[thingstodo]

Success - I have a laptop communicating to the PLC5!!!

A change of topic for a while.

The industrial computer (PLC) that I'm using uses an older proprietary protocol to communicate to each other. The PLC is a 1785 5/60B. The communication interface is 1771-KE, 15 pin serial to Data Highway Plus

PC laptop 9 pin m 1771-KE serial cable f

9 pin f 15 pin m
PC KE

7,8 jumper 4,5
1,4,6 jumper 6,8,11
2 Tx 2
3 Rx 3
5 Gnd 7,13

Data Highway Plus connections, 1 - 1, shield to shield, 2 - 2

Load RSLinx on laptop
configure drivers
AB_DF1-1 DH+ sta: 10 COM1: Running
Com1, 1770-KF2/1785-KE/Scanport
19200 station 10
no parity BCC Errorchecking
Stop bits 1 Full Duplex Protocol
Autoconfigure

Configuration of KE
Full Duplex, BCC, No Parity, Embedded Responses
Ignore Duplicate Messages
Ignore Handshaking Signals
Execute Diagnostic Commands
Address 010
DH+, 19K2, Local address

Show connections
Expand AB_DF1-1
Shows
AB_DF1-1, Data Highway Plus
10, Workstation
31, PLC 5/60B

So the serial cable from the laptop to the KE works. The KE works. The power supply works. The PLC5 shows up on the DH+ network. The KE works with the lower voltage signals (0V - 5V) instead of -12V to 12V signals that are specified by the RS232C spec (I can't bring myself to call it a 'standard')

The ebay rack, PLC, ke card, power supply - all work fine
The home-made serial cable, cat5 cable for Data Highway Plus, no terminating resistors - worked fine

Forgive me - I must celebrate the small victories!