Setup guide

GRAVIMETRIC GATEWAY AND ETHERNET COMMUNICATIONS
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Purpose of this document
he purpose of this document is to give the reader an overview of several methods of
using Ethernet, including wireless Ethernet to communicate with the Maguire Weigh
Scale Blender controllers.
The Maguire controllers are designed to be able to operate as a standalone unit unassisted by
computer software. However, Maguire controllers also have the ability to communicate with
software via the controllers COM port by using the publicly available MLAN (Maguire Local
Area Network) protocol.
Maguire Products has developed software to control and track the usage of material processed
by the Maguire controllers. This software is called the Gravimetric Gateway Software or
sometimes referred to as the G2 software or just G2. Typically the communication network
from the G2 computer to the Maguire controllers has been a serial network using RS-232
cable to the Maguire controller, boosted by a serial signal amplifier. With the increasing
deployment of Ethernet networks, the G2 software was developed to utilize TCP/IP over an
Ethernet network as the method of communication to the Maguire controllers. This
document will attempt to give the reader an understanding of how Ethernet including wireless
Ethernet can be used to establish communications between a computer running not just the
G2 software but also any software utilizing the MLAN protocol.
There are a number of approaches to designing a communication network. No one approach
works for all environments and situations. The optimal solution(s) in a particular network
depends on factors such as the potential for electromagnetic interference (EMI), level of
security required, size of the blender network and number of blenders, distance between the
G2 computer(s) and the controllers, and so forth. Because of this diversity, this document will
touch on the basics and provide examples as well as test results of experiments conducted in
controlled situations.
This document will also assume that the reader has a basic understanding of Windows based
operating systems and a general understanding of an Ethernet network. With basic knowledge
of an Ethernet network and configuring Ethernet in a Windows operating system, the read
can use this document to implement Ethernet for G2 communications.
For a further understanding of the G2 Software, please read the Gravimetric Gateway a
Manual available online at www.Maguire.com/g2.
G2 and Gravimetric Gateway Software is registered trademarks of Maguire Products Inc.
Linksys is a registered trademark of the Linksys, a division of Cisco Systems, Inc.
GW21W-MAXI is a registered trademark of Atop Technologies, Inc.
Moxa NPort DE-211 is a registered trademark of Moxa Technologies Co., Ltd.
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