Improving Communications Reliability with USB to RS485 Converters

Applies to: all versions
Last updated: 2016-11-08
Applies to all versions

If you are using a CT USB to RS485 converter to connect to a drive and you sometimes find the connection unreliable with occasional drop-outs, there is a setting called the Latency Timer that when lowered can sometimes improve things:

  1. Ensure the USB converter is plugged in.
  2. Launch Device Manager in Windows
    • Windows 7: Click Start and right-click Computer then select Properties. On the left hand panel select Device Manager.
    • Windows 8/10: Click Start and type in "Device Manager". Select device manager from the choices offered.
  3. From the device tree, expand the Ports (COM & LPT) node.
  4. Right-click the USB serial port entry and select Properties.
  5. Click on Port Settings tab.
  6. Click the Advanced button.
  7. Locate the entry Latency Timer. By default this will have a value of 16.
  8. Change the setting to 1.
  9. OK this dialog and all others.

Extending Comms Timouts

You may also extend the timeouts Connect uses - see here.