This section consists of the following:

BACnet Channel Overview 

You can use the SmartServer to integrate devices that support the BACnet protocol. The SmartServer can be a client that interacts with BACnet devices, or a server that maps datapoints on LON and Modbus devices for representation as BACnet objects. You can also use the SmartServer as a BACnet router to enable external BACnet clients on an IP LAN or WAN to monitor and control BACnet FT devices.

You can interface with BACnet MSTP devices using an external BACnet IP to BACnet MSTP router. The Starter Kit uses a Contemporary Controls BASRT-B, MSTP BACnet Router. This setup requires power for the Ethernet switch (5 VDC universal power supply provided with the Starter Kit) as well as an Ethernet connection for your computer configured with a fixed address on the 192.168.92.x subnet.

For a description of the SmartServer WAN/LAN network port settings required to support the Starter Kit and access through the BASRT-B router, see Configuring the Network.

Refer to the figure below for an overview of the network connections required to support access to the BASRT-B router on the 192.168.92.x subnet and to complete the necessary steps to setup the BACnet channel as described in this section.

Get started setting up the BACnet channel following the steps in the section below: Getting Started with BACnet Channel Setup. 

Getting Started with BACnet Channel Setup

Preparing the Viconics Thermostat

The Viconics Thermostat, located on the lower right corner of the Starter Kit, is a BACnet MSTP device that is connected to the Contemporary Controls BASRT-B router. The following setup is necessary to add this device to the BACnet MSTP network segment:

• The BACnet device address must be set

• The binary input 1 must be configured with remote NSB timer clock input

Complete information on how to configure this device can be found in the SmartServer GitHub Repository Starter Kit archive → BACnet Channel → Viconics folder → VT7200 Series User Interface Guide (PDF). The quick-start steps are as follows:

1. Remove the front bezel of the Viconics Thermostat by grasping the lower sides and simultaneously pulling out and up. The figure below identifies buttons that will be used in the steps that follow.
   
   
   

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2. Observe the BACnet communication Status LED located on the far left, middle portion of the thermostat. If you observe a pattern of two short, one long flashing lights, then the module has likely been configured with a BACnet device address. If you only see two short flashes, then the BACnet device address needs to be configured as described in this procedure.
   
   
   

3. Press and hold the Program menu select button for 8 seconds.

   The password set (PswrdSet) menu appears on the LCD display.
   
   
   

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4. Do not change this setting. The 0 value indicates that a password is not used. If you set a password, you will need to use the password from that point forward.  If the password is forgotten, you will be locked out from making changes. Therefore, this step leaves the setting at 0 so you can operate the thermostat without a password.
   
   
   

5. Press the Program menu select button one time.
   
   The Com Addr menu appears on the LCD display. 
   
   
   

6. Press the Value up / down button until it reads a low value (8 in this example).
   
   Verify that you set unique device addresses for all BACnet devices on a segment.  
   
   
   

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7. Press the Program menu select button one more time.
   
   
   

8. Press the Value up button on the right until you observe BI1 Rem NSB on the LCD display (which indicates Binary input no. 1, remote NSB timer clock input):
   
   

   
   
   
   

9. Wait 10 seconds without pressing any buttons to allow your thermostat to return to operating mode.

At this point, the Status LED will begin a pattern of two short, one long flashing lights indicating that the module is connected to the BACnet MSTP segment of the Contemporary Controls BASRT-B router. If you do not see this LED pattern, verify the network connections and the BASRT-B, and the thermostat (Yellow - (plus), Blue - (minus), Black (C)), and the power to the BASRT-B device.

Continue setting up the BACnet channel following the steps in the section below: Verifying the BACnet MSTP Communication Path. 

Verifying the BACnet MSTP Communication Path

Your computer must be connected with the Ethernet port configured to a 192.168.92.x address. 

• Refer to Configuring the Network for a description of the SmartServer WAN/LAN network port settings needed to support the Starter Kit and access through the BASRT-B router

• Refer to the figure above for an overview of the network connections required to support access to the BASRT-B router on the 192.168.92.x subnet