Troubleshooting and Testing
Common problems
One of the most common problems that users find is that the serial interface standards do not match. A simple way around this problem is to use an ES-511 or ES-522 which have interchangeable standards so that the user can use either RS-232/422/485, half or full duplex.
Another problem which users can often encounter is that their old equipment or hardware has demanding time and flow requirements and may have no buffers. There is an easy solution for this; use a Brainboxes 16C950+ UART as it meets the most stringent demands. It has very tight timing characteristics implemented in the hardware. It supports between 60 baud and 1,000,000 baud (1Mb). Also supports any custom baud rate as standard. It has a 2 kilobyte FIFO on Rx and Tx.
Grounding the device: Though the twisted pair carries the data, a ground connection is also required to provide a return path for induced common mode noise and receiver current. Otherwise radiated emissions occur. To fix this, Brainboxes products have a Signal Ground connection on each serial port. Connect the Ground wire to this; optionally add a 120 Ohm 1Watt resistor in series at one end of the bus.
The most common problems and frequently asked questions for the ES range of devices is listed in the table below along with descriptions and suggestions for corrective actions.
| Question | Description | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Problems installing Boost.LAN Device Manager | Boost.LAN installation wizard has not completed or shows an error | Restart the PC and try installing Boost.LAN again. Check if there is an updated driver package online at www.brainboxes.com |
| Can't find ES device in Boost.LAN Device Manager | When the 'Find Devices' button is clicked the device isn't displayed in Boost.LAN manager. | Check that the device is correctly powered up and plugged into the network. Check the Ethernet and status LED behaviour (see Hardware Features). Ensure Brainboxes Boost.LAN Suite is set as an exception in Windows Firewall if it is enabled, and any other custom firewall that you have installed. If you have a proxy server installed check Boost.LAN is on the exceptions list. If you are connecting through a router check that port forwarding is enabled on the router. |
| Problems installing Boost.LAN COM port driver | Can't install the ES device COM ports. | If device manager shows error messages for the Ethernet to serial device and ports (errors are indicated by a yellow exclamation mark), it is recommended to uninstall and re-install. If the problem is still present after trying the above, try another computer to narrow down the problem. |
| Code 10 Error in Device Manager | Device Manager reports "This device cannot start. (Code 10)" | In the device Properties dialog box, click the Driver tab, and then click Update Driver to start the Hardware Update Wizard. Follow the instructions to update the driver. Install the latest drivers found on our website. Try installing the COM port on a different PC. |
| Cannot open COM port | There is an error when trying to open the COM port. | Check the Ethernet cable is plugged in to the device. Check the ES device is correctly installed, and the ports appear in Device Manager without any errors (Errors are indicated by a yellow exclamation mark.) Make sure that the port you are trying to open is not being blocked by a firewall that may be installed. If you are using a hub/switch or another device between the network server and ES device, check that it's powered and working correctly. If you are using the ES device in Static IP mode, check that its IP address is in the same sub-net as the server. Check that there are no IP address conflicts on the network. If you are using the RS-422/485 in half duplex mode, make sure it is set for half duplex communication in the software. Check if there is an updated firmware or software driver package for your ES device by contacting Brainboxes Technical Support with your existing software version. Check the status LED behaviour. (See Hardware Features) If the status LED is showing a problem perform a power cycle, and if there is still a problem restore the factory settings. Make sure that you have access to the device which you are trying to open the COM port of. If the problem is still present after trying the above, try a different network card if possible. |
| Communication Problems | Problems transmitting or receiving data through the port. | Check the status LED behaviour. (See Hardware Features) If the status LED is showing a problem perform a power cycle, and if there is still a problem restore the factory settings. Perform a loopback: The loopback test will verify that your ES device is able to Transmit and Receive data. The transmit and receive lines are connected together so any data sent is received on the same port. Details of loopback tests can be found on our website. Brainboxes Loopback Test Guide |
| Can't access ES configuration webpage | When you try to access the webpage by typing the IP address into the address bar of your web browser, the page cannot be displayed. | Check the status and Ethernet lights on the device show that the device is connected to the network and ready. (See Hardware Features) Check that the IP address is the correct one. If you are on a private network the default IP address is 192.168.127.254. If you have a proxy server installed check IP address of the device is on the exceptions list. |
| Error page loads when trying to load web Configuration page | When loading the web configuration page, the Brainboxes web page loads with an error. | Check that you have user or admin access to the device that you are trying to load. If the security settings are on you will need your MAC address added to the access list. To clear the security settings you will need to hard reset the device by holding the reset button on the device for 10 seconds, until the device beeps twice. You will then have access to all the web configuration pages. |
| Problem Upgrading Firmware | The upgrade process does not start or continues to restart without completing successfully | We recommend using a direct Ethernet to PC connection when upgrading the firmware of your ES device. Using this private network means the upgrade will run smoother and quicker because there is no other traffic on the network. |
Need More Help?
Should the problem still persist with your ES device please contact [email protected] with:
- Your Loopback test result
- IP address
- Static or DHCP setting
- COM Setting required (baud rate, data bits, parity, stop bits and handshaking)
- Firmware and Driver version