Video Turnstile Installation Guide : Connecting the Video Turnstile Logger to the PC via Wi-Fi

From May 2008 the wLVT has been discontinued. You can still use Wi-Fi for communications, but to do so you use Ethernet to connect the Video Turnstile unit to a Wi-Fi router. The notes below apply to wLVT units bought before May 2008.

Next: Using the VT Setup Software to Create a Site.

Connecting the Video Turnstile Logger to the PC via Wi-Fi

One way to think of a Wi-fi network is as an Ethernet network without the Ethernet cables. Both types of network consist of a base station (or router) and a network adaptor for each PC and Video Turnstile Logger on the network.

At the PC, install the Device Installer from the Video Turnstile CD. (You can download the latest version of the Device Installer - which is used to set the IP address - from http://www.videoturnstile.com/users/program/WiPort_DeviceInstaller.zip)
Set the Address for the wLVT (Wi-Fi enabled Logging Video Turnstile)
1. Arm yourself with the necessary information from your network manager, namely
  - IP address for the wLVT
  - Subnet mask
  - If appropriate, Gateway address
2. Connect your wLVT device to its network adaptor. Allow 10 seconds for it to boot-up.
3. Run Device Installer and click the Search button to find devices on the network. The Installer should find the wLVT as its default address: 169.254.117.220. If the IP address is shown in black then your wLVT and PC have a full network connection on the same sub-net and you should have more icons available on the menu bar: Configure, Upgrade, Telnet, Web.
  If the IP address is shown in Red, or you get a No network interface is available or No Devices were found message, then see point h. and onward below.
4. You may want to change the IP address of the wLVT for use on your main network. You can do this by selecting an existing IP address and then clicking the Assign IP button. After setting a new IP address into the device, it will need to reboot. This takes around 10 seconds.
5. Click the Update button to set other parameters.
6. If you are having trouble with VTsetup and VTcollect not communicating with your LVT, you may want to check the Local Port and Port 1 baud rate settings.
7. If the wLVT device is found but the IP address is shown in RED then the wLVT is on a different sub-net to your PC. You should change one or the other to get them to match (see changing the IP Address and Sub-net mask of an wLVT).
8. If, on clicking Search (point d), the response is: No network interface is available then
  - check the network cable is plugged into the PC ethernet port
  - check check your LAN icon on the task bar does not show a red cross.
9. If, on clicking Search (point d), the response is: No Devices were found then the possibilities are:
  - The wLVT has been given a default gateway IP address, and will only respond on a network where that gateway is present. Try restoring the wLVT to the network and running Device Installer from a PC also on that network.
  - The wLVT ethernet circuit is not functioning correctly. Contact your supplier or Biodata Ltd about service or a replacement.
Assign a Virtual COM Port to the wLVT
The wLVT appears as a serial device on your network. To assign a Virtual COM Port
1. Go to Control Panel (in Windows) and select the DeviceComm manager.
2. This shows you a list of COM ports: select an unused one.
3. Click Edit to enter the IP details for the wLVT.
4. Make a note of the number of the COM port: you will need this information when you configure the Video Turnstile units with the VT Setup software.

Changing the IP address and Sub-net mask of an wLVT

Check the existing IP address of the wLVT as above. If a device is found, then click on the IP address to select it from the list.
Click Assign IP, and enter the new IP address and sub-net mask for this wLVT. After completing the operations to assign the IP address, the program will search again, and should find the device at its new address.

Restoring default settings for Local Port and Port 1 baud rate

Click the IP address to select one device from the list.
Click on Configure
Click the Ports tab
Select Port #1 and click Edit Settings...
Select the Advanced tab to get a list of all the settings
Baud Rate
This is a drop down list box and you should select the 9600 value
Local Port
Enter the value of 10001
Other settings
- Stop Bits - 1
- Parity - none
- Flow Control - none
- Password Required - default value is no
- Accept Passive Connection - yes
Port 2 (if available) is not used
Click [OK] to save port settings
Click [OK] to save configuration

Checking (and changing) the IP Settings for your PC

From the start menu: Select Control Panel and then Network Connections
Select Local Area Network
Select Internet Protocol
Select Properties - Note you are strongly advised to record the existing property settings in case you need to return to them (e.g. to restore internet access
For setting up the wLVT, you must use a fixed IP address
Is Use the following IP address selected ?
- Yes
  The IP address of your PC is shown as a 4 part number. The sub-net mask is also displayed also as a 4 part number. Where the sub-net value is 255 the IP address parts must match for two network devices to be able to communicate. Where the sub-net mask is 0, any value in that part of the IP address is acceptable.
- No
  Select Use the following IP address
  Enter an IP address which is the same as the one shown for the wLVT in Device Installer for the first 3 parts of the IP address, and a different value (0-255) for the last part.
  Set the sub-net mask to: 255.255.0.0
  Click [OK]
  Click [OK] when you leave the Local Area Connection Properties to save the changes.

Telling the Software about your Wi-Fi Links

Make sure your Video Turnstile units are switched on.
From the Windows Start menu, choose the Windmill 6.0 program group then select VT Setup.
Choose the Unit Select tab.
Select Ethernet.
Enter the IP address and COM Port.
Click the Connect button. This closes any existing communications link and opens a new one using the port specified.

You are now ready to use the VT Setup software to create a site.