EBME Forums Forums Maintenance Technical Assistance Tosca 500

We have a Tosca 500 unit in a patients home in the community and we would like to be able periodically download data from it remotely any ideas.

Hi Mike

Are you aware of Download 2001 from Stowood Scientific. This programme is designed for downloading from TOSCA 500 and other such devices. If you want any more info please give me a call.

Dave Mulvey
Salford Royal Hospital (Hope Hospital)
Tel: +44 (0)161 206 64865

Hi Dave,
Thanks for the reply we have the software the problem is that the Tosca is out in the community about 50 miles from the nearest hospital. We were thinking about been able to download to a memory card and then sending by email. I am not sure if you can download direct from the Tosca to a memory card without a laptop.

I have found out that the Tosca has a RS423 port which does output an ascii code. Is there any type of data logger that could be connected to the output to store the code and then sent to us for downloading so we could analyze the code using the stowood software?

It's an interesting question, Mike. And there could be any number of ways of doing it. You could spool to a PC, for example (or, if you still have one, a Good Old BBC Micro - easy enough using one of those)!

But how would you go about triggering the data stream, I wonder? Or would it always be available? And ... how much data (how long would it take to fill up 256 MB - or 4 GB - of memory)? More information required, I'm afraid!

Hi Geoff, looks like an interesting prospect just wondering if the Tosca will be able to trigger the recording or does the data logger take care of that. Will need to do a bit of googling tonite any rs423 experts out there let me know this would be a great option.

If you look at the OEM version (and go for the P-option) it looks like you can simply switch Start/Stop by connecting/disconnecting power. That's the one I think I would go for.

The standard model would need someone to press the On and Off buttons. But you would need to be careful, as Playback mode uses those same methods (eg, holding down the On button for more than a second).

Then you would have to figure out a way of downloading that data remotely!

Meanwhile, I'm wondering about the capabilities of folk at the Tosca end, and whether they would enjoy becoming involved in data capture themselves.

It sure sounds like fun to me!

PS: we talked about RS-232 before!

PPS: I've just noticed a V3.5 on eBay for the "Buy It Now" price of £ 180.

Hi Geoff, contacted the company on that rs232 data logger but what i thought would be the easiest part has now proved to be a stumblying point converting rs232 to rs423. The rs232 datalogger will not work when you have a converter (RS232 to RS423) that requires power from the rs232 lines. I have searched the net and have not found anything that will convert and uses and external power source. Maybe some of the other contributors might have seen something or have better knowledge of the RS232, 423 configuration.

Pity. You say RS-423, but I'm wondering if the kit I mentioned earlier would still capture the data. It would all depend upon the details of the serial output from the unit.

I believe there are doodads available to convert RS-423 (levels) to RS-232 and vice versa.