From mikeflan at att.net  Fri Oct  1 11:55:27 2010
From: mikeflan at att.net (Mike Flannigan)
Date: Fri, 01 Oct 2010 13:55:27 -0500
Subject: [pm-h] Remote Temperature Monitoring
Message-ID: <4CA62E9F.6070908@att.net>


On 7/23/2010 7:56 AM, Mike Flannigan wrote:
>
> I'm looking to remotely monitor a digital thermometer
> connected to a computer.  The computer I plan to
> use has USB and Serial.  I have to use Windows,
> but only because I couldn't get Unix loaded on this
> old computer.
>
> I need to export the temp to a location 1,000 miles
> away.  Haven't decided if I'm using the web, FTP,
> Telnet, or what for the data transfer.  I want flexibility
> where I can write the Perl program to do what I need
> to do.
>
> I'm sending this to you guys in case one of you
> has already grappled with this.  I can see on the
> internet that there are about 1,000 options.
> Please call me or e-mail the list if you can help
> me decide which way to go with this.  Buying
> something from a local store might be my
> best option.  I plan to go to EPO and Fryes
> today to see what is available there.
>
>
> I'm think this one is what I need, but I'm to
> lazy to do all this work:
> http://www.riccibitti.com/pc_therm.htm
>
>
> This one seem really good:
> http://www.spiderplant.com/hlt/index.html
> but that first link says they are out of business.
>
>
> Do these USB powered units work?
> http://www.tomtop.com/pc-laptop-usb-powered-thermometer-temperature-sensor-data-log.html 
>
>
>
snip


Sorry if you guys have already seen this once
before, but I didn't see that it got to the list the
last time I sent it.



Well, I bought this one
http://cgi.ebay.com.sg/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320569987480
and much to my surprise it works pretty well.
The stupid thing gives temp reading to the 100th of
a Deg F, but it's accurate to 3-4 Deg F at the
best, even with calibration.  That is good enough
for me.

I've had fun programming to capture it's data from
the log file, error check, export to website, etc.
Got Net::FTP working again.


I used GD::Graph::lines to produce these graphs
that are updated constantly:
http://mflan.com/temper/7_Day_Graph.gif
http://mflan.com/temper/24_Hr_Graph.gif
http://mflan.com/temper/1_Hr_Graph.gif

I have a program that runs every 4 seconds and
posts hourly data to the website links above.

Then I have another program that checks my website
for update files.  I can revise the program operation
remotely with these files, or load an entire new program
that creates the graphs above and sends e-mail alerts
on temperature deviations.  Kinda neat the way it
shuts down the program, copies the new one over,
and then reloads the program with a batch file.


I'm not ready to jump to Strawberry right now.  I have
too much mission critical stuff that I can't do without
and don't have time to bring up to Strawberry.


Mike




From rlharris at oplink.net  Fri Oct  1 14:53:39 2010
From: rlharris at oplink.net (Russell L. Harris)
Date: Fri, 1 Oct 2010 22:53:39 +0100
Subject: [pm-h] Remote Temperature Monitoring
In-Reply-To: <4CA62E9F.6070908@att.net>
References: <4CA62E9F.6070908@att.net>
Message-ID: <20101001215339.GA3693@rlharris.org>

* Mike Flannigan <mikeflan at att.net> [101001 19:56]:
> 
> On 7/23/2010 7:56 AM, Mike Flannigan wrote:
> >
> >I'm looking to remotely monitor a digital thermometer
> >connected to a computer.  The computer I plan to
> >use has USB and Serial.  I have to use Windows,
> >but only because I couldn't get Unix loaded on this
> >old computer.
> >
> >I need to export the temp to a location 1,000 miles
> >away.  

Check out the catalogue of a broadcast supplier such as www.bswusa.com
or www.fullcompass.com.

Radio stations have utilized the telephone line for remote monitoring
and control of remote transmitter sites for many years.  Parameters
monitored include temperature, line voltage, etc.  There even is a
highly-reliable spark/flame detector, which is needed because of the
high voltages within the transmitter.  In recent years, in order to
reduce costs, stations have been moving away from the telephone line
to the Internet

The transition from monitoring via a telephone-line to monitoring via
the Internet recently has brought to market inexpensive Internet
"monitoring appliances".  After using a computer to set up ip
addresses, reporting interval, etc., simply connect your
thermocouple/rtd and your sensor contacts to a terminal strip, and
plug in the power supply and the ethernet cable.

There is a rather large market, and radio stations are notorious for
being niggardly in allocating funds for maintenance, so the component
prices are surprisingly low.  I seem to recall seeing one of the
appliances priced in the range of two to three hundred bucks.

RLH


From mikeflan at att.net  Sat Oct  2 12:16:24 2010
From: mikeflan at att.net (Mike Flannigan)
Date: Sat, 02 Oct 2010 14:16:24 -0500
Subject: [pm-h] Remote Temperature Monitoring
In-Reply-To: <20101001215339.GA3693@rlharris.org>
References: <4CA62E9F.6070908@att.net> <20101001215339.GA3693@rlharris.org>
Message-ID: <4CA78508.2000100@att.net>


On 10/1/2010 4:53 PM, Russell L. Harris wrote:
>
> Check out the catalogue of a broadcast supplier such as www.bswusa.com
> or www.fullcompass.com.
>
> Radio stations have utilized the telephone line for remote monitoring
> and control of remote transmitter sites for many years.  Parameters
> monitored include temperature, line voltage, etc.  There even is a
> highly-reliable spark/flame detector, which is needed because of the
> high voltages within the transmitter.  In recent years, in order to
> reduce costs, stations have been moving away from the telephone line
> to the Internet
>
> The transition from monitoring via a telephone-line to monitoring via
> the Internet recently has brought to market inexpensive Internet
> "monitoring appliances".  After using a computer to set up ip
> addresses, reporting interval, etc., simply connect your
> thermocouple/rtd and your sensor contacts to a terminal strip, and
> plug in the power supply and the ethernet cable.
>
> There is a rather large market, and radio stations are notorious for
> being niggardly in allocating funds for maintenance, so the component
> prices are surprisingly low.  I seem to recall seeing one of the
> appliances priced in the range of two to three hundred bucks.
>
> RLH

That first site does have some interesting equipment.
It would be good to get this done without a computer,
but you sure get a lot of flexibility by using an old
computer.


Mike


From gwadej at anomaly.org  Mon Oct  4 18:58:53 2010
From: gwadej at anomaly.org (G. Wade Johnson)
Date: Mon, 4 Oct 2010 20:58:53 -0500
Subject: [pm-h] October Meeting
Message-ID: <20101004205853.3a071c7a@sovvan>

The October meeting is a week from this Thursday, on Oct. 14 at the
usual time (7pm) and location (3131 W. Alabama).

Todd Rinaldo will give a short presentation on the Dist::Zilla module.

After the presentation, we are going to try something a little
different. We'd like everyone to bring a laptop if possible and we'll
break up into groups to help with any Perl problems you would like to
bring to the meeting.

Pretty much anything is fair game. With the various levels of
experience we have available in the group, we shouldn't have any
problems providing help at many levels, including:

 - troubleshooting coding or logic problems,
 - help on code design or architecture,
 - Perl issues,
 - sounding board for ideas for code,
 - performance optimizations
 - other?

If you are more of a junior Perl person and would just like to ask
someone how to start, we're available.

I hope to see you there.
G. Wade
-- 
Reality is just a convenient measure of complexity.
                                                   -- Alvy Ray Smith

From gwadej at anomaly.org  Tue Oct 12 05:29:13 2010
From: gwadej at anomaly.org (G. Wade Johnson)
Date: Tue, 12 Oct 2010 07:29:13 -0500
Subject: [pm-h] October Meeting Reminder
Message-ID: <20101012072913.4f0810c5@sovvan>

The October meeting is this Thursday, on Oct. 14 at the usual time
(7pm) and location (3131 W. Alabama). As usual, we will meet at 3131 W.
Alabama St. in the lobby on the second level where you park. Please
RSVP to me or the list ASAP, so we can get a head-count for food.

Todd Rinaldo will give a short presentation on the Dist::Zilla module.

After the presentation, we'll break up into groups to help with any
Perl problems you would like to bring to the meeting. Everyone is
encouraged to bring a laptop if possible especially if you have a
project you would like some help with.

I look forward to seeing you there.
G. Wade
-- 
A language that doesn't affect the way you think about programming is
not worth knowing.                                        -- Alan Perlis

From flbaker at sbcglobal.net  Tue Oct 12 10:29:22 2010
From: flbaker at sbcglobal.net (Fraser Baker)
Date: Tue, 12 Oct 2010 12:29:22 -0500
Subject: [pm-h] October Meeting Reminder
In-Reply-To: <20101012072913.4f0810c5@sovvan>
References: <20101012072913.4f0810c5@sovvan>
Message-ID: <EB83F4FAE37C494C8DA7FB09115CD98D@CHEETAH>

Count me in.

Fraser

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "G. Wade Johnson" <gwadej at anomaly.org>
To: "Houston Perl Mongers" <houston at pm.org>
Sent: Tuesday, October 12, 2010 7:29 AM
Subject: [pm-h] October Meeting Reminder


> The October meeting is this Thursday, on Oct. 14 at the usual time
> (7pm) and location (3131 W. Alabama). As usual, we will meet at 3131 W.
> Alabama St. in the lobby on the second level where you park. Please
> RSVP to me or the list ASAP, so we can get a head-count for food.
> 
> Todd Rinaldo will give a short presentation on the Dist::Zilla module.
> 
> After the presentation, we'll break up into groups to help with any
> Perl problems you would like to bring to the meeting. Everyone is
> encouraged to bring a laptop if possible especially if you have a
> project you would like some help with.
> 
> I look forward to seeing you there.
> G. Wade
> -- 
> A language that doesn't affect the way you think about programming is
> not worth knowing.                                        -- Alan Perlis
> _______________________________________________
> Houston mailing list
> Houston at pm.org
> http://mail.pm.org/mailman/listinfo/houston
> Website: http://houston.pm.org/