# Serial ASCII Communication with Ignition **URL:** \ **Category:** Ignition\ **Created:** [May 31, 2019, 11:08am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/serial-ascii-communication-with-ignition/25456 "2019-05-31T11:08:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rendi.Yohanes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Rendi.Yohanes](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Rendi.Yohanes)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 11:08am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/serial-ascii-communication-with-ignition/25456/1 "2019-05-31T11:08:21Z")
Dear all, I am trying to integrate a **check weigher** instrument with Ignition. The check weigher native communication protocol is RS485 with ASCII format. In previous project, I used to create a Windows application/service to read the ASCII data then forward the data to SQL and other Windows application/service. I am just wondering if there’s a way to do this via Ignition? I am using Ignition v8.0.1 Edge. Any help or ideas will be much appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![pturmel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/pturmel/32/3295_2.png) [@pturmel](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/pturmel)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 11:50am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/serial-ascii-communication-with-ignition/25456/2 "2019-05-31T11:50:09Z")
Not with Edge. It doesn't permit gateway scripting, nor does it permit SQL access. In a standard install, this is relatively easy in combination with the Serial Module. Or if you are using a TCP-to-serial converter, with native Java networking. This topic might be helpful: > [@How to listen serial data without interruption](http://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/how-to-listen-serial-data-without-interruption/15709/2): > > This is actually a rather challenging task, requiring a background thread constantly listening to the serial port. You might find inspiration in this example: [clientserial.py](https://www.automation-pros.com/ignition/clientserial.py). ---
**Author:** ![plarochelle](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/plarochelle/32/29608_2.png) [@plarochelle](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/plarochelle)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 12:48pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/serial-ascii-communication-with-ignition/25456/3 "2019-05-31T12:48:18Z")
What flavor of Edge are you using? I believe with Panel you should have scripting enabled - not sure if the serial scripts will work in that configuration but not sure why they wouldn’t. If the check weigher sends data unsolicited then a serial to ethernet gateway with the TCP/IP driver could work. There is also an open source version of a TCP/IP module on GitHub which has a couple more features than the native TCP/IP driver that we’ve used with a vision system: [https://github.com/chi-Ignition/generic-tcp-driver/releases](https://github.com/chi-Ignition/generic-tcp-driver/releases). Another option to look at if those don’t work for you would be UCON driver from Kepware. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![plarochelle](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/plarochelle/32/29608_2.png) [@plarochelle](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/plarochelle)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 12:53pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/serial-ascii-communication-with-ignition/25456/4 "2019-05-31T12:53:40Z")
I should have clarified that with Edge Panel that client scripting is enabled - not the gateway scope as Phil mentioned but I believe the system.serial functions should work in the client scope. I very well could be wrong though. ---
**Author:** ![pturmel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/pturmel/32/3295_2.png) [@pturmel](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/pturmel)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 12:53pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/serial-ascii-communication-with-ignition/25456/5 "2019-05-31T12:53:44Z")
> [@plarochelle](#): > > I believe with Panel you should have scripting enabled - not sure if the serial scripts will work in that configuration but not sure why they wouldn’t. Yes, this might be an option. I don't know if you can get the serial modules for Edge, though. > [@plarochelle](#): > > There is also an open source version of a TCP/IP module on GitHub Edge doesn't allow arbitrary third-party module installs. Not even the ones in the Showcase. > [@plarochelle](#): > > UCON driver from Kepware Yes, I think this would work. ---
**Author:** ![plarochelle](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/plarochelle/32/29608_2.png) [@plarochelle](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/plarochelle)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 12:55pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/serial-ascii-communication-with-ignition/25456/6 "2019-05-31T12:55:27Z")
The native TCP/IP driver could still be an option.