What I/O boards do users want?

Author	Message
RossW Guru Joined: 25/02/2006 Location: Australia Posts: 495	Posted: 01:11am 14 Jun 2011         rhamer said   So we agree, you need ethernet, 1Wire etc, and have chosen a product that suits your needs. Why then would you want to turn the Maximite into something you can already buy? [/quote] Well, as I said - the product I'm using doesn't have Kb, or VGA display - which in some circumstances would be highly beneficial. [quote] Adding ethernet is adding something that these folk don't understand and don't want to learn. If they did they would buy the same product you have. [/quote] I can't think of any non-trivial device that DOESN'T have features many people don't understand or use. Just because they don't, doesn't mean they won't at some stage. [quote] Also the RS232 cable length can be overcome in several ways including RS485 or serial to ethernet converters. [/quote] Length is far from the problem with RS232. Indeed, I've run RS232 1200 metres (at low speeds, and against my better judgement). A "legal" ethernet 10/100BaseT segment is limited to 100m so on the surface, RS232 is superior in that regard. My problem with RS232 is getting it "onto the net". If you want to monitor (or potentially control) your system remotely (other parts of your home, town, country, world) you need to get the RS232 to the net. Some of us don't have the power to leave a PC running for it. Terminal servers are moderately expensive and for most people, too much hassle to set up. And if you want more than one device - the problem increases dramatically. Here at home, I've got a fancy inverter with (only) RS232, and a fancy solar charge controller with (only) RS232. The hassle factor of running more cables and isolation and all the other muck means I don't collect data from either, after 6 years! By comparison, I put temperature monitoring on my hydronics tanks, wood-fired water heater, generator and a couple of other things (currently 23 points) and because they were ethernet, it was a matter of minutes before they're all visible on the net - graphing, trending, instantaneous display in real time. I'm planning to add more to the solar water heater this weekend. When I put the pyranometer up, it was presenting live data by the time I had it bolted to the post. Everyones needs will be different, I'm just looking at it from the point of view that people *ARE* wanting to share stuff on the net more and more (piclog, for example). And making boards simple to interface to "the world" will ease the pain later for many.Edited by RossW 2011-06-15