Error connecting Robot Framework to MS SQL Server database - database

Question

I am somewhat experienced with Robot Framework, but new to the idea of connecting it to databases. I am trying to create a basic database test in my organization using Robot Framework in the PyCharm IDE. I've written the test using pymssql. It gives an unusual error message when it fails. I've read that I might need to install FreeTDS to do this, but I would prefer not to if I don't absolutely have to. I have seen several answers to this kind of question from Python developers, but I've not seen any who are using Robot Framework specifically.
Versions:
PyCharm 2020.1
Python 3.8.
Pymssql version 2.1.5.
Here is my code and the error messages I am getting.
*** Settings ***
Documentation DB Suite
Library Zoomba.GUILibrary
Library DatabaseLibrary
Resource ../../Pages/xxx/resource.robot
*** Variables ***
${DBName} DBxxx
${DBUser} USER xxx
${DBPass} PASS xxx
${DBHost} localhost
${DBPort} 1433
*** Test Cases ***
TC 001 Database Check
Connect To Database pymssql ${DBName} ${DBUser} ${DBPass} ${DBHost} ${DBPort}
${output}= Execute SQL String select * from dbo.xxx;
Log To Console ${output}
Disconnect From Database
And here is the error message:
OperationalError: (20009, b'DB-Lib error message 20009, severity 9:\nUnable to connect: Adaptive Server is unavailable or does not exist (localhost)\nNet-Lib error during Unknown error (10061)\nDB-Lib error message 20009, severity 9:\nUnable to connect: Adaptive Server is unavailable or does not exist (localhost)\nNet-Lib error during Unknown error (10061)\n')
I have read elsewhere that this error means that my Pymssql just can't find the server, but I've seen Pymssql not throw these errors before in other tutorials. It just connects right away. Anybody got any ideas on this one? I'd really appreciate the help.