eklingensmith
11-26-2008, 03:18 PM
It seems these days that everything is going wireless – and for the better. In my field there is a huge demand and such a wide range of applications that even the simplest devices can make anyone’s day easier. To get this point across, I’m going to take you through a quick tour of some of the new and affordable ways that I’ve found to get things done from a distance without any bulky mess of cables.
HPS-120 Handywave Radio Modem Kit (http://omniinstruments.net/products/product/moredetails/display.php?product_id=133&producttitle=HPS120-KIT)
Price: $195
Purpose: Wireless RS232
This device is simple: it’s an RS232 cable without the cable. I’ve seen this device make crews more efficient by not having to run 100’ cables, reduce the risk and h***le of going into tight quarters, help to avoid underground cable installation, and overall just make the work day a lot easier. In consideration of the fact that RS232 cables are anywhere between $1 and $2 a foot and deteriorate over time, especially in outdoor and harsh environments, this $195 HPS-120 kit is an obvious choice.
Out of the box this device has an impressive 1,640’ (500m) range, and can be easily extended to nearly 4,000’ (1200m) via an 8dBi directional patch antenna. This device comes preconfigured to 9600bps-8-N-1, so configuration isn’t even needed for most devices, just plug-and-play. For those of you with no serial port: have no fears. Pick up a simple RS232-to-USB adapter from your nearest Radio Shack or Best Buy for about $10 and you’ll be on your way to wireless serial communications in no time.
R-Pipe GPRS Serial Gateway (http://omniinstruments.net/products/product/moredetails/display.php?product_id=571&producttitle=R-Pipe)
Price: $480
Purpose: Wireless RS232 via GPRS
For some reason this amazing branch of technology hasn’t been fully recognized yet here in the US. For those of you that haven’t heard of GSM, GPRS, and EDGE technology, here is quick rundown.
GSM, GPRS, and EDGE are the same technologies that our cell phones run off of. It took us awhile to realize it, but this same technology can be used for many wireless applications. All of the places that you can get service on your cell phone are the same places that you can use this great technology for other applications. These, GSM, GPRS, and EDGE modems can do the same things that cell phones do, often even more efficiently with new firmware and software to make things quicker and easier by narrowing functionality down to a few specific tasks. For more detail on GSM, GPRS, and EDGE technologies please refer to GSM World (http://www.gsmworld.com/technology/index.htm).
What devices like the R-Pipe have done is given you a new virtual RS232 cable that can extend to nearly anywhere around the world. Recently I myself have used one of these to receive run time for plants in Europe, all the way from over here in the Midwest of the USA. I could communicate with these devices just as if they were hooked right up to my own serial port when they were really half way across the world.
The software that was developed by the manufacturer Remmon simply (although not so simply) creates a virtual COM port on the host PC and links the R-Pipe to it via TCP communication. No more worry about radio interruptions or distance limitations, the R-Pipe puts your worries to rest and let’s you connect to your RS232 devices from nearly anywhere.
RTR Wireless Data Loggers (http://omniinstruments.net/products/product/rtr.id105.html)
Price: Varies
Purpose: Wireless Data Acquisition
This is a little fun one that I like. These devices were so easy to use and fit the needs of so many of our applications that I was shocked. These devices work together to form a larger system: you have one or more RTR Data Loggers with probes all connecting to one RTR Wireless Data Collector. They have models with built-in temperature and relative humidity sensors and other models to measure voltage output from third-party sensors.
The only downside to this great system is that the devices have a range of about 325’ (100m). This isn’t too big of an issue though because they also offer RTR-5 Wireless Data Collector and Repeater. This device will collect the signal from the transmitters out of the range of the central collector and re-transmit the data to extend the range an additional 325’, making this a versatile solution that can meet even large scale, large range demands.
HPS-120 Handywave Radio Modem Kit (http://omniinstruments.net/products/product/moredetails/display.php?product_id=133&producttitle=HPS120-KIT)
Price: $195
Purpose: Wireless RS232
This device is simple: it’s an RS232 cable without the cable. I’ve seen this device make crews more efficient by not having to run 100’ cables, reduce the risk and h***le of going into tight quarters, help to avoid underground cable installation, and overall just make the work day a lot easier. In consideration of the fact that RS232 cables are anywhere between $1 and $2 a foot and deteriorate over time, especially in outdoor and harsh environments, this $195 HPS-120 kit is an obvious choice.
Out of the box this device has an impressive 1,640’ (500m) range, and can be easily extended to nearly 4,000’ (1200m) via an 8dBi directional patch antenna. This device comes preconfigured to 9600bps-8-N-1, so configuration isn’t even needed for most devices, just plug-and-play. For those of you with no serial port: have no fears. Pick up a simple RS232-to-USB adapter from your nearest Radio Shack or Best Buy for about $10 and you’ll be on your way to wireless serial communications in no time.
R-Pipe GPRS Serial Gateway (http://omniinstruments.net/products/product/moredetails/display.php?product_id=571&producttitle=R-Pipe)
Price: $480
Purpose: Wireless RS232 via GPRS
For some reason this amazing branch of technology hasn’t been fully recognized yet here in the US. For those of you that haven’t heard of GSM, GPRS, and EDGE technology, here is quick rundown.
GSM, GPRS, and EDGE are the same technologies that our cell phones run off of. It took us awhile to realize it, but this same technology can be used for many wireless applications. All of the places that you can get service on your cell phone are the same places that you can use this great technology for other applications. These, GSM, GPRS, and EDGE modems can do the same things that cell phones do, often even more efficiently with new firmware and software to make things quicker and easier by narrowing functionality down to a few specific tasks. For more detail on GSM, GPRS, and EDGE technologies please refer to GSM World (http://www.gsmworld.com/technology/index.htm).
What devices like the R-Pipe have done is given you a new virtual RS232 cable that can extend to nearly anywhere around the world. Recently I myself have used one of these to receive run time for plants in Europe, all the way from over here in the Midwest of the USA. I could communicate with these devices just as if they were hooked right up to my own serial port when they were really half way across the world.
The software that was developed by the manufacturer Remmon simply (although not so simply) creates a virtual COM port on the host PC and links the R-Pipe to it via TCP communication. No more worry about radio interruptions or distance limitations, the R-Pipe puts your worries to rest and let’s you connect to your RS232 devices from nearly anywhere.
RTR Wireless Data Loggers (http://omniinstruments.net/products/product/rtr.id105.html)
Price: Varies
Purpose: Wireless Data Acquisition
This is a little fun one that I like. These devices were so easy to use and fit the needs of so many of our applications that I was shocked. These devices work together to form a larger system: you have one or more RTR Data Loggers with probes all connecting to one RTR Wireless Data Collector. They have models with built-in temperature and relative humidity sensors and other models to measure voltage output from third-party sensors.
The only downside to this great system is that the devices have a range of about 325’ (100m). This isn’t too big of an issue though because they also offer RTR-5 Wireless Data Collector and Repeater. This device will collect the signal from the transmitters out of the range of the central collector and re-transmit the data to extend the range an additional 325’, making this a versatile solution that can meet even large scale, large range demands.