RS232 to ethernet device

[Michael]

this may sound like a stupid question but I need (2) devices for a link, correct?

or can I have (1) rs232 device at the "send" end (I don't need bidirectional) and just an internet connection (and the appropriate software) at the receive pc?

thinking maybe on the receive end the software will write to the serial port internally or something without the need for another module?

obviously, I have no experience with these.

thanks

[Charles Linquis]

You can have one of these little devices on one end and a PC, or a mail server or anything else on the 'net on the other end.

[mackrackit]

I know you are looking for a packaged solution but I will add this one to the list in case the others do not work for you.
http://www.connectone.com/products.asp?did=73&pid=98
It pretty much has the ability to do anything web wise. Send/receive email, send to FTP, on-board web site, serially controlled, etc...

Here is a test thingy I have running part of the time.
http://mackrackit.com/mac/ichip/ichip.html

[Michael]

One other thing, which one do you think is the absolute easiest to set up?

The module will be on the RS232 port on the send end pushing out simple data bytes and that's it.

I don't want the user calling me with something that is a hassle to install.

Thanks so much for all this info.

[Ioannis]

There are some settings need to be done in prior. Like the IP address, subnet mask etc to match the local network. It is close to plug and play but not exactly.


Also if there is an internet connection maybe you can open a port on the modem and you can connect to the device from your PC and make any changes.

Ioannis

[Charles Linquis]

All of them (at least the 3 or 4 that I have played with) let you set the configuration over the network OR the serial port.

The part that you have to consider is whether or not your PIC will control such things as ip address, subnet mask, gateway, protocols, etc.

If the PIC does not have to control these things, then most any one of them will work. If the PIC DOES have to control these items, then you should pick your device carefully. Some are much easier to configure over serial than others.

[Michael]

my send rs232 is a pic that will be sending 6 bytes of data (non encoded raw binary) over and over again, that's it.

my windows software on the receive end deciphers it -- sort of a burglar alarm arrangement.