RS-232 Four-port Mini BB-232MSS2 Smart Switch / Port Combiner Features Connect up to 4 RS-232 devices to 1 RS-232 port 1200 to 115.2 Kbps baud rate Quick, inline installation Configure DB25 Master as DTE or DCE (4) RS-232 DB9 female Slave ports Automatic Transmit and Receive data control Requires 12 VDC external power (not included, sold separately) Introduction Ordering Information Model BB-232MSS2, RS-232 4-Port Mini-Smart Switch/Port Combiner, allows one Model No. Description Number of Ports RS-232 host device to connect to up to four RS-232 devices. Model BB-232MSS2 can function as a software and/or hardware controlled switch. BB-232MSS2 RS-232 Smart Switch / Port Combiner 4 There are four LEDs that indicate which port is connected to the master port. The master port can be configured as a DTE or DCE port by an internal switch setting (see Table 1). Accessories Sold Separately If the master port is configured as a DTE port, the four slave ports automatically become BB-SMI6B12V-P230C1 Power Supply, 12 Vdc, 6W, 2.5mm plug, International AC Input, DCE ports. Handshake lines DSR and DTR are connected together and are not passed International AC Blades (NATAM, EU, UK, Australia, China) through to the master port. There is no delay through the device and data is not buffered. The communication format is set via dipswitch 1 (SW1 -- see Table 1). Note: The data format and rates mentioned are used to switch the BB- As a software controlled switch (referred to as Smart Switch Mode), the device connected 232MSS2. Communication between devices can use any format or data rate. to the master port of the BB-232MSS2 has control over which one of the four ports it is connected to. As a hardware controlled switch (referred to as Port Combiner Mode), the handshake lines of the devices connected to the four ports are used to gain access to the Table 1. Communication & Port Set Up master port. DIP Switch SW1 Setting 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 In Smart Switch Mode, the switch is controlled by sending a programmable three-character 1200 Baud 0 0 0 X X X X X preamble code to the Master port. The first character of the preamble code must be the ASCII Escape character (decimal 27). The second character is user programmable by setting DIP 2400 Baud 1 0 0 X X X X X switch 2 (SW2 -- see Table 2). The third character should be the ASCII upper case letters A, B, 4800 Baud 0 1 0 X X X X X C, or D to select the appropriate port. The third character can also be the ASCII EOT (decimal 9600 Baud * 1 1 0 X X X X X 4) character, which will turn off all ports. 19.2K Baud 0 0 1 X X X X X 38.4K Baud 1 0 1 X X X X X Example: To select port A, send the ASCII ESC character, the programmable character and the A character. When the BB-232MSS2 receives this code, the 57.6K Baud 0 1 1 X X X X X master port will be connected directly to port A. 115.2K Baud 1 1 1 X X X X X Enhanced Disabled * X X X 0 X X X X Table 2. Programmable Character Setting Enhanced Enable X X X 1 X X X X DIP Switch SW2 * Weight 8 Data Bits * X X X X 0 X X X 1 1 7 Data Bits X X X X 1 X X X 2 2 Parity Disabled * X X X X X 0 X X 3 4 Parity Enabled X X X X X 1 X X 4 8 5 16 Smart Switch Mode * X X X X X X 0 X 6 32 Port Combiner Mode X X X X X X 1 X 7 64 DCE Master Port * X X X X X X X 0 8 128 DTE Master Port X X X X X X X 1 *Factory Default -- ASCII STX character (decimal 2), * Factory Defaults 0 = OFF 1 = ON X = DO NOT CARE SW2 position is only one ON. BB-USOPTL4-2P BB-USOPTL4-4P 0221ds All product specifications are subject to change without notice. BB-232MSS2 1821dsBB-232MSS2 In Port Combiner Mode, a slave port can gain access to the master port by asserting a Table 3. Timer Values handshake line (CTS for DTE slave ports or RTS for DCE slave ports). If a slave port asserts Data Byte Value its handshake line and no other slave ports have their handshake line asserted, the master port will then be connected directly to the slave port with the asserted handshake line. 0 Timer Disabled Once a slave port is connected to the master port, the connection will remain until the slave 1 10 ms disasserts its handshake line. If multiple slave ports have their handshake lines asserted, 2 25 ms access will be granted on a first-come-first-serve basis. If none of the slave ports have their 3 100 ms handshake line asserted, the switch can be controlled using the preamble codes. 4 500 ms 5 1 sec. Example: Initial conditions: no slave ports with handshake lines asserted. In 6 5 sec. chronological order, Port C asserts its handshake line, Port A asserts its handshake 7 30 sec. line, Port D asserts its handshake line and then Port C disasserts its handshake line. 8 1 min. When Port C asserts its handshake line, a connection is made between the 9 5 min. master port and Port C. When Port C disasserts its handshake line, Port C will be disconnected and Port A will connect to the master port. When Port A disasserts its If the data byte of the Set Timer Mode command is an ASCII 1, the timer will be set up to handshake, Port A will be disconnected and Port D will connect to the master port. ignore switching commands. When the timer is configured in this mode, Model BB-232MSS2 will not accept any switching commands (A, B, C, D, or EOT) for the specified timer value. After the timer has expired, the slave port that is connected to the master port will be Timer Features disconnected. This feature is useful to prevent inadvertent switching during binary/graphic type Model BB-232MSS2 has an enhanced mode with special timer features that can be used file transfers. to prevent: slave devices from receiving preamble commands, inadvertent switching from binary/graphic file transfers, and inactive slave devices from holding control of the master Example: Smart Switch Mode port. The timer is configured to ignore switching commands for 5 seconds. The select Port D command is sent to the BB-232MSS2. Once Port D is connected, a file of unknown data Timer Modes type (so file may or may not contain a switching command sequence) is to be transferred The timer has two different modes: Inactivity Mode and Inadvertent Switch Mode. through the BB-232MSS2. For a period of 5 seconds after Port D is connected, no In Inactivity Mode, the BB-232MSS2 monitors the data lines. If there is no activity for the switching commands will be accepted. As long as the file transfer takes less than 5 specified time, the selected slave port will disconnect from the master port. seconds, there is no chance the BB-232MSS2 will inadvertently switch ports. In Inadvertent Switch Mode, the BB-232MSS2 will ignore switching commands for the specified time. After this time has expired, the selected slave port will be disconnected from Software & Instruction Manual the master port.Timer functions are enabled via dipswitch setting and through software Model BB-232MSS2 comes with an instruction manual and software media. An IBM PC or commands. Software commands follow the same format as preamble codes used for compatible terminal stay resident (TSR) program is supplied. The program allows the user to switching. select the Smart Switch ports either through the command line or by pressing a sequence of keys referred to as hot keys. The TSR requires 1K of memory. Also included is a program Timer Commands written in Visual Basic that allows you to switch ports in Windows 95, 98, NT4.0 or XP with Two commands are used to set timer functions: Set Timer Mode and Set Timer Value. service pack installed. These commands require an additional byte for data. Set Timer Value command requires the third byte to be an ASCII T character. The data Specifications byte (fourth byte) must be a value between ASCII 0 and ASCII 9. A value of 0 is used to disable the timer. Refer to Table 3 for timer values. Serial Technology Set Timer Mode command requires the third byte to be an ASCII M. If the data byte (1) Master: DB25 female Connectors (4) Slaves: DB9 female (RS-232) (fourth byte) is an ASCII 0 (default), the timer will be configured as an inactivity timer. As an inactivity timer, Model BB-232MSS2 will monitor data lines TD and RD for data. If there Signals Supported TD, RD, RTS, CTS is no activity for the specified timer value, the slave port that is connected to the master port 1200 to 115.2 kbps 7 or 8 data bits even, odd or no parity Baud Rate will be disconnected. 1 or 2 stop bits (7, N, 1 not allowed) In smart switch mode, the inactivity timer can be used to prevent the preamble codes LEDs 2.5mm power jack, Plug tip = Positive, Plug sleeve = Ground from being received by the slave devices. In port combiner mode, the inactivity timer can Power (external power source required, not included, sold separately) be used to prevent devices from tying up the master port. Input 12 to 16 Vdc 10 mA Connector 2.5mm power jack, plug tip = positive, plug sleeve = ground Example: Port Combiner Mode Mechanical / Physical All slave ports have their handshake lines asserted. The device on Port C has its Dimensions 12.2 x 7.1 x 2.3 cm (4.8 x 2.8 x 0.9 in) handshake line asserted and is currently connected to the master port, but has not Meantime Between Failures (MTBF) been transmitting or receiving data. When the inactivity timer expires, Port C will be MTBF 1250400 hours disconnected and the next slave port will be connected to the master port (following the first-come-first-serve rule). Port C will then be placed at the end of the line. MTBF Calc. Method ML217F Parts Count Reliability Prediction Regulatory Approvals / Standards / Directives FCC Standards EN 55032, EN 55024, EN 61000-6-2 2011/65/EU amended by (EU) 2015/863 Reduction of Hazardous CE Directive Substances Directive (RoHS)