I have 5 Uniwell LX-5600's that I'd like to connect to a pc, I have the software (Total Control) already installed, just need to know how to get them all talking. I have ethernet cable that I can wire up and a switch but don't know what to do next.

Does the ethernet cable get wired up in the standard way? Are there any settings to change on the tills?

The manuals we were supplied with were written specially and just cover operation and basics like price programing.

Hi,

Unfortunately it's not a simple as you think to link these machines together. The RJ45 link on the back isn't actually Ethernet, although it's the same connector. You would be able to plug them all into a switch and get the 5 tills talking to each other but you won't be able to get PC communications through the ethernet.
Another piece of equipment would be requried called an NA-720 convertor. The convertor would plug into a comm port on your PC and then plug into the till network.
I've just looked on uniwells site and it appears they have a new USB model:
http://www.uniwell.com/unihtml/products/peri/na700.php

A convertor like that is your only option to communicate with multiple tills to a PC.

Cheers

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Thanks for the tip about the network adaptor, that won't be a problem.

If the connector on the back isn't ethernet, then what is it?

Hi,

Although it's an RJ45 connector it's actually RS485 not ethernet that is used for till to till communications. The cable uses 4 wires which are twisted into 2 seperate pairs, ideally with resistors across the pairs at both ends. I've included a diagram below which shows how the cable needs to loop from one register to the next in a kind of daisy chain:


Having said all of this, because the cable is ultimately just straight through you would get communications between the tills using a normal network patch lead but it would not communicate to the PC like that.

I hope this makes sense.

Regards

Nemesis

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ok, i understand. So, taking the pc out of the equation, is there anything i need to do to the tills to get them communicating with eachother once they're connected?

Hi,

Not a lot really, each machine just needs a different IRC ID number setting in it. This is done as follows:

Turn the key to SP
Key in 172
Press X2
Key in the ID number you would like to assign to the cash register (so 1 for example)
Press X2
Press Clear to finish.

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Ok, so I can now get 2 tills communicating by putting an ethernet patch cable between them - will come in very handy for large plu changes. Is there a switch/hub that i can put in that will enable me to use the same cabling to get all 5 tills together? After that should just be the case of getting the NA-700 to connect the pc up.

Hi,

I've never tried it but a standard network switch or hub might well work since the cable is straight through, have you got one you can try?

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I'm not sure a switch would work.

A daisy chained Uniwell style cable, even if it lacked the resistors, would be a far better bet.
It's not that hard to bash up a cable as long as you're not afraid to pick up a soldering iron and have a little patience. The gear to make it isn't expensive.

hi!
to be able to connect all ecr's in pc, you'll goin' to need the so called TENSAI SOFTWARE and a network adapter NA-70 or 72 from your ecr provider.The NA will provide the INTER REGISTRY COMMUNICATION (IRC) from your lx-5600 through RS-485 port of your ECR. Each ecr will going to have their own machine no.-from your lower left of receipt,you will see the machine no.(001-000000).thefirst 3 digit is the mach. no.you'll also going to need a junction box to connect all ecr,they are all connected in "parallel" to the NA.Check also the version of your LX-5600, they should have the all same version.