| Author |
Question on Remote Data Access
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| I have a situation where I have some sensors I want to montor manually
at my cabin (say once a week). The sensor data I am gathering is in the
form of a small file, say 5Kbytes. It is simple stuff, mainly
temperature profiles. I have a little controller (STAMP based)
gathering the data; it is not a PC, but it has a USB and RS232
interface. I do not have Internet access at the cabin. Is there an easy
way for me to set up a phone interface to this unit so that I can call
it from my PC and pick up this data? No problem adding a modem. I am
just looking for the simplest way to get the data.
| |
| Robert L Bass 2007-01-06, 8:28 pm |
| PC Anywhere used to offer telephone access as one of the options for remote controlling a PC. You might want to give that a browse.
--
Regards,
Robert L Bass
=============================>
Bass Home Electronics
941-866-1100
4883 Fallcrest Circle
Sarasota · Florida · 34233
http://www.bassburglaralarms.com
=============================>
>I have a situation where I have some sensors I want to montor manually
> at my cabin (say once a week). The sensor data I am gathering is in the
> form of a small file, say 5Kbytes. It is simple stuff, mainly
> temperature profiles. I have a little controller (STAMP based)
> gathering the data; it is not a PC, but it has a USB and RS232
> interface. I do not have Internet access at the cabin. Is there an easy
> way for me to set up a phone interface to this unit so that I can call
> it from my PC and pick up this data? No problem adding a modem. I am
> just looking for the simplest way to get the data.
>
| |
|
|
Robert L Bass wrote:
> PC Anywhere used to offer telephone access as one of the options for remo=
te controlling a PC. You might want to give that a browse.
>
> --
>
> Regards,
> Robert L Bass
>
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D>
> Bass Home Electronics
> 941-866-1100
> 4883 Fallcrest Circle
> Sarasota =B7 Florida =B7 34233
> http://www.bassburglaralarms.com
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D>[color=darkred]
>
>
I don't have a PC at the cabin. I just have a small controller board
that puts the temperature data into flash memory. I can download the
data into my laptop over RS232 when I am local. I am just trying to see
if there is an easy way to get access to this file over a phone line.
| |
| Spam Catcher 2007-01-06, 8:28 pm |
| "biff" <mbiegert@comcast.net> wrote in news:1167769912.559337.126550@
48g2000cwx.googlegroups.com:
> I don't have a PC at the cabin. I just have a small controller board
> that puts the temperature data into flash memory. I can download the
> data into my laptop over RS232 when I am local. I am just trying to see
> if there is an easy way to get access to this file over a phone line.
>
I just saw this PC:
http://www.norhtec.com/products/mcjr/index.html
It's a MicroPC, only 120.00... with that machine your possibilities are
almost endless?
| |
| Spam Catcher 2007-01-06, 8:28 pm |
| Spam Catcher <spamhoneypot@rogers.com> wrote in
news:Xns98ACADBAA716Cusenethoneypotrogers@127.0.0.1:
> "biff" <mbiegert@comcast.net> wrote in news:1167769912.559337.126550@
> 48g2000cwx.googlegroups.com:
>
see[color=darkred]
>
> I just saw this PC:
>
> http://www.norhtec.com/products/mcjr/index.html
>
> It's a MicroPC, only 120.00... with that machine your possibilities
are
> almost endless?
Perle carries several serial to terminal/ethernet devices. Something
like this may work:
http://www.perle.com/products/IOLAN...al-Server.shtml
or
http://www.perle.com/products/IOLAN...al-Server.shtml
Perle devices aren't cheap (400.00+), but they're reliable and flexible.
If you know how to write C, these devices can run small micro
applications (i.e. to do automated data collection and call out). Perle
provides a SDK for the units. The company I work for uses a IOLAN SDS1 M
for backup dialup to our NOC.
A couple other companies sell similar devices - at a much lower price...
but I'm not sure if they're any good.
So, a MicroPC (or old PC) might turn out to be the cheapest solution to
do what you want?
| |
|
| Spam Catcher wrote:
> Spam Catcher <spamhoneypot@rogers.com> wrote in
> news:Xns98ACADBAA716Cusenethoneypotrogers@127.0.0.1:
>
> see
> are
>
>
>
> Perle carries several serial to terminal/ethernet devices. Something
> like this may work:
>
> http://www.perle.com/products/IOLAN...al-Server.shtml
>
> or
>
> http://www.perle.com/products/IOLAN...al-Server.shtml
>
> Perle devices aren't cheap (400.00+), but they're reliable and flexible.
> If you know how to write C, these devices can run small micro
> applications (i.e. to do automated data collection and call out). Perle
> provides a SDK for the units. The company I work for uses a IOLAN SDS1 M
> for backup dialup to our NOC.
>
> A couple other companies sell similar devices - at a much lower price...
> but I'm not sure if they're any good.
>
> So, a MicroPC (or old PC) might turn out to be the cheapest solution to
> do what you want?
I hadn't seen the MicroPC before and I like that idea. I had tried
using a PC before, but the power at my cabin is very unreliable and I
was having trouble keeping the PC running. Thus, I started looking for
a more reliable solution. My little microcontroller on a 12 V UPS runs
like a champ (never misses a beat).
I would like to bounce an option off of you. I could hook a modem up to
the RS232 port on my microcontroller. I can write a short program to
command the modem to answer the phone. I then should be able to use
hyperterminal or kermit from my PC to read the file. What do you think
of that? I don't have any security concerns. The only information
someone could get is my lake level and lake temperature.
| |
| Neil Cherry 2007-01-06, 8:28 pm |
| On 2 Jan 2007 09:59:10 -0800, biff wrote:
> I have a situation where I have some sensors I want to montor manually
> at my cabin (say once a week). The sensor data I am gathering is in the
> form of a small file, say 5Kbytes. It is simple stuff, mainly
> temperature profiles. I have a little controller (STAMP based)
> gathering the data; it is not a PC, but it has a USB and RS232
> interface. I do not have Internet access at the cabin. Is there an easy
> way for me to set up a phone interface to this unit so that I can call
> it from my PC and pick up this data? No problem adding a modem. I am
> just looking for the simplest way to get the data.
Hook up a modem to the board, set p the modem to auto answer and have
the program wait for some string (hello world :-) and dump the data.
When done wait for another string to delete the data then a command to
hand up. If no hello then hang up (+++ ATH0).
I've simplified this a bit for explanation but it should be too hard
to do with the correct modem. You'll need an external modem, a phone
line, an RS232 cable and your stamp. I don't think you afraid to
program. :-) To use just dial in when ever you want issue the hello
and log the text data to a file. You could write an automated program
on your local PC to dial out and retrieve the data. I have other ideas
too.
--
Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry ncherry@linuxha.com
http://www.linuxha.com/ Main site
http://linuxha.blogspot.com/ My HA Blog
http://home.comcast.net/~ncherry/ Backup site
| |
| Bill Kearney 2007-01-06, 8:28 pm |
| > I would like to bounce an option off of you. I could hook a modem up to
> the RS232 port on my microcontroller. I can write a short program to
> command the modem to answer the phone.
Or just configure the modem to always answer the phone. Most will let you
set this into the flash NVRAM. Then you'd just be calling it and getting
connected straight to the serial device. If you wanted to get fancier, and
the phone line had Caller ID, you could have your serial device look to see
what number is calling before answering.
But if the serial device is programmable enough, what about having it call
you instead? You could then have a PC on your end do the same thing, see
what number is calling (perhaps even by time of day) and answer only when it
knows the cabin's calling. That and the receiving PC could do all the hard
work that the programming limitations in the serial box might not support.
Call the PC and let the PC do all the rest.
-Bill Kearney
| |
|
|
Bill Kearney wrote:
>
> Or just configure the modem to always answer the phone. Most will let you
> set this into the flash NVRAM. Then you'd just be calling it and getting
> connected straight to the serial device. If you wanted to get fancier, and
> the phone line had Caller ID, you could have your serial device look to see
> what number is calling before answering.
>
> But if the serial device is programmable enough, what about having it call
> you instead? You could then have a PC on your end do the same thing, see
> what number is calling (perhaps even by time of day) and answer only when it
> knows the cabin's calling. That and the receiving PC could do all the hard
> work that the programming limitations in the serial box might not support.
> Call the PC and let the PC do all the rest.
>
> -Bill Kearney
I like it!! Both the caller ID and the "phone home" feature would be
great and don't sound tough to implement at all.
I want to thank everyone for the excellent suggestions. This has been a
very useful discussion for me. I am now off to set this up and try it
out.
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Biff,
It would appear that a small PC such as the "MicroClient Jr." from
http://www.norhtec.com/products/mcjr/details.html might be what you are
after with DOS, PC anywhere (old DOS version) a USB modem and the
serial ports connected correctly is a workable plug and go solution.
Alternativly you could just write a small "C" program to transfer the
data from the unit as required and dial you back at appropriate times
automatically. Saves you dialling in and doing anything.
Sid
biff wrote:
> I have a situation where I have some sensors I want to montor manually
> at my cabin (say once a week). The sensor data I am gathering is in the
> form of a small file, say 5Kbytes. It is simple stuff, mainly
> temperature profiles. I have a little controller (STAMP based)
> gathering the data; it is not a PC, but it has a USB and RS232
> interface. I do not have Internet access at the cabin. Is there an easy
> way for me to set up a phone interface to this unit so that I can call
> it from my PC and pick up this data? No problem adding a modem. I am
> just looking for the simplest way to get the data.
| |
| Spam Catcher 2007-01-06, 8:28 pm |
| "biff" <mbiegert@comcast.net> wrote in news:1167782471.294762.30330
@s34g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:
> I hadn't seen the MicroPC before and I like that idea. I had tried
> using a PC before, but the power at my cabin is very unreliable and I
> was having trouble keeping the PC running. Thus, I started looking for
> a more reliable solution. My little microcontroller on a 12 V UPS runs
> like a champ (never misses a beat).
How about adding a cheap UPS. A 900W UPS runs for ~80.00 and can power an
old PC for >1 hour. If you hook up an old laptop, it can run for hours
without power.
> I would like to bounce an option off of you. I could hook a modem up to
> the RS232 port on my microcontroller. I can write a short program to
> command the modem to answer the phone. I then should be able to use
> hyperterminal or kermit from my PC to read the file. What do you think
> of that? I don't have any security concerns. The only information
> someone could get is my lake level and lake temperature.
Does your microcontroller store data onboard?
I believe a decent external modem can be set to auto-answer with the proper
AT command. Perhaps give that a try? Just hook up a modem directly to the
RS-232 interface?
| |
|
|
Spam Catcher wrote:
> "biff" <mbiegert@comcast.net> wrote in news:1167782471.294762.30330
> @s34g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:
>
>
> How about adding a cheap UPS. A 900W UPS runs for ~80.00 and can power an
> old PC for >1 hour. If you hook up an old laptop, it can run for hours
> without power.
I have a small UPS hooked up to my little controller board right now. I
am going to try the modem route for now, though I will probably put one
of those MicroPCs into another application that is not quite as
environmentally nasty (down by the lake, etc). I had never seen those
before and they look great.
>
>
> Does your microcontroller store data onboard?
Yup
>
> I believe a decent external modem can be set to auto-answer with the proper
> AT command. Perhaps give that a try? Just hook up a modem directly to the
> RS-232 interface?
I am in the middle of doing that right now.
| |
| george_w_blair@yahoo.com.sg 2007-01-06, 8:28 pm |
| I think you need a Intel P5 with 1 GB of RAM and a licenced copy of
Windows. Also you need a 200mb installation of the MS .NET framework.
In addition to this you also need to write a custom program using MS
Visual Studio that relies upon the 200 MB .NET framework.
Gorge
biff wrote:
> Spam Catcher wrote:
>
> I have a small UPS hooked up to my little controller board right now. I
> am going to try the modem route for now, though I will probably put one
> of those MicroPCs into another application that is not quite as
> environmentally nasty (down by the lake, etc). I had never seen those
> before and they look great.
>
>
> Yup
>
>
> I am in the middle of doing that right now.
| |
| Neil Cherry 2007-01-08, 3:25 am |
| On 5 Jan 2007 16:22:42 -0800, george_w_blair@yahoo.com.sg wrote:
> I think you need a Intel P5 with 1 GB of RAM and a licenced copy of
> Windows. Also you need a 200mb installation of the MS .NET framework.
> In addition to this you also need to write a custom program using MS
> Visual Studio that relies upon the 200 MB .NET framework.
>
> Gorge
I think you forgot the smiley!
> biff wrote:
>
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