I have a Classic with a non-functioning Remote jack - RX and/or TX don't work. As a result, the MNGP is connected to the Slave jack. That works fine. However the MNGP now occupies the jack used for sending RS232 Modbus data to an ESP32 webserver/logger.
So I dusted off a mechanical RJ45 A/B switch and use it as follows:
A: Connect Classic and MNGP
B: Connect Classic and ESP32
99.9% of the time I am not looking at the MNGP, so it is typically always switched to 'B' (ESP32). When I do need to use the MNGP, I switch to 'A', do what I need to do, and then reconnect to 'B'. It takes a bit of time for the MNGP to initialize, but everything seems to work fine when I switch back and forth. The ESP32 recognizes when disconnected, and does not log data or update the webserver.
Not particularly exciting for most folks, since a bad Remote jack is probably not that common. However as I understand, there are no available jacks when configuring Follow Me... making a RS232 based webserver via ESP32 impossible. I plan to uses this 'switch' method when I turn on Follow Me. Any hiccups/problems I am not thinking of in this?
As for connections, I had to butcher a few ethernet cables. RJ45 on the switch side, crimped RJ12 on the other ends. Trying to figure out the pinouts got a little confusing, so I tested continuity through the switch and crimped the RJ12 connectors appropriately.
I guess another way to deal with this is to get Modbus data via ethernet. Next project...
I would upload photos, but it's a little bit too Frankenstein at the moment.
What are you doing with an RJ45 cable ? Do you mean RJ11 (phone jack) ?
Does the top MNGP phone jack power up the MNGP ? Or do you just get Got Comm ?
boB
I am using an RJ45 A/B switch... because thats what I had lying around.
So I took an ethernet cable and cut off one connector and crimped on a RJ11 using 6 conductors. Rj45 end goes to switch, rj11 goes to Classic.
Second cable same thing. RJ45 to switch port A, rj11 end to mngp.
Third cable: Rj45 to switch port B, other end to esp32.
I would have rather used a rj11 A/B switch, but did not have one.