Communications FAQs
- How many devices can reside on a DeviceNet™ network?
A single DeviceNet network can contain 64 nodes, allowing 64 devices to be placed on a single network. One CTC controller with a DeviceNet communications module can control 63 other devices over a DeviceNet network.
Two CTC controllers support DeviceNet: the Model 2700 (via the 2716D DeviceNet communications module) and the Model 5300 (via the M3-61A DeviceNet Master and M3-61B DeviceNet Slave modules). - How many nodes can reside on a CTC Peer to Peer Ethernet network?
32,767 nodes.
- How many COM ports do CTC controllers support?
- What baud rates are supported?
2700: 300, 600, 1200, 2400, 9600 (default), 19200, and 38400
5100: 1200, 2400, 4800, 19200 (default), 38400
5200/5300: 1200, 2400, 4800, 19200 (default), 38400, 57600, 115,400 - How do you change the baud rate of a selected communications port?
Store the number for the Baud Rate to Register 12301(store a 5 to set baud to 9600, 6 for 19,200, and 7 for 38,400 baud).
- How do you select a communications port for configuration or manual communication?
Store the Communications Port number to Register 12000.
- How do you disable the controller's automatic response to incoming messages on a specific communications port?
Store a 0 to Register 12304 to disable the response, and a 1 to re-enable it.
- How do you send an ASCII message to a remote device attached to a communications port?
Store the number of the data table row that contains the ASCII message to Register 12001.
- How can I write a PC program that communicates with my CTC controller?
There are 16- and 32-bit .dll files available from the Download Center on CTC's Web site. These files contain functions that may be called from Visual Basic and C++ applications allowing the programmer to pass information between the PC and the controller.
- Can I transmit ASCII messages from a CTC controller? How?
Sending a message from the data table out the Comm port to a display or other ASCII device is done by storing the data table row number, for that message, to register 12001. To show that the Comm port is busy, register 12000 will show a value of 1 while the message is being transmitted. Once the message is done transmitting, the value in register 12000 will return to a 0.
- Can I configure a communication port to talk to other devices?
Yes, through ASCII command sets specific to the device in question, you can communicate to other devices.
- Can I communicate to a CTC controller via modem?
Yes. If you require modem connections, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
- How do I wire my RS-232 port to work with CTC controllers?
CTC offers adapters for connection to a 25-pin D-shell (2880A) or a 9-pin D-shell (2880B) connector. Should you wish to make your own connectors, see the illustrations below:
- Do I have to initialize my Ethernet IP address, subnet mask and gateway every time I power up my Blue Fusion controller?
No. Once you set up these addresses in the registers with CTC Monitor and write a "1" to register 20096, they get stored in flash memory, and will take effect on the next power-cycle.
- What protocols and communication standards are supported by the Model 5100 controller?
CTC binary protocol over CTNet and TCP/IP, Modbus/TCP, SOAP (Web Services), RMI, SMTP, HTTP.
For additional information, refer to Document No. 951-510002: Model 5100 Communications Guide. - What protocols and communication standards are supported by the Model 5200 controller?
- CTNet Binary protocol, CTC ASCII Protocol, User Defined, Modbus RTU/ASCII Master and Slave protocols.
- Telnet Server for remote administration interface
- FTP Client and Server (refer to Document No. 951-520015: Model 5200 Logging and FTP Client Applications Guide, and Document No. 951-520001: Remote Administration Guide)
- HTTP 1.0 Web server for WebMON (refer to Document No. 951-520012: WebMON 2.0 User’s Guide) diagnostics.
- Modbus/TCP RTU Master and Slave
- UDP Peer to Peer
- TCP client/server raw socket interface, bidirectional
- CTNet Binary protocol
- SMTP support for sending emails.
- POP3 inbox support for receiving emails and processing embedded script messages.
- Up to 7 serial ports, including 2 local and 5 virtual TCP to terminal servers or host applications
- Configurable connection throttling to enhance overall system performance
- String formatted output messages with embedded register values from within Quickstep (printf format).
- SNTP Time Server synchronization for real time clock.
- DHCP support
- DNS name registration via DHCP
- ‘C’ Programming for custom protocols along with support for UDP Datagrams.
- Configuration of most parameters via the Java WebMON Administration Interface applet.
For additional information, refer to Document No. 951-520002: 5200 Communications Guide.
- What protocols and communication standards are supported by the Model 5300 controller?
- CTNet Binary protocol, CTC ASCII Protocol, User Defined, Modbus RTU/ASCII Master and Slave protocols
- Telnet Server for remote administration interface
- FTP Client and Server, reference Remote Administration Guide, 951-530001
- HTTP 1.0 Web server for WebMON (WebMON 2.0 User's Guide, 951-530012) diagnostics.
- Modbus/TCP RTU Master and Slave
- UDP Peer to Peer
- TCP client/server raw socket interface, bidirectional (up to 20)
- CTNet Binary protocol
- SMTP support for sending emails.
- POP3 inbox support for receiving emails and processing embedded script messages.
- Up to 9 serial ports, including 4 local and 5 virtual TCP to terminal servers or host applications
- Configurable connection throttling to enhance overall system performance
- String formatted output messages with embedded register values from within Quickstep (printf format).
- SNTP Time Server synchronization for real time clock.
- DHCP support
- DNS name registration via DHCP
For additional information, refer to Document No. 951-530002: Model 5300 Communications and Logging Guide.
- What is the default RS232 communications Baud Rate on 2600 and 2700 series controllers? On 5x00 series controllers?
The default RS232 communications baud rate for the 2600 & 2700 Series Controllers is 9600. The default RS232 communications baud rate for 5x00 Blue Fusion Series controllers is 19200.