PLCM10 Plugin Wireless Modem

The PLCM10 is an optional module, available for devices eX700 and eXware, that adds the ability to communicate with all machines and systems worldwide.

PLCM10 may be available with different configurations. Make sure what are the functions supported in the device you are using.

Warning

• Available only on Linux HMI devices that support plug-in modules
• Only one PLCM10 module per device is supported
• PLCM10 module is not supported when a WiFi dongle is already plugin in the HMI device

PLCM10 provide:

• WiFi module (requires an HMI device that supports plug-in via the USB port)
• 4G Wireless modem with a Micro-SIM slot
• GNSS module (requires an HMI device that supports plug-in via the USB port)
• 4 LED indicators (2 user programmable, Modem Status, Network Status)
• 2 Digital Inputs
• 2 Digital Output

Software requirements depends on BSP thread in the hosting device:

• On BSP v1.0 the version 1.0.721 or higher is required
• On BSP v1.3 the version 1.3.483 or higher is required

When the PLCM10 module is plugged and recognized, its properties will become available as “System Settings”

Wireless Network

System Settings -> Network -> Wireless Network

Parameter	Description
Regulator Domain	It is read-only information that can be set on the localization page (See "Lokalisierung")
Interface Name	Interface name (read-only)
Enable	Enable operation of Wireless Network
Mode	Select: Station Access Point
Network Name	This is the network identifier (the SSID) When Mode = Station a "Browser" button will appear, to list the available wifi networks. When Mode = Access Point you have to define the SSID of the network you are creating.
Encryption	The WPS-PSK encryption mode is supported
Password	Available only when the Encryption=WPS-PSK is selected.

Once you have confirmed the system setting, you will find the connection State and the Signal Quality information.

Mobile Network

System Settings -> Network -> Mobile Network

Parameter	Description
Enabled	Enable the Wireless Modem
SIM PIN	SIM Card PIN code if required
APN	APN (Access Port Name) If you do not know this information please contact your mobile services provider.
Roaming	Enable Roaming option if required
Authentication	Authentication mode: None PAP (Password Authentication Protocol)
BAUD rate	Baudrate (only for the HMI devices that supports plug-in via serial port): 900K 3M (default)
MTU/MRU	Max Packet Size: 1500 512 256 128
Username Password	Username and password to be used when the authentication mode is selected

Once you have confirmed the system setting, you will find detailed information about your SIM card and mobile network connection in the Status area.

Overrun Errors

The "Overrun Errors" is a read-only parameter that is shown inside the status area only in the case of bad communication with the internal modem. In this case is advisable a review of the modem's communication parameters (Baudrate, MTU/MRU)

GNSS

System Settings -> Network -> GNSS

Parameter	Description
Enabled	Enable the GNSS module Mobile Network must be enabled

Once you have confirmed the system setting, you will find detailed information about the GNSS status value

Status Value	Description
NMEA Service	Enabled = the GNSS signal is present
Satellites	Number of locked satellites
State	FIX = last GNSS sentence is valid
Date and Time Longitude Latitude Altitude (m) Speed (m/s)	Values received from the GNSS

LEDs and Digital I/O

Behavior of the first two available LEDs and of the Digital I/O can be configured from the HMI device System Setting tool:

System Settings -> Plugins -> PLCM10

Digital I/O	Description
Input-1 Input-2	User configurable: None Cloud: 0=down, 1=up When the input signal is on, HMI device will connect to remote cloud. When it is off, the remote cloud will be disconnected. Mobile: 0=down, 1=up When the input signal is on, HMI device will start the wireless modem. When it is off, the wireless modem will be disconnected. 1=system reboot When the input signal is detect to be 1, HMI device will force a reboot
Output-1 Output-2	User configurable: None (not used) User controlled Output signal will be managed by the HMI application Cloud: down=0, up=1 Output will be set to 1 when cloud connection is active, 0 when not active Mobile: down=0, up=1 Output will be set to 1 when wireless modem connection is active, 0 when not active

 

LED	Description
LED #1 LED #2	User configurable: None (not used) User controlled LED status will be managed by the HMI application Cloud: down=off, up=on, error=blink Show the cloud connection status Mobile: down=off, up=on, error=blink Show the mobile connection status
LED #3	Show the wireless modem status: OFF = Disabled ON = Enabled
LED #4	Show the network activity (blinking)

 

System variables

All modules (Wireless Network, Mobile Network, GNSS, LEDs, and Digital I/O) can be managed from the HMI application through the tags available with the System Variables protocol.

See "PLCM10 Variablen" chapter for additional information.