suggestions for enhancements to webcontrol (not 32)

[CAI_Support]

I was thinking more along the lines of 802.3af POE, like I use for my network cameras. That is what you would get from a POE capable switch, and most likely to be used with this board if enabled. It's not critical but would make remote installation easier since one cable does it all. Of course you could hack something together with the unused pairs, but that is not something I'd recommend for a commercial product.

802.3af POE standard uses pair 4-5 and 7-8 to transfer power, let 1-2 and 3-6 use by data. Which is perfect for 10baseT or 100BaseT, since those are data pins. On POE gigabit device, they have to have circuit to get data and DC separated. On WebControl, you don't hve to, since the processor will not even touch those spare pins, so just DC to converter will be fine, not violating any standard.

The following is from wikipedia:
"Mode A has two alternate configurations (MDI and MDI-X), using the same pairs but with different polarities. In mode A, pins 1 and 2 (pair #2 in T568B wiring) form one side of the 48 V DC, and pins 3 and 6 (pair #3 in T568B) form the other side. These are the same two pairs used for data transmission in 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX, allowing the provision of both power and data over only two pairs in such networks. The free polarity allows PoE to accommodate for crossover cables, patch cables and auto-MDIX.
In mode B, pins 4–5 (pair #1 in both T568A and T568B) form one side of the DC supply and pins 7–8 (pair #4 in both T568A and T568B) provide the return; these are the "spare" pairs in 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX. Mode B, therefore, requires a 4-pair cable.
"

User will need to make sure the switch is Mode A or Mod B. so that data is being send to the correct pins, not burnning out the data transformer on board.

 

[bbsux]

If we provide option for turnning off the I/O status, we can allow you to decide starting which I/O not reporting all the way to the end. For example, right now, last report is TTL output. next up is humidity reading, next up is temp sensor, etc. So if user say start skip from item 3, then 3(AIPs) and below will not be reported. What do you think that?

Well then I would Say change the order of the AIPS

I would order them like this (I wouldn't go beyond ttl outputs)

Digital Inputs:
I1=0 I2=0 I3=0 I4=0 I5=0 I6=0 I7=0 I8=0

Analog Inputs:
AIP1=0 AIP2=2 AIP3=0 AIP5=0 AIP6=0 AIP7=0 AIP8=0

TTL Output States:
TTL1=0 TTL2=0 TTL3=0 TTL4=0 TTL5=0 TTL6=0 TTL7=0 TTL8=

Temperature Sensors:
T1=86.3dF T2=unbound T3=unbound T4=unbound T5=unbound T6=unbound T7=unbound T8=unbound

Humidity Sensor:
H=0%

Counter VARs:
VAR1=0 VAR2=0 VAR3=0 VAR4=0 VAR5=0 VAR6=0 VAR7=0 VAR8=0

 

[CAI_Support]

Thanks for your suggestion. We will look into it.

 

[bbsux]

Oh is there any way to change the temp reading to ignore the sensors that are not connected? Like how in my post above I only have 1 connected? I'd Use the temp as well but not if it has to post all those "unbound statements"

 

[CAI_Support]

Do you want to change "unbound" to another shorter word? When temp sensor is output range, WebControl will either put "unbound" or "failed" to indicate the sensor status.

 

[bbsux]

Do you want to change "unbound" to another shorter word? When temp sensor is output range, WebControl will either put "unbound" or "failed" to indicate the sensor status.

could it just use a blank space?

 

[CAI_Support]

Maybe just use 'U' instead?

 

[bbsux]

yeah or n/a (its just a little longer)

 

[CAI_Support]

message body1

WEBCONTROL Sent at: 14:53:44 On the 09/13/2012

Digital Inputs:
I1=0 I2=0 I3=0 I4=0 I5=0 I6=0 I7=0 I8=0

Analog Inputs:
AIP1=485 AIP2=243 AIP3=0 AIP5=0 AIP6=512 AIP7=768 AIP8=512

TTL Output States:
TTL1=0 TTL2=0 TTL3=0 TTL4=0 TTL5=0 TTL6=0 TTL7=0 TTL8=0

Temperature Sensors:
T1=28.6dC T2=29.5dC T3=29.5dC T4=83.4dF T5=85.1dF T6=85.1dF T7=U T8=U

Humidity Sensor:
H=41%

VARs:
VAR1=4 VAR2=0 VAR3=0 VAR4=0 VAR5=0 VAR6=0 VAR7=0 VAR8=0

 

[todster]

I can't wait for my 3.2.15 version to arrive. The bitwise functions will save a lot of lines of code for me, plus it gives me 256 variables to use.
Instead of using AND to repetitively test for 1 I can set my individual bits and then use a mask to do the equivalent function of up to 16 ANDs. It's like being able to check 16 Vars with one AND. Now all you have to do is set each bit to what you want such as
Start
set var5 4 this sets var2 to 0000000000000100
OrB var 5 8 var5 This sets var 2 to 12 or ...1100
AndB var5 32 if var 5 6th bit is 1 do branch on next line
BNZ do_something
AndB var5 217..............= a mask of 11011001
BNZ sumthin var 5 contains............11111111
..........................equals 217.............11011001 thus the AND var5 217 is true

Hopefully this is how it will work. Hopefully it will also benefit a lot more than just me. Thanks CAI for being such a great listener
and for the outstanding dedication and support to your customers.

 

[CAI_Support]

Thanks for your suggestions and using WebControl.
VAR is a signed 32bit, so that you can only work up to 31bit, not all 32bit.
We will add ANDB, ORB, and XORB for bitwise operator, in addition to the logical AND, OR, XOR.
Please note there is no known bug since v03.02.13 firmware. However, anytime we add any bit thing to the firmware, we will need to bump up the version number.

 

[todster]

Didn't think about that signed bit. Thanks for reminding me. I should be able to ANDB an integer with the VAR so that it will work as I indicated above?

 

[todster]

Maybe not on this board but on the 32, what's the possibility of a master-slave arrangement where the boards can be placed remote from each other and the master contains the program or at least the master program. It would poll the slaves over the network as well as push info to them?

 

[bbsux]

I only wish I knew enough about the free PCB design programs to make a PCB that we could have batch pcb make up 50 or so and sell them to people who want them.

for the 16 pin input port. I just find the ribbon cable to be so darn inconveinant.

like with these for the terminals
http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/1791826/277-1310-ND/267499
http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/1791868/277-1311-ND/267500

 

[todster]

I use these
http://www.ebay.com/itm/150815759646?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
and these
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Weidmuller-WDU-2-5-Feed-Through-Terminal-DIN-Rail-X20-/220778775322?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item336770c31a
I just found one of these so my search is on for a smaller version of it.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/National-Instruments-96-Pin-TBX-96-DIN-Rail-Mountable-Connector-Blocks-/150826399130?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item231df4359a