Adding Objects to the Monitor List in CAS BACnet Explorer
CAS BACnet Explorer:
Available as a free tool for discovering, browsing, and testing BACnet devices.
CAS BACnet Explorer includes a monitor list feature that allows selected BACnet objects and properties to be polled automatically at a fixed interval. By default, monitored properties are polled once per second. This feature is commonly used for commissioning, troubleshooting, and observing live behavior of BACnet devices without repeatedly issuing manual read requests.
The monitor list does not perform trending or historical data storage. It is intended strictly for real-time observation of object values and property changes while a session is active.
Prerequisites
Before adding objects to the monitor list, the target BACnet devices must be accessible from CAS BACnet Explorer. Devices and objects must either be discovered automatically using BACnet discovery services or added manually if broadcast discovery is not available.
Once devices appear in the device tree, individual objects can be selected and added to the monitor list.
Procedure: Adding Objects to the Monitor List
- Discover the BACnet devices and objects that you want to monitor.
-
Right-click on the object you want to monitor and select
Add this object to monitor list.
-
Click the Monitor button on the CAS BACnet Explorer main dialog to open
the monitor list window.
- Verify that the selected objects now appear in the monitor list.
-
Click the Settings button to open the monitor list settings dialog.
-
In the settings dialog, select the BACnet properties you want to monitor for each object,
then click OK.
-
The monitor list will now automatically update, displaying live values for the selected
objects and properties.
Operational Notes
Monitoring a large number of objects or properties can increase BACnet network traffic and device load. In constrained environments, limit the number of monitored objects or reduce the monitoring scope to only the properties required for troubleshooting.
The monitor list uses unicast BACnet requests once objects are known. It does not require broadcast traffic after objects have been added.
FAQ
How often are monitored properties updated?
By default, monitored properties are polled once per second.
Can multiple properties from the same object be monitored?
Yes. The monitor list settings dialog allows multiple properties to be selected per object.
Does the monitor list store historical data?
No. The monitor list displays live values only and does not provide data logging or trending.
Is monitoring affected if BACnet broadcasts are blocked?
No, provided the objects are already added. Monitoring uses direct BACnet requests to the device.