data. Once the command is  
sent, the Master device would then lower DTR and transmit the data.  
The 232BSS4 would ignore command sequences and pass them through  
to any connected ports until DTR was raised.  
Example:  
For a binary transfer from the Master to the device on Port A  
Raise DTR on the Master Device  
Send Select Port A Command: {Char1}{Char2}{Char3}”A”  
Lower DTR on the Master Device  
Send the Binary File  
Repeat for the next file/port  
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Auto Select/Smart Switch Mode  
Description  
Auto Select mode allows the Slave devices to initiate communications  
with the device connected to the Master port. When Auto Select mode is  
enabled through the setup software, the 232BSS4 passes data automatically  
from the Slaves to the Master.  
Each Slave port is buffered until the Master is available, then sent in  
turn. At any time, the Master can reply to the Slaves using the Send to  
Specific Ports command, or override the automatic switching by selecting a  
specific port for both transmit and receive.  
When the Master device releases the Slave through the Turn Off all  
ports command, the automatic switching resumes. The 232BSS4 will revert  
back to the Slave port that was sending data before the Master took over or  
to the next sequential Slave port with data in its buffer. For a full  
description of the 232BSS4 commands, refer to the previous section,  
“Smart Switch Only Mode.”  
Options  
Initial Connections:  
Upon power-up, the 232BSS4 can be initialized to allow the Master  
to send data to any of the Slave ports without any commands sent. The  
Master can also be set to broadcast to any or all of the Slave ports on  
power-up. This allows the switch to be used to add devices to an  
existing COM port without any software programming. The port  
initialization is configured through the setup software.  
Timeouts:  
When multiple Slave devices are sending data to the Master port at  
the same time, the 232BSS4 must determine when to stop sending from  
one Slave port and switch to the next. Two parameters are required to  
be entered in the setup software for Auto Select mode. The Port Time  
and Inactivity Time tell the 232BSS4 how much time to spend on each  
port, and how long a port must be inactive before switching to the next  
port.  
Port Time:  
Setting the Port Time for a value other than zero configures the  
Master device to receive data from a single port only for the length of  
time specified during setup. Times are set in milliseconds and can be  
anywhere in the range of 0 to 65,000 (65 seconds). A value of zero for  
the Port Time would give the transmitting Slave port access to the  
Master until an Inactivity Timeout was reached or until a specific Turn  
Off command was sent from the Master device.  
14  
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When the specified Port Time has elapsed, the 232BSS4 checks in  
sequence for other Slave ports with buffered data and switches to them.  
If no other Slave ports need access to the Master, the current Slave port  
will again be connected until another Port Time has elapsed.  
Inactivity Time:  
The Inactivity Timer tracks how long a Slave port has been idle. The  
Inactivity Time is reset any time data is received on the connected Slave  
port or sent out the Master Port. This way, if the Master port is slower  
than the connected Slave port, the Slave port is not considered inactive  
while waiting for the Master to catch up.  
Inactivity Time is set through the setup software. Times are set in  
milliseconds and can be anywhere in the range of 0 to 65,000 (65  
seconds). A value of zero for the Inactivity Time would give the  
transmitting Slave port access to the Master until a Port Timeout was  
reached or until a specific Turn Off command was sent from the Master  
device.  
Port and Inactivity Time Setup Tips:  
Normally, the Inactivity Time should be set lower than the Port  
Time. Setting a zero for either value allows the other to have full control  
of port switching. Setting a value of zero for both timeouts keeps the  
Slave port connected until explicitly turned off by the Master device  
through the Turn Off all ports command.  
Slave Preamble:  
Each Slave can be programmed to transmit a preamble to the  
Master device when the Slave becomes connected. This tells the Master  
device which new Slave is sending data. The preamble is set in the  
setup software and can be any character sequence up to four characters  
long. The preamble is sent to the Master device whenever a port is  
selected through commands or when the port will be sending data to the  
Master device because of an automatic switch.  
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Using the 232BSS4 as a Buffered Splitter/Combiner  
The Auto Select and Initial Connection features of the 232BSS4  
can be used to effectively create a data splitter. Data from the Master device  
can be shared with multiple Slave devices. Any data coming from the  
Slaves is buffered so that no data is lost. If the Slave devices already  
include an address or identifier, no software changes are required.  
Figure 2.1 shows a typical configuration allowing several serial  
terminals access to the same host.  
Terminal / HMI  
Terminal / HMI  
Terminal / HMI  
CPU / Controller  
Terminal / HMI  
Figure 2.1. Multiple Terminals to a Host Controller  
To configure the 232BSS4 as a four port splitter/combiner:  
Set up the ports on the 232BSS4 to match the data format of the  
connected devices. If the Slave devices stream data, the Master port  
should be set to a higher baud rate than the slaves.  
Set the switches to turn on the Auto Select feature.  
Set the Port Timer to 0. If the Slave devices stream data, the Time  
per Port may have to be set to a non-zero value.  
Set the Inactivity Timer on all of the switches to somewhere  
between 20 and 500 milliseconds, depending on the space  
between data packets and the response time required to  
each connected device.  
Set the Initial Connections for all ports to receive from the  
Master on start up.  
16  
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Back to Back Operation (mux/demux)  
Printer  
Measurement  
78.6  
Direct Cable Connection  
or  
78.6  
Scale  
Measurement  
PC  
Modem  
Modem  
78.6  
or  
Printer  
78.6  
Scale  
RF Modem  
RF Modem  
PC  
Figure 2.2. Back to Back Operation  
Two 232BSS4s can be connected together through their Master ports  
to provide a simple form of multiplexer/demultiplexer. Any Slave port on  
one switch can automatically send to one or more ports on the other over  
the single Master port communication channel. The setup software walks  
the user through the configuration and automatically sets the Slave port  
preambles.  
When two 232BSS4s are connected for Back to Back operation, the  
Slave ports would typically be set up for a slower baud rate than the Master  
ports. If the Master ports will not be running at a baud rate at least four  
times the speed of the Slaves, or if the main Master channel will be  
connected over a slow communications channel such as through modems,  
all ports should be configured through the setup software to use hardware  
handshaking.  
Hardware handshaking is automatically turned on for the Master ports  
when you configure the switches for back to back operation. If you are  
operating the switches with a direct cable connection or if your  
communications link does not require handshaking, this option can be  
turned off in the single unit configuration setup. For details on how to use  
the setup software, see Chapter 4.  
Note that in Back to Back operation the 232BSS4 Master ports will  
normally be connected to either the Master port of another switch or some  
type of modem. Because the Master ports are almost always connected to  
another DCE device, a null modem cable will probably be required. Refer  
to the cable charts in Appendix B for connecting the Master port to another  
DCE port.  
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Cascading Multiple Switches  
If you have more than four devices that are sending data, more  
than one 232BSS4 can be cascaded, allowing more ports to be  
added. The 232BSS4 buffers data from all ports at once, making it  
well suited for devices that will send a fixed amount of data at  
sporadic intervals, such as measurement instruments, security  
access card readers, barcode scanners, or time clocks. Below is an  
explanation of how best to utilize the 232BSS4 to connect these  
devices to your PC.  
Level 2  
Card Readers  
78.6  
78.6  
Level 1  
Measurement  
78.6  
78.6  
PC  
78.6  
78.6  
Scales  
78.6  
78.6  
12  
11  
10  
1
2
9
3
8
4
7
5
1
6
12  
11  
10  
2
9
3
8
4
7
5
1
6
Time Clocks  
12  
11  
10  
2
9
3
8
4
7
5
1
6
12  
11  
10  
2
9
3
8
4
7
5
6
Figure 2.3. Expanding the Number of Slave Ports  
18  
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Figure 2.3 shows a typical setup, with 16 devices sending  
information at random times to the PC. The switches at Level 2 receive the  
data and send it on to the Level 1 switch. The Level 1 switch buffers the  
data and sends it to the PC. Each of the switches will automatically send the  
data when it is available. If another port has access to the PC, the data will  
be buffered until a path is available.  
Slave Devices that Automatically Send their Data:  
For best results in an automatic system, the 232BSS4s in the  
system should be set up the following way.  
Set the switches to turn on the Auto Select feature.  
Set the Port Timer to 0  
Set the Inactivity Timer on all of the switches to somewhere  
between 20 and 500 milliseconds, depending on the space  
between data packets and the response time required to  
each connected device.  
If you need your software to identify which port sent the data,  
set up the port preamble on the Level 2 switches. Set each  
port to have a unique preamble. The preamble can be 1, 2, 3,  
or 4 characters long, and any characters can be used. The  
preamble will be added to the beginning of each new data  
packet arriving at the PC. The data collection software on the  
PC should be written to recognize this preamble as an  
address or identifier of the data source.  
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Slave Devices that Require Polling:  
This configuration will also work with systems where the  
devices have to be polled for information. With the setup of Figure  
2.3, the switches can be configured so that you still only have to  
send one set of switching characters. To do this, set the switches up  
in the following way:  
Set the switch on Level 1 to broadcast to all slaves on  
startup.  
Set the switch on Level 1 to Auto Select mode, no preamble.  
Set the switch on Level 1 for 0 Port Time  
Set the switch on Level 1 for a short Inactivity Time.  
Somewhere around 5 milliseconds or so.  
Set the switches on Level 2 for no Auto Select.  
Set the command sequences on the Level 2 switches to be  
unique from each other. One suggestion is to use a 3  
character command. Use the first character as a start of  
command character like STX. The second character could  
represent the address of the Level 2 switch you are going to.  
The third character is the command character.  
Write the software to send the command to select the port.  
By setting the Layer 1 switch to broadcast and Auto Select,  
only 1 set of command characters is needed.  
Cascading switches becomes more complicated when the devices  
are a mix of polled and automatic sending of data. It is also difficult  
to cascade when devices are streaming data constantly, or  
automatically sending a variable length packet of data.  
20  
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Chapter 3: PORT CONNECTIONS  
DTE/DCE Explanation  
In order to determine the proper port connections to the 232BSS4, it is  
necessary to have a basic understanding of the terms DTE and DCE. RS-  
232 was designed, using DB-25 connectors, for connecting a DTE (Data  
Terminal Equipment) device to a DCE (Data Communication Equipment)  
device. Each device will have inputs on pins that correspond to outputs on  
the same pins of the other device. For example, a DTE device will transmit  
data out on pin 2 (on a DB-25) and a DCE device will receive data in on  
pin 2 (on a DB-25). IBM PCs and serial printers are DTE devices, modems  
are DCE devices.  
Originally the RS-232 standard specified only a 25 pin D-sub  
connector. Since then, the use of a 9 pin D-Sub supporting only a portion of  
the original RS-232 signals has been used extensively, starting with the  
IBM PC and migrating into other peripherals. The pinouts for this 9 pin  
connector have since become the EIA/TIA 574 standard. This standard  
specifies a DTE device that transmits on pin 3 and receives on pin 2, with  
the DCE having the opposite configuration.  
25 Pin DTE  
25 Pin DCE  
9 Pin DTE  
9 Pin DCE  
DEVICE  
LINE  
LINE  
DEVICE  
DEVICE  
LINE  
LINE  
DEVICE  
2 (TD)  
2 (TD)  
3 (TD)  
3 (TD)  
R
R
T
T
3 (RD)  
3 (RD)  
2 (RD)  
2 (RD)  
R
T
T
R
R
T
T
4 (RTS)  
5 (CTS)  
20 (DTR)  
6 (DSR)  
8 (DCD)  
7 (GND)  
4 (RTS)  
5 (CTS)  
7 (RTS)  
8 (CTS)  
4 (DTR)  
6 (DSR)  
1 (DCD)  
5 (GND)  
7 (RTS)  
8 (CTS)  
4 (DTR)  
6 (DSR)  
1 (DCD)  
5 (GND)  
R
R
R
T
R
T
20 (DTR)  
6 (DSR)  
8 (DCD)  
7 (GND)  
T
R
T
R
T
T
R
T
T
R
R
T = RS-232 Transmitter  
R = RS-232 Receiver  
Figure 3.1. DTE/DCE Port Diagrams  
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Master Port Connections:  
The Master Port of the 232BSS4 is a 25 pin female D-sub connector  
configured as a DCE. This provides direct connection to an IBM PC  
compatible or other DTE device. When connecting the Master port to a  
modem, the Master port of another 232BSS4, or other device configured as  
a DCE, a null modem adapter such as B&B’s model 232DTE is needed. If  
the user chooses to use the DTR signal to tell the 232BSS4 when to accept  
commands, the DTR output from the Master device should be connected to  
pin 20.  
See Appendix B for a complete set of connection tables to the 232BSS4  
ports.  
Slave Port Connections:  
The Slave Ports of the 232BSS4 are 9-pin, D-sub connectors configured  
as DTE for direct connection to a modem or other DCE device. When  
connecting the Slave ports to a PC compatible or other DTE device, a null  
modem adapter is needed.  
See Appendix B for a complete set of connection tables to the 232BSS4  
ports.  
22  
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Chapter 4: SETUP SOFTWARE  
Introduction  
The 232BSS4 comes with simple setup software for configuring the  
switch. The software can be run on any PC compatible computer running  
Microsoft Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000, XP or Vista operating system.  
Once the switch is configured, all parameters are saved in non-volatile  
memory so the switch can be powered down and used anywhere without  
the loss of configuration data. Configurations can also be saved to a file for  
setting up more than one switch to the same configuration.  
Connection  
A serial (COM) port of the computer should be connected to the  
Master port of the 232BSS4. If the computer’s serial port is a 25 pin D-sub,  
a straight through connection cable is required. If the computer’s serial port  
is a 9-pin D-sub, the cable should be an XT to AT adapter cable such as  
B&B’s model 232CAM, or a cable that would normally be used with a  
modem. See Appendix B for a complete set of connection tables to the  
232BSS4 ports.  
Remove the screws (4) on the bottom of the 232BSS4 with a Phillips  
screwdriver. Remove the top cover. Install the setup jumper marked JP1.  
See Figure 4.1 for a diagram of the PCBD. Power up the 232BSS4 with the  
setup jumper installed to put the switch in setup mode. The setup software  
can not recognize the switch if the setup jumper is not installed or if the  
jumper is installed after the unit is powered up. Remove the setup jumper  
when configuration is complete to put the 232BSS4 in normal operating  
mode.  
Figure 4.1 Setup Jumper Location  
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Software Installation  
The setup software for the 232BSS4 must be installed on your hard  
drive before it can be run. All directions assume the CDROM drive is  
assigned to drive D. If your drive is assigned another drive name, replace  
that name for D in the instructions. To install on your hard drive follow  
these steps:  
Place the 232BSS4 setup CDROM in drive D.  
Select RUN from the Windows START menu.  
Type D:\SETUP and click OKAY.  
Follow the instructions in the Installation program.  
Software Uninstall  
To remove the 232BSS4 setup software, follow these steps:  
Select SETTINGS, CONTROL PANEL from the Windows START  
menu.  
Double Click ADD/REMOVE PROGRAMS  
Select BSS4SETUP from the list of installed programs.  
Click the ADD/REMOVE button to remove the software components.  
24  
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Setup Tutorial  
Step 1: Start the software by double clicking the Smart Switch setup icon  
on the desktop.  
Step 2: Select the serial (COM) port that will be used to configure the  
232BSS4 or Check the box to create a configuration file without the  
232BSS4 connected.  
Step 3: Click Next  
Step 4: If you are creating a configuration without a switch connected,  
proceed to “Single Unit Main screen.” Otherwise, select the way that  
the 232BSS4 will be used. If the 232BSS4 is going to be used with an  
intelligent Master device, or if only certain parameters are going to  
change, select Single Unit operation. If two 232BSS4 switches will be  
used in a back-to back configuration, select Back to Back.  
Step 5: Connect the 232BSS4 to the COM port selected. Install the setup  
jumper, and power up the 232BSS4. When Next is clicked, the  
software reads the current configuration of the connected switch and  
displays the Main Screen.  
Single Unit Main Screen:  
All configuration of the 232BSS4 can be initiated from the Main  
Screen. The overall operation of the switch and each port’s parameters  
can be individually selected and modified.  
NOTE: All character values specified in the setup software are given  
in decimal. For ASCII or Hex equivalents, refer to Appendix A.  
File Menu:  
From the file menu, a configuration can be saved to disk, loaded from a  
disk, or printed to the default Windows printer. This provides an easy  
method of configuring multiple switches with the same setup.  
Operation Setup:  
When selected, the Operation Setup button displays the parameters  
associated with the basic operation of the switch. In this screen, the  
user can set the switch for Smart Switch Only or Auto Select mode.  
The “Set DTR for Commands” check box configures the 232BSS4 to  
only accept commands from the Master device if DTR (pin 20) is  
raised.  
The number of command characters is set through a pull-down menu.  
The first 2/3 command characters are also specified in this section.  
When the switch is set for Auto Select mode, the Port Time and  
Inactivity time must be set. This time is in milliseconds and must be  
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between 0 and 65000 (65 seconds). See chapter 2 for a full description  
of these Timeout values.  
Initial Connections:  
When selected, the Initial Connections button provides a selection of  
ports to be connected when the unit is powered up.  
When the switch is set for Smart Switch Only mode (no Auto Select),  
the Master to Slave communications (individual or broadcast) can be  
initialized to any or all of the four slave ports. One of the Slaves can  
also have access to the Master on power-up.  
When in Auto Select mode, the Master can still be initialized to  
transmit data to the Slaves, but Slave to Master communications is  
handled through automatic switching and cannot be initialized.  
Master Port Configuration:  
This button displays the parameters for the Master Port, including Data  
Rate, the number of Data Bits, Parity, and if the port requires  
handshaking.  
Slave Ports A – D Configuration:  
This button displays the parameters for the Slave Port, including Data  
Rate, the number of Data Bits, Parity, and if the port requires  
handshaking. The port’s preamble characters are also defined here.  
Read Module Configuration:  
This button will read the configuration from the connected 232BSS4.  
The 232BSS4 is read upon entering the Main Screen, so it should not  
have to be read again unless it is necessary to set the parameters back  
after changing.  
View Module Configuration:  
This button will display all current module parameters on one screen  
for review. Any changes to the currently connected switch that have  
not been saved will be shown in Red. The page can then be printed to  
the default Windows printer for review or for attachment to the switch.  
26  
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Configure Switch Button:  
This button will save all changes to the connected switch.  
NOTE: Once changes are saved to the switch they cannot be reset  
automatically. Be sure to review all changes before saving using the  
View Module Configuration button.  
Run Self Test:  
The 232BSS4 is programmed with a Self Test mode. The  
microprocessor checks the UARTs, RAM, and EEPROM and reports  
any errors back to the setup software. If the software reports an error,  
contact B&B Technical Support.  
Back to Back Main Screen:  
The Back-to-Back main screen is the same as the Single Unit with a  
few exceptions. Both modules' parameters are available for viewing at  
the same time. Also, some parameters are pre-defined and not available  
to the user.  
File Menu:  
From the file menu, the configuration of both switches can be saved to  
disk, loaded from a disk, or printed. This provides an easy method of  
configuring multiple switches with the same setup.  
Operation Setup:  
Back-to-Back units are predefined for Auto Switch mode and a three-  
character command. The command characters can be set to other than  
default if the main communications channel cannot accept certain  
characters. The characters set on Unit #1 are automatically copied to  
Unit #2. The Port Timeout and Inactivity timer must be set.  
Master Port Configuration:  
The Master port is automatically configured to use Hardware  
Handshaking. Setting the Baud Rate, Data Bits, and Parity on Unit #1  
automatically sets these parameters on Unit #2.  
Ports A-D Configuration:  
All Slave ports on both units can be independently configured for Baud  
Rate, Data Bits, and Parity. Hardware Handshaking can be enabled or  
disabled on any of the ports. All automatic connections are established  
on Unit #1 and any necessary parameters are copied to Unit #2. Any  
combination of connections is possible.  
Load Configuration:  
The parameters for Unit #1 are automatically loaded when the Back-to-  
Back main screen is entered. Unit #2 is loaded the first time the Unit  
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#2 tab is selected. The user should not have to reload the configuration  
except when the parameters need to be reset to those already saved in  
the switch. The load configuration button will load the configuration  
from the connected switch and assume these apply to the selected Unit.  
View Module Configuration:  
Each unit’s configuration can be reviewed on one screen by selecting  
the appropriate tab and clicking the View Module Configuration  
button. Any changes from what was read from the switch will be  
shown in red. The page can then be printed to the default Windows  
printer for review or for attachment to the switch.  
Configure Switch:  
Before exiting the program, all changes should be saved to the  
switches. The parameters will be saved to the connected switch. Care  
should be taken to ensure that the correct Unit is connected, its setup  
jumper installed, and power applied before saving.  
NOTE: Once changes are saved to the switch they cannot be reset  
automatically. Be sure to review all changes before saving.  
28  
Documentation Number 232BSS42907 Manual  
B&B Electronics Mfg Co Inc – 707 Dayton Rd - PO Box 1040 - Ottawa IL 61350 - Ph 815-433-5100 - Fax 815-433-5104  
B&B Electronics Ltd – Westlink Commercial Park – Oranmore, Galway, Ireland – Ph +353 91-792444 – Fax +353 91-792445  
 
Copying Parameters Between Switches:  
The 232BSS4 setup software can save configuration data to a file for  
copying of parameters. Any unit’s setup can be copied by first reading  
the data from one switch, then saving to another.  
Step 1:  
Step 2:  
Run the setup software.  
Select serial (COM) port to be used for programming.  
Step 3: Select Single Unit operation. If the configuration to be used  
is already saved to a file, skip to Step 8.  
Step 4: Connect the switch to be copied to the serial (COM) port of  
the PC. Install the setup jumper. Apply power to the  
232BSS4.  
Step 5:  
Click Next.  
Step 6: Select Save As from the File menu. Save the configuration to  
disk.  
Step 7:  
Disconnect the first 232BSS4 from the COM port.  
Step 8: Connect the destination switch to the serial (COM) port of  
the PC. Install the setup jumper. Apply power to the  
232BSS4.  
Step 9: Select File/Load File and load the saved configuration.  
Step 10:  
Click Save Changes  
Once the configuration file has been loaded, any number of switches can  
be set to the same parameters by connecting and configuring each in turn.  
Default Parameters:  
When shipped, the 232BSS4 comes set up for the following  
parameters:  
Auto Select mode OFF  
DTR NOT required to accept commands  
THREE-character command  
Char1 = ESC (Decimal 27)  
Char2 = STX (Decimal 2)  
Char3 = “0” (Not Used)  
Port Time = 1,000 mS (Not Used)  
Inactivity Time = 500 mS (Not Used)  
All ports 9600 Baud  
All ports 8 Data Bits  
All ports No Parity  
All ports No Hardware Handshake required  
Ports A-D No preamble  
Port A selected to Transmit & Receive on Power-up  
Documentation Number 232BSS42907 Manual  
29  
B&B Electronics Mfg Co Inc – 707 Dayton Rd - PO Box 1040 - Ottawa IL 61350 - Ph 815-433-5100 - Fax 815-433-5104  
B&B Electronics Ltd – Westlink Commercial Park – Oranmore, Galway, Ireland – Ph +353 91-792444 – Fax +353 91-792445  
 
30  
Documentation Number 232BSS42907 Manual  
B&B Electronics Mfg Co Inc – 707 Dayton Rd - PO Box 1040 - Ottawa IL 61350 - Ph 815-433-5100 - Fax 815-433-5104  
B&B Electronics Ltd – Westlink Commercial Park – Oranmore, Galway, Ireland – Ph +353 91-792444 – Fax +353 91-792445  
 
Appendix A: ASCII Character Codes  
DECIMAL to HEX to ASCII CONVERSION TABLE  
DEC HEX ASCII KEY DEC HEX ASCII DEC HEX ASCII DEC HEX ASCII  
0
1
NUL ctrl @ 32  
20  
21  
22  
23  
24  
25  
26  
27  
28  
29  
2A  
2B  
2C  
2D  
2E  
2F  
30  
31  
32  
33  
34  
35  
36  
37  
38  
39  
3A  
3B  
3C  
3D  
3E  
3F  
SP  
!
64  
65  
66  
67  
68  
69  
70  
71  
72  
73  
74  
75  
76  
77  
78  
79  
80  
81  
82  
83  
84  
85  
86  
87  
88  
89  
90  
91  
92  
93  
94  
95  
40  
41  
42  
43  
44  
45  
46  
47  
48  
49  
4A  
4B  
4C  
4D  
4E  
4F  
50  
51  
52  
53  
54  
55  
56  
57  
58  
59  
5A  
5B  
5C  
5D  
5E  
5F  
@
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
96  
60  
61  
62  
63  
64  
65  
66  
67  
68  
69  
6A  
6B  
6C  
6D  
6E  
6F  
70  
71  
72  
73  
74  
75  
76  
77  
78  
79  
7A  
7B  
7C  
7D  
7E  
7F  
`
a
b
c
d
e
f
0
1
SOH  
STX  
ETX  
EOT  
ENQ  
ACK  
BEL  
BS  
ctrl A  
ctrl B  
ctrl C  
ctrl D  
ctrl E  
ctrl F  
ctrl G  
ctrl H  
ctrl I  
33  
34  
35  
36  
37  
38  
39  
40  
41  
42  
43  
44  
45  
46  
47  
48  
49  
50  
51  
52  
53  
54  
55  
56  
57  
58  
59  
60  
61  
62  
63  
97  
2
2
98  
3
3
#
$
%
&
'
99  
4
4
100  
101  
102  
103  
104  
105  
106  
107  
108  
109  
110  
111  
112  
113  
114  
115  
116  
117  
118  
119  
120  
121  
122  
123  
124  
125  
126  
127  
5
5
6
6
7
7
g
h
i
8
8
(
9
9
HT  
)
10  
11  
12  
13  
14  
15  
16  
17  
18  
19  
20  
21  
22  
23  
24  
25  
26  
27  
28  
29  
30  
31  
A
LF  
ctrl J  
ctrl K  
ctrl L  
ctrl M  
ctrl N  
ctrl O  
ctrl P  
ctrl Q  
ctrl R  
ctrl S  
ctrl T  
ctrl U  
ctrl V  
ctrl W  
ctrl X  
ctrl Y  
ctrl Z  
ctrl [  
*
J
j
B
VT  
+
,
K
L
k
l
C
FF  
D
CR  
-
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
[
m
n
o
p
q
r
E
SO  
.
F
SI  
/
10  
11  
12  
13  
14  
15  
16  
17  
18  
19  
1A  
1B  
1C  
1D  
1E  
1F  
DLE  
DC1  
DC2  
DC3  
DC4  
NAK  
SYN  
ETB  
CAN  
EM  
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
:
s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z
{
SUB  
ESC  
FS  
;
ctrl \  
<
=
>
?
\
|
GS  
ctrl ]  
]
}
RS  
ctrl ^  
ctrl _  
^
~
DEL  
US  
_
Documentation Number 232BSS42907 Manual  
A-1  
B&B Electronics Mfg Co Inc – 707 Dayton Rd - PO Box 1040 - Ottawa IL 61350 - Ph 815-433-5100 - Fax 815-433-5104  
B&B Electronics Ltd – Westlink Commercial Park – Oranmore, Galway, Ireland – Ph +353 91-792444 – Fax +353 91-792445  
 
A-2  
Appendix A  
Documentation Number 232BSS42907 Manual  
B&B Electronics Mfg Co Inc – 707 Dayton Rd - PO Box 1040 - Ottawa IL 61350 - Ph 815-433-5100 - Fax 815-433-5104  
B&B Electronics Ltd – Westlink Commercial Park – Oranmore, Galway, Ireland – Ph +353 91-792444 – Fax +353 91-792445  
 
Appendix B: Cable Charts  
All charts give full pin outs. Only pins 2 & 3 are required for basic  
operation. Handshaking pins are needed for hardware (RTS/CTS)  
handshaking or if DTR is to be used to signal the Master port to accept  
commands. See Appendix C for a block diagram of the 232BSS4.  
Master Port Connections:  
Chart B.1. DTE (PC) DB25 Connector to Master Port  
DTE (PC)  
Serial Port  
DB25 Connector  
2
232BSS4  
Master Port (DCE)  
DB25 Connector  
2
Signal  
Direction  
----------->  
(TD)  
3
4
<-----------  
----------->  
<-----------  
<-----------  
<--------->  
<-----------  
----------->  
3
(RD)  
4
(RTS)  
5
5
(CTS)  
6
6
(DSR) *  
(GND)  
(DCD) *  
(DTR) *  
7
7
8
8
20  
20  
* - Pins 6, 8, & 20 looped back internally on the 232BSS4  
Chart B.2. DTE (PC) DB9 Connector to Master Port  
DTE (PC)  
Serial Port  
DB9 Connector  
1
232BSS4  
Master Port (DCE)  
DB25 Connector  
8
Signal  
Direction  
<-----------  
(DCD) *  
Documentation Number 232BSS42907 Manual  
Appendix B: Cable Charts  
B-1  
B&B Electronics Mfg Co Inc – 707 Dayton Rd - PO Box 1040 - Ottawa IL 61350 - Ph 815-433-5100 - Fax 815-433-5104  
B&B Electronics Ltd – Westlink Commercial Park – Oranmore, Galway, Ireland – Ph +353 91-792444 – Fax +353 91-792445  
 
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
<-----------  
----------->  
----------->  
<--------->  
<-----------  
----------->  
<-----------  
3
(RD)  
2
(TD)  
20  
7
(DTR) *  
(GND)  
(DSR) *  
(RTS)  
(CTS)  
6
4
5
* - Pins 6, 8, & 20 looped back internally on the 232BSS4  
B-2  
Appendix B: Cable Charts  
Documentation Number 232BSS42907 Manual  
B&B Electronics Mfg Co Inc – 707 Dayton Rd - PO Box 1040 - Ottawa IL 61350 - Ph 815-433-5100 - Fax 815-433-5104  
B&B Electronics Ltd – Westlink Commercial Park – Oranmore, Galway, Ireland – Ph +353 91-792444 – Fax +353 91-792445  
 
Chart B.3. DCE (Modem) DB25 Connector to Master Port  
DCE (Modem)  
Serial Port  
DB25 Connector  
232BSS4  
Master Port (DCE)  
DB25 Connector  
Signal  
Direction  
2
<-----------  
----------->  
<-----------  
----------->  
----------->  
<--------->  
<-----------  
3
(RD)  
3
2
(TD)  
4
5
(CTS)  
(RTS)  
(DTR) *  
(GND)  
(DSR) *  
5
4
6
20  
7
7
20  
6
- Pins 6, 8, & 20 looped back internally on the  
232BSS4  
Chart B.4. DCE (Modem) DB9 Connector to Master Port  
DCE (Modem)  
Serial Port  
DB9 Connector  
232BSS4  
Master Port (DCE)  
DB25 Connector  
Signal  
Direction  
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
----------->  
<-----------  
<-----------  
<--------->  
----------->  
<-----------  
----------->  
2
(TD)  
3
(RD)  
6
(DSR) *  
(GND)  
(DTR) *  
(CTS)  
(RTS)  
7
20  
5
4
Documentation Number 232BSS42907 Manual  
Appendix B: Cable Charts  
B-3  
B&B Electronics Mfg Co Inc – 707 Dayton Rd - PO Box 1040 - Ottawa IL 61350 - Ph 815-433-5100 - Fax 815-433-5104  
B&B Electronics Ltd – Westlink Commercial Park – Oranmore, Galway, Ireland – Ph +353 91-792444 – Fax +353 91-792445  
 
- Pins 6, 8, & 20 looped back internally on the  
232BSS4  
Slave Port Connections:  
Chart B.5. Ports A - D (DTE) to DTE (PC) DB25 Connector  
232BSS4  
Ports A - D (DTE)  
DB9 Connector  
DTE (PC)  
Signal  
Serial Port  
Direction DB25 Connector  
1 (DCD) *  
2 (RD)  
3 (TD)  
4 (DTR) *  
5 (GND)  
6 (DSR) *  
7 (RTS)  
8 (CTS)  
---------->  
<----------  
---------->  
---------->  
<-------->  
<----------  
---------->  
<----------  
8
2
3
6
7
20  
5
4
* - Pins 1, 4, & 6 looped back internally on the  
232BSS4  
Chart B.6. Ports A - D (DTE) to DTE (PC) DB9 Connector  
232BSS4  
Ports A - D (DTE)  
DB9 Connector  
DTE (PC)  
Serial Port  
DB9 Connector  
Signal  
Direction  
1 (DCD) *  
2 (RD)  
3 (TD)  
4 (DTR) *  
5 (GND)  
6 (DSR) *  
7 (RTS)  
8 (CTS)  
---------->  
<----------  
---------->  
---------->  
<-------->  
<----------  
---------->  
<----------  
1
3
2
6
5
4
8
7
- Pins 1, 4, & 6 looped back internally on the  
232BSS4  
Chart B.7. Ports A - D (DTE) to DCE (Modem) DB25 Connector  
232BSS4  
Ports A - D (DTE)  
DB9 Connector  
DCE (Modem)  
Serial Port  
DB25 Connector  
Signal  
Direction  
B-4  
Appendix B: Cable Charts  
Documentation Number 232BSS42907 Manual  
B&B Electronics Mfg Co Inc – 707 Dayton Rd - PO Box 1040 - Ottawa IL 61350 - Ph 815-433-5100 - Fax 815-433-5104  
B&B Electronics Ltd – Westlink Commercial Park – Oranmore, Galway, Ireland – Ph +353 91-792444 – Fax +353 91-792445  
 
1 (DCD) *  
2 (RD)  
3 (TD)  
4 (DTR) *  
5 (GND)  
6 (DSR) *  
7 (RTS)  
8 (CTS)  
<----------  
<----------  
---------->  
---------->  
<-------->  
<----------  
---------->  
<----------  
8
3
2
20  
7
6
4
5
- Pins 1, 4, & 6 looped back internally on the  
232BSS4  
Chart B.8. Ports A - D (DTE) to DCE (Modem) DB9 Connector  
232BSS4  
Ports A - D (DTE)  
DB9 Connector  
DCE (Modem)  
Serial Port  
DB9 Connector  
Signal  
Direction  
1 (DCD) *  
2 (RD)  
3 (TD)  
4 (DTR) *  
5 (GND)  
6 (DSR) *  
7 (RTS)  
8 (CTS)  
<----------  
<----------  
---------->  
---------->  
<-------->  
<----------  
---------->  
<----------  
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
* - Pins 1, 4, & 6 looped back internally on the 232BSS4  
Documentation Number 232BSS42907 Manual  
Appendix B: Cable Charts  
B-5  
B&B Electronics Mfg Co Inc – 707 Dayton Rd - PO Box 1040 - Ottawa IL 61350 - Ph 815-433-5100 - Fax 815-433-5104  
B&B Electronics Ltd – Westlink Commercial Park – Oranmore, Galway, Ireland – Ph +353 91-792444 – Fax +353 91-792445  
 
B-6  
Appendix B: Cable Charts  
Documentation Number 232BSS42907 Manual  
B&B Electronics Mfg Co Inc – 707 Dayton Rd - PO Box 1040 - Ottawa IL 61350 - Ph 815-433-5100 - Fax 815-433-5104  
B&B Electronics Ltd – Westlink Commercial Park – Oranmore, Galway, Ireland – Ph +353 91-792444 – Fax +353 91-792445  
 
Appendix C: Block Diagram  
TD  
RD  
RTS  
CTS  
DSR  
DCD  
DTR  
GND  
TD  
RD  
RTS  
CTS  
DSR  
DCD  
DTR  
GND  
TD  
RD  
RTS  
CTS  
DSR  
DCD  
TD  
RD  
RTS  
CTS  
DSR  
DCD  
DTR  
GND  
DTR  
GND  
TD  
RD  
RTS  
CTS  
DSR  
DCD  
DTR  
GND  
232BSS4 Block Diagram  
Documentation Number 232BSS42907 Manual  
Appendix C  
C-1  
B&B Electronics Mfg Co Inc – 707 Dayton Rd - PO Box 1040 - Ottawa IL 61350 - Ph 815-433-5100 - Fax 815-433-5104  
B&B Electronics Ltd – Westlink Commercial Park – Oranmore, Galway, Ireland – Ph +353 91-792444 – Fax +353 91-792445  
 
C-2  
Appendix C  
Documentation Number 232BSS42907 Manual  
B&B Electronics Mfg Co Inc – 707 Dayton Rd - PO Box 1040 - Ottawa IL 61350 - Ph 815-433-5100 - Fax 815-433-5104  
B&B Electronics Ltd – Westlink Commercial Park – Oranmore, Galway, Ireland – Ph +353 91-792444 – Fax +353 91-792445  
 
Appendix D: Declaration of Conformity  
DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY  
Manufacturer’s Name:  
B&B Electronics Manufacturing Company  
Manufacturer’s Address:  
P.O. Box 1040  
707 Dayton Road  
Ottawa, IL 61350 USA  
Model Numbers:  
Description:  
232BSS4  
RS-232 4-Port Buffered Smart Switch  
Light industrial ITE equipment  
89/336/EEC  
Type:  
Application of Council Directive:  
Standards:  
EN 55022  
EN 61000-6-1  
EN 61000 (-4-2, -4-3, -4-4, -4-5, -4-6, -4-8, -4-11)  
William H. Franklin III, Director of Engineering  
Manual Documentation Number: XXXxxx-2305  
B-1  
B&B Electronics Mfg Co Inc – 707 Dayton Rd - PO Box 1040 - Ottawa IL 61350 - Ph 815-433-5100 - Fax 815-433-5104 – www.bb-elec.com  
B&B Electronics – Westlink Commercial Park – Oranmore, Galway, Ireland – Ph +353 91-792444 – Fax +353 91-792445 – www.bb-europe.com  
 

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