Archive for March, 2011

Count Down Timer to Control Lights Automatically

Tuesday, March 29th, 2011

Quick Timer series include Quick Timer R2X, Quick Timer R4X, Quick Timer R8X and Quick Timer R16X. They are programmable timer software to control relay boards of 2 relays, 4 relays, 8 relays and 16 relays. 

Each relay can be turned on/off manual. It also can be controlled automatically according to the preset setting. Programmable setting can meet all kinds of your requirement.

Quick time setting and high resolution make them fit for lights control, science experiment, home automation, industry control, energy conservation and so on.

Here’s the example of controlling four lights with Quick Timer R4X.

Task:

  • The clock counts down from 30 seconds.
  • For Light 1, it is turned on 5 seconds and turned off 5 seconds within 30 seconds.
  • For Light 2, it is turned off 5 seconds and turned on 5 seconds within 30 seconds.
  • For Light 3, it is turned on at first 10 seconds and turned off for next 20 seconds.
  • For Light 4, it is turned off  at first 10 seconds and turned on for next 20 seconds.

Steps:

  1. Connect the four lights to each relay on 4-channel relay board of National Control Devices.
  2. Connect the relay board with your computer by RS232 port, USB port or network.
  3. Download, install and launch Quick Timer R4X.
  • Quick Timer R4X

   4.  Click Configure button to select the right relay board and connection method.

  • Quick Timer R4X - Configration  
  • If the configuration is correct, the relays can be turned on/off manually by clicking the switch buttons.

   Quick Timer R4X - Relay Control Panel

  • 5.  Click setting button to add time setting for each relay.

Here is the setting for relay 1 connected with Light 1.

  • Quick Timer R4X - Relay 1 Setting 

Here is the setting for relay 2 connected with Light 2.

  • Quick Timer R4X - Relay 2 Setting

Here is the setting for relay 3 connected with Light 3.

  • Quick Timer R4X - Relay 3 Setting

Here is the setting for relay 4 connected with Light 4.

  • Quick Timer R4X - Relay 4 Setting

6.  Click Start All button to control the the relays and the lights automatically.

  • At beginning
  • Count Down Timer -Quick Timer R4X
  • At 25 seconds
  • Count Down Timer - Quick Timer R4X
  • At 20 seconds
  • Count Down Timer - Quick Timer R4X
  • At 10 seconds
  • Count Down Timer - Quick Timer R4X
  • Here is the setting file QTR4X_Control_Light.tmr. 
  • Please download and load it to Quick Timer R4X directly.

Back to Quick Timer R4X webpage

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Can PTZ Controller work with multiple serial ports?

Thursday, March 24th, 2011

Yes, PTZ Controller software can work with multiple serial ports.

Multi-instance of PTZ Controller can be run on one computer. Each instance can control a PTZ camera connected on a serial port.

The instance of PTZ Controller can be run with command line parameters. That is PTZ Controller can be run with a specified configuration file.

Format: PTZController.exe -f “PathToConfigurationFile”

Back to PTZ Controller webpage

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Can PTZ Controller control multiple PTZ cameras?

Thursday, March 24th, 2011

Yes,  PTZ Controller  software can control multiple PTZ cameras, as long as the protocol of PTZ camera supports. For example, Sony VISCA protocol normally can support a daisy chain of up to seven attached cameras. PTZ Controller can control as many as 255 cameras.

PTZ Controller can control multiple PTZ cameras through a serial port.  These PTZ cameras are connected to the same computer serial port. They are each identified by a unique hardware ID (address). You can assign an ID to a PTZ camera by adjusting the ID switch of PTZ camera device or sending a command. Detail please refers to your PTZ camera manual.

PTZ Controller can also control PTZ cameras connected on different serial ports. Multi-instance of PTZ Controller can be run on one computer. Each instance can control a camera connected on a serial port. The instance of PTZ Controller can be run with command line parameters.

Back to PTZ Controller webpage

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How to connect PTZ camera with the computer?

Thursday, March 24th, 2011

 

To control your PTZ camera with our PTZ Controller software, you must connect your PTZ camera with your computer at first.

For computer,  the RS232 port (serial port), so called COM port, is for connecting with PTZ camera.

For PTZ camera, it has a RS485/422 port to plug in the control cable.

In order to connect a PTZ camera to a computer, You need a RS485/RS232 or RS422/RS232 converter.

If there is no RS232 port on your computer, you also can use a RS485/USB or RS422/USB converter.

Back to PTZ Controller webpage

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How to test the serial port connection between PTZ Camera and the computer?

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011

You must make sure that the connection between PTZ Camera with your computer is available before using PTZ Controller software to control your PTZ camera.

Usually, PTZ Camera are connected with the computer through RS232 port (serial port). Here is the RS232 DB9 pinout.

RS232 Interface

You need to do a loopback test to verify the operation of serial port communication.

To perform a loopback test for RS232, please shortcut the RX and TX on computer serial port first. That is pin 2 and pin 3.

Run our free test tool Comm Operator Pal for loopback test. Please use the same port and baud rate as in PTZ Controller. If the serial port works, the data should be echoed back in log window.

Comm Operator Pal - Loopback test

If the serial port works, please also shortcut the other end of the cable that connected to RX/TX on PTZ Camera and run loopback test with Comm Operator Pal to make sure the cable works.

Back to PTZ Controller webpage

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What’s the difference between PTZ keyboard hardware and PTZ Controller software?

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011

Both PTZ keyboard hardware and PTZ Controller software are used to control PTZ camera.

However, PTZ keyboard hardware supports limited protocols. It’s also much expensive.

PTZ Controller software is dedicated to control PTZ cameras through computer standard keyboard and mouse, as well as joystick.

PTZ Controller software supports all functions of PTZ keyboard hardware, such as Pan, Tilt, Focus, Zoom, Iris, Preset, etc.

PTZ Controller software supports most popular protocols such as Pelco, Sony, Bosch, Panasonic, etc. It will support more protocols in future.

PTZ Controller software can assign meaningful name for presets and cameras instead of just number.

PTZ Controller software is capable of sending user-defined Hex data to PTZ camera.

PTZ Controller software can control multiple PTZ cameras connected with different serial ports.

PTZ Controller software Screenshot

PTZ Controller          PTZ Controller - Protocol

Back to PTZ Controller webpage

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Auto Send Sequence Data at Given Time with Comm Operator

Monday, March 21st, 2011

Here are the steps for sending sequence data at given time automatically with Comm Operator.

Step 1. Run Comm Operator.

Comm Operator

Step 2. Select Edit->Auto Send from menu to open Auto Send Rule Setting dialog shown as below.

Auto Send Rule Setting

Step 3. Click New button to show Select Rule Type dialog shown as below.

Rul Type - Group Data

Step 4. Select Group Data Rule , click OK button to show Group Data Rule dialog shown as below.

Group Data Rule

Step 5. Input the name or keep the default name.

Step 6. Setting Start Event.

  • Click Edit button to open Event Editor dialog.
  • Select On Time .
  • Select Absolute Time type.
  • Set the time to send the data. (Here is 9:50)
  • Event Editor - On Time Start
  • Click OK button to return Group Data Rule dialog.

Step 7. Setting Step Event.

  • Click Edit button to open Event Editor dialog.
  • Select On Time option.
  • Select From Last Send End type and input the time.
  • Event Editor - On Time Setp
    • Click OK button to return Group Data Rule dialog.

    Step 8. Edit the send data.

    • Click New button on Group Data Rule dialog to open Data Editor.
    • Input the sent data name. (Not required)
    • Select the format of data.
    • Input the data that will be sent at given time.
    • Add some comments about the data. (Not required)
    • Data Editor

  • Click OK button to return Group Data Rule dialog.
  • Reopen above dialog to add other data.

The send data list can also be loaded from a file.

Step 9. After finishing Step 4 to Step 7, the Group Data Rule dialog should be shown as below.

Group Data Rule - Turn On

Click OK button to return Auto Send Rule Setting dialog, the rule will be list on this dialog, check it.

Auto Send Rule Setting

Repeat Step 2 to Step 8 to add another rule show as below.

Group Data Rule - Turn Off

Click OK button to return Auto Send Rule Setting dialog, Rule1 and Rule2 will be list on this dialog, check both of them.

Auto Send Rule Setting 

Click OK button to complete setting.

Step 10. Run the rule.

  • Open port. Make sure the port connected before running the rule.
  • Click iconStart on toolbar to run the rule.
  • The data in Rule1 will be sent at 9:50. The data in Rule2 will be sent at 9:55. The result is shown in log window as below.

Comm Operator - Auto Send Data at Given Time

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Auto Send Data after Receiving Specified Data with Comm Operator

Monday, March 21st, 2011

Here are the steps for sending data after receiving specified data automatically with Comm Operator.

Step 1. Run Comm Operator.

Comm Operator

Step 2: Select Edit->Auto Send from menu to open Auto Send Rule Setting dialog shown as below.

Auto Send Rule Setting

Step 3: Click New button to show Select Rule Type dialog shown as below.

Single Rule

Step 4. Select Single Data Rule, click OK button to show Single Data Rule dialog shown as below.

Single Data Rule

Step 5. Input the name or keep the default name.

Step 6. Setting Event.(Here, the setting is after receiving a special data 85, the data ’254 33′ will be sent.)

  • Click Edit button to open Event Editor dialog.
  • Select On Receive and Spec Data.
  • Event Editor -On Receive
    • Click Edit button on Event Editor dialog to open Data Editor dialog.
    • Input the special data that will be received. (Here is 85.)
    • Data Editor
  • Click OK button to return Event Editor dialog and then return Single Data Rule dialog.

Step 7. Edit the send data.

  • Click Edit button on Single Data Rule dialog to open Data Editor dialog.
  • Input the data (254 33) that will be sent after receiving the special data (85).
  • Data Editor

  • Click OK button to return Single Data Rule dialog.

Step 8. After finishing Step 4 to Step 6, the Single Data Rule dialog should be shown as below.

Single Data Rule

  • Click OK button to return Auto Send Rule Setting dialog, the rule will be list on this dialog, check it.

    • Auto Send Rule Setting

  • Click OK button to complete setting.

    • Step 9. Run the rule.

    • Open the port before running the rule.
    • Click iconStart on toolbar to run the rule.
    • The data ’254 33′ will be sent after receiving ’85′. The result is shown in log window as below.
    • Comm Operator - Auto Send after Receiving Specified Data

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    Auto Send Group Data in Fixed Interval with Comm Operator

    Monday, March 21st, 2011

    Here are the steps for sending data in fixed interval automatically with Comm Operator.

    Step 1. Run Comm Operator.

    Comm Operator

    Step 2. Select Edit->Auto Send from menu to open Auto Send Rule Setting dialog shown as below.

    Auto Send Rule Setting

    Step 3. Click New button to show Select Rule Type dialog shown as below.

    Goup Rule Type

    Step 4. Select Group Data Rule , click OK button to show Group Data Rule dialog shown as below.

    Group Data Rule

    Step 5. Input the name or keep the default name.

    Step 6. Setting Start Event.

    • Click Edit button to open Event Editor dialog.
    • Select On Action and Start .
    • Event Editor - On Action

    Click OK button to return Group Data Rule dialog.

    Step 7. Setting Step Event.

    • Select Loop option on Group Data Rule dialog.
    • Click Edit button to open Event Editor dialog.
    • Select On Time option.
    • Select the type of time and input the time.
    • Event Editor - On Time
    • Click OK button to return Group Data Rule dialog.

    Step 8. Edit the send data.

    • Click New button on Group Data Rule dialog to open Data Editor.
    • Input the name of data. (Not required)
    • Select the format of data.
    • Input the data that will be sent at fixed time interval.
    • Add some comments about the data. (Not required)
    • Data Editor
  • Click OK button to return Group Data Rule dialog.

    Step 9. After finishing Step 4 to Step 7, the Group Data Rule dialog should be shown as below.

    Group Data Rule

  • Click OK button to return Auto Send Rule Setting dialog, the rule will be list on this dialog, check it.

    Auto Send Rule Setting

    • Click OK button to complete setting.

    Step 10. Run the rule.

    • Open port. Make sure the port connected before running the rule.
    • Click iconStart on toolbar to run the rule.
    • The data will be sent in fixed time interval (5 seconds). The result is shown in log window as below.
    • Comm Operator - Auto Send Group Data

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    N-Button v1.3

    Wednesday, March 9th, 2011

    N-Button is a versatile program to create widgets on your desktop to control RS232 & Network related external devices, run applications, send http request or send data list. Build-in buttons to control relay boards of National Control Devices without any programming!

    N-Button Lite version supports up to 8 widgets. 

    N-Button standard version supports up to 256 widgets.

    See also:

    Create Widgets on you desktop.

    Widgets can be easily added and edited in N-Button Manager.

    N-Button Manager 

    It supports five types of widgets – Relay Button, Relay Status, A/D Meter, Customized Button and Label.

    Relay Button widgets turn on/off relay directly.

    Relay Button

    Relay Status widgets show status of the relay automatically.

    Relay Status

    A/D Meter widgets display the value of A/D channel automatically.

    AD Meter

    Customized Button can be set to send specified data to any other connected devices besides relay boards. It can also be set to open a file, a folder or a program, run any application, send http request or send data list.

    Customized Button

    Label widget is used to show static text or image on desktop. 

    Label

    Product Page: http://www.serialporttool.com/NbuttonInfo.htm
    Download link: http://www.serialporttool.com/download/NButton/NButton.zip
    E-Mail: support@serialporttool.com

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