I'm trying to get my Solartron 7081 to talk to my computer (IBM T42 with XP,
PCMCIA serial port, Terminal v1.9b by Br@y++) and am getting no response
whatsoever from it - not even a keyboard echo. I know the serial port works
as I have no trouble connecting to my Stanford Research PRS-10 Rb standard,
car OBD-II ports, etc.

I have to be able to establish communications with it as that is the only
means of calibrating it. I know about the internal dip switches to adjust
the baud rate and have set them to 9600. There is no mention in the manual
about data bits/parity/stop bits, so I'm using 9600 with the default 8/n/1,
no handshaking. My local cal lab couldn't get it to respond either and gave
up on it. (I also don't have a GPIB port to try.)

There is currently a Guildline badged one on everyone's favorite auction
site right now with what looks like a null modem attached to the back (item
230706418327) - is this where I'm going wrong? Any ideas? Dead serial port?
What has worked for you?

Thanks,

Chris

ISTR it's a straight through connector rather than a null-modem that you need to talk to the 7081 8, N, 1 is correct.

Make sure you are looking at the mouse piano (dip switch = Mäuseklavier) for the baud rate from the correct side, and that you check you have the switch settings the right way round (on/off) as my memory tells me the manual was a little unclear on this

Dave
-----Original Message-----
From: volt-nuts-bounces@febo.com [mailto:volt-nuts-bounces@febo.com] On Behalf Of Chris Erickson
Sent: 02 December 2011 01:47
To: volt-nuts@febo.com
Subject: [volt-nuts] Solartron 7081 Serial Communication

I'm trying to get my Solartron 7081 to talk to my computer

Dave's post reminded me.  The DB25 RS232 connector does not mate with any of
my serial connectors and I made a DB25 to DB9 adapter using 3 wires.  It
would never work.  Only after I did an internet search for the 'complete'
DB25 to DB9 adapter wiring and added all the other, seemingly unneeded,
wires did it work.

Hope it helps.

Joe

-----Original Message-----
From: volt-nuts-bounces@febo.com [mailto:volt-nuts-bounces@febo.com] On
Behalf Of David C. Partridge
Sent: Friday, December 02, 2011 2:40 AM
To: 'Discussion of precise voltage measurement'
Subject: Re: [volt-nuts] Solartron 7081 Serial Communication

ISTR it's a straight through connector rather than a null-modem that you
need to talk to the 7081 8, N, 1 is correct.

Make sure you are looking at the mouse piano (dip switch = Mäuseklavier) for
the baud rate from the correct side, and that you check you have the switch
settings the right way round (on/off) as my memory tells me the manual was a
little unclear on this

Dave
-----Original Message-----
From: volt-nuts-bounces@febo.com [mailto:volt-nuts-bounces@febo.com] On
Behalf Of Chris Erickson
Sent: 02 December 2011 01:47
To: volt-nuts@febo.com
Subject: [volt-nuts] Solartron 7081 Serial Communication

I'm trying to get my Solartron 7081 to talk to my computer

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Hi, Chris!
This http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/6209/rs232cable.jpg is my Solartron 7081
crosslink (null-modem) cable pinouts.
This http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/1311/pcb1.jpg is the DIP-switches
configuration. All 8-th switches is in the OFF position (from left to right):

1. emergency state saving at Power Down is active;
2. not connected;
3. • 5. RS232 9600 baude rate selected;
4. • 7. Stimulation test program deactivated;
5. Reset circuite in normal mode (Reset must be deactivated to access internal
   Monitor programm).
   This http://img802.imageshack.us/img802/5344/screenshotmr.png is the Terminal
   screenshot with data bits/parity/stop bits etc settings. OUTPUT,RS232,ON must be
   a first command to enable RS232 response. This command is stored in memory even at
   power off until device initialized or NiCd battery discharged.
   If none of the above does not work, it may be hardware problem with IC25 LM301
   and IC4 74LS14.

Mickle T.

Friday, December 2, 2011, 5:47:20 AM, you wrote:
CE> I'm trying to get my Solartron 7081 to talk to my computer (IBM T42 with XP,
CE> PCMCIA serial port, Terminal v1.9b by Br@y++) and am getting no response
CE> whatsoever from it - not even a keyboard echo. I know the serial port works
CE> as I have no trouble connecting to my Stanford Research PRS-10 Rb standard,
CE> car OBD-II ports, etc.
CE>
CE> I have to be able to establish communications with it as that is the only
CE> means of calibrating it. I know about the internal dip switches to adjust
CE> the baud rate and have set them to 9600. There is no mention in the manual
CE> about data bits/parity/stop bits, so I'm using 9600 with the default 8/n/1,
CE> no handshaking. My local cal lab couldn't get it to respond either and gave
CE> up on it. (I also don't have a GPIB port to try.)
CE>
CE> There is currently a Guildline badged one on everyone's favorite auction
CE> site right now with what looks like a null modem attached to the back (item
CE> 230706418327) - is this where I'm going wrong? Any ideas? Dead serial port?
CE> What has worked for you?
CE>
CE> Thanks,
CE> Chris