Sensing and Control for hobbyists and schools: Connecting using a LAN or the internet
Other pages in this site should get you all excited about the sensors and actuators you can put into a control application. This page addresses some of the options for one of the ways to connect them to the PC which is the brains behind the system.
If you want to connect things via an alternative, non-Ethernet, network, which will save you money (but require more expertise), you should consider the MicroLan, and the 1-Wire chips it supports.
In late May 05, I acquired a Poseidon unit from the HWgroup. This little beauty is a box that you plug into your LAN wherever you wish. Into it you plug one or more temperature sensors (it will take 1-Wire sensors, so "or more" can perhaps be quite a few. It will certainly support up to four. It will take other types too.). You can also connect up to 3 digital inputs. Once you've done that, you can read the temperatures and check the state of the inputs from anywhere on the LAN. You can just plug it in, and use it via a browser, or you can write programs to interact with it. I've written more on my Poseidon experiences for you. I've also produced a page with my independent comments about the HWgroup product line.
Also from the HWgroup, also in late May, I acquired an eight digital in / eight digital out LAN unit. Plug into your LAN wherever you wish, see / control the inputs and outputs via a browser, or you can write programs to interact with it. I've written more on my IO Controller experiences for you. I've also produced a page with my independent comments about the HWgroup product line.
I have recently also had some fun "playing" with another well made device which you can just plug into a LAN, and access via a web browser. It is the IP Power 9212 from Aviosys. I'm told that you can even access it across the internet, if you have the right connections in place. It has 8 relays (essentially an electronically operated switch) which, across the LAN, from your browser, you can turn on or off. It has 8 inputs... 4 resistive, 4 voltage sensing... which you can "read" across the LAN. It is the IP Power 9212, from Aviosys, and you can read more from me about it by clicking here! So far, I have not managed to operate it except "by hand" using a browser. If you have mastered the interface via socket. dll which they supply, PLEASE get in touch. It looks promising, but Aviosys, reasonably- up to a point, are reluctant to support programmers. I've also posted information about a LAN camera from the same source, the IP Kamera. Aviosys seems much less interested in customer support than HW Group.
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