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WA232

How to setup a Serial WiFi adapter

(based on Windows 7, 32/64-bit and WA232 Firmware v4.0)
This Step-by-step guide explains how to get started using the Serial WiFi Adapter part WA232. The WA232 has many more advanced features and functions than described in this guide so you should consider this guide only as a quick start-up guide to help you get started with the basic functions.

2011 U.S. Converters LLC. All rights reserved. WA232 Version 1.0 Dec 2012

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Configuring the parameters

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Configuring the parameters through the serial interface Configuring the parameters over the air SoftAP mode Joining a network example

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Verify the joined network by making a loop back test Setting up Automatic Connections Saving your configuration Set baud rate example Resetting the WA232 Making connections

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Connecting into the WA232 Connecting from the WA232

Creating a virtual COM/TCP port - example using PortShare Creating a virtual COM/TCP port - example using Fabulatech Troubleshooting

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Configuring the parameters.

To create a WiFi connection and start using the WA232 you first need to configure the parameters to match your network and application. Configuring the WA232 can be done in one of two ways: 1. Through the serial interface. This is the preferred and easiest way; however your computer needs a serial COM port. If your computer does not have a serial COM port you can use a USB to serial adapter. We recommend our part number XS880 which is fully compatible with the WA232. We cannot guarantee other adapters will be compatible. 2. Over the air using SoftAP mode. Your computer needs to be WiFi enabled. Regardless of which way you chose to configure the WA232 you first need to connect it to a power source: Connect the WA232 to a USB port using the included USB cable or any other 5VDC power source through the mini USB port on the side of the WA232. The USB cable is ONLY for powering the adapter, no data can be transmitted through the USB cable. Alternatively the adapter can be powered by a 3.3 5.0V battery. Once the adapter is connected to the power source the red IP LED light will flash.

NOTE regarding terminal emulator:

As your terminal emulator please DO NOT use HyperTerminal, instead use Putty which can be download here: http://www.usconverters.com/downloads/putty.exe

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Configuring the parameters through the serial interface.

Using a USB to serial adapter (if you computer does not have a serial COM port) connect the WA232 to the USB serial adapters COM port and open Putty on the COM port number associated with the USB serial adapter (you can find the COM port number in Windows Device Manager. In this example we use COM port 8). The default settings are 9600 baud rate, 8 bits, No Parity, 1 stop bit, and hardware flow control disabled.

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First make sure the DCE/DTE switch on the side of the WA232 is in position DCE. Now from within the terminal window, put the WA232 into command mode by typing $$$ and press [Enter]. You should get the message CMD back confirming you are in command mode.

You can now configure the parameters as needed for your network and application. For more details and specifications please refer to Command reference and advanced features.pdf Once you have configured the parameters you need, you can save them with the save command and exit Command mode with the exit command.

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Configuring the parameters over the air SoftAP mode.

Instead of configuring the parameters through the serial port the WA232 can also be configured over WiFi. This eliminates the need for a serial COM port or USB to serial adapter. To configure the parameters over WiFi the WA232 first needs to be set into SoftAP mode. This is done by depressing the reset button while connecting the power. Simply press the reset button through the hole in the housing with a paper clip or similar and hold the button depressed while connecting the USB power cable. The red and blue LED lights on will start flashing. The WA232 is now in SoftAP mode with the following default settings: SSID: WiFly-GSX-XX, where XX is the final two bytes of the devices MAC address Channel: 1 DHCP: Enabled IP address: 1.2.3.4 Port: 2000 Netmask: 255.255.0.0 Gateway: 1.2.3.4 You should now be able to connect to the WA232 through Windows built-in WiFi management or any other WiFi management software.

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It may take a few minutes for Windows to assign an IP address and connect to the network. You can check
your computers IP address by running the ipconfig command in the Command Window. If connected, this command displays your computers IP address and net mask.

NOTE: The automatically assigned IP address must be on the 1.2..x.y subnet, otherwise the WA232 will not be accessible. If your computer has both wireless and wired interface hardware, you may need to disable the wired LAN interface hardware before connecting to the SoftAP network. If the wired LAN is enabled, the computer may assign an IP address that is not on the same subnet as the WA232. Once connected with an appropriate IP address, open Putty and login to the WA232 with the following settings:

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The WA232 should respond with *HELLO*.

You can now enter command mode using the escape sequence $$$ and configure the parameters. When entering $$$ and any other command over WiFi you DO need to press the [Enter] key on your keyboard after each command.

Once you have configured the parameters you need, enter exit to exit Command mode.

For more details on how to join a network please refer to: Command reference and advanced features.pdf

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Joining a network - example.

First connect to the WA232 through the serial interface or over WiFi in SoftAP mode as described earlier in this guide. In this example we will connect to the WA232 via the serial interface by using a USB to serial adapter. Put the WA232 in command mode by entering $$$ and press [Enter]. Type show net to display the current network settings:

To find all available networks enter the scan command:

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In this example the found network is a WPA2/PSK secured Buffalo router so before we can join the network we have to enter the pass code. This is done with the set wlan pass command:

You should get a AOK back if the entered pass code is entered correctly. The WPA2 pass code is now set.

As for this example we can now enter join Buffalo to join the network:

In this example the WA232 has been assigned IP address 192.168.11.7 by the network.

If the network you want to connect to is open (unsecure), you can simply use the join command to associate with the network without first entering the set wlan pass command.

Once you have successfully associated to the network the access point SSID is stored, however not saved to memory. To save the settings permanently enter the save command and reboot command. Type exit to exit Command mode.

For more details on how to join a network please refer to: Command reference and advanced features.pdf

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Verify the joined network by making a loop-back test.

To verify that you can send data wireless from TCP to the WA232s serial interface you can make a simple loop-back test. First make sure the WA232 has actually joined the network. You can do that by entering the show net command while connected to the WA232 via the serial port:

Now disconnect the WA232 from the serial port and close the Putty serial terminal window.

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When we entered the join command earlier we saw that the WA232 has been assigned IP address 192.168.11.7 by the network, so you can now login to the adapter with a Telnet connection at that IP address: Open Putty and telnet to IP 192.168.11.7 port 2000:

You should now get a *HELLO* as response and the red LED light on the WA232 should be steady on when the connection is made:

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Carefully use a paper clip to jump TX (pin 2) and RX (pin 3) on the WA232s DB9 connector:

Enter some characters in the Telnet window and pres the [Enter] key on your keyboard. The characters should now be sent to the WA232s TX pin and looped back via the paper clip through the RX pin and back to the Telnet window. The WA232 obviously must be joining the network and be in data mode (red LED steady on) when performing this test.

Since we receive back the same data we send out the loop-back is successfully completed.

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Setting up Automatic Connections

The WA232 can be set to automatically connect to a network after boot-up. Below is an example of how to accomplish this: Connect to the WA232 and put it in command mode by entering $$$. Enter the scan command to see the current network settings:

Channel 2

Set the SSID of the access point you want to connect to (in this example Buffalo): set wlan ssid Buffalo Set the security code of the access point (in this example 1029384756): set wlan pass 1029384756 Set the channel number (in this example channel 2): set wlan chan 2 Enable the auto-connect feature: set wlan join 1 Save the settings: save Reboot: reboot When rebooted, the WA232 will now automatically join the network, even if the power has been temporarily disconnected. For more details about auto-connect please refer to: Command reference and advanced features.pdf

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Saving your configuration

To save your new configuration enter the save command while the WA232 is in command mode. The parameters will then be stored even if you disconnect the WA232 from the power source.

Connect the WA232 to a serial RS232 port (for example by using a USB to serial adapter) or over WiFi. Put the WA232 in command mode by entering $$$. The baud rate can now be changed by using the following command: set uart baud <rate> Example: set uart baud 2400 This will set the baud of the serial interface to 2400. For more command details please refer to:
Command reference and advanced features.pdf

Set baud rate example

Resetting the WA232

Hardware Reset button
The reset button on the WA232 has three functions: 1. Entering SoftAP mode. Press and hold the reset button while applying power to the adapter. 2. Enabling WPS mode. Press the reset button one time. 3. Resetting the adapter to factory defaults. Press the reset switch through the hole in the housing with a paper clip or similar and toggle the switch 5 times. Reset is completed at about 1 Hz. Make sure that when pressing the switch, transitions between pressed and not pressed is at least 1 second long.

Software Reset
To reset the WA232 by software, enter the factory RESET command (the word RESET must be in CAPITAL letters). This command automatically loads default settings, and executes a save command. You then need to issue the reboot command so that the module reboots with the default configurations.

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Making Connections.
Connecting into the WA232
To make a connection into the WA232 simply open a IP socket and connect to the IP address of the module. Telnet is a simple way to test this connection. From in Telnet type open <addr> <port>. As an example: open 192.168.11.4 2000. The actual IP address is assigned to the WA232 by the network when you enter the join command. Once open you can type characters into the UART window and see them on the Telnet window or vice versa. This is basically what is described in the connection example above.

Connecting from the WA232

To make a connection from the WA232 you will need the IP address and port number of your server application. A simple program to test this functionality is a COM port redirector. This software opens an IP port and transfers all data it receives to a specified COM port on your machine. A free com port redirector program is available from Pira at http://www.pira.cz/eng/piracom.htm Depending on your application when using this software your computer may need to have an existing COM port available.
After installing and starting this program, note the IP address of the machine it is running on. This can be found by running ipconfig in the Microsoft command window. With the WA232 in command mode, type open <addr> <port>. The server will report the connection is open and you can type characters into the UART window and see them on the server window or vice versa.

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Creating a virtual COM/TCP port - example using PortShare

Another way of using the WA232 is by creating an actual virtual COM port which will show up in Windows Device Manager. A virtual COM/TCP software creates a virtual COM port and directs data to/from this TCP. A free Virtual COM/TCP software is available at: PortShare (http://www.opengear.com/product-portshare-feature.html) First make sure that the WPA pass phrase has been saved to the WA232 using the save and reboot commands if you are using a secure network; and that the WA232 has joined the network.

Start PortShare and enter the IP address of the WA232:

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Default settings can usually be used without problems. PortShare will in this example create COM 2:

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COM port 2 is now available in Device Manager:

This COM port can now be used as if it was a built-in COM port.

Alternative compatible Virtual COM/TCP software is: Fabulatech Serial Port Redirector: http://www.fabulatech.com/serial-port-redirector.html and Eltima Serial over Ethernet: http://www.eltima.com/products/serial-over-ethernet/ These alternative solutions are good products and offers a 30 day trial period.

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To verify that the created virtual COM port can communicate properly with the WA232s COM port you can make a loopback test. Carefully use a paper clip to jump TX (pin 2) and RX (pin 3) on the WA232s DB9 connector. Open AccessPort which can be downloaded here: http://www.usconverters.com/downloads/AccessPort136.zip Configure AccessPorts parameters to match the created COM port:

And click OK.

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Enter some characters in the lower (send) windows in AccessPort and click the AutoSend button. The characters should now be sent via virtual COM 2, over WiFi to the WA232, out on the TX pin, back into the RX pin, back over WiFi, back into virtual COM port 2 and should appear in AccessPorts upper (receive) window.

AccessPort send -> COM 2 -> WiFi -> WA232 TX pin

| |

AccessPort receive <- COM 2 <-WiFi <- WA232 RX pin

<

If you remove the jumper at the WA232 the data flow should stop. The WA232 obviously should be joining a network (and WPA pass phrase saved if required) and in data mode (red LED steady on) when performing this test.

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Creating a virtual COM/TCP port - example using Fabulatech

Same procedure as described earlier for using PortShare applies for Fabulatech, so we will here just show a few screenshots of the Fabulatech software. Click Port -> Add Client Virtual Port

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Default settings works fine in most cases:

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Troubleshooting

Using the serial WiFi adapter in high traffic network locations.

Using a serial WiFi adapter in a location with many WiFi and/or Bluetooth connections may sometimes be a challenge since all WiFi and Bluetooth devices share the same 2.4Ghz frequency. Sometimes this can cause noisy environment may cause problems connecting the WA232 or dropped connections, so here are a few things you can try to improve the situation: 1. Try changing the wireless channel. Please refer to page 31, section 2.3.69, Set wlan channel in Command reference and advanced features. 2. Try changing the wireless data rate. Please refer to page 34, section 2.3.80, set wlan rate Command reference and advanced features. Lowering the data rate may help improve time-out issues. 3. If possible try and scan the 2.4Ghz spectrum. This can for example be done by using a 3rd party software such as: inSSID: http://www.metageek.net/products/inssider/ WiFi Stumbler: http://meraki.cisco.com/products/wireless/wifi-stumbler For Android: WiFi Analyzer APP Analyze the network and use the channel with the least number of other wireless devices.

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