Edgeport 412 Compatibility

[JHourigan]

Given that computers rarely ship with serial ports now...I am in desparate need of a multiple serial port solution. I have found the Edgeport 412 which is a 4port USB Hub and 12 serial port terminal all in one. If this is a compatible device, it would be be an elegant solution to my automation needs in that only a single USB connection to the control computer would be required. Not to mention the clean design because the edgeport 412 is rack-mountable and the reduced price when compared with the purchase of multiple NI-USB-232/4 ($495)

In the past, however, I have had compatibility problems with non-National Instruments devices (e.g. PCI-->GPIB).  So I am hestitant to drop the money on the Edgeport solution without experience user input.

So. Does anyone out there have any experience investigating the compatibility of Edgeport equipment and NI-MAX and/or Labview.

Thanks

[Brian_Beal]

I have used 1,2,&4 port Edgeport USB to serial converters with Labview without any problems.  They are not controlled through MAX, though.  They have their own software for configuration.

[JHourigan]

Brian,

So if you use the Edgport hubs, they do not register in MAX at all?

Will this make it difficult to assign the Edgeport COM ports as VISA resources?

Thanks,
Jeremy

[Brian_Beal]

MAX is only for NI hardware.  VISA is not limited to NI hardware, so there is no problem accessing the ports with VISA. 

[Steve_Block]

What about the function to configure whether the port is 232, 422 or 485?

[Brian_Beal]

Not sure about that specific model, but those choices are either made with dip switches or using the software that came with the edgeport.  Usually, the software adds more tabs to the com port hardware properties windows.

[Steve_Block]

My application is going to be in Labview or CVI and needs to be able to select the protocal, so the software that came with the edgeport is useless unless there is a way for labview/cvi to communicate with it. I'm hoping I can use edgevdd.dll, however, I can't find any header files for it.

[Steve_Block]

The edgevdd.dll file has three functions: EdgeVddDisplatch EdgeVddInit EdgeVddTerminateVDM I don't have any additional information about it.

[JHourigan]

Wow. A blast from the past.  My experience with the Edgeport 412 is that it's pretty transparent.  I was able to name all of the resources (COM ports) in MAX without any issues.  I don't recall actually needing to use the Edgeport software at all but it was so long ago I can't really remember.  There is one device on my instrument that communicates with RS-485 and I went so far as to purchase a 232-->485 converter, but never implemented the solution.