Re: Rabbit/serial question

[Patrick Lidstone]

--- In <a
href="/group/xap_automation/post?postID=uj9OBQn9NStaCk2rh7TS0r7jvjpCkdG4N9WmGfFl2LlBxRTn8unESVB7iruB-RpthmyDGLvjKwdmKeDeo9BhUrzmrQrH1Rswdg">xap_automation@xxxxxxx</a>,
"Sullivan, Glenn"
<gsullivan@d...> wrote:
> Before I dive in feet first, I want to make sure I am on the right
track.
>
> I have a device called "Net CallerID" which is basically the
US
version of
> the meteor. I would like to grab the serial stream it puts out,
parse it,
> and then create a xAP message over an Ethernet interface. My first
pass at
> this will probably be a PC app, but I'd love to have it standalone
on
> Ethernet.
>
> Why Ethernet? I have, or will have soon, CAT6 everywhere. It's
all already
> tied together, and rather than set up another network (either
serial,
> one-wire, or rs-485) I'd like to interface it directly to
Ethernet. Also,
> it is my understanding that the rabbit can support a simple web
server,
> which would make config/troubleshooting much easier.
>
> And it would be good practice...
>
> So, being a complete amateur at all of this, can you tell me if I'm
on the
> right track? Any tips/pointers for getting started? I'm sure that
there
> are tons of rabbit/serial examples on the web, and I know some of
you guys
> have done some xAP/Rabbit stuff, so it's just a matter of putting
the stuff
> together, right?

Glenn, all the above is possible. As Ian says, Rabbit is a good
option here - it has the ethernet interface and TCP/IP stacks
included. I'm planning another run of Rabbit serial interface boards
fairly soon, which would provide you with ready made hardware to do
what you want, you'd "just" have to add the software. There are
already some simple examples of xap/rabbit software available -- and
I have rabbit + meteor working fine (although I haven't published the
source code for it yet), and this would probably be a good starting
point for you pick up and run with...

Patrick