The simplest wired method of sending data from multiple ECM-1240 devices to a computer would be to use one or more of the options described in option #1 (above). Although this method requires more port resources, it is immune of data collision issues.
The alternative to using separate computer ports for each ECM-1240 device is to "multiplex" the data. Currently the only multiplex option is that of a passive MUX cable. This combines the RS-232 data from multiple devices on a single line allowing the use of a single RS-232 port, "serial to USB" adaptor or EtherPort Gateway.
- Multiple ECM-1240 devices to MUX adaptor to single RS-232 port
- Multiple ECM-1240 devices to MUX adaptor to single "serial to USB" adaptor to single USB port.
- Multiple ECM-1240 devices to MUX adaptor to single "EtherPort" gateway to single RJ-45 Ethernet computer port.
The downfall of using this method is that the occasional data collision may occur. This will not affect the data integrity, it would only affect the load profile slightly. Our demo site has been using a MUX-2 adaptor for nearly a year now.
Multiple ECM-1240 devices to MUX adaptor to single RS-232 port
Multiple ECM-1240 devices to MUX adaptor to single "serial to USB" adaptor to single USB port.
Multiple ECM-1240 devices to MUX adaptor to single "EtherPort" gateway to single RJ-45 Ethernet computer port.
