Author Topic: [WORKED!!!] Connecting TDS210 to computer via RS323 serial to USB  (Read 14234 times)

0 Members and 2 Guests are viewing this topic.

Offline gkmaiaTopic starter

  • Frequent Contributor
  • **
  • Posts: 534
  • Country: nz
  • Electronics Hobbyist
I am trying to connect my TDS do my MAC via a RS323.

So far my MAC can find something is connected via USB serial.

TDS has been configured to hardcopy via RS323. But when I press HARDCOPY no data comes through. Has anyone successfully achieved that?

I tried to scope the pins on my RS323 to see if I could find any trace of TX or RX flowing but found just low amplitude noise or ground. And then maybe see if my cable was set wrong. Did try that on my TDS210 and TDS220 both with their on expansion cards.

Video bellow shows my usb/serial cable getting data from my signal generator and sending data to my scope. So far the cable is working fine.

« Last Edit: August 12, 2019, 08:39:17 pm by gkmaia »
 

Offline gkmaiaTopic starter

  • Frequent Contributor
  • **
  • Posts: 534
  • Country: nz
  • Electronics Hobbyist
Re: Connecting TDS210 to computer via RS323 serial to USB
« Reply #1 on: August 12, 2019, 08:38:51 pm »
I finally managed to get data out of my old TDS210!!!!

If anyone needs to do the same here is my setup. Costed $5.

You will need to tweak the serial cable and connect pin 3 of the scope RS232 to pin 2 of the usb/serial cable if you get a male DB9. I have ordered a female one and will check if pins lineup when it arrives.

You should get a file on terminal like the calibration.txt bellow. Just add the .eps to the text file and convert it to an image on https://www.epsconverter.com/

SCOPE RS232 pin out
5-GND
3-Data out

USD/SERIAL pin out
5-GND
2-Data in

TDS RS232 configuration
Baud 9600, Flow control NONE, EOL CR/LF, Parity EVEN,

TDS Hardcopy configuration
Format EPSIMAGE, port RS232

Serial software CoolTerm
Configuration on images attached
« Last Edit: August 12, 2019, 09:28:46 pm by gkmaia »
 
The following users thanked this post: Mr. Scram

Offline Shock

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 4323
  • Country: au
Re: [WORKED!!!] Connecting TDS210 to computer via RS323 serial to USB
« Reply #2 on: August 12, 2019, 08:59:10 pm »
Headline: Mac user discovers serial communications 40 years after PC users.

Heheh congrats. :D
Soldering/Rework: Pace ADS200, Pace MBT350
Multimeters: Fluke 189, 87V, 117, 112   >>> WANTED STUFF <<<
Oszilloskopen: Lecroy 9314, Phillips PM3065, Tektronix 2215a, 314
 

Online tautech

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 29810
  • Country: nz
  • Taupaki Technologies Ltd. Siglent Distributor NZ.
    • Taupaki Technologies Ltd.
Re: [WORKED!!!] Connecting TDS210 to computer via RS323 serial to USB
« Reply #3 on: August 12, 2019, 09:06:01 pm »
Recommend the OP uses the Move Topic feature to place this thread in Test Equipment where it better belongs so others can benefit from this achievement.

Move Topic is lower left on the OP's page.
Avid Rabid Hobbyist.
Some stuff seen @ Siglent HQ cannot be shared.
 
The following users thanked this post: gkmaia

Offline gkmaiaTopic starter

  • Frequent Contributor
  • **
  • Posts: 534
  • Country: nz
  • Electronics Hobbyist
Re: [WORKED!!!] Connecting TDS210 to computer via RS323 serial to USB
« Reply #4 on: August 12, 2019, 09:41:08 pm »
Recommend the OP uses the Move Topic feature to place this thread in Test Equipment where it better belongs so others can benefit from this achievement.

Move Topic is lower left on the OP's page.

Just moved it.

Maybe not a great achievement but it is cool anyway to get my old TDS talking to my computer.
 

Online tautech

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 29810
  • Country: nz
  • Taupaki Technologies Ltd. Siglent Distributor NZ.
    • Taupaki Technologies Ltd.
Re: [WORKED!!!] Connecting TDS210 to computer via RS323 serial to USB
« Reply #5 on: August 12, 2019, 09:47:22 pm »
Recommend the OP uses the Move Topic feature to place this thread in Test Equipment where it better belongs so others can benefit from this achievement.

Move Topic is lower left on the OP's page.

Just moved it.

Maybe not a great achievement but it is cool anyway to get my old TDS talking to my computer.
Agreed, with the one I had years back the lack of connectivity was a reason to move it on.
Avid Rabid Hobbyist.
Some stuff seen @ Siglent HQ cannot be shared.
 
The following users thanked this post: gkmaia

Offline Mr. Scram

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 9821
  • Country: 00
  • Display aficionado
Re: [WORKED!!!] Connecting TDS210 to computer via RS323 serial to USB
« Reply #6 on: August 12, 2019, 10:06:53 pm »
Definitely a nice achievement which may give the TDS a new lease of life for some people. Thanks for sharing!
 
The following users thanked this post: gkmaia

Offline Shock

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 4323
  • Country: au
Re: [WORKED!!!] Connecting TDS210 to computer via RS323 serial to USB
« Reply #7 on: August 12, 2019, 11:07:41 pm »
Maybe not a great achievement but it is cool anyway to get my old TDS talking to my computer.

It is an achievement the first time you set it up. A "null modem serial cable" has the RX and TX wires crossed over, standard serial cables have those wires straight through, google the pin outs, though you can get by with 3 wires.

If you have the communications module/option you should be able to set up or try out the GPIB port as well.
Soldering/Rework: Pace ADS200, Pace MBT350
Multimeters: Fluke 189, 87V, 117, 112   >>> WANTED STUFF <<<
Oszilloskopen: Lecroy 9314, Phillips PM3065, Tektronix 2215a, 314
 

Offline gkmaiaTopic starter

  • Frequent Contributor
  • **
  • Posts: 534
  • Country: nz
  • Electronics Hobbyist
Re: [WORKED!!!] Connecting TDS210 to computer via RS323 serial to USB
« Reply #8 on: August 13, 2019, 08:41:58 pm »
This may be useful for people who do not know how the protocol works (like myself) and how to select the right TDS configuration for the right wire setup.

Also has been a bit hard to find a cheap usb/serial connector that is wired for null-modem, three wire or computer. Most of what I found cheap on china were modem configurations.

Bellow is a diagram with all the different options for the TDS.

810210-0
« Last Edit: August 13, 2019, 08:43:59 pm by gkmaia »
 

Offline bicycleguy

  • Frequent Contributor
  • **
  • Posts: 265
  • Country: us
Re: [WORKED!!!] Connecting TDS210 to computer via RS323 serial to USB
« Reply #9 on: August 14, 2019, 05:09:43 am »
Last time I checked approx. 8 years ago the rs232 card for the TDS210 was ~200 USD.

I have thought about converting it to lithium battery power for portable or isolated use.
 

Offline thomasx

  • Contributor
  • Posts: 44
  • Country: se
Re: [WORKED!!!] Connecting TDS210 to computer via RS323 serial to USB
« Reply #10 on: April 03, 2024, 11:03:51 pm »
I downloaded the OpenChoice software for windows that is supposed to support the TDS200-series.

But connection with my TDS210 is shaky at best. Sometimes it recognizes the scope, and one time I managed to read the settings from the scope. But I have not been able to get a screen-copy or read the waveforms, if I get a connection and try this, it says something went wrong. Most of the time I cannot get any connection with the scope at all. But it clearly can talk to the scope and recognize. Why it is so shaky and only works sporadically, I have no idea.

I've tried both the 3-wire and full connection and all variants of settings.

 

Offline TERRA Operative

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 3169
  • Country: jp
  • Voider of warranties
    • Near Far Media Youtube
Re: [WORKED!!!] Connecting TDS210 to computer via RS323 serial to USB
« Reply #11 on: April 04, 2024, 01:00:56 am »
I used to use OpenChoice software too, with a straight-through serial cable to the 'real' serial port on the dock for my laptop.

I found it to be a bit flaky too.. From memory, if you cancelled a data transfer halfway and tried to restart it, it would seem to try to make a second connection over the first or something.
Only closing everything related to OpenChoice in the Task Manager and restarting OpenChoice would fix it.

But once you said the correct incantations, wore your lucky socks and Saturn is rising in Aquarius, I found it does work relatively consistently as long as you don't poke things too hard.
Where does all this test equipment keep coming from?!?

https://www.youtube.com/NearFarMedia/
 


Share me

Digg  Facebook  SlashDot  Delicious  Technorati  Twitter  Google  Yahoo
Smf