Open an RS-485 tunnel

An RS-485 tunnel allows you to remotely connect to a DSE or DEIF controller through Calculus Digger.

You can use this connection to view or update the controller configuration without being physically present at the machine. This is useful when troubleshooting communication issues, verifying controller settings or making configuration changes remotely.

Calculus Digger connects the controller to the configuration software on your computer. This allows you to work with the controller as if it were connected directly to your computer.

Important!
While the tunnel is active, the selected controller temporarily stops sending new data to the Calculus platform. Dashboards will therefore not receive new data during this period.
Normal operation resumes after the tunnel is closed or 15 seconds after the last message.

Before you start

Make sure the following software is installed on your computer:

Calculus Digger
Virtual Serial Port Tools
DSE Configuration Suite or DEIF Utility Software

The trial version of Virtual Serial Port Tools is sufficient.

Create a virtual COM port bridge

The virtual COM port bridge creates two connected COM ports.
Calculus Digger uses one COM port, while the DSE or DEIF configuration software uses the other. Data sent through one port is automatically forwarded to the second port.

Open Virtual Serial Port Tools.
Select Create Local Bridge.
Select two available COM ports, for example COM1 and COM2.
Click Create.

In this example:

COM1 is used in Calculus Digger.
COM2 is used in the controller configuration software.

Open the RS-485 tunnel in Calculus Digger

Open Calculus Digger.
Select the gateway connected to the controller.
Open the Serial/Modbus tab.
Select the controller you want to connect to.
Select the first COM port of the virtual bridge.
In this example, select COM1.
Click Open Tunnel.

Note!
Only one user can open a tunnel to a controller at a time.

Once the tunnel is open, you can connect to the controller using the DSE or DEIF configuration software.

Connect to a DSE controller

Open DSE Configuration Suite.
Open the connection settings.
Select the second COM port of the virtual bridge.
In this example, select COM2.
Enable 86x Support.
Enter the Modbus address of the controller.
Enter the configured baud rate.
Connect to the controller.

Important!
Always enable 86x Support. Without this option, the connection may time out.

Once connected, you can read or update the controller configuration as if the controller were connected directly to your computer.
DSE controllers only exchange data while the configuration is being read or written.

Connect to a DEIF controller

Open DEIF Utility Software.
Open the connection settings.
Select the second COM port of the virtual bridge.
In this example, select COM2.
Enter the Modbus address of the controller.
Connect to the controller.

Once connected, you can read or update the controller configuration as if the controller were connected directly to your computer.
DEIF controllers continuously exchange data while connected. The selected controller therefore remains unavailable for normal data collection until the connection or tunnel is closed.

Close the tunnel

When you have finished working with the controller:

Disconnect from the controller in the DSE or DEIF configuration software.
Return to Calculus Digger.
Close the RS-485 tunnel.

The controller will then resume sending data to the Calculus platform.
If the tunnel is not closed manually, normal communication resumes automatically 15 seconds after the last message.

Connection speed

Communication through an RS-485 tunnel may be slower than a direct connection between the controller and your computer.
Allow additional time when:

opening the controller configuration;
reading a large configuration;
writing changes to the controller;
updating multiple settings.

Avoid closing the software or tunnel while a configuration is being written to the controller.

Documentation Index

Connecting to a controller through an RS-485 tunnel with Calculus Digger