Campbell Scientific NL200/NL201 Network Link Interface - Manual (Page 22)

NL200/201 Network Link Interface
routing table. These are devices that the NL200/201 has learned about through
beaconing or allowed-neighbor lists.
Beacon Interval – Devices in a PakBus® network may broadcast a hello-
message to other devices in order to determine “neighbor” devices. Neighbor
devices are devices that can be communicated with directly by the current
device without being routed through an intermediate device. A beacon in a
PakBus network helps to ensure that all devices in the network are aware of
which other devices are viable in the network. The beacon interval determines
how often a beacon will be sent out. Set the beacon interval to 0 to disable
beacons.
Verify Interval – This interval, in seconds, determines the rate at which the
NL200/201 will attempt to start a hello transaction with a neighbor if no other
communication has taken place within the interval. If Verify Interval is set to
0, the verify interval becomes 2.5 times the Beacon Interval. If both the
Beacon Interval and Verify Interval are set to 0, the verify interval becomes
300 seconds.
PakBus Neighbors Allowed – You can set a list of “acceptable neighbors”
which the NL200/201 expects to hear from within set intervals (the Verify
Interval). If the NL200/201 does not hear from neighbors in this list within
the Verify Interval, it will attempt to contact them on its own. It will ignore all
devices it hears that are not on the PakBus Neighbors Allowed list except if the
PakBus® address is ≥4000. Hellos from devices with PakBus address ≥4000
are automatically accepted as neighbors.
7.1.1 Physical Setup
Using the supplied serial cable, connect the NL200/201’s CS I/O port or RS-
232 port to the datalogger’s CS I/O or RS-232 port, respectively. The NL201
will be powered if connected via CS I/O. Alternatively, power the NL200 or
NL201 through the barrel-connector jack located on the edge of the device.
Connect the NL200/201 to your network using an Ethernet cable, attaching one
end of the cable to the NL200/201’s Ethernet port and the other end to your
network. Ensure that the device is powered up by inspecting the Power LED.
7.1.2 Configuring the NL200/201
RS-232 PakBus® Router
• Connect to the NL200/201 in DevConfig (see Section 6, Configuring the
NL200/201).
• On the NL200 tab:
o Set Bridge Mode to disable.
• On the RS-232 tab:
o Set Configuration to PakBus.
o Set Baud Rate to baud rate of attached device.
o Set Beacon Interval, Verify Interval, and PakBus Neighbors
Allowed as described above. Often the default values can be used.
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