Configuring S7-300 to TP170B PROFIBUS: Setup and Troubleshooting

Overview

The integration of a SIMATIC S7-300 CPU (such as the 313C-2DP or 314C-2DP) with a SIMATIC TP170B operator panel over PROFIBUS DP is one of the most common field configurations in legacy Siemens automation. The TP170B runs Windows CE and is programmed with WinCC Flexible (or WinCC Flexible 2008 SP5 for newer firmware), while the S7-300 is configured in STEP 7 V5.x via the NetPro and HW Config editors. Although the topology is straightforward, a number of sequencing pitfalls produce misleading error messages—most notably the "Not all components are downloaded… S7RTM is installed" dialog and intermittent panel freezes during runtime.

This reference consolidates the procedure into a deterministic order of operations, with verification checkpoints at each stage. It also documents the root cause of the S7RTM prompt, the role of the TP170B Windows CE Transfer Settings applet, and the typical node address layout for an S7-300 (MPI = 2 default) versus TP170B (PROFIBUS = 1 default) versus PC adapter (address = 0 typical).

System Topology and Default Addresses

Before any software configuration, document the physical bus addresses. The TP170B, the S7-300 CPU, and the engineering PC each occupy a single PROFIBUS/MPI node. Mixing MPI and PROFIBUS nodes on the same segment is permitted at 187.5 kbps but must be planned.

Prerequisites

• STEP 7 V5.5 + SP2 or higher with NetPro. TIA Portal V13+ may be used if the TP170B project is migrated to WinCC (TIA Portal); however, WinCC Flexible remains the canonical engineering tool for the TP170B.
• WinCC Flexible 2008 SP5 (or WinCC Flexible 2008 SP3 minimum) installed with the TP170B option package.
• PC Adapter USB A2 (order number 6GK1571-1AA00) or CP5611/CP5613 MPI/DP card for the engineering PC.
• PROFIBUS cable with PG socket on the CPU end so the PC adapter can remain inserted in parallel with the TP170B during commissioning.
• 24 V DC power supply for the TP170B (separate from the S7-300 backplane).
• TP170B firmware compatible with WinCC Flexible version; mismatched image versions cause silent aborts in transfer. Verify from the panel: Start > Settings > Control Panel > OP > Version.

Hardware Configuration in STEP 7 HW Config

1. Open SIMATIC Manager and create a new S7-300 station. Insert the rack (0), the CPU (e.g., 6ES7 313-6CF03-0AB0 for 313C-2DP), and any I/O modules.
2. Double-click the CPU X2 (MPI/DP) interface. In the Properties > MPI/DP Interface dialog select MPI for the first download. Confirm Address = 2.
3. If a CP343-1 (e.g., 6GK7 343-1EX30-0XE0) is used for Ethernet programming or S7 routing, insert it on slot 4 or higher. Assign a fixed IP address only after the first successful MPI download—setting an IP in the offline project that disagrees with the online CPU halts S7 routing.
4. Save and compile HW Config. The system data (SDB) is generated automatically.
5. Connect the PC adapter to the CPU's MPI/DP port. Open Set PG/PC Interface and choose PC Adapter (MPI). Click Download to Target System > Hardware Configuration (or use PLC > Download to Target System).
6. After the CPU stops briefly (RUN LED flashes), confirm the download and wait for the RUN/STOP LED to return to RUN.

Configuring the PROFIBUS Subnet in NetPro

After the CPU is online-capable, switch the X2 interface from MPI to PROFIBUS. This is required before you can add the TP170B to the bus topology.

1. In HW Config, reopen the CPU's MPI/DP interface properties. Change Type from MPI to PROFIBUS. Set Address = 3 (avoid 0, 1, 2). Accept Highest PROFIBUS Address = 126 and Transmission Rate = 1.5 Mbps unless the TP170B or other slaves dictate otherwise.
2. Click New under Subnet and create the PROFIBUS(1) subnet with the same baud rate.
3. Open NetPro from the SIMATIC Manager toolbar. The SIMATIC 300 station appears on the left.
4. Drag a SIMATIC HMI Station from the catalog onto the bus. Assign the TP170B variant (e.g., 6AV6 647-0AA11-3AX0).
5. Right-click the HMI station's MPI/DP port > Object Properties > Interface. Set Type = PROFIBUS, Address = 1 (or any unused value different from CPU and PC).
6. Right-click the connection line between the CPU and the HMI station > Insert HMI Connection. Confirm the connection partner is the S7-300 station and the slot is the CPU.
7. Compile NetPro (Network > Compile and Check All). If the CPU has its PROFIBUS address set correctly online, the connection will be activated without download errors.

Resolving the "S7RTM is Installed" Error

The dialog "Not all components are downloaded. If S7RTM is installed, set the option 'S7RTM is installed' in the 'object properties' of PC station SIMATIC HMI Station, in the 'configuration' tab" appears when the operator attempts to download the entire PC station configuration from NetPro. The root cause is procedural, not a configuration error.

For a TP170B integrated into a STEP 7 project, the correct download flow is split:

1. Highlight the SIMATIC 300 station in NetPro (not the HMI station). Press the Download icon. This transfers the S7 program and connection configuration to the CPU.
2. Switch to WinCC Flexible. Open the TP170B project and transfer via the > menu: Project > Transfer > Transfer (or the > icon with the small arrow).
3. Select MPI/DP as the transfer channel, set the station address to the TP170B's PROFIBUS address (1 in this topology), and click Transfer.

TP170B Transfer Settings on Windows CE

The TP170B must be told which channel and address to listen on. This is set on the device, not in WinCC Flexible.

1. Power on the TP170B. Touch Start > Settings > Control Panel (the gear icon).
2. Open Transfer. The first applet is Channel: select Enable Channel for MPI/DP. Disable channels that are not in use to avoid handshake collisions.
3. Open S7 Transfer Settings. Set:
   • Network: MPI/DP
   • Station Address: 1 (or whatever is configured in NetPro)
   • Highest Station Address: 126
   • Transmission Rate: 1.5 Mbps (match the CPU's PROFIBUS setting exactly)
   • Remote Control: Enable (recommended so the panel automatically accepts transfers when WinCC Flex initiates)
4. Tap OK and close the Control Panel. The TP170B persists these settings in non-volatile memory.

First WinCC Flexible Download

1. Open the TP170B project in WinCC Flexible. From the menu Project > Transfer > Transfer Settings, configure:
   • Mode: MPI/DP
   • Station Address: 1 (TP170B)
   • PG/PC Interface: PC Adapter (MPI) — even though you are talking DP, the adapter driver is named PC Adapter (MPI) and supports DP at matching baud.
2. Click Transfer. If the TP170B is in Remote Control mode, the project loads automatically and the panel reboots into runtime. If not, accept the prompt on the panel within the configured wait time (default 30 s).
3. After the transfer, verify on the panel: the configured startup screen appears and tag connections (e.g., a button toggling a bit in the CPU) respond within one PROFIBUS cycle (~10 ms at 1.5 Mbps).

Verification Procedures

After commissioning, run the following sanity checks before handing the machine to production.

Common S7 Connection Error Codes

When the connection between WinCC Flexible and the CPU fails, the panel logs an S7 error code. Use this mapping to triage.

Hardware Fault Symptom: Panel Freeze

A TP170B that loads a project, responds to the first several operator inputs, then locks up and requires power cycling is a classic signature of either:

1. PROFIBUS physical layer fault — missing termination, broken shield, or oxidized connector pins. Replace the bus cable, ensure terminators are ON only at the two physical ends, and verify shield is bonded to ground at one point.
2. TP170B hardware failure — flash memory degradation or power supply weakness. If the bus checks clean and the fault persists, the panel itself is defective and must be replaced.

Documented field experience confirms the second root cause: swapping the TP170B for a known-good unit of the same order number (6AV6 647-0AA11-3AX0 or equivalent variant) resolves the freeze immediately, while the original CPU, program, and bus remain unchanged.

Migrating to TIA Portal (Optional)

For new deployments, consider migrating the TP170B project to TIA Portal V16+ with the Basic Panels HMI package. The TIA Portal PROFIBUS HMI connection guide describes the equivalent workflow in the Devices & Networks editor. The legacy TP170B is supported only via WinCC Flexible SP3 onward, so the migration is one-way: import the WinCC Flexible project, convert screens, recompile, and transfer. Connection parameters remain identical: PROFIBUS subnet, master address (CPU), slave address (TP170B), and baud rate.

For hardware diagnostics after a CPU replacement, the SiePortal article Connecting to S7-300 by Profibus recommends uploading the HW Config from the CPU (HW Config > PLC > Upload Station to PG) to recover the project, then reading the diagnostic buffer via PLC > Module Information > Diagnostic Buffer for PROFIBUS slave fault entries.

Troubleshooting Matrix

Field-Proven Commissioning Checklist

1. Verify all node addresses are unique (CPU, HMI, PC adapter).
2. Confirm bus termination is enabled only at the two physical ends.
3. Match baud rate across CPU, HMI, and PC adapter.
4. Download HW Config over MPI first; switch to PROFIBUS only after successful online connection.
5. Download NetPro with the S7-300 station selected (not the HMI station).
6. Configure the TP170B Transfer applet on the device (Channel, Address, Remote Control).
7. Transfer the WinCC Flexible project using MPI/DP transfer channel.
8. Validate with tag polling, button test, and PROFIBUS diagnostics buffer.
9. If freezes occur after a few operations, replace the TP170B before chasing software faults.

FAQ