C17LVFD
Member
Good Afternoon All,
I recently got a new to me Whelen Smart Messenger. I didn't want to spend 200-800 dollars on a Whelen Transporter and didn't want to send the unit out to be programmed. After doing some research I stumbled upon a post by Michiel Sanders who found a way to use a RS232 to RS485 converter to program his Smart Messenger. See this thread... http://elightbars.org/forums/threads/whelen-blink-b-link-serial-thread.5914/page-3 ... Post 100.
This got me thinking. The converter he used is quite expensive about 200 dollars when I looked online. Again, didn't want to spend that much money...
What I came up with is a transporter that costs about 20.00 to make! I haven't had time to finish this project off with a project box but it works! The only thing this doesn't do that the OEM Whelen Transporter does is store information.
Parts list:
- Generic RS232 to RS485 converter (Approx 5.00 on ebay)
- DB9 male to female extension cable (approx. 5.00 on ebay)
- Project box (approx. 5.00 on ebay)
- Switch/LED/Wire/Connectors (workbench misc. materials)
- Power Supply (User supplied… needs to be 12v DC)
Connections:
- DB9 to DB9 serial port on the computer. Unknown if it’ll work with a USB to serial emulator
- 12v on RS485 to 12+ from power supply
- (-) Ground on RS485 to power supply ground
- Tx (+) to blue data wire of Whelen Messenger or MPC01
- Tx (-) to grey data wire of Whelen Messenger or MPC01
Connect power supply 12+ to both RS485 and power input of Whelen Messenger. No need to connect Whelen Messenger controller for programming
Connect power supply ground to both RS485 and Whelen Messenger ground wires. Again no need to connect Whelen Messenger controller for programming
Add a power switch capable of 5amp @ 12v and a LED indicator for on/off status or lit on/off switch
Connect all wires…
Turn on power supply.
Set Com port in the Messenger software.
Test Com port communication.
Read Messenger….
I recommend power cycling messenger before trying to write back to the messenger.
That's it! Best of luck!!
Seth
I recently got a new to me Whelen Smart Messenger. I didn't want to spend 200-800 dollars on a Whelen Transporter and didn't want to send the unit out to be programmed. After doing some research I stumbled upon a post by Michiel Sanders who found a way to use a RS232 to RS485 converter to program his Smart Messenger. See this thread... http://elightbars.org/forums/threads/whelen-blink-b-link-serial-thread.5914/page-3 ... Post 100.
This got me thinking. The converter he used is quite expensive about 200 dollars when I looked online. Again, didn't want to spend that much money...
What I came up with is a transporter that costs about 20.00 to make! I haven't had time to finish this project off with a project box but it works! The only thing this doesn't do that the OEM Whelen Transporter does is store information.
Parts list:
- Generic RS232 to RS485 converter (Approx 5.00 on ebay)
- DB9 male to female extension cable (approx. 5.00 on ebay)
- Project box (approx. 5.00 on ebay)
- Switch/LED/Wire/Connectors (workbench misc. materials)
- Power Supply (User supplied… needs to be 12v DC)
Connections:
- DB9 to DB9 serial port on the computer. Unknown if it’ll work with a USB to serial emulator
- 12v on RS485 to 12+ from power supply
- (-) Ground on RS485 to power supply ground
- Tx (+) to blue data wire of Whelen Messenger or MPC01
- Tx (-) to grey data wire of Whelen Messenger or MPC01
Connect power supply 12+ to both RS485 and power input of Whelen Messenger. No need to connect Whelen Messenger controller for programming
Connect power supply ground to both RS485 and Whelen Messenger ground wires. Again no need to connect Whelen Messenger controller for programming
Add a power switch capable of 5amp @ 12v and a LED indicator for on/off status or lit on/off switch
Connect all wires…
Turn on power supply.
Set Com port in the Messenger software.
Test Com port communication.
Read Messenger….
I recommend power cycling messenger before trying to write back to the messenger.
That's it! Best of luck!!
Seth