Before connecting to the SS20’s USB port, you must first install the USB drivers included on the USB stick shipped with the unit. Drivers can also be downloaded at SCADALink SS20 USB Driver.
The USB drivers create a VCP port (Virtual COM Port) connection associated to the SS20 and allow the USB port to appear as a typical serial com port to applications running on the computer including the SS20 GUI Software. This is the same method used by most USB-to-Serial converters. In addition to providing a connection to the SS20 GUI software, when the SS20 Mode Switch is set to 'LOI' it allows connection to devices connected downstream of the SS20 from their native programming software or maintenance/troubleshooting applications as if they were connected directly to the computers serial com port.
For driver installation in Windows, run CDM20828_Setup.exe and follow the onscreen instructions to extract and install the driver, for Mac run the appropriate VCP driver (.dmg file, 32 or 64bit).
Once drivers have been installed, power up the SS20 with 10-30VDC and connect a USB cable from the computer to the SS20. It may take a minute for the computer to associate the installed drivers with the hardware the first time connecting the device. Once established the computer will enumerate the device and assign a VCP port number. This new port number will now appear as an available serial COM port to any serial applications including the SS20 GUI software. If you cannot determine which COM port number has been assigned you can look it up in Windows Device Manager under “Ports (COM & LPT)” it will appear as “USB Serial Port (COMx)”. The automatically assigned com port number 'x' can be changed if desired by right clicking on the port and selecting the Properties>Port Settings>Advanced tab. Once the port number is set the computer will assign the same port number each time the device is connected.