Wireless RS-232
- Thread starter ano
- Start date
I'm going to remotely mount a betabrite sign which connects to my Omni. I use a converter box, that takes basic Omni syntax and converts it to the complex syntax of the sign. I could use the wireless part before or after the converter, both are 9600 baud RS232, but the OMNI side is less characters so that side makes the best sense.
Cost, maybe $200 total (both sides give or take) Its not life or death if it fails as the sign is just for info. (Omni messages, Front Door Open, Take Out The Trash, Alarm On, Low Battery, etc.)
Cost, maybe $200 total (both sides give or take) Its not life or death if it fails as the sign is just for info. (Omni messages, Front Door Open, Take Out The Trash, Alarm On, Low Battery, etc.)
There are quite a few RS232 to WiFi converters out there. Prices are typically under $100 for each end. You can find some very inexpensive ones on eBay if you are willing to work with the bare circuit boards.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/UART-to-WIFI-Convertor-WIFI-Module-RS232-to-Wireless-kit-400m-Wireless-Control-/251295791857
There are also some RS232 wireless transceivers that operate in the 300/400/800/900 MHz range. Some are bare circuit boards, others are ready to plug and play.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HC-11-433MHz-CC1101-RF-Wireless-Transceiver-RS232-TTL-/181494611302
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2PCS-433M-RS485-Wireless-Transceiver-Module-DTU-UART-RS232-485-422-RF-Smart-Home-/281167251242
I don't have any first hand experience with any of these. But the price is low enough that it's worth a shot to see how well they work.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/UART-to-WIFI-Convertor-WIFI-Module-RS232-to-Wireless-kit-400m-Wireless-Control-/251295791857
There are also some RS232 wireless transceivers that operate in the 300/400/800/900 MHz range. Some are bare circuit boards, others are ready to plug and play.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HC-11-433MHz-CC1101-RF-Wireless-Transceiver-RS232-TTL-/181494611302
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2PCS-433M-RS485-Wireless-Transceiver-Module-DTU-UART-RS232-485-422-RF-Smart-Home-/281167251242
I don't have any first hand experience with any of these. But the price is low enough that it's worth a shot to see how well they work.
Wi-Fi might be an option. I would need serial to Ethernet on one side, then Wi-Fi to Ethernet and then Ethernet to serial on the other.RAL said:
I also have found some serial to Bluetooth and back. I don't really care about the technology used if it works.
Maybe something like this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00R2N6BQ0?redirect=true&pldnSite=1
ano said:
The Serial-to-Bluetooth seems like a nice option, too. Just need to make sure you get a Class 1 device for the range you need.
There are similar direct serial-to-WiFi adapters that don't require an intermediate ethernet connection, like this one.
http://www.amazon.com/USR-WIFI232-610-Serial-802-11-Ethernet-Converter/dp/B00QWYW8E4
Lots of interesting choices!
pete_c
Guru
Here still using a few extended runs of Cat5E for RS-232.
All of my RS-232 runs today for the Digi Edgeport boxes are using little RS-232 baluns I made up which utilize standard cat5e cables.
(IE: so does my GPS (attic), W800's, RF-ID receivers, used to use this for irrigation).
The OmniTouch of old screens are using RS-232 and these while simple have never given me any issues.
I wonder too if you could make up some sort of power injector thing such that only one cable is utilized for your betabrite sign.
As RAL mentions above I too have seen some el cheapo wireless RS-232 on Ebay. Do an Ebay search for RS-232 wireless links.
All of my RS-232 runs today for the Digi Edgeport boxes are using little RS-232 baluns I made up which utilize standard cat5e cables.
(IE: so does my GPS (attic), W800's, RF-ID receivers, used to use this for irrigation).
The OmniTouch of old screens are using RS-232 and these while simple have never given me any issues.
I wonder too if you could make up some sort of power injector thing such that only one cable is utilized for your betabrite sign.
As RAL mentions above I too have seen some el cheapo wireless RS-232 on Ebay. Do an Ebay search for RS-232 wireless links.
Neurorad
Senior Member
potts.mike
Active Member
We use freewave radios in the oil field and they have been rock solid.
The problem is more than just cable length, unfortunately. More a problem of getting any cables between the two points. My house is a Territorialpete_c said:
and big attic is not one of its benefits. As a last resort I could run wires around the outside, but that is a last resort.
pete_c
Guru
Ahh....
Yeah I purchased a beta brite sign many many years ago but never could fine a use for it.
I have seen a few Homeseer users that use them.
One Homeseer user had it configured above his configured bar section in his finished basement. The family (5) was used to seeing it while being entertained with the multimedia centre stuff. He passed away and I eventually disconnected and disabled most of his automation for his wife. The section where the beta brite sign was at had a drop ceiling and he had just installed all of the transport there where the sign was and used local power. The serial cable ran some 40 feet or so to his server section in his work work in the basement.
Commercially never utilized long distance wireless RS-232 relating to logistics endeavours.
Did utilize much of that Black Box stuff which I think was mostly Digi stuff.
I see today that Digi mentions use of wireless RS-232 900Mhz stuff.
Really though it is up to you what you want to do and use and what dependencies you have on your Beta Brite sign and spending less than $200. (Thinking you can purchase like new or old stock Digi stuff if you want to).
Yeah I purchased a beta brite sign many many years ago but never could fine a use for it.
I have seen a few Homeseer users that use them.
One Homeseer user had it configured above his configured bar section in his finished basement. The family (5) was used to seeing it while being entertained with the multimedia centre stuff. He passed away and I eventually disconnected and disabled most of his automation for his wife. The section where the beta brite sign was at had a drop ceiling and he had just installed all of the transport there where the sign was and used local power. The serial cable ran some 40 feet or so to his server section in his work work in the basement.
Commercially never utilized long distance wireless RS-232 relating to logistics endeavours.
Did utilize much of that Black Box stuff which I think was mostly Digi stuff.
I see today that Digi mentions use of wireless RS-232 900Mhz stuff.
Really though it is up to you what you want to do and use and what dependencies you have on your Beta Brite sign and spending less than $200. (Thinking you can purchase like new or old stock Digi stuff if you want to).
The sign is very handy. In my last house I had a giant 3-line color Alpha sign in the kitchen. it was great, but the Omni could drive it. It took lots of programming and CQC to drive it. I had another smaller one in the garage.pete_c said:
I used it for weather, time, news, Caller ID, appointments. The wife actually loved it. It was above the door leading into the kitchen, so it didn't use any valuable room.
New house is smaller, and I wanted to simplify, so no CQC, but I found this converter box to take ASCII and convert it into Betabrite commands.
http://www.industrologic.com/ss51bbccdesc.htm
So what do I display? Basically anything the console would display. Door/window/gate open messages, error messages, time, reminders. Caller ID would be nice, but haven't figured that one out yet.
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