This day was our first day working in Phoenix Contact. We were given a tour around the facility. We visited one of the manufacturing buildings. After the tour, our actual work started. We were given the descriptions and the equipment required for our first task. Thie first task is to make two field multiplexers connected via a telephone line using modems.
Tuesday 8.07.2003
We connected the hardware as suggested by our supervisor, Mr Pucker. It didn't work at all. We changed many options in the hardware, including the baud rate and the flow control, but it still didn't work. In order to verify that the modem connection was working, we connected both modems into the RS232 ports of the computer, ran the terminal programme and typed in a few letters. The modem connection was proven to be working because the other terminal picked up these typed letters. We showed our supervisor this problem.
Wednesday 9.07.2003
Our supervisor suggested that we tried other modems. For every other modem that we tried, it would not work at all. But when we verified the modem connections using the terminal programme, it worked perfectly. This phoenomenon puzzled us and our supervisors. Now he suggests that we take a pause from this task and attempt another task.
Thursday 10.07.2003
The new task is to transmit analogue signals over the multiplexers which are connected together using a twisted-pair wire. We did some reorganisation of the hardware, by inserting the analogue input module on one side and the analogue output module on the other side. At the input, we supplied some voltage signals using another analogue output module programmed using PC WORX 2 and this was seen at the output side whcih was connected to a voltmeter.
Friday 11.07.2003
After seeing what we have achieved, our supervisor wants us to try two tasks, one to transmit current and the other to visualise it on the PC. As we needed to visualise it, we started reading up on how to use GraphWorX32 by Iconics. We also connected the hardware required for the transmission of the electrical current signals.
Saturday 12.07.2003
We attended the Family Day organised by Phoenix Contact.
Sunday 13.07.2003
Washed all the dirty clothes.