[Asterisk-Users] Is there hardware to remote control

[Lyle Giese]

I found this interesting box at qkits.com  QK108

It has 8 relay outputs and 4 inputs. It's controlled via RS-232c(serial
port) instead of a printer port.  I have an 8 port serial card in a linux
server to control a bunch of stuff.  I have apache on that server and can
control the relays via a cgi script.  I found it very easy to program a
serial port via perl and with an 8 port serial card(from Perle). You can
have a bunch of stuff hanging off it, like a 4 probe temp kit (QK 145) and a
ups and an RS-232 voltmeter to monitor the commerical power coming in and
....

I suspose it would be easy to take this even further to write AGI scripts
and dial an extension and let * announce the temperature or status of those
inputs and to control the outputs of the QK108.

I also use it with their K2639 to monitor the sump pits, monitoring for sump
pump failure.(therefore high water levels).

Lyle

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Cook" <dbc_asterisk at advan.ca>
To: <asterisk-users at lists.digium.com>
Sent: Monday, December 20, 2004 9:10 AM
Subject: Re: [Asterisk-Users] Is there hardware to remote control


> > From: Ronald Wiplinger <ronald at elmit.com>
> > Subject: [Asterisk-Users] Is there hardware to remote control
> > available?
> > To: Asterisk Users Mailing List - Non-Commercial Discussion
> > <asterisk-users at lists.digium.com>
> > Message-ID: <41C6D43F.5070201 at elmit.com>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed
> >
> > I am looking for a hardware, which can turn on / off (control) via
> > the
> > dial plan.
> > Is something available?
>
> You can run an AGI from within your diaplan which can do anything
> available to the host machine. As for turning things on/off, you have
> several options.
>
> a) serial port control;
> b) parallel port control;
> c) attached microcontroller;
> d) X-10 signals.
>
> Please exuse this for going OT into home automation stuff, but in an
> effort to answer the original question, here goes ...
>
> a) I have often used a little program that flips the DTR & RTS signals
> on a serial port (independently so you can control two things). You
> need to turn on/off a logic state or an LED that is fine. If you need
> to switch a larger electical load, put a solid state relay on that pin.
> I have my laser printer and my pool pump controlled that way.
>
> b) Parallel port works basically the same way with the 8 output pins on
> the connector that can be controlled. Haven't actually done this
> though.
> Lastly, connect a microcontroller like a Parallax Basic Stamp to your
> server where you can write code that runs on the microcontroller and
> does numerous things pseudo autonomously from
>
> c) Microcontroller like the Parallax Basic Stamp series. This allows you
> to run a program on this little computer device (>100.00) that was
> "made" for I/O control. It can do all kinds of things pseudo
> autonomously and feed back the info to the PC.
>
> d) X10 have several interfaces for PC's. I like a little one called the
> "Firecracker" interface. It uses an RS232C line and can control devices
> by sending radio signals from it to a reciever module that is plugged
> into a wall socket. It then embeds the cammands you sent it into the
> electrical circuits in your home. Another module then plugs into the
> wall somewhere and you plug devices into it. The little wall modules
> recieves the signal coming along the electrical lines and turns the
> device on/off/dim, etc. The reason I like the Firecracker is that it is
> a "dumb" device. All program code must exist on the PC therefore I have
> more control. They have other devices which you download program code
> to then they are autonomous which I don't think is what you are looking
> for.
>
> I use a) & d) extensively here. If anyone wants the code or more info,
> just ask.
>
> David Cook
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