Is it possible to send "serial data" using the digital io from a multifunction DAQ card?

[psmorris]

Hi All,

Quick question. I want to control a device which usually talks (sending 4 byte data arrays) over a serial (UART) interface, using a simple 2 wire approach (ie Tx Rx only).

Would it be possible to send those data packets using the digital output of a multifunction daq card? I.e. something like a PCIe 6320. The system needs a DAQ card for other things, so I just wondered if this might be doable...

Similarly, could I use the digital inputs to read back in the response? 

Any thoughts on whether this coule be done within labview would be greatly appreciated.

Paul

[JTG_Wilson]

Hi Paul,

Theoretically it should be possible to do as the Rx and Tx lines are only digital lines, however, you would have to make a VI that could read in the binary data and convert it to UART messages and deal with all of the communication as I don't believe there is an example of this having been done before. You would also have to make sure that the timing of the digital pulses was correct or you would end up with corrupt data.

It would be simpler to try one of our serial interface cards or adapers found here: http://www.ni.com/serial/

These come with drivers for easier use and can be programmed in LabVIEW using NI-VISA.

But anyway, I wouldn't rule out the possibility of using a couple of digital I/O pins on a multifunction DAQ card, but there are much simpler ways of doing it.

Kind regards,