Re: Open door from any PC ?

["Dean Smith" <ukha@xxxxxxx>]

> I suppose all I need to know is if its
> possible to make a pair on the com port come together to make a closed
> circuit..
You certainly can :-

I've used an rs232 as a very (very) basic digital IO port before back when
digital IO boards were several hundreds for a PC.

You can control RTS and DSR from most languages (the VB MSCOMM control
allows this), to give you 2 ports of dig out. There is enough power to
drive
a small relay coil (via the comm port ground). you can also read CTS and
DTR
awell to get 2 x Digital In

This is very (very!) crude though and lacks any sort of protection between
load and PC and is  abusing the serial port really.

Quasar also do a PC(via RS232) to 8 relay board with far more protection
built in.
http://www.electronic-kits-and-projects.com/3074.htm

For remote control I'd be tempted to explore if a single ASP web page on
your server machine could be made to kick off batch files locally etc to
cause the trigger. Just another possibility for the mix ;-)

Dean


----- Original Message -----
From: "Dean Barrett" <dean@xxxxxxx>
To: <ukha_d@xxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2003 10:36 AM
Subject: RE: [ukha_d] Open door from any PC ?


> Yep I think that maybe overkill - I suppose all I need to know is if
its
> possible to make a pair on the com port come together to make a closed
> circuit..
>
> They do it with UPS's connected to Serial ports - but I think that's
the
> other way..
>
>
>
>
> Dean.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Paul Gale [mailto:groups@xxxxxxx]
> Sent: 01 October 2003 10:16
> To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
> Subject: RE: [ukha_d] Open door from any PC ?
>
>
> HomeVision would be good for this but not the cheapest option
probably.
>
> Paul.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dean Barrett [mailto:dean@xxxxxxx]
> Sent: 01 October 2003 10:06
> To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
> Subject: [ukha_d] Open door from any PC ?
>
>
> What is Ian Bird's relay board ??
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Keith Doxey [mailto:ukha@xxxxxxx]
> Sent: 30 September 2003 17:21
> To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
> Subject: RE: [ukha_d] Open door from any PC ?
>
>
> Sounds like one for xPL or xAP along with one of Ian Bird's relay
> boards.
>
> Keith
>
> www.diyha.co.uk
> www.kat5.tv
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Dean Barrett [mailto:dean@xxxxxxx]
> > Sent: 30 September 2003 16:33
> > To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
> > Subject: [ukha_d] Open door from any PC ?
> >
> >
> > This must be acheivable....
> >
> > At my office each PC has access to our CCTV camera's.
> >
> > When someone comes to the door, they call the door intercom, we
only
> > have two handsets in the building and it means getting up to let
them
> > in/talk to them.
> >
> > I want everyone to be able to fire off a little applet that
somehow
> > triggers a relay that opens the door.
> >
> > I image a VB or ASP script could send a signal to the serial port
or
> > the CCTV server that would close a relay etc. etc.
> >
> > Is it possible ? or am I just rambling for no good reason.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Dean.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
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