Applications: Protocol Conversion, BACnet
BACnet as the Master

When we ask the question "What protocol is on the network?", we are really asking "who's the master?".

The first scenario is this: You have a BACnet network with a number of BACnet devices. You have a device that does not talk BACnet, but you want to integrate it into your BACnet network. In this instance, we say that BACnet is the "protocol on the network".

There are many other scenarios that are variations on these themes. The main thing to ask is, "Who's in charge" of communications. That will be the "protocol on the network".

BACnet as the Slave

Assuming you just read the column to the left, the slave would simply be on the opposite end.

BACnet is a peer-to-peer protocol. However, we still usually have some notion of a primary controller with one or more subordinate controllers which we might refer to as "slaves".

If we have a device which was manufactured as a BACnet slave, but we want it to be a slave on a non-BACnet network, this requires a gateway. When we want to put this BACnet device on a non-BACnet network, we answer "BACnet" to the question "What protocol does the device talk?"

Is this you looking for
a network gateway? 

You need to start with two pieces of information:
(1) What protocol is on the network?
(2) What protocol does the device talk?

Use the Gateway Chooser to guide you through the questions while you choose from available answers to arrive at a model number.


BACnet as the Master

The Babel Buster family includes several members that support non-BACnet devices on a BACnet network. Support for Modbus TCP, Modbus RTU, and LonWorks on BACnet IP and BACnet MS/TP is available.

MS/TP gateways are supported with our special "Tool Box". Your PC's hardware is not capable of 76800 baud. Furthermore MS/TP struggles under Windows at any baud rate due to the stringent timing requirements of MS/TP. Therefore, we have created a special tool for MS/TP devices which only requires a web browser to use.

BACnet as the Slave

The Babel Buster family does not yet have a gateway that puts MS/TP devices on a non-MS/TP network. Watch for new product announcements in the coming months.

The AddMe Jr MS/TP is a server with MS/TP client capability. This server will read and write to multiple MS/TP devices, bringing web capabilities to MS/TP devices.

I don't know anything about BACnet. Where do I start?

Are these gateways easy to set up?

"Easy" is a relative term. If you are new to gateways, the answer is probably "no". But many customers who have used other gateways do tell us that ours are easier to set up than any other gateway they've used. All the drivers you need are included in the one low price. Gateways with Ethernet protocols include a web server with all configuration software contained within the gateway itself. Most other gateways have PC based tools which are available for free download on this web site.