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UDP Multicast Mode
( Multicast to Several SX-520 at Once )

This page explains how to send the same data to several SX-520 at once.


1. What is UDP Multicast Mode?

2. What is IP Multicast Address?

3. Before You Begin

4. Link to Serial Device


1. What is UDP Multicast Mode?

UDP Multicast Mode is a feature to transfer the same data to several SX-520 from a particular application program using IP multicast address. This feature allows you to transfer the same data to two or more serial devices using the application program that runs on UDP Socket API.

Only the communication from PC to SX-520 is supported and the response from serial device to PC is not supported. When you multicast the same data to serial devices, it is possible to avoid the increase of network load.

SX-520 with this feature enabled, can form a group with the same IP multicast address and receive the data transferred to the specified IP multicast address. It is also possible to form a group of SX-520 with different IP multicast addresses, and create the network environment at which you can categorize the information for each group with the same IP multicast address. 

To use this feature, use UDP #9100 port as a communication port.


2. What is IP Multicast Address?

A normal IP address is a kind of information to identify each device on IP network and should be a unique address that is not used by any other devices.  For these addresses to identify each device, class A to C addresses are used according to the network scale.

On the other hand, IP multicast address can be assigned to the devices with a particular communication feature and use the class D addresses.
IP multicast is a system at which only the devices with a particular IP multicast address can receive or process the data. It will multicast only to the devices with the same IP multicast address and will not affect the devices with difference addresses.

The IP multicast address should be a class D address. Following address range can be used:

224.0.1.0 - 239.255.255.255

Even the address range above may include the IP multicast address that is already used by other systems. To use this product in UDP Multicast Mode, select the IP multicast address that is not used for other IP multicast communication.


3. Before You Begin

Change the settings to use this product in UDP Multicast Mode. 

Access the Web page of this product.


In the left pane of Web page, click Serial Conf.


In the page displayed, configure the following settings at General Configuration appropriate for your serial device.

  • Baud Rate
  • Bits per character
  • Stop Bits
  • Parity
  • Flow Control
  • Send delay(micro sec/word)  (* Usually, the default value is used. Change this value only when it is necessary.)

Enter the IP multicast address that you wish to use for your application to Multicast Address.

When completed, click Submit button.

The configuration has been completed.
Configure the same settings to all SX-520 that you wish to use. 



4. Link to Serial Device

Power on the serial devices and then this product.
Start the application which uses UDP Socket API from your PC. By sending the serial device control command to IP multicast address of SX-520, you can multicast the control command to several SX-520.


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