Lighthouse PLCs, Inc. : Automation Forum
THE PURPOSE OF THIS FORUM IS: AUTOMATION SOLUTIONS. IF YOU ARE A PERSON INVOLVED IN SOME ASPECT OF AUTOMATION, HAVE AN APPLICATION YOU JUST CAN'T QUITE GET A HANDLE ON 
- HAVE A PRODUCT QUESTION - OR MAYBE HAVE AN ISSUE WITH SOMETHING (EVEN IF IT IS WITH US 
), IT IS POSSIBLE YOU WILL FIND THE ANSWER HERE!!
OR, IF YOU ABSOLUTELY KNOW THE ANSWER, OR EVEN THINK YOU KNOW THE ANSWER, THEN JUST POST IT! MAKE THAT REPLY!
YOU ARE PROBABLY RIGHT ON THE MARK, AND MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP SOMEBODY OUT!! 
AND, IT COULD BE YOU THAT NEEDS HELP NEXT TIME. AFTER ALL...(REALLY?).. ARE WE NOT ALL "CHILDREN" - AT VARIOUS POINTS ON THE LEARNING CURVE OF TECHNOLOGY" ??? (I know I've still got a lot to learn and I've been at it for... well since 1970!)
Hopefully the information presented here will help provide solutions to some of today's automation challenges. Some issues are probably old, some are probably new. Many are products of the economy, the resultant reduction in manpower, exacerbated by aging equipment crippled by decreases in maintenance budgets. The ULTIMATE goal here is that we all become more successful in our careers and chosen professions.
MAYBE THIS FORUM CAN HELP!!!
You know the rules - ADVERTISING IS NOT ALLOWED ! 
This area is for we, :
...the Fraternal Order of Propeller-Heads
You know the rest - no flaming 
, profanity, blatant advertising, etc., etc., blah, blah, blah. If you are 5 years old, or feel like acting 5 years old, you really need to go outside and ride your bike - OH, and seek some professional therapy. Yea, that would be good, too!
OH! BTW, if you don't feel like providing your name/company, just put "Anonymous" / "Withheld"/ "Not On File" or Anything! I promise 
we won't tell !
Note: For best viewing..
We suggest switching to "Board Style" (below) rather than "Threaded Style" !
Your choice! 
Dear Suriyan,
The Shihlin Electric A1 (A1-40MR in your case) is exactly the same as the Mitsubishi F1 PLC. Unfortunately the A1/F1 has been obsolete for some time, and the parts are now pretty much unavailable, or at least very hard to find.
The PLCs require an interface device to convert the RS422 protocol of the PLC to RS232C for your laptop. So the "cable" is more than just a cable. It is part of the "serial protocol interface".
The interface was available in at least two versions (perhaps more). The two that I am aware of are: A-Link (F-Link from Mitsubishi), and F2-20GF1 w/ PCX-KIT1.
The A-Link was a box about the size of a hand-held programmer, or two boxes of cigarettes, and a cable. The "box" plugged directly into the A1, and the cable then connected to your laptop.
The F2-20GF1 is less than half the size of the A-Link, and again plugs directly on the A1/F1. Mitsubishi used to sell the PCX-KIT1 components separately (so I am told), but only recently combined everything into one kit. The kit contains a cable, a RS422 to RS232 converter, and a power supply for the converter. Basically, all the "stuff" the A-Link has that the F2-20GF1 doesn't have, is contained in the PCX-KIT1. So both kits end up performing the same function. Both are equally hard to find - the PCX-KIT1 is still available from Mitsubishi U.S.
So, the A-Link/F-Link -OR- the F2-20GF1 w/ PCX-KIT1 is what you need. They both will work on the A(F), A1 (F1), and A2 (F2). More recent models (like AX(FX)) require a different converter.
I hope this helps!
Timothy 
