Kit Installation Instructions

Series B Alpha Ethernet Adapter II

(pn 10881114B)

About the Series B Alpha Ethernet Adapter II Kit

The Series B Alpha Ethernet Adapter II connects a sign’s RS232/RS485 port to a 10/100BASE-T Ethernet network.

MAC address label

Ethernet port (RJ45)

Left LED (D1) Right LED (D2)

RJ45 Ethernet port (front)

Sign port (RJ11 serial port)

Typical use

(Detail)

Alpha sign

C

A

B

Ethernet

Alpha sign

A

B

Alpha sign

C

Item Part #

A 1088-8621

B 1088-1114

C —

RJ11 Serial port, labeled “Sign”.

RJ45 Ethernet port, labeled “Ethernet”.

Description

3-foot serial cable, RJ11-to-RJ11

Alpha Ethernet Adapter Kit

TCP/IP cable (10/100BASE-T)

© Copyright 2003-2007 Adaptive Micro Systems LLC. All rights reserved.

Adaptive Micro Systems • 7840 North 86th Street • Milwaukee, WI 53224 USA • 414-357-2020 • 414-357-2029 (fax) • http://www.adaptivedisplays.com

Adaptive is a registered trademark of Adaptive Micro Systems. AlphaNet is a trademark of Adaptive Micro Systems.

All other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

February 14, 2007 97088101C

About the Series B Alpha Ethernet Adapter II Kit

Sign compatibility

The Alpha Ethernet Adapter II works with the following signs

The Alpha Ethernet Adapter II does not work with the following signs

215C, 215R

220C

(shipped after February 1, 2000)

300C series

4000C, 4000R series

(using RS232 jumper and jack)

7000C series

(using RS232 jumper and jack)

Alpha Big Dot

AlphaVision FS

BetaBrite one-line displays

(P1026, P1036 and P1040), including 213C and BetaBrite Window Display

BetaBrite Director

(all shipped after July 1, 2000)

Personal Priority Display (PPD)

Alpha Serial Clock

*AlphaEclipse 2500/2600/3500 series

Alpha Director

Alpha Window

210C

220C

(all shipped prior to February 1, 2000)

420

790i

Solar

AlphaPremiere 9000 series

AlphaVision CM, FM, 1.4”, 2.1”

AlphaVision InfoTracker (IT)

(works with MSS485 only)

AlphaTicker

(works with MSS485 only)

BetaBrite Director

(all shipped before July 1, 2000)

AlphaEclipse 3600 series

Signs with NEMA enclosures

For more information see “Specifications” on page 7.

*An AlphaEclipse 2500, 2600, or 3500 sign that is mounted on the side of a building can be connected to an

Ethernet network using the Alpha Ethernet Adapter II. The cable used should be no longer than 10 feet. A cable longer than this may prevent the AEAII from operating properly. See TechMemo 04-0003 (Using an Alpha

Ethernet Adapter II with an AlphaEclipse sign) for more information.

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Installation instructions

Installation instructions

WARNING! Hazardous voltage. Contact with high voltage may cause death or serious injury. Always disconnect power to unit prior to servicing.

NOTE: Observe appropriate precautions to prevent electrostatic discharge (ESD) or “static” damage to the replacement part. For safe handling of ESD-sensitive parts, see TechMemo #00-0005.

Setup the Series B Alpha Ethernet Adapter II

1. Log the Ethernet Adapter’s MAC address and keep it with you. You will need it when you install the software and you may not be at the location of the Ethernet Adapter.

2. Disconnect all power to the sign at the power source.

3. Connect the Alpha Ethernet Adapter II as shown in “Typical use” on page 1.

4. Turn on the sign.

5. Check the Network side of the adapter and make sure the green LED is flashing.

Install and setup the Alpha Ethernet software

1. Insert the Alpha Ethernet Setup Software CD-ROM into the computer’s CD-ROM drive.

2. Click Next and follow the prompts to install the software.

3. Click Start > All Programs > Alpha Ethernet Setup.

The Ethernet Adapter IP Configuration window opens.

4. Fill in the information and click Setup when done:

• MAC Address—Located on the Ethernet Adapter. This is the address you logged before installing the adapter.

• IP Address, Subnet Mask, Gateway—Obtain these from your network administrator.

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Installation instructions

5. Read the status message at the bottom of the window and take the appropriate action:

If this message appears...

Setup IP address is successful, reboot adaptor to take effect.

IP address already exists.

Setup IP Address failed.

Then do this...

• When the Test IP Address window appears, unplug the Alpha

Ethernet Adapter from the sign.

• Wait a few seconds and then plug the Alpha Ethernet Adapter back in.

• Click No, because you will test the sign in the next section.

This indicates that the address you entered was already programmed in the Alpha Ethernet Adapter.

An address was not assigned to the Alpha Ethernet Adapter.

• Check the information entered in the previous step.

• Shut down your computer and unplug the Alpha Ethernet

Adapter from the sign.

• Wait a full minute and then restart your computer and plug the

Alpha Ethernet Adapter back into the sign.

Test the Alpha Ethernet Adapter

Before testing the adapter, make sure the sign is on and connected to the Alpha Ethernet Adapter and that an IP address was successfully assigned to the adapter.

In this section you will perform to tests:

• Ping test—During the ping test you will verify that you can communicate with the sign. You can test communication to the sign either by using AlphaNet or by using the ping command from a DOS prompt.

• Message test—The second test verifies that the sign displays the data you send. You can either use

AlphaNet (explained in this document) or you can use the application you typically use to communicate with your sign.

Ping the sign

When you “ping” the sign, you are sending a signal to the sign asking for a reply back. This tests whether you are able to “see” the sign and whether it can reply back to you.

➩ To ping the sign from the DOS prompt

1. To open the DOS prompt, select Start>Run and type cmd in the text field.

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2. In the DOS window, type the following: ping [your sign’s IP address] example: ping 207.46.232.182

If this message appears...

Reply from...

Request Timeout...

Then do this...

The test was successful, go to the next test.

The test failed. Contact your network administrator.

Series B Alpha Ethernet Adapter II Kit Installation Instructions

➩ To ping the sign using AlphaNet

1. Start the AlphaNET diagnostics software.

Select Start > All Programs > AlphaNET > Diagnostics.

The Diagnostics window opens.

2. Select TCP/IP and click Setup.

Installation instructions

The TCP/IP Setup window opens.

3. In the TCP/IP Setup window, set the following:

• IP Address—Set this to the sign’s IP address.

• Port—Set to 3001.

4. Click Ping Address:

If this message appears...

Reply from...

Request Timeout...

Series B Alpha Ethernet Adapter II Kit Installation Instructions

Then do this...

The test was successful, go to the next test.

The test failed. Contact your network administrator.

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Installation instructions

Send a test message to the sign

This diagnostic test message simply broadcasts a simple message to all the signs on the network. Once the message is sent, you will physically check the signs for the message.

1. In the Diagnostics window, click the Broadcast Message button.

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The Broadcast Message window opens.

2. In the Broadcast Message window, select Send Message to All Signs and click Send.

The message should appear on the sign.

If the message does not appear on the sign, contact Adaptive Technical Support.

Series B Alpha Ethernet Adapter II Kit Installation Instructions

Specifications

LEDs

When the...

left LED is off left LED is solid amber left LED is solid green right LED is off right LED is blinking amber right LED is blinking green

Pinouts

RJ45 Ethernet port

8 1

1 = TX+

2 = TX-

3 = RX+

4 = RX-

5 = not connected

6 = not connected

7 = not connected

8 = not connected

Shield = Chassis ground then there is...

no connection.

10BASE-T connection.

100BASE-T connection.

no activity.

one-way communication.

two-way communication.

RJ11 Serial port

1 6

1 = 5V

2 = RS485 (-)

3 = RXD

4 = TXD

5 = RS485 (+)

6 = GND

Some Alpha products have 5 volt jumpers for RJ11 power. Refer to your sign’s installation manual for more information.

Specifications

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Series B Alpha Ethernet Adapter II Kit Installation Instructions

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