[PaulMorrison]

Hi,

We are having issues communicating between our TNC151 and a windows based pc running TNCServer. We have determined that the issue is most likely based in the TNC and any advice or suggestions you have would be appreciated.

Background
Our TNC151 Model A was installed 6 years ago. All the MP codes (0 – 236) were configured as per Bridgeport’s advice. Everything worked well. A year later we wanted to connect the TNC to a Windows 98 computer running TNCServer. To get this working we had to tweak some of the MP settings in order to be able to transfer files to/from the TNC.

Our understanding of our TNC is that it is a model A which (unlike the model B) only supports communications on the basis of a tape device being connected (ME mode) although we were able to send files to/from the TNC with our TNCServer software configured in FE mode.

Recent Events
We changed computers and installed the original software on a faster computer. We compared the settings between the old pc and the new pc to ensure that the working configuration was retained. And that worked ok.

At almost the same time, the battery backup facility in the TNC151 failed and all settings in the TNC151 were lost. We re-entered the original MP settings/values as per Bridgeport’s original advice.

Current Situation
We can not send files to/from the TNC151. Initially we thought that the software on the new pc might not be installed or configured correctly. We have ruled this out by re-instating the original (and unchanged) pc. The situation is still the same in that; when we attempt to read a file into the TNC via the TNC console, communications with the pc are established, the file begins to transfer but only 14 bytes of information are sent. At this point there is no indication on the TNC display that anything has been received and the software on the pc indicates that 14 bytes of data have been sent and communications have now stopped.

Suspicions
We suspect that when the TNC151 was configured and made to communicate with a pc the base configuration (as originally specified by Bridgeport) was modified. We do not have any documentation that relates to any changes we might have made at that point in time. We are confident that the cable is ok as this has remained unchanged and the original pc is back in use.

Help
I’ve attached a copy of the original configuration now entered into our TNC151. Does anyone have any suggestions about potential changes to the values that might assist with communications?

[gridley51]

Why not download the service manual for the data interface from the Heidenhain website.All the info you need is there and it`s free.
You can dowload the other manuals too and see what parameters are relevant.

[FLjoyride]

Make sure your data transfer parameters are set correctly, you can go to the heidenhain website and download the documentation explaining each parameter. Once you get it working again, download your parameter list into the PC so you can easily upload it back if there is a battery failure (once in parameters, hit the ext key and then ENT I think, at least that's the way it is on my TNC2500). If you need to bring them back in, hit the EXT key and then no ent. Make sure your baud rate is set by using the MOD key (9600 min for FE), and make sure you have the control set to FE mode, also by using the MOD key.

You may also have luck using ME mode with a slower baud rate, if the original parameters are not working properly. If you do have a back - up of the parameters you can upload them back into the control this way.