Diagnosis Tool for PROFIBUS (DP and PA) and Foundation Fieldbus FF H1
The Busmonitor is an indispensable tool for commissioning, maintenance and diagnostics of PROFIBUS and Foundation Fieldbus networks, as well as for the development of PROFIBUS and Foundation Fieldbus products.

Because of the PCMCIA interface it can be installed on a portable PC. This makes it perfectly suited for the requirements of every day use. The ease of use is guaranteed by simple handling of the tool without need of time consuming training.
In online operation the PROFIBUS DP Busmonitor records the message interchange up to a baud rate of 12 Mbit/s (DP) with single bit accuracy. Also faulty telegrams are recorded. The passive RS485 interface, which is integrated in the plug, guarantees a reactionless measurement during the operation of the bus. During the test a live list divided into Master and Slaves is automatically generated.

In Foundation Fieldbus FF H1 operation with the active IEC1158-2 probe head all telegrams are recorded as well.

In offline mode the recorded messages are displayed. They can be decoded on different protocol levels (physical level, FDL, DP-DPV1 or combined). The recording contains a precise time stamp providing a precise measurement of the bus timing even with 12 Mbit/s (DP). The recording can be calculated in milliseconds, bit times, absolute time, or time difference between succeeding messages. The recorded messages can be stored in different formats and are then available for processing with external tools.

A various number of filters can be defined for recording as well as for displaying messages. These filters can also be used to search for certain messages. The start of a recording session can be defined by trigger conditions, i.e. a certain telegram or the n-multiple appearance of a telegram.

With the remote control functionality the Busmonitor can be remote-controlled by any other computer via the DCOM interface. Especially, the logging function for long time supervision of networks, recording of changes of the bus configuration as well as the analysis of the bus characteristics (error rate, bus load, ratio of user data to protocol overhead) can be used comfortably by the remote PC.
The new software modules (Sync-, Conti-, Spy- and OPC Module) extend the Busmonitor's field of application substantially.

The Sync Module allows accurate time-synchronised recording using two monitors on a single PC. The optimal and efficient diagnosis of all coupled or redundant networks – PROFIBUS DP as well as PA – is made possible.

By means of the Conti Module PROFIBUS DP or PA telegrams are continuously recorded during an arbitrary length of time. The only limitation is the available hard-disk space.

The Spy Module offers extensive possibilities of comfortably listening to the bus communication in online or offline mode. Owing to GSD based decoding and various analysis functions, all important characteristic of the manufacturing network are prepared graphically or in tabular form.

The OPC Module provides an open interface through which all data recorded by the IT monitor can be accessed online.