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Send Strings to Many Devices Using One Port

SensivaSensiva Posts: 211
in AMX General Discussion
Have you guys seen a product that allows to send strings to many RS232 devices, something like a RS232 hub??

With the option of sending a string to one specific device or to all.

Thinking of that to save some RS232 ports.

Comments

  • joelwjoelw Posts: 175
    You could breadboard something up pretty quick with a 7085 regulator, some caps, and TTL 232 converters. Depending on the number of outputs you may need a buffer to handle max fan-out on main converter.

    http://www.maxim-ic.com/quick_view2.cfm/qv_pk/1798


    Otherwise call this outfit and see if they have something:
    http://www.cpscom.com/rs232.htm

    I've used one of their serial switches before.
  • tom goeztom goez Posts: 75
    232 Soup

    Here's another bunch of items:

    http://www.bb-elec.com/subcategory.asp?subcategoryid=93

    You will probably have all kinds of timing issues and how will you identify the devices on the end?

    Remember, AMX doesn't support DSR-DTR handshaking on their controllers, just RTS-CTS. Most of the combining units out there block the second device while the first device is transmitting data. After the first is finished, the second one can talk.
  • SensivaSensiva Posts: 211
    Well...

    I was thinking of something from a well known manufacturer like ESI or Extron (IPL).

    Explain in more details:

    A device that has its own processor, Multiple Serial ports, its baud rates can be adjusted from its web interface or a PC installation utility.

    Then if i want to send a string to device No. 1 saying blahblah
    TO1-blahblah
    and the responses will be converted to FROM1-blohbloh

    and parsing these string in NetLinx is piece a cake :)
  • joelwjoelw Posts: 175
    Serial Port Server

    This is the cheapest per serial port I have seen to date - Sena PS810

    It's very easy to communicate with via UDP or TCP. I have a project with five of these that have been working flawlessly for nine months.

    http://www.sena.com/products/device_servers/external/hd_ps_x10/

    I used Extron and Moxa serial port servers on other jobs. Sena has the best value.
  • SensivaSensiva Posts: 211
    joelw wrote:
    This is the cheapest per serial port I have seen to date - Sena PS810

    It's very easy to communicate with via UDP or TCP. I have a project with five of these that have been working flawlessly for nine months.

    http://www.sena.com/products/device_servers/external/hd_ps_x10/

    I used Extron and Moxa serial port servers on other jobs. Sena has the best value.

    I think Sena isn't what i am looking for, It can convert from IP to serial

    I wanna send from serial to serial
  • joelwjoelw Posts: 175
    Forgot to mention you can bridge ports together on the Sena boxes. This can be handy in rare cases.
  • NMarkRobertsNMarkRoberts Posts: 455
    Axcent 3

    It's been said before:

    A slaved Axcent 3 bought on eBay is EXACTLY what you are looking for, solid as a rock, extremely configurable, no significant code changes required, and doesn't even use a serial port on the master.
  • SensivaSensiva Posts: 211
    You are right... but how much it may cost a used axcent master??
    as cheap as 300USD??

    I don't know... I am asking.

    I am thinking of a device that very much like slaving another old master, send to it a 2 part string the first is the address of the port and the second is the string it self, and sends me the responses in 2 part the first where it came from the second is the string it self.

    NMarkRoberts wrote:
    It's been said before:

    A slaved Axcent 3 bought on eBay is EXACTLY what you are looking for, solid as a rock, extremely configurable, no significant code changes required, and doesn't even use a serial port on the master.
  • joelwjoelw Posts: 175
    An "AMX NXI w/ME260" from ebay would also work. A bit faster than Slaving an Axcent3 via Axlink (28k baud).
  • SensivaSensiva Posts: 211
    joelw wrote:
    An "AMX NXI w/ME260" from ebay would also work. A bit faster than Slaving an Axcent3 via Axlink (28k baud).

    Yeah... and How much??
  • joelwjoelw Posts: 175
    Sensiva wrote:
    Yeah... and How much??

    Looks like the current bid is $49.

    http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=260149367117&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=016
  • viningvining Posts: 4,368
    You could also get a six port serial server (IP to RS232). Create an array of the six IP ports and then just send strings to the array or any individual or combination of ports with in the array. You can find 6 port serial servers for around $600-$700 US.
  • NMarkRobertsNMarkRoberts Posts: 455
    Sensiva wrote:
    You are right... but how much it may cost a used axcent master??
    as cheap as 300USD??

    Yes. I've got two that cost less than that.
  • HedbergHedberg Posts: 671
    I bought one on ebay for less than $50 including shipping. Old card frames are cheap too -- even with a bunch of cards included.
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