QUATECH ThinkQ QSE-100D-BA 4 Port RS-232 Serial Server (CHEAP!)

[sic0048]

Maybe I am confused, I thought Dan stated that he purposely bought two 2amp versions and two 1amp versions. Is that incorrect? Did Dan really buy four 2amp versions and is upset that two of the modules are only rated for 1amp? If that is the case, then I can understand wanting the company to correct it. It doesn't matter what they say, it matters what is printed on the power supply. If I'm using a PS that is clearly labeled as a 1amp PS for a 2amp load, then that certainly may cause an issue.

In reality, I think all three of these power supplies are probably 2amp, but all that matters is what is printed on the sticker IMHO. If there is a problem with the order, then I hope the company would make it good.

 

[electron]

I bought 4 supplies from the same guy, they were all supposed to be 2A. While it could be possible that the supplies can do 2A, why even bother printing 1000mA labels if it's the same hardware?

 

[Steve]

Well, to me I really care more about what's inside than a stupid sticker. If they are built as 2A devices but are labeled as all different things for different uses, I really don't care, as long as it will power the device within specs and not be a safety concern. Too bad there is no way to know for sure what its physical capability is other than guessing by warmth, etc. Maybe ask the seller to offer some sort of proof that the one labeled 1A is really capable of 2A?

 

[jgary]

Anyone here have any knowledge on how to set one of these up Remotely?

I have two Quatech so far, I configured the second one to my other HomeSeer at my remote house and then took the PC back to Atlanta. Now I am trying to connect without any luck.

I am actually back at the remote house and connecting to my HomeSeer box via remotly (va RADMIN) and I can not connect to the Quatech. I had hoped this would be much easier. I had mine up and working running X10 and Z-Wave without a hitch. It was great. These things are great!

I configured my PC with my 4 Port Quatech (e.g. setting up the QSE-100 Four-Port RS-232 Serial Device Server for Multi-port adapters), and took my 4 Port Quatech to my other house. I configured the Router to forward ports 5000-5003 at the remote location on 192.168.1.18 on the router. In Atlanta, I can ping the Quatech, but when I go to the SDS configuration screen and change the TCP/IP configuration parameters with the correct external IP address, Subnet and Default Gateway addresses, I am presented with an error code: "Another network device has been detected, via a simple ping test, at the requested IP Address for the SDS. Check with your network administrator to have a unique IP address assigned for your SDS. Process Aborted!" (I have verified all the addresses many times over, even calling support to be sure).

The 4 Port Quatech is on a unique IP address behind the Router per above with no conflicts, plus I changed it to two other addresses and received the same error code. I thought when I placed the EXTERNAL IP address of my MODEM (of my remote house), into the PC SDS configuration screen in Atlanta, it would find the Quatech via the forwarded ports.

- What am I missing in configuring the 4 Port Quatech for Remote Use? Both of my Routers support VPN Tunnels, (I saw a post that maybe Michael McSharry might know how to set one up). From another post I received it did not appear I needed to setup a VPN to make it work that another person was doing but I have not had any replies to my post over on HomeSeer yet. - Cheers Gary

Welcome to CT Gary!

My apologies, but I am having trouble 'following' this post. That said, the QSE-100 should not have an external IP address. Port forwarding will take care of translating requests to the external IP back to the internal IP of the QSE-100. Pre-configure the remote QSE-100 with the correct LAN IP address (initial configuration requires the QSE to be on the same physical network segment as the computer you are using), then move the QSE-100 to the remote location. I'm not sure if simply forwarding the serial ports is enough to make the remote QSE visible to the SDS software (I assume there is also a port for 'control').

I have accessed my QSE remotely, using a VPN connection, and it works without any problems. I also STRONGLY recommend that you create a VPN tunnel between the 2 remote sites, since using simple port forwarding will expose your hardware directly to the internet, and will make things more complicated anyways.

Hi Dan,

You said that "(initial configuration requires the QSE to be on the same physical network segment as the computer you are using), do you mean the QSE must be configured on the same local network as my local network in Atlanta? If so, YES, it was configured on my local network in Atlanta from which I am trying to connect.

My quest then is to learn how to create a VPN connection or to find someone who can either hold my hand to help me or do it for me. Both Routers support VPNs, not the same Linksys Models, but I could go out quickly and get a new router the same as my new Router in Atlanta which would make both the same if that would be easier which I was thinking of doing which would give me wireless here as well. I have a WRTI12ON in Atlanta which supports IPSec Passthrough and a BEFSX41 which just says it supports two VPN Tunnels. I have setup port Fwd before which worked fine for other things and expected this to work without a hitch. - Gary

 

[sic0048]

I bought 4 supplies from the same guy, they were all supposed to be 2A. While it could be possible that the supplies can do 2A, why even bother printing 1000mA labels if it's the same hardware?

OK - then you have a right to be mad. I'd contact the company and explain that even if the PS are the same internally, the posted specs of the two 1amp units are not what you ordered. They should send you two of the 2amp power supplies to make it good. If they want to pay to have you send back the two 1amp power supplies, they have the right to do that (but it isn't worth it - so they may simply let you keep them). But you should not have to come out of pocket 1 penny to correct their mistake, nor should you have to keep equipment that is clearly not the same specs that you ordered (and lower specs - not better).

I guess I need to go back and check my PS. I've only looked at 1 of 4 because I haven't needed the others yet.

 

[electron]

• Gary: basically what I mean is that you have to preconfigure the QSE-100 with an IP address which belongs to the subnet where the device will reside. When you first received this unit, it was on a 10.something network, so you would have to plug it in locally, change the IP address, then move it.
  
  Also, I couldn't find anything on the 'WRTI12ON' router, but supporting IPSEC passthrough does not make it a VPN router, so you might have to replace that one if you do want to go the VPN route. I'll try to run a packet trace and see what other ports the SDS application might be using in order to detect this device. In the mean time, can you send me a PM with the LAN IP address of the remote QSE, and the subnet info, just so I can confirm the info matches.
  
• Brian: Let me know if yours are all labeled with the 2A sticker please. I almost missed it, but for some reason I had a nagging feeling that these were just relabeled power supplies (as mentioned earlier in this thread). Thanks!

 

[electron]

Gary, I just ran a quick test, it looks like the 'device finder' uses port 49344 (UDP), so you will have to forward that one as well if you want the device to be found.

 

[jgary]

Gary, I just ran a quick test, it looks like the 'device finder' uses port 49344 (UDP), so you will have to forward that one as well if you want the device to be found.

Thanks Dan! - I opened up UDP 49344 on the router, however, the device was not found.

 

[AceCannon]

Anything wrong with these power supplies?

(ebay item 260455154692)

So I received two of these today. The PSP male plug is NOT the correct size, as may have been pointed out before.

I now await these screw terminal connectors, also from Hong Kong.

I'd also like to quote, for safety's sake, the warnings listed on the package of these very dangerous 5v PSU's:

Don't put it on the high damp and high heat surroundings
Don't plunge into fire
Please lay the place which the children under three can't reach
Don't be short connect

 

[sdeens]

Is there any way to get around this "INITIAL REMOTE ACCESS MARRY DRIVERS CONFIGURATION" problem?

"(initial configuration requires the QSE to be on the same physical network segment as the computer you are using), then move the QSE-100 to the remote location. I'm not sure if simply forwarding the serial ports is enough to make the remote QSE visible to the SDS software (I assume there is also a port for 'control')"

why ask?

Because my buddy also bought the same one and he lives 90 miles away (that's too far) and we want to be able to FIRST see each other's Quatechs with upgraded v4.26 firmware and use ONLY the included wizard tool: qtetools via internet with our matching D-LINK: DIR-615 routers. We have some data we want to share dynamically via serial.

The "SEARCH REMOTE SUBNET" command in that wizard tool does NOT permit us yet to see each others Quatechs because of this intial "marrying" configuration issue with these v1.42 drivers, despite our mutual ports already being properly forwarded to each other's IP address. The D Link: DIR-615 permits 24 such ports to be potentially forwarded.

I think this confirms the statement above that its a physical marrying issue that must be completed initially BEHIND the slave routers and NEVER remotely the first time if you want true REMOTE SLAVE access.

and its NOT called "VPN" its called "VP Tunneling" and its native in these things, so you dont need some fancy router to do this.

my guess is we FIRST MUST configure behind the router our own QUATECHs and marry them to our home computer IP address and its network (IP address, subnet, etc..) and exchange them via US postal mail service; that way we can launch wizard tool later and see each other's unit and make serial port changes "on-the-fly " to test our REMOTE sharing of data setup..


RIGHT?

any shortcuts to this "exchange-er-roo" stategy and is this analysis correct?

 

[zpollock]

I now await these screw terminal connectors, also from Hong Kong.

Ace - I purchased a few of those same screw terminal connectors for another project, and stuck one in the QSE to see how it fit. The external barrel is correct, but the center hole is larger than the center pin of the QSE. I didn't actually have the plug connected to a power supply and didn't try to power it up, so perhaps there would be enough contact area to work, but it definitely doesn't appear to be the correct size for the inner (+) pin.

 

[electron]

Gary, I just ran a quick test, it looks like the 'device finder' uses port 49344 (UDP), so you will have to forward that one as well if you want the device to be found.

Thanks Dan! - I opened up UDP 49344 on the router, however, the device was not found.

I ran my packet sniffer again, and that's the only port it uses to detect the QSE-100, so this should work unless there is a router configuration issue. Can you confirm that port forwarding has been configured correctly?

 

[electron]

Is there any way to get around this "INITIAL REMOTE ACCESS MARRY DRIVERS CONFIGURATION" problem?

"(initial configuration requires the QSE to be on the same physical network segment as the computer you are using), then move the QSE-100 to the remote location. I'm not sure if simply forwarding the serial ports is enough to make the remote QSE visible to the SDS software (I assume there is also a port for 'control')"

why ask?

Because my buddy also bought the same one and he lives 90 miles away (that's too far) and we want to be able to FIRST see each other's Quatechs with upgraded v4.26 firmware and use ONLY the included wizard tool: qtetools via internet with our matching D-LINK: DIR-615 routers. We have some data we want to share dynamically via serial.

The "SEARCH REMOTE SUBNET" command in that wizard tool does NOT permit us yet to see each others Quatechs because of this intial "marrying" configuration issue with these v1.42 drivers, despite our mutual ports already being properly forwarded to each other's IP address. The D Link: DIR-615 permits 24 such ports to be potentially forwarded.

I think this confirms the statement above that its a physical marrying issue that must be completed initially BEHIND the slave routers and NEVER remotely the first time if you want true REMOTE SLAVE access.

and its NOT called "VPN" its called "VP Tunneling" and its native in these things, so you dont need some fancy router to do this.

my guess is we FIRST MUST configure behind the router our own QUATECHs and marry them to our home computer IP address and its network (IP address, subnet, etc..) and exchange them via US postal mail service; that way we can launch wizard tool later and see each other's unit and make serial port changes "on-the-fly " to test our REMOTE sharing of data setup..


RIGHT?

any shortcuts to this "exchange-er-roo" stategy and is this analysis correct?

The stuff I was talking about IS called VPN B) That said, this is a confusing post. If you configure your unit to match your network layout, and your buddy does the same thing, you should be able to see each others QSE-100 unit. Which ports did you forward? Did you forward UDP/49344 as I mentioned above?

 

[AceCannon]

Ace - I purchased a few of those same screw terminal connectors for another project, and stuck one in the QSE to see how it fit. The external barrel is correct, but the center hole is larger than the center pin of the QSE. I didn't actually have the plug connected to a power supply and didn't try to power it up, so perhaps there would be enough contact area to work, but it definitely doesn't appear to be the correct size for the inner (+) pin.

Well, that suxor.

Anyone have any suggestions for modifying the plugs if they do not work? I suppose I could put molten solder in there and stick it in the jack really quick for a permanent screw terminal connection.... Of course if I screw it up I've got a bricked Quatech. .

Other suggestions for picking up barrel plugs to fit these devices?

 

[Sacarino]

Ace - I purchased a few of those same screw terminal connectors for another project, and stuck one in the QSE to see how it fit. The external barrel is correct, but the center hole is larger than the center pin of the QSE. I didn't actually have the plug connected to a power supply and didn't try to power it up, so perhaps there would be enough contact area to work, but it definitely doesn't appear to be the correct size for the inner (+) pin.

Well, that suxor.

Anyone have any suggestions for modifying the plugs if they do not work? I suppose I could put molten solder in there and stick it in the jack really quick for a permanent screw terminal connection.... Of course if I screw it up I've got a bricked Quatech. .

Other suggestions for picking up barrel plugs to fit these devices?

I picked up 20 of these pigtails, which gives me a unit cost of $.85ea... still highway robbery, but certainly better than those screw terminals for $2ea. (they do look nice though!) The downside is the soldering or splicing that you have to do, which goes back to Dan's complaint about always having to cut and resplice the tips for various power supplies. B)