Hardware:
A PC or Laptop with Sealevel RS-485 serial adapters (Part# 7105, 7201, or 7205), PCMCIA serial adapter (Part# 3602) or SeaLINK USB serial adapters (Part# 2102, 2202, or 2203), along with serial cables with DB25 (Part# CA104) or DB9 (Part# CA176) connectors can be used to connect the PC to the TB04 and are available for use with any Sealevel RS-485 adapter.

Screen Capture of Active Device Search:

Hardware:
A PC with Sealevel PCI RS-422 Serial Adapter (Part# 7201, 7204, or 7205) or USB SeaLINK RS-422 Serial Adapter (Part# 2202, 2203, 2402, or 2403), connected to Studio Gear with a Sealevel CA190 cable. The CA190 cable is available for use with any Sealevel DB9 RS-422 serial adapter.

The Firmware Update Process
Updating the firmware on a SeaLINK Ethernet serial server takes approximately one minute to complete. This article details the steps required to update the firmware and covers two methods. Prior to SeaLINK v2.3.22 firmware, the SeaLINK Configuration Utility is required. With SeaLINK v2.3.22 firmware and later, the SeaLINK web administration page simplifies the update process.

Important!Device configuration settings will be lost after completing the firmware update. All custom configuration settings should be documented before beginning the update procedure. The SeaLINK device will need to be configured after completing the update.

Caution:When using the SeaLINK Configuration utility, the use of an uninterruptable power supply is recommended to prevent loss of power during the update. It is also recommended that the device be directly connected to the Ethernet port of the host computer using the crossover cable included with the device. In rare instances where the firmware update fails due to power loss or communication failure, it will be necessary to return the unit to Sealevel Systems for repair.

Note:With SeaLINK v2.3.22 firmware and later, updating the firmware through the web administration page is immune to communication failures. It is not necessary to use a crossover cable. However, it is still recommended to use a UPS to protect against a power failure, which would result in a return for repair situation.

Launch SeaLINK Config
The SeaLINK Configuration utility is part of the SeaLINK Software Installation package (v4.8.4+). In Microsoft Windows Vista, it is necessary to run the application as an 'Administrator'. Click on Start -> All Programs -> SeaLINK. Right-click on SeaLINK Config. In the fly-out menu, select 'Run as Administrator'.

SeaLINK Config will be used to determine the current version of the firmware installed on the SeaLINK Ethernet serial server. For older SeaLINK firmware (before v2.3.22), the SeaLINK Configuration utility can also be used to update the SeaLINK device firmware.

Click the Advanced Button
Choose the desired SeaLINK device from the list of devices detected by SeaLINK Config. Click the "Advanced" button, as shown in the image below. This will launch the web configuration utility in the default browser.

Determine Current Firmware Version
When the browser opens with the web configuration utility, the 'Summary' tab will display the current firmware version with other basic device information. Click on the 'Port Settings' and 'Administration' tabs and record any custom configuration settings for the SeaLINK device. Custom settings will be cleared during the update and returned to factory defaults.

Make note of the firmware version.

Download Updated Firmware
The latest version of the SeaLINK firmware can be downloaded from the Sealevel FTP site at the following link:

ftp://ftp.sealevel.com/pub/SOFTWARE/SEALINK/Firmware/CURRENT/

Compare the version number to the installed version and proceed if necessary. Click the file to download and save it to an accessible location such as the Desktop or My Documents folder.

Web-Based Firmware Update
Prior to downloading the firmware, you made note of the firmware version. If you see a version older than 2.3.22, you will need to use the SeaLINK Config utility to update the firmware. Skip this step and continue with the remaining steps.

If you see version 2.3.22 or newer, you can update the firmware via the web interface. Click on the 'Administration' tab. At the bottom of this page is a field, 'Flash Upgrade File'. Click the 'Browse' button and locate the firmware file you downloaded in the previous step. The SeaLINK firmware will end with '_APP.s19'. Once you have navigated to its location, click the 'Open' button. Once the field is populated with the firmware update file, click the 'Submit' button.

Depending on network speed and other factors, the firmware update will take less than one minute to complete and then the SeaLINK device will reboot. If the webpage doesn’t refresh, click on the 'Advanced' button in SeaLINK Config to launch the web configuration utility.

On the 'Summary' tab, the updated firmware version is displayed with other basic device information. Click on the 'Port Settings' and 'Administration' tabs to reconfigure the SeaLINK device using the settings you recorded prior to starting the firmware update. The firmware update and device configuration is complete.

Open Device Settings
In the SeaLINK Config window, click the 'Device Settings...' button as shown.

Click Update Firmware Button
The SeaLINK Device Settings window opens. Basic network settings are configured for the SeaLINK device in this window. Click the 'Update Firmware...' button located below the network settings options.

Click the Browse Button
Click the Browse button and locate the firmware update that you downloaded in an earlier step.

Locate the Firmware File
The SeaLINK firmware will end with '_APP.s19'.  Once you have navigated to its location, click the 'Open' button.

Click Begin Update Button
Once you have located the firmware file, click the 'Begin Update' button.

Firmware Update Complete
When the update process completes, the SeaLINK device will be fully updated. Click the Advanced button in SeaLINK Config to open the web configuration utility to verify the updated firmware version and reconfigure the SeaLINK device.

Web Configuration Utility
The web administration page for the device will appear in the default browser. On the "Summary" tab, the firmware version is displayed with other basic device information. Click on the "Port Settings" and "Administration" tabs to reconfigure the SeaLINK device using the settings you recorded prior to starting the firmware update.

Tech Support
If you experience any problems with the firmware update, contact Sealevel technical support at support@sealevel.com or call 864-843-4343 for assistance.

Hardware:
Today's Notebook PCs ship with 1 or in some cases no onboard serial ports. Sealevel USB Serial and PCMCIA Serial I/O products bypass this limitation by providing additional serial ports for all of your mobile data acquisition, automation, and control needs. Isolated USB products are also available to eliminate the effects of ground loop current and surges.

Single Port Serial Products

MultiPort Serial Products

Sealevel serial I/O devices typically include a loopback plug with each shipment that can be used to test data lines. Additional loopback plugs can be purchased for a small charge. Item number LB101 is a DB-9 loopback that is specially constructed to test data signals on RS-232 and Sealevel RS-422, RS-485 serial ports. Item number LB102 is a DB-25 loopback that is used to test RS-232 serial ports. Please contact your sales representative for more information.

If you want to test modem control signals or you need to construct your own loopback, follow the instructions below. Use the diagram appropriate to your electrical interface.

DB-9 RS-232 Loopback Connection
Connect Pins:

• 2 to 3 (Rx to Tx)
• 1 to 4 to 6 (DCD to DTR to DSR)
• 7 to 8 to 9 (RTS to CTS to RI)

Pins marked in red are the data lines, Tx and Rx, and are necessary for the loopback and BERT testing. All other pins are for modem control signal tests and are not necessary to connect unless you wish to test those signals.

DB-9 RS-422, RS-485 Loopback Connection
Connect Pins:

• 1 to 4 (Rx+ to Tx+)
• 2 to 3 (Rx- to Tx-)
• 6 to 9 (RTS+ to CTS+)
• 7 to 8 (RTS- to CTS-)

Pins marked in red are the data lines, Tx and Rx, and are necessary for the loopback and BERT testing. All other pins are for modem control signal tests and are not necessary to connect unless you wish to test those signals.

DB-25 RS-232 Loopback Connection
Connect Pins:

• 2 to 3 (Tx to Rx)
• 4 to 5 to 22 (RTS to CTS to RI)
• 6 to 8 to 20 (DSR to DCD to DTR)

Pins marked in red are the data lines, Tx and Rx, and are necessary for the loopback and BERT testing. All other pins are for modem control signal tests and are not necessary to connect unless you wish to test those signals.

DB-25 RS-422 Loopback Connection
Connect Pins:

• 12 to 24 (Rx+ to Tx+)
• 13 to 25 (Rx- to Tx-)

DB-25 RS-530 Loopback Connection
Connect Pins:

• 2 to 3 (Tx- to Rx-)
• 14 to 16 (Tx+ to Rx+)
• 5 to 4 (RTS- to CTS-)
• 13 to 19 (RTS+ to CTS+)
• 10 to 22 to 23 (DCD+ to DSR+ to DTR+)
• 6 to 8 to 20 (DCD- to DSR- to DTR-)

Pins marked in red are the data lines, Tx and Rx, and are necessary for the loopback and BERT testing. All other pins are for modem control signal tests and are not necessary to connect unless you wish to test those signals.

Controlling a Modbus RTU Module

Hardware: A PC with Sealevel DIN rail interface converter (Part# 1104 or 1105) connected to a Modbus RTU Module. The 1104 provides RS-232 to RS-485 conversion and our exclusive autobaud feature that automatically syncs to your data rate and controls the RTS enable/disable signal. The 1105 includes the same features plus 1500 VRMS optical isolation. The 906B module provides 12 digital channels selectable as input or output. Once configured, the device operates as an active RS-485 network slave connected to other modules performing network I/O functions.