configure a TS-M-MEI to work with a multimeter

Question

I have a port server TS-M-MEI 4 port, and I want to use it to read the feed from a cheap multimeter that spits out it's data in rs232 format.

multimeter is a
TekPower TP4000ZC
the data from the device is as shown in this diagram
data from the multimeter

When I connect the the multimeter to my usb-serial adapter and using the software that came with the multimeter it shows me what the screen says on the multimeter. the multimeter configs are 2400-8-none-1

I have the Port server properly configured using Realport profile and I can connect it to a cisco console device and it works great at the normal 9600 baud for cisco stuff.

the multimeter spits out it's data unreadable it's basically just a burst of data containing what the individual LED's on the screen of the multimeter is showing

End result........I want to put the multimeter in a remote location and be able to monitor the feed

Answer 1

If I understand this correctly, when attempting to read the multimeter from the PortServer unit, it is displaying unreadable characters, is this correct?

You might want to confirm the following:

1. The RealPort host has the port configured for 1200 baud 8-none-and 1 (these settings are ignored on the PortServer when used with RealPort).

2. The cable pin-outs are correct. If the multimeter is a DCE device and has a DB9 connector, it may use a straight through cable rather than crossover (used with Cisco):

http://ftp1.digi.com/support/cabling/modem_rj45_8pin_altpin_db9m.pdf

Comments

no. whenI attempt to read the multimeter from the port server using the  realport config profile, with my computer setting the port speed to 2400 I should see unreadable text but I get no output at all.

 cable path is as shown
<multimeter DB-9F---><--DB-9M-straight through cable DB-9M--><db9F-Cable that came in the box with the Digi-RJ45M-><Digi port2>

When I do
<cisco switch console port rj45F><RJ45M standard cisco blue console cable DB-9F><--DB-9M-straight through cable DB-9M--><db9F-Cable that came in the box with the Digi-RJ45M-><Digi port2>
I can successfully access the cisco device on my computers com port

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The cable that comes with the product is a crossover cable (null-modem), it seems the Multimeter requires a straight through cable (assuming this is what was used when connecting to your USB convertor).

Straight through cable pin-outs (using standard 8 wire cabling):

http://ftp1.digi.com/support/cabling/modem_rj45_8pin_altpin_db9m.pdf