Thanks neptun 2002.
Th eproblem is not with the slavesWhen they reply, they assert a pin, which enables their RS485 transceiver.
The problem is the transceiver associated with the Master Ie. the PC
The PC uses a USB to TTL convertor which then connects to a TTL to RS485. convertor.
The RS485 data transceiver needs to get a TX enable signal from the RTS line to enable transmission.
With other VB applications where I have used a COM control, there was a property RTS ON TX, but I do not see such a property on the AdvancedHMI control and the RTS is definitively not being asserted when the AdvancedHNI application polls the slaves.
A possible work around at this stage appears to be to wire-OR the slaves RTS /transmit enables together & let the complement of that drive the transmit enable of the master. However, that is not elegant and requires additional wires & logic, when the solution lies at the master end to implement RTS.
Have I got how AdvancedHMI works wrong??
Lee
PS My application is a two marine engine monitoring system. (Main engine & generator set)