Configuring LOGO! TDE Panel with LOGO! Soft Comfort V8.2

Overview

The Siemens LOGO! TDE (Text Display External) is a 4.3-inch color touchscreen that extends the operator interface of a LOGO! 8 logic module beyond the small on-board display. It is supplied as part of several LOGO! starter packs together with the LOGO! base module, a power supply, a screwdriver, and assorted software media. Many first-time users are confused about which of the included software packages actually configures the TDE, because a starter pack typically ships with both LOGO! Soft Comfort (LSC) and TIA Portal V15 along with a "Legacy Panel Images" folder.

This article resolves that confusion. The TDE is configured exclusively through LOGO! Soft Comfort V8.2, which is matched to the firmware generation of the supplied LOGO! 8.2 base module (Siemens catalog number 6ED1052-2MD08-0BA0). TIA Portal V15 and the Legacy Panel Images folder are not used for the TDE; they belong to SIMATIC HMI panels, which can be connected to a LOGO! if the user later decides to migrate to a full SIMATIC operator panel.

What Is the LOGO! TDE?

The TDE is a 4.3" TFT color operator panel designed for the LOGO! 8 generation. It mirrors the on-board LOGO! display and additionally supports:

• Up to 50 configurable message texts with up to four lines and 24 characters per line (in 6x12 font).
• Alarm and status indication using freely editable text, bar graphs, and trend views.
• Parameter setpoint entry for timers, counters, and analog thresholds directly from the touchscreen.
• Cursor keys (Up/Down/Left/Right + ESC + OK) for menu navigation and value input.
• Up to six languages selectable on the TDE itself, configured through LSC.
• Remote IP address display of the connected LOGO! base module.

The TDE does not run any user-generated ladder or FBD logic on its own; all logic and message definitions reside in the LOGO! base module and are merely rendered on the TDE screen. Therefore, the TDE has no independent programming software: it is a passive display that is configured as part of the LOGO! program.

For full product information, see the Siemens LOGO! product page.

Starter Pack Contents Explained

A typical LOGO! starter pack (Siemens catalog number depends on region, commonly the 6ED1057-3BA00-0AA8 family) ships the following items:

The packaging sometimes labels TIA Portal V15 as "included" which leads users to believe they must install it for the TDE. That is not the case: TIA Portal is included for free in the starter pack as a courtesy, so that you can connect a SIMATIC HMI to the LOGO! later. You do not need to install it to get the TDE running.

Prerequisites

Before installing the software, confirm the following:

1. PC operating system: Windows 7 SP1 (32/64-bit), Windows 8.1, Windows 10, or Windows 11. LSC V8.2 was tested on Windows 10; on Windows 11 you may need to run it in compatibility mode or use LSC V8.3 instead.
2. Display resolution: At least 1024 × 768.
3. Ethernet port on the PC (built-in RJ45 or USB-to-Ethernet adapter).
4. Standard Ethernet patch cable (Cat5e or higher, RJ45, straight-through or crossover – both work on modern PCs and LOGO! 8.2 NICs).
5. 24 V DC power supply with sufficient current budget: a LOGO! 8.2 base module with display draws roughly 150 mA at 24 V; the TDE draws roughly 120 mA. A 1.3 A LOGO! Power is adequate.
6. LOGO! 8.2 firmware on the base module. New modules ship with current firmware; if you bought surplus stock, update via the LSC "Tools → Update Firmware" menu.

Step-by-Step: Configuring the TDE in LOGO! Soft Comfort

1. Install LOGO! Soft Comfort V8.2. Run the installer from the DVD or download from the Siemens support portal. No licence key is requested for the standard LSC edition; the editor is fully functional.
2. Start LSC and create a new project. Choose File → New. In the project tree, the base module is represented by the catalog symbol; you do not add the TDE as a separate device — the TDE is enabled inside the LOGO! base module's settings.
3. Open the LOGO! configuration dialog. Double-click the LOGO! 8.2 device in the project tree. In the hardware dialog, confirm the catalog number 6ED1052-2MD08-0BA0 matches the physical module.
4. Enable the TDE. In the LOGO! settings, navigate to the Display / TDE tab. Tick Enable TDE (or the equivalent "LOGO! TDE connected" checkbox depending on LSC build). The TDE IP address and the LOGO! base IP address can now be entered; defaults are typically 192.168.0.10 for LOGO! and 192.168.0.11 for TDE with subnet 255.255.255.0.
5. Add message texts. In the project tree, right-click Message texts and add a new message. LSC supports two message text targets: "On LOGO! display" and "On LOGO! TDE". Choose the TDE target for any screen you want shown on the external panel. Each message can contain up to four lines of 24 characters (or fewer characters in larger fonts).
6. Bind message conditions. Each message has an enable input (a Boolean tag from your FBD program) and optionally an acknowledgment tag. Wire your process alarms, sensor flags, or counter setpoints to these inputs. Use the Bar graph and Trend widgets on the TDE for analog visualization.
7. Configure setpoint parameters. If you want operators to edit timer preset values or counter thresholds from the TDE, mark the corresponding function block as "parameter assignment visible on TDE" in the block properties. LSC will then auto-generate the navigation keys.
8. Save and download. Connect the PC's Ethernet port to the LOGO! base module. From the Tools → Ethernet Connections menu, click Online, then drag the project to the LOGO! or use PC → LOGO!. The transfer uses S7-compatible UDP/IP on port 8441.
9. Connect the TDE. Plug the TDE's Ethernet jack into the same physical network as the LOGO! base module (either direct point-to-point, or via an unmanaged switch). Power the TDE with 24 V. The TDE will obtain its IP, then display the LOGO!'s status screen within a few seconds.
10. Verify operation. Force one of your message conditions true from LSC (Tools → Simulation with the LOGO! online) and confirm the message appears on the TDE with the configured text.

Firmware and Software Compatibility Matrix

The LSC version must match or exceed the firmware generation of the LOGO! base module. Mixing versions across the network can lock out communication.

For the starter pack containing 6ED1052-2MD08-0BA0, the matching LSC is V8.2. The user reports in the source thread confirm the working combination: LOGO! 8.2 base + LSC V8.2 + TDE.

Network and Communication Setup

The TDE communicates with the LOGO! base module over Ethernet using a Siemens-proprietary protocol on UDP port 8441 (same as the LOGO! ↔ LSC PC link). For point-to-point operation:

If the TDE cannot find the LOGO! base, it shows a red communication icon on its home screen. Common root causes:

• IP address mismatch — fix by editing the TDE IP from its system menu, or by editing the LOGO! IP from the on-board display (ESC → Setup → Network).
• Subnet mismatch — verify both ends share subnet 255.255.255.0 and an identical network prefix.
• Firewall on the PC — Windows Defender blocks UDP/8441 by default. Add a rule for LSC (LogoComfort.exe) before going online.
• Switched port with IGMP snooping — disable or use a simple unmanaged switch.

When to Use TIA Portal V15 Instead

TIA Portal V15 is required only when the customer migrates to a SIMATIC HMI panel such as the SIMATIC KTP700 Basic, KTP1200 Basic, or TP900 Comfort. In that scenario the workflow is:

1. Install TIA Portal V15 with the LOGO! Hardware Support Package (HSP). The HSP allows TIA Portal to "see" LOGO! 8 base modules in the device catalog.
2. Create a SIMATIC HMI project. Connect it to the LOGO! using the LOGO! communication driver (S7-compatible over Ethernet, UDP/8441 or TCP/8442 depending on the panel firmware).
3. Configure screens, tags, and alarms inside the HMI editor. The TDE remains a parallel operator interface — it does not "go away" automatically. If only the SIMATIC panel is wanted, physically disconnect or power off the TDE.

Message Text Programming in Detail

A TDE-bound message text block in LSC has the following structure:

• Input (En): Boolean tag that enables the line when TRUE.
• Acknowledgment tag (optional): Boolean tag that the operator sets when acknowledging the alarm from the TDE.
• Line 1 – Line 4: Each line is a literal string or a tag reference. Tags can be interleaved with text by inserting the variable placeholder, e.g., Temp = %f1.1 °C.
• Bar graph / Trend (optional): An analog tag can be displayed as a horizontal bar with configurable min/max or as a rolling trend.

Up to 50 message texts can exist per LOGO! program, but only one can be displayed at a time on the TDE. Display priority is taken from the line number; the lowest-numbered active message wins. Configure priority carefully: alarms should occupy the lowest message numbers so that they preempt status text.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Verification and Commissioning Checks

After download, perform this checklist before handing the system over to the operator:

1. Power-cycle the LOGO! base and the TDE. Confirm both reach the normal status screen within 10 s.
2. Force at least three different messages from LSC simulation and verify each appears on the TDE in the correct priority order.
3. Edit a parameter from the TDE (e.g., a timer preset) and confirm the new value is stored after power-cycle.
4. Disconnect the Ethernet cable between LOGO! and TDE for 5 s, reconnect, and confirm the TDE recovers automatically without operator intervention.
5. Run the LOGO! in RUN mode for at least 30 minutes; monitor the LOGO! web editor (if used) for any TDE communication errors in the diagnostic log.
6. Document the IP addresses, subnet mask, firmware FS numbers, and the LSC project file name in the panel drawing package.

FAQ